MVP Race

[footey]

Looks like Joker is heavy favorite to win 3rd straight MVP award. Tatum has dropped from 1st to 4th (behind Joker, Freak and Embiid)  in latest Bontemps poll.

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/35658669/nba-mvp-straw-poll-20-nikola-jokic-chasing-history-here-why-capture-it

[Moranis]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets). 

[jpotter33]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Yeah, I think Giannis should be front runner. I think Tatum should be higher, as well, over Embiid and right on par with Jokic at 2. He’s the best player on the best team that has kept this team at the 1 seed through significant injuries the past month.

I just don’t buy Jokic as a three-time MVP, particularly as a one-way player. It is a regular season award, but he’s yet to show he can do this consistently in the playoffs, where he’s been exposed. And I think he’ll continue to get exposed with his very poor D in the playoffs.

If I’m an opposing coach, I’d put Jokic in a high PnR every time down the court, as he can’t stay in front of anyone.

[Roy H.]

If Denver holds on to the #1 seed and Jokic averages a triple-double, it will easily be him.

MVP among Eastern players probably depends on order of finish.  If Boston gets the #1 seed, then Tatum should finish ahead of Giannis and Embiid, etc. 

[Roy H.]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat? 

[Birdman]

1. Joker
2. Giannis
3. Tatum
4. Luka

[celticsclay]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

Well sure, when it suits a narrative like brown doesn’t help the Celtics. But when it is something else it is completely meaningless!

[RodyTur10]

There is no race. It's for the Joker again.
Both his traditional and advanced stats are ridiculous ánd his team is winning.

[Moranis]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

I am, but my issue with Jokic is his playoff on/off has been negative the last 3 seasons (and he was way negative last year) while his regular season one has been great.  I believe he is a liability defensively against the best teams and can be exploited.  I don't think he rises up when it matters.  You want to be a 3-time MVP, you need to prove it in the playoffs. BTW, Gordon and KCP are also around +20 this year, and last year Gordon was the only starter that was positive in the playoffs at +4.6 and of those starters only Morris was worse than Jokic in that Warriors series. 

Even with the playoff failures, I'd have Jokic 3rd behind Giannis and Tatum.  I just don't think he is the most valuable player this year. 

[CelticsWhat35]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

I am, but my issue with Jokic is his playoff on/off has been negative the last 3 seasons (and he was way negative last year) while his regular season one has been great.  I believe he is a liability defensively against the best teams and can be exploited.  I don't think he rises up when it matters.  You want to be a 3-time MVP, you need to prove it in the playoffs. BTW, Gordon and KCP are also around +20 this year, and last year Gordon was the only starter that was positive in the playoffs at +4.6 and of those starters only Morris was worse than Jokic in that Warriors series. 

Even with the playoff failures, I'd have Jokic 3rd behind Giannis and Tatum.  I just don't think he is the most valuable player this year.

MVP is literally a regular season award.  Why should his play in the playoffs have anything to do with it?

[Vermont Green]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

I am, but my issue with Jokic is his playoff on/off has been negative the last 3 seasons (and he was way negative last year) while his regular season one has been great.  I believe he is a liability defensively against the best teams and can be exploited.  I don't think he rises up when it matters.  You want to be a 3-time MVP, you need to prove it in the playoffs. BTW, Gordon and KCP are also around +20 this year, and last year Gordon was the only starter that was positive in the playoffs at +4.6 and of those starters only Morris was worse than Jokic in that Warriors series. 

Even with the playoff failures, I'd have Jokic 3rd behind Giannis and Tatum.  I just don't think he is the most valuable player this year.

Season MVP is a regular season award, play off performance, especially last season's playoff performance, aren't part of the equation.  That said, Giannis is not far behind Jokic but to me, Jokic is the MVP.  We will see how the both (teams and individuals) do down the stretch.  Either still could win or lose it.

I have Tatum and Embiid in the next tier.  The on/off numbers can be impacted by who is on the court when you aren't.  Does it make a player less of an MVP if their back up is better than the other guy's back up?  I don't know the answer to that but right now, I would vote for Jokic over Giannis.

[Moranis]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

I am, but my issue with Jokic is his playoff on/off has been negative the last 3 seasons (and he was way negative last year) while his regular season one has been great.  I believe he is a liability defensively against the best teams and can be exploited.  I don't think he rises up when it matters.  You want to be a 3-time MVP, you need to prove it in the playoffs. BTW, Gordon and KCP are also around +20 this year, and last year Gordon was the only starter that was positive in the playoffs at +4.6 and of those starters only Morris was worse than Jokic in that Warriors series. 

Even with the playoff failures, I'd have Jokic 3rd behind Giannis and Tatum.  I just don't think he is the most valuable player this year.

MVP is literally a regular season award.  Why should his play in the playoffs have anything to do with it?

because it does

[Moranis]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

I am, but my issue with Jokic is his playoff on/off has been negative the last 3 seasons (and he was way negative last year) while his regular season one has been great.  I believe he is a liability defensively against the best teams and can be exploited.  I don't think he rises up when it matters.  You want to be a 3-time MVP, you need to prove it in the playoffs. BTW, Gordon and KCP are also around +20 this year, and last year Gordon was the only starter that was positive in the playoffs at +4.6 and of those starters only Morris was worse than Jokic in that Warriors series. 

Even with the playoff failures, I'd have Jokic 3rd behind Giannis and Tatum.  I just don't think he is the most valuable player this year.

Season MVP is a regular season award, play off performance, especially last season's playoff performance, aren't part of the equation.  That said, Giannis is not far behind Jokic but to me, Jokic is the MVP.  We will see how the both (teams and individuals) do down the stretch.  Either still could win or lose it.

I have Tatum and Embiid in the next tier.  The on/off numbers can be impacted by who is on the court when you aren't.  Does it make a player less of an MVP if their back up is better than the other guy's back up?  I don't know the answer to that but right now, I would vote for Jokic over Giannis.

Of course that stuff matters.  It is the reason why Giannis didn't win 3 in a row and they gave it to Jokic (Giannis fell to 4th that year, which is just silly).  Giannis was clearly better and more valuable 2 years ago, but no one would give the MVP to Giannis because the Bucks weren't winning in the playoffs and a guy who wasn't winning in the playoffs couldn't join Bill, Wilt, and Larry in the 3 in a row club.  Giannis had to prove he was the guy in the playoffs that he was in the regular season.  Jokic needs to prove it also.  He can't just be an empty stats guy in the regular season.  He has to win in the playoffs.

[MarcusSmartFanClub]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

I am, but my issue with Jokic is his playoff on/off has been negative the last 3 seasons (and he was way negative last year) while his regular season one has been great.  I believe he is a liability defensively against the best teams and can be exploited.  I don't think he rises up when it matters.  You want to be a 3-time MVP, you need to prove it in the playoffs. BTW, Gordon and KCP are also around +20 this year, and last year Gordon was the only starter that was positive in the playoffs at +4.6 and of those starters only Morris was worse than Jokic in that Warriors series. 

Even with the playoff failures, I'd have Jokic 3rd behind Giannis and Tatum.  I just don't think he is the most valuable player this year.

MVP is literally a regular season award.  Why should his play in the playoffs have anything to do with it?

because it does

Huh? Westbrook and Harden have MVPs.

[Celtics2021]

Giannis should be the front runner.  Spent most of the year with his 2nd best player either not playing or not looking anything like himself and the Bucks have the 2nd best record in the sport (ahead of the Nuggets).

Giannis' on court - off court is +7.7.  Jokic's is an insane +24.3.

Aren't you a giant fan of this stat?

I am, but my issue with Jokic is his playoff on/off has been negative the last 3 seasons (and he was way negative last year) while his regular season one has been great.  I believe he is a liability defensively against the best teams and can be exploited.  I don't think he rises up when it matters.  You want to be a 3-time MVP, you need to prove it in the playoffs. BTW, Gordon and KCP are also around +20 this year, and last year Gordon was the only starter that was positive in the playoffs at +4.6 and of those starters only Morris was worse than Jokic in that Warriors series. 

Even with the playoff failures, I'd have Jokic 3rd behind Giannis and Tatum.  I just don't think he is the most valuable player this year.

MVP is literally a regular season award.  Why should his play in the playoffs have anything to do with it?

because it does

This is an asinine comment.  The votes literally occur the week between the regular season and the playoffs, and there are separate awards for the playoffs.  It is, by definition and structure, a regular-season award.