IT4 - The MVP chase is on

[Donoghus]

I think its Westbrook's to lose at the moment, IMO.

Gotta think Harden's got the lead. His team's got a much better record.

Westbrook's just about halfway to accomplishing something that hasn't been done in 50 years and is currently carrying a team to a playoff berth after losing Durant this past summer.  That's one helluva narrative. 

But, Harden certainly is the 1B.  A very solid argument can be made his way also.

[Boris Badenov]

I think its Westbrook's to lose at the moment, IMO.

Gotta think Harden's got the lead. His team's got a much better record.

Westbrook's just about halfway to accomplishing something that hasn't been done in 50 years and is currently carrying a team to a playoff berth after losing Durant this past summer.  That's one helluva narrative. 

But, Harden certainly is the 1B.  A very solid argument can be made his way also.

I don't know. Take a look at their respective rosters:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2017.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2017.html

I think what Harden is doing with those teammates is more impressive than what Westbrook is doing with his. Houston's on a 62-win pace.

You may be right about the triple-double thing though. That is an amazing feat I thought no player would ever accomplish in the modern era.

[Donoghus]

I think its Westbrook's to lose at the moment, IMO.

Gotta think Harden's got the lead. His team's got a much better record.

Westbrook's just about halfway to accomplishing something that hasn't been done in 50 years and is currently carrying a team to a playoff berth after losing Durant this past summer.  That's one helluva narrative. 

But, Harden certainly is the 1B.  A very solid argument can be made his way also.

I don't know. Take a look at their respective rosters:

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/HOU/2017.html

http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/OKC/2017.html

I think what Harden is doing with those teammates is more impressive than what Westbrook is doing with his. Houston's on a 62-win pace.

You may be right about the triple-double thing though. That is an amazing feat I thought no player would ever accomplish in the modern era.

If you look at the narrative of where Westbrook would be coming from (triple double season the season after Durant abandons him while still leading them to the playoffs), it's an awfully juicy narrative.  Something I think voters would soak up.

[spikelovetheCelts]

The buzz is coming after 20+ again in the 4th. GO IT.

[gift]

How do we define MVP? If it's the best player in the league, Isaiah's not in the conversation.

If it's the player who has been most instrumental in the team's success, he's top-5, possibly top-3.

Mike

Part of the problem with the MVP is that everyone defines it differently and even those people define it differently year by year.

For the most part the factors considered are:

Overall talent/best player: You don't have to be the best in the league, but you have to be in one of the top tiers in terms of overall best players. Still, being the best player in the league means you are never ruled out completely.
Wins: How well your team does. Typically, the MVP goes to a player from again, not necessarily the best team, but one of the best teams in the league.
Narrative: Is there a good story behind your performance for the season? How does your story stack up against the other candidates?
Momentum: Have you won the award previously? If so, how recently and how many times? Sometimes voters tire of a certain player being the MVP (see Jordan, Lebron) and vote for other players having great seasons.
Most Valuable: How good would your team be without you relative to how other teams would be without their star players? Are you literally the "most valuable".

[manl_lui]

How do we define MVP? If it's the best player in the league, Isaiah's not in the conversation.

If it's the player who has been most instrumental in the team's success, he's top-5, possibly top-3.

Mike

Part of the problem with the MVP is that everyone defines it differently and even those people define it differently year by year.

For the most part the factors considered are:

Overall talent/best player: You don't have to be the best in the league, but you have to be in one of the top tiers in terms of overall best players. Still, being the best player in the league means you are never ruled out completely.
Wins: How well your team does. Typically, the MVP goes to a player from again, not necessarily the best team, but one of the best teams in the league.
Narrative: Is there a good story behind your performance for the season? How does your story stack up against the other candidates?
Momentum: Have you won the award previously? If so, how recently and how many times? Sometimes voters tire of a certain player being the MVP (see Jordan, Lebron) and vote for other players having great seasons.
Most Valuable: How good would your team be without you relative to how other teams would be without their star players? Are you literally the "most valuable".

to be fair, depends how you define it using both arguments, combining the two could still be true

the best players in the NBA/world usually are the same people who been the most instrumental in the team's success. Putting IT aside if we look at the top 3-4 player in the MVP race

Westbrook/Harden/LeBron/KD (well KD doesn't count, taking him away you still have another MVP candidate in Curry)

all 3 of those teams either becomes lottery or non-contenders
ROX - Lotto
Thunder - Lotto
Cavs - probably make playoffs but definitely not contenders in my eyes without LeBron

so yea, the best players are also the players that affect their team the most.

now base on IT's position on the NBA MVP ladder, him ranking lower than the others also makes sense, he isn't really in the top 10 for best player in the league, but he isn't definitely in the top 5 for most instrumental in the team's success

[vjcsmoke]

Game-winning shot vs Atlanta:
http://www.nba.com/games/20170113/BOSATL#/video

#MVP #ThomasDoesItAgain #Superstar

[makaveli]

he is a special player, having a special season, and should be considered as a legit MVP candidate. Little Assassin

[LilRip]

Westbrook might win because of statistical dominance that's unheard of, but in a normal year, you have to give the nod to Harden. Unlike ROY, team record should have a weight in MVP voting.

[Somebody]

I think you have to give it to westbrook, he's leading a bottom feeder team without him to a playoff contender who has a chance to get home court advantage in the playoffs, while the rockets actually have some good pieces that even without harden would still be a kings like team in record.

[mr. dee]

How the hell Kawhi isn't even on the discussion? The guy is averaging 24 PPG along with his game changing defense while carrying his team in the top 5.

[moiso]

How the hell Kawhi isn't even on the discussion? The guy is averaging 24 PPG along with his game changing defense while carrying his team in the top 5.

Good point.  It's pretty ridiculous.  You could argue that Kawhi is the clear MVP when defense is factored in.  The Spurs and players on the Spurs have been getting overlooked for years.  It's like they are just expected to be excellent but boring.

[PAOBoston]

As a MVP candidate, sure. No chance he's the MVP of the year. Barring injury, I think it's Westbrook's to lose at this point.

[TrueFan]

I think IT4 just moved himself into the top 5 for MVP after last night.

You also have to give him serious consideration now as a top 10 player in the league. He's been playing that good.

[TrueFan]

Game-winning shot vs Atlanta:
http://www.nba.com/games/20170113/BOSATL#/video

#MVP #ThomasDoesItAgain #Superstar

If he keeps up this pace we will have to give him serious consideration as a super star. The question right now is how long can he keep this ridiculously good play going for.