Feel the Game | 2017’s NBA MVP Leaders

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Bobby Motus
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Thursday, March 23, 2017
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UNLESS something unexpected happens, it points to a Cavs-Warrior trilogy for the league championship.  The top teams have been questionably resting their stars for some games, letting them have a little time off and be battle ready for the real NBA season to commence – the playoffs.  The practice is a disservice to the fans.  Good money, time and effort were spent just to see them play only to be deprived because management said so at the last moment.

Reigning league MVP Steph Curry is out of the mix as five other players have shown more consistent statistical data than the two-time MVP.  Yup, with Kevin Durant out courtesy of teammate Zaza Pachulia, Golden State lost their cloak of invincibility.  Particularly interesting is a sub-six footer, sixth year player now on his third team.

ISAIAH THOMAS – Just like the regular Otik or Andoy we encounter daily on our congested streets, Thomas is tiny by NBA standards.  At 5-9 and 185 pounds, he stands two inches taller than me and weighs just as much, but don’t be fooled by his built.  He defies the giants and submits per game averages of 29 points, 3 rebounds and 6 assists.

Drafted last at 60th by the Sacramento in 2011, Thomas also played for Phoenix but saw limited minutes because the Suns backcourt then had Goran Dragic, Eric Bledsoe, Brandon Knight and Seth Curry.  He finally settled with Boston and is very instrumental with the C’s rise, despite not having an impact star.  They’re second in the Eastern Conference behind powerhouse Cleveland.

KAWHI LEONARD – Since winning the Finals MVP three seasons ago at 22-years old, Kawhi’s consistency had made him MVP material.  Picked by the Pacers in 2011 at #15, he was sent to the Spurs for Indiana native George Hill and flourished as a starting small forward.

Going with his solid defense are his per game averages of 26 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists.  The Warriors are on regress mode and San Antonio is making a push not only as the Best in the West but the best in the league, standings wise with Leonard as a major contributor.

LEBRON JAMES – No intro needed here except that King James has become the NBA’s undisputed King of Flop.  Theatrics aside, he also acts as Cleveland’s de facto general manager demanding for players he can depend on which resulted in the signing of Kyle Korver, Deron Williams, Derrick Williams and Andrew Bogut.  Love him or hate him, LeBron will be leading the Cavalier charge for the city of Cleveland’s second title in 53 years.  If all else fails, he could always bring his talents elsewhere.

The next two had been turning out triple-double performances as if it’s just an ordinary thing to do.  Both are strong contenders to the award and I wouldn’t be surprised if the league decides to declare two regular season MVPs, an NBA first. 

JAMES HARDEN – Fear the Beard.  A transplanted point guard, Harden as of this writing recorded 19 triple-doubles, including four consecutive feats between March 12 to 18.  He is thriving in Coach Mike D’Antoni’s system of fast ball.  Remember Phoenix during the mid-2000?  D’Antoni let Steve Nash facilitate things which earned him back-to-back MVPs in 2005 and 2006.

Like Nash, Harden is a ball-dominant player who has the license to do things his way and provide scoring opportunities for shooters like new recruit Lou Williams, Trevor Ariza, Eric Gordon and Ryan Anderson.  LeBron does not have a patent on flopping as Harden can do similar dramatics that draw fouls.  The Beard is averaging a career best 29 points per game and a league leading 11 assists per game.  Houston might be relatively small but they make it up with the fast-paced offense starring Harden.

RUSSELL WESTBROOK – As we should have known by now, the league’s other strong MVP contender is about to join the very exclusive Oscar Robertson fraternity.  Russ could only be the second player in league history to average a triple-double for the entire regular season.  The Big O did it during the 1961-1962 season when he posted 41.

Westbrook is averaging 32 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists per game but after yesterday’s annihilation by the Warriors (the fourth this season) he only had a quite 15 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists.  OKC have 12 regular season games remaining and he has to average at least 7 rebounds and 8 assists in his team’s final 12 games to tie the Big O’s record.  According to stats, he has a 97 percent chance of tying the record.  With Westbrook posting triple doubles, OKC wins 82 percent of the time.

He has 34 tri-dubs for the season, is 5th all-time on the list behind Wilt Chamberlain (78), Jason Kidd (108), Magic Johnson (138) and Robinson (181). 

MVP TRIVIA – Hakeem Olajuwon was the first international player to win the MVP award.  Born in Nigeria, he became a naturalized US citizen in 1993 and played with the 2nd edition of the US Dream Team for the 1996 Olympics.  German Dirk Nowitzki was the last foreign-born player to win the MVP in 2007./PN

 

 

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