3 replies to this topic

[jtcooky]

It's never a bad time to start talking about the MVP eh?

 

In my opinion it's pretty much a two horse race. Kevin Durant or LeBron. Carmelo would probably be a distant third, and I've also heard some chatter that Tony Parker needs to be in the conversation. Just going by the eye test though, KD and LBJ pretty much are in a category of their own. The way they both play the game of basketball is almost hypnotic.

 

But in today's NBA (mostly the blogosphere), the eye test just doesn't cut it:

 

KD: 29.1 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 4.5 apg, 1.5 spg, 1.2 bpg, 3.2 tpg on 65.3 TS% with a 29.11 PER

 

LBJ: 26.6 ppg, 8.3 rpg, 7.0 apg, 1.7 spg, 0.8 bpg, 2.8 tpg on 61.8 TS% with a 30.48 PER

 

My gut feeling is KD over LeBron, but after watching LBJ play the last week or so I'm starting to doubt that. I'm sure the next time I watch Durant I'll be back in his corner. But certainly the MVP discussion shouldn't be limited to just these two, even if they have the highest odds.

 

Who ya got?

[Kevin]

Right now, the Top 4 for me is:

1. LeBron

2. Durant

3. CP3 (though he can't miss anymore games)

4. Carmelo

 

I had Durant in first for quite a while, but LeBron's recent play has been nothing short of astounding. The scary thing about LeBron is that, truly, I don't think he's quite giving it his all at this point in the year. He's been playing basketball nearly non-stop for the last two years, making Finals runs in consecutive years and then the Olympics this past summer. He's just playing with his foot off the pedal until the playoffs come around, and yet he's still playing amazing basketball.

 

Gotta give it to Bron.

[jtcooky]

I think when (if) this hot streak of LeBron's ends, KD's numbers will keep him slightly ahead of him. Especially if he can get into the 50-40-90 club.

 

However it's entirely possible that LBJ doesn't have a game where he shoots under 60% for the rest of the season. If I had to compare this stretch of his to any era of the United States; it would be the Roaring Twenties. In this case I doubt there's a depression waiting on the other side though.

[Kevin]

He won't be able to shoot above 60% for the rest of the season. He's good, but not THAT good. Every player is due for a bad night, or just playing some of the tougher defenses in the league (of the teams during this stretch, only one team was in the Top 10, which was the Clippers).