Who Is Your Choice for 2016-2017 NBA MVP?

[celts55]

I voted Westbrook, because I really didn't think I would see anyone average a triple double after the Big O.
BUT, at the risk of sounding like a homer, IT really has been the most valuable player. I mean, without him, the Celtics simple can not score the ball. The few games he missed, they looked awful. They don't have anyone else you can create their own shot. Right now they are tied for first in the East. Without him, I truly don't believe they are a playoff team.

[max215]

LeBron James. He's the best player in the world. When he's on the court, the Cavs have a 118.2 ORTG, which would be by far the highest for a team in Bball Ref's database (since 1972.) When LeBron's off the court, Cavs have a -8.5 Net Rating, which would rank dead last for a team in the NBA this season...by a full point per 100 possessions. He is the best, the most valuable, and most deserving of the award.

PS: LeBron, Kawhi, Russ, and Harden all great choices, and there is no wrong answer this year.

[Rondo9]

LeBron James. He's the best player in the world. When he's on the court, the Cavs have a 118.2 ORTG, which would be by far the highest for a team in Bball Ref's database (since 1972.) When LeBron's off the court, Cavs have a -8.5 Net Rating, which would rank dead last for a team in the NBA this season...by a full point per 100 possessions. He is the best, the most valuable, and most deserving of the award.

PS: LeBron, Kawhi, Russ, and Harden all great choices, and there is no wrong answer this year.

You're forgetting one person. 

[max215]

LeBron James. He's the best player in the world. When he's on the court, the Cavs have a 118.2 ORTG, which would be by far the highest for a team in Bball Ref's database (since 1972.) When LeBron's off the court, Cavs have a -8.5 Net Rating, which would rank dead last for a team in the NBA this season...by a full point per 100 possessions. He is the best, the most valuable, and most deserving of the award.

PS: LeBron, Kawhi, Russ, and Harden all great choices, and there is no wrong answer this year.

You're forgetting one person. 

Isaiah is massively valuable to this team. I think I'd have him 5th on my ballot, but voting for him as the most valuable is crazy.

[Boris Badenov]

That's a strong and compelling argument Boris, but isn't the milestone you're talking about kind of arbitrary? We've seen LeBron and others average 30 pts and just shy of double digits in boards and assists. Was it really so far outside of what we thought was possible? Or did we just not think anybody would be so persistent and focused in their stat chasing for a whole season?

It's an impressive achievement but I don't think it's the most remarkable or certainly impactful individual season this year.

Yeah, it's arbitrary, but so is the idea that a hitting streak is somehow more important than, for example, overall BA for a season. Right?

I'm not really saying I think Westbrook is having the best overall season, to be clear. (I agree with Roy, for example that Lebron could do it if he wanted to).

But for better or worse the season-long triple double has long appeared on lists of the "most unbreakable records in sports."

http://www.complex.com/sports/2012/03/the-25-most-unbreakable-records-in-sports-history/10

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/661956-the-50-greatest-and-most-unbreakable-records-in-all-of-sports

http://www.therichest.com/sports/top-10-unbreakable-sports-records/

https://www.thetoptens.com/unbreakable-sports-records/

(I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with these lists, they are just picked from what you see on google from "most unbreakable sports records.")

We know that the best player in the league often doesn't win the MVP. I'm recognizing that, and trying to see who the award should go to, given the standards that have generally been used in the past. And breaking a record like that is surely one of them.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

The meaning(lessness) of Westbrook's triple-doubles


http://www.thecoli.com/threads/the-meaning-lessness-of-westbrooks-triple-doubles.520571/

TP for finding that.

That was thorough. It supports what I feel about his stat chasing. I think Hardens 29-11-8 is more impressive than Westbrook's 31-10-10.

No one is going to take all that time for any of the other players, so who knows how the other guys in the race will look in a similar breakdown?


If this proves negative towards RW, I can't imagine the result of breaking down what IT4 does. If you want to find a narrative good/bad there are stats that will accommodate that view if you take the time to find it.

[PhoSita]

We know that the best player in the league often doesn't win the MVP. I'm recognizing that, and trying to see who the award should go to, given the standards that have generally been used in the past. And breaking a record like that is surely one of them.

When was the last time the MVP went to a player on a team that I think most observers agree has very little chance at making the Finals, let alone winning a title?

I'm having a hard time finding an MVP for a team that won significantly fewer than 60 wins, let alone fewer than 50 wins, other than lockout seasons.

I think the last time was when Moses Malone won in 1982 for a 46 win Rockets team.  Malone put up 31 pts and 14.7 rebounds for a team that had an expected W-L of 41-41.


Otherwise the MVP award for the last 30+ years is a list of the best players on teams that close to 60 games or more and were considered among the top challengers to make the Finals.

[Boris Badenov]

We know that the best player in the league often doesn't win the MVP. I'm recognizing that, and trying to see who the award should go to, given the standards that have generally been used in the past. And breaking a record like that is surely one of them.

When was the last time the MVP went to a player on a team that I think most observers agree has very little chance at making the Finals, let alone winning a title?

I'm having a hard time finding an MVP for a team that won significantly fewer than 60 wins, let alone fewer than 50 wins, other than lockout seasons.

I think the last time was when Moses Malone won in 1982 for a 46 win Rockets team.  Malone put up 31 pts and 14.7 rebounds for a team that had an expected W-L of 41-41.


Otherwise the MVP award for the last 30+ years is a list of the best players on teams that close to 60 games or more and were considered among the top challengers to make the Finals.

In an ordinary year I think you're right and Harden wins it going away, for your reasons and for beating expectations, which is important too and why Lebron and Jordan aren't/weren't annual winners.

I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

[Moranis]

Here are some advanced stats for James, Westbrook, Harden, Leonard, and Thomas (the stats are in random order)

The stats are TS%, TRB%, AST%, TOV%, USG%

55.2/17.1/57.3/15.9/41.7
60.9/10.0/18.8/8.9/31.2
61.3/12.2/50.5/19.6/34.3
62.6/4.3/32.5/10.4/33.9
61.6/12.5/41.4/16.2/30.1

It should be fairly obvious from the stats who is who, but I think doing it a bit blind also shows just how close they all really are. 

[Androslav]

Here are some advanced stats for James, Westbrook, Harden, Leonard, and Thomas (the stats are in random order)

The stats are TS%, TRB%, AST%, TOV%, USG%

55.2/17.1/57.3/15.9/41.7
60.9/10.0/18.8/8.9/31.2
61.3/12.2/50.5/19.6/34.3
62.6/4.3/32.5/10.4/33.9
61.6/12.5/41.4/16.2/30.1

It should be fairly obvious from the stats who is who, but I think doing it a bit blind also shows just how close they all really are.

The fact that WB has unmatched USG% is not an argument in his favor as often presented IMO. I mean, there is a reason for it, if it is such a great recource, coaches would already forced it so far. MJ could have had a season with higher USG%, very, very probably with better efficiency, even without the longball. I admit, I am biased in the sense that I am raised on "Euro-school" and we always preached teamball.
I love to hear a nice guitar solo, but not the ones that present style over substance. Lead vocal (KD) left the band for that reason, from my POV.
One more thing, on a macro level. What would young talents about to enter the NBA learn from the possible WBs MVP award? "I gotta have the ball all the time. Me, me, me. Only I know what is right".
Using a politics term as a metaphore, RW is a modern day basketball dictator. I am not fond of that concept.
Even with all the info and long thought process, it is still such close call between Kawhi, Harden and WB, my MVP order.

[Who]

Royce Young twitter

Post All-Star:
- Harden: 28.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 10.9 apg, 44/31/85, Rockets 11-7
- Westbrook: 33.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 11.4 apg, 43/34/88, OKC 12-8

[Ilikesports17]

Royce Young twitter

Post All-Star:
- Harden: 28.9 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 10.9 apg, 44/31/85, Rockets 11-7
- Westbrook: 33.2 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 11.4 apg, 43/34/88, OKC 12-8

sick.
pre All-star:
-Harden: 29.2 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 11.3 apg, 44/35/85 Rockets 41-18 on 19 shots
-Westbrook: 31.1 ppg, 10.5rpg, 10.1 apg, 42/34/83 Thunder 32-25 on 24 shots

Im assuming Harden turns it over more tho

[max215]

LeBron James. He's the best player in the world. When he's on the court, the Cavs have a 118.2 ORTG, which would be by far the highest for a team in Bball Ref's database (since 1972.) When LeBron's off the court, Cavs have a -8.5 Net Rating, which would rank dead last for a team in the NBA this season...by a full point per 100 possessions. He is the best, the most valuable, and most deserving of the award.

PS: LeBron, Kawhi, Russ, and Harden all great choices, and there is no wrong answer this year.

Feeling pretty vindicated right now.

[nickagneta]

LeBron James. He's the best player in the world. When he's on the court, the Cavs have a 118.2 ORTG, which would be by far the highest for a team in Bball Ref's database (since 1972.) When LeBron's off the court, Cavs have a -8.5 Net Rating, which would rank dead last for a team in the NBA this season...by a full point per 100 possessions. He is the best, the most valuable, and most deserving of the award.

PS: LeBron, Kawhi, Russ, and Harden all great choices, and there is no wrong answer this year.

Feeling pretty vindicated right now.

I agree. Lebron is this league's MVP and has been for a decade.

[GC003332]

Here is a breakdown of Lebron James numbers vs the East and vs the West prior to tonight's game.

East

43 games played Cavs record 34-9 Pts 27.4 FG% 54.7 3pt% 38.6 FT% 67.4 TRB 8.8 Asts 9.1 +/- 9.6

West

28 games played Cavs record 16-12 Pts 24.3 FG% 53.8 3pt% 32.2 FT% 66.2 TRB 8.0 Asts 8.3 +/- 1.8

on the Road  vs West 13 games Cavs record 4-9 Pts 23.4 FG% 52.0 3pt% 32.8 FT% 66.2 TRB 7.2 Asts 7.5  +/-  -6.5

The Cavs didn't beat one Western Conference playoff team on the road the entire season , winning only at Phoenix, Minnesota, Sacramento and against the Lakers.

Good thing for Lebron he gets 52 games against the leastern conference as opposed to 30 against the West.

Hopefully the voters take these advantages he has over the top Western Conference contenders into account.