Kawhi would be talked about more, if he hadn't alienated most of the voters by his clueless and tone-deaf treatment of the Spurs and their fans for an entire year before the trade to Toronto. He'll need at least another season of rehabilitating his reputation before he gets any consideration at all.
Harden has earned it by being a relentless scoring machine all season. That streak of consecutive unassisted baskets was insane. Giannis, by comparison was just his usual freaky unicorn self, awesome in his own way, but not as consistently reliable as Harden. The Rockets' problems this year all have to do with CP3's injury and Capela's drop-off. Harden has delivered like a mofo.
― A is for (Aimless), Thursday, 28 February 2019 18:31 (five years ago) link
btw i put them in order of how i see it atm
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Thursday, 28 February 2019 18:33 (five years ago) link
harden already got his and the bucks have the best record. giannis has been very consistent!
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Thursday, 28 February 2019 18:39 (five years ago) link
this is a 3-man race between giannis, harden, and paul george, with jokic being in his own tier at 4 imo, and the rest really not being important
harden's been slipping over the past couple of weeks, and has been dowright awful since the all star break, but I think at least some of that has been re-integrating with chris paul, who has been playing better and assuming a larger role in the offense, something the rockets need him to do if they're going to challenge the warriors again in the playoffs. I think this is ultimately unfair, but unless harden goes supernova (again) from here on out, I think the timing of the tear he went on earlier in the year is going to hurt him as much as it'll help him -- people are bored by his greatness and I think let their personal opinions of the aesthetics of his game overshadow just how unstoppable he was, and how utterly crucial that stretch was in not only keeping the rockets afloat but vaulting them from 14th in the west to 5th while paul was out. and the guy is scoring more than anyone in modern NBA history, and doing it without losing one ounce of his usual efficiency. I mean come on
the case for giannis (and, in a way, jokic) is much more straightforward: he's the best player and fulcrum of the best team in the league, (and one that's flying under the radar as statistically one of the strongest regular season teams ever) and doing it while basically putting up prime shaq's shooting numbers in kevin durant's body. by the way, he's hit 31% of his threes in january and now 40% of his threes in february. if this is a sign that, in a season or two, he can be an average 3pt shooter, we're past MVP discussions and might be looking at one of the 5 best players of all time. weirdly, I think he can even improve more on defense too, and he's already a terror
paul george has basically morphed into 80% of kevin durant's offense and 125% of his defense, frankly a shocking leap for a player his age who it seemed like we'd seen everything he had to show us. there's something to be said about the way russ has deferred to him this year, especially late in games, in a way he never even did with KD, but part of that might be russ's own (offensive) decline and maybe billy donovan's coaching. ultimately it's hard to make a case for george when the other major candidates either have better numbers than him or are doing just as much to help their teams, but he's deserving of a top 3 vote
― k3vin k., Thursday, 28 February 2019 19:23 (five years ago) link
100 otm. Only really included kd and Steph if they end up with the best record and one of them goes nuts from here on out. Jokic needs a narrative push and a huge finish to the season but even then it’s a big stretch to overcome those three.
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Thursday, 28 February 2019 19:31 (five years ago) link
agreed that giannis/harden/george are your real options. from a marketing perspective, if the bucks end up winning the east (and they likely will), i presume you give it to giannis as a way to stir up some MUST SEE TV vibes. Otherwise, barring a massive collapse, you back-to-back harden. george doesn't have the name recognition with the general public and, in a year with lebron maybe not making the playoffs, i think the NBA won't take the risk.
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Thursday, 28 February 2019 19:54 (five years ago) link
well the NBA doesn’t dictate who wins, and the votes are due at the end of the regular season, not during/after the playoffs
― k3vin k., Thursday, 28 February 2019 21:55 (five years ago) link
further reading from amicohttps://theathletic.com/843494/
and harperhttps://theathletic.com/836876/
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Thursday, 28 February 2019 21:57 (five years ago) link
xp i thought mvp was announced during playoffs, my badand yes, votes are from the journalistic community but allow me my tinhat to conflate sportspress with nba in the belief that there's some common goals as far as pulling attention is concerned for both
― Fuck the NRA (ulysses), Friday, 1 March 2019 00:30 (five years ago) link
insofar as "narrative" matters to voters, perhaps. and the award is announced during the playoffs, but is voted on before them
― k3vin k., Friday, 1 March 2019 02:43 (five years ago) link
jesus harden, 40% usage rate?
― voodoo chili, Friday, 1 March 2019 05:46 (five years ago) link
yeah. you'd think the opposing players would try guarding him, am I right?
― A is for (Aimless), Friday, 1 March 2019 06:34 (five years ago) link
alright im leaning harden again
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Monday, 4 March 2019 20:20 (five years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll is closing tomorrow.
― System, Friday, 8 March 2019 00:01 (five years ago) link
Automatic thread bump. This poll's results are now in.
― System, Saturday, 9 March 2019 00:01 (five years ago) link
https://sports.yahoo.com/why-james-harden-is-even-better-than-you-think-143013213.html
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, 13 March 2019 21:05 (five years ago) link
good piece
― Jeff Bathos (symsymsym), Thursday, 14 March 2019 01:23 (five years ago) link
windy all nba talkhttp://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/26306393/tens-millions-stake-all-nba-sprint-finish
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, 20 March 2019 16:40 (five years ago) link
it seems that this is one of the first years in a while that it's tough to find enough worthy players to fill out both the forward and the guard spots
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 20 March 2019 17:42 (five years ago) link
giannis gonna win it
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 20 March 2019 17:42 (five years ago) link
PG normalized after his hot streak which he does every year (shooting splits since asb 38/31)JH also came down to earth a bit, to be expected after he got his squad back and could chill a bit (shooting splits post asb 41/27)
Giannis has increased his 3p% by a whole point post asb and everything else has maintained. Bucks are going to have the best record. It's his.
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, 20 March 2019 17:51 (five years ago) link
also hes lovable
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 20 March 2019 17:53 (five years ago) link
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DWLj6cbW4AMpv8N.jpg
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, 20 March 2019 17:56 (five years ago) link
lmao
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 20 March 2019 17:57 (five years ago) link
this was good i thinkhttps://bleacherreport.com/articles/2828714-15-nba-stars-who-would-have-been-your-parents-mvp
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Tuesday, 2 April 2019 17:08 (five years ago) link
ROY is gonna go to Luka BUT the raw stats (and even TS%) have really evened out over the season between he and Trae. http://bkref.com/tiny/GCdZ2like it's really close. I would consider a co-ROY thing for real.
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, 3 April 2019 20:28 (five years ago) link
its crazy what a big load both of them are carrying @ 20 y/o
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 3 April 2019 20:32 (five years ago) link
trial by fire and so forth, not sure its really the best approach tbh
its fine if you're all in on the star and you want to build from the ground up.
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, 3 April 2019 21:01 (five years ago) link
yeah I mean only a certain caliber of player can handle it, I do think luka is a level or two above trae especially projecting forward but trae has been out of his mind since 2019 started
― k3vin k., Wednesday, 3 April 2019 21:28 (five years ago) link
Every time people start hyping Trae young I check the stats and he’s still shooting 42/33 on the season. Luka’s just better.
― Matt Armstrong, Thursday, 4 April 2019 00:54 (five years ago) link
I mean trae’s been nuts and I’m really optimistic about him...but luka will be an MVP candidate in a few years
― k3vin k., Thursday, 4 April 2019 01:57 (five years ago) link
luka cld get there but thats a long road
― lag∞n, Thursday, 4 April 2019 02:04 (five years ago) link
Luka is also shooting 43/33 Matt
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Thursday, 4 April 2019 02:17 (five years ago) link
heh
― lag∞n, Thursday, 4 April 2019 02:18 (five years ago) link
lollllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll
― you know who deserves sitewide mod privileges? (m bison), Thursday, 4 April 2019 02:21 (five years ago) link
that's just better, last i checked
― ciderpress, Thursday, 4 April 2019 02:33 (five years ago) link
lagoon your luka skepticism is funny to me, what is your angle?
― k3vin k., Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:18 (five years ago) link
white genocide
― you know who deserves sitewide mod privileges? (m bison), Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:19 (five years ago) link
just the most impressive teenager since lebron, can basically do everything, what’s not to love
― k3vin k., Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:30 (five years ago) link
its the thing abt being the best teen since lebron its just obvs not true, i cant stand for it
― lag∞n, Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:34 (five years ago) link
can u name a better 1
― k3vin k., Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:35 (five years ago) link
like in real life teens are usually bad
ant davis obvs for one just real super clear
― lag∞n, Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:36 (five years ago) link
is zion in the nba yet?
― you know who deserves sitewide mod privileges? (m bison), Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:37 (five years ago) link
yeah otm zion too
― lag∞n, Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:37 (five years ago) link
hes prob not even still the best by whatever bs stat was cooked up anymore tbh that was when he was on a heater at the beginning of the year
― lag∞n, Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:40 (five years ago) link
best teen since lebron was bieber
― Clay, Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:50 (five years ago) link
i mean not at basketball but he was the #1 teen you cant deny it
― Clay, Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:51 (five years ago) link
bieber is going to be a dad can u believe it feel like hes grown so much been on a major journey
― lag∞n, Thursday, 4 April 2019 03:52 (five years ago) link
idk i look at a bunch of stuff but obv theres nothing that really matters the non-discrete-event parts of defense
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 19:05 (four years ago) link
*measures
u cant quantify basketball its mystical some might even say religious
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 19:06 (four years ago) link
best way is probably just finding as large as possible on/off samples
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 19:07 (four years ago) link
or summon a ghost then ask the ghost
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 19:10 (four years ago) link
wait is this voted on by media or coaches or both? coaches def know who the best defenders are
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 19:15 (four years ago) link
Klay doesn't make spectacular defensive plays but he is so fundamentally sound on that end mentally and technique wise. I never see a team or even player try to go at him.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 19:17 (four years ago) link
feel like a lot of good perimeter defenders who also have substantial scoring loads spend a lot of the reg season coasting on the defensive end cause no one really has the energy, so u see kawhi or klay doing shutdown stuff in the offs that theyre not necessary doing all season
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 19:19 (four years ago) link
I think we can say for sure that Bledsoe is the shortest
― reggae mike love (polyphonic), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 20:45 (four years ago) link
I'm thinking him, CP3, and Mookie are the shortest guys to make All D?
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 20:48 (four years ago) link
this is solely voted on by media folk?? lame af
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 20:51 (four years ago) link
feel like coaches should def have a say in this
― but I can't let Trae do it I got Huerter on my mind (Spottie), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 21:09 (four years ago) link
would solve a lot of problems if they just let the media coach the teams while the coaches vote on the awards
― ciderpress, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 21:11 (four years ago) link
all groups player coaches media shd have their own awards wld be interesting to compare and contrast
― lag∞n, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 21:12 (four years ago) link
^co-sign
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 22:01 (four years ago) link
I hear media opinions ALL THE TIME. They're not hard to find. Meanwhile every lil nugget of "insider" talk re: how certain players are discussed, gameplanned for, evaluated, etc from coaches and current players is treasured like a rare taco and devoured by me.
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 22:03 (four years ago) link
my kingdom for a compendium of scouting reports
― A True White Kid that can Jump (Granny Dainger), Wednesday, 22 May 2019 22:04 (four years ago) link
media guys do so much voting based on reputation it’s dumb. this has prob been getting better over the years but still
― Clay, Wednesday, 22 May 2019 23:05 (four years ago) link
all nbahttps://pbs.twimg.com/media/D7RT4leUcAAzSpf.jpg
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:04 (four years ago) link
so I guess this means there's a better chance Kemba stays in Charlotte now that they can offer him the supermax. this might end up being more of a curse than a blessing though, seems like every mega deal handed out to a PG in recent years (Wall, Paul, Westbrook, Conley) has been a mistake or looks almost certain to become one in the near future.
― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:27 (four years ago) link
I'd swap KD for PG and the rest looks ok.
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:30 (four years ago) link
yeah kemba should probably stay haha. only supermax that has worked is the curry one.
harden too
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:32 (four years ago) link
seeing lebron on the 3rd team is kinda O__o but is also the right decision.
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:43 (four years ago) link
pg on the first team is corny
― call all destroyer, Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:53 (four years ago) link
The fact that both Giannis and Harden were unanimous 1st team picks makes it even more apparent that the MVP race is between those two and quite close.
― A is for (Aimless), Thursday, 23 May 2019 18:54 (four years ago) link
I think Giannis is going to win pretty comfortably, that's my prediction.
― Evans on Hammond (evol j), Thursday, 23 May 2019 19:23 (four years ago) link
interesting side effect of coasting the reg season
A real-time reaction at what it looks like when you think you're getting an extra $30M and then get it clarified that you're not. Amazing video. https://t.co/FDrEWseOJs— Brian Windhorst (@WindhorstESPN) May 23, 2019
― lag∞n, Thursday, 23 May 2019 19:58 (four years ago) link
klay didnt coast as much as others on the team imo. he just shot poorly to start the season.
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:01 (four years ago) link
whole team coasting tho prob cost him
― lag∞n, Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:04 (four years ago) link
coasted into first place
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:05 (four years ago) link
3rd place iirc
― lag∞n, Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:07 (four years ago) link
right right pretty crazy they will not have homecourt vs either team
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:16 (four years ago) link
they have some things to work out in the next cbahttps://i.imgur.com/Ra9orPZ.png
― easy ball shooter (Spottie), Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:19 (four years ago) link
yeah thats kinda a funny way to do things
― lag∞n, Thursday, 23 May 2019 20:20 (four years ago) link
if i was a media person i would simply not vote
― ciderpress, Thursday, 23 May 2019 21:23 (four years ago) link
i wld vote vindictively based on which players were nice to me
― lag∞n, Thursday, 23 May 2019 21:44 (four years ago) link
Lol so the awards show is tonight and they’re giving out all the reg season awards what a sham no one cares any more
― big city slam (Spottie), Tuesday, 25 June 2019 00:48 (four years ago) link
the famous dunk is its own reward— br⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️⚫️seph (@on3ness) June 24, 2019
― lag∞n, Tuesday, 25 June 2019 01:05 (four years ago) link
some vintage luka hateration from lagoon itt
― k3vin k., Thursday, 14 November 2019 23:54 (four years ago) link
omg u guys r such babies abt luka
― lag∞n, Friday, 15 November 2019 03:07 (four years ago) link
I am going to be a single-issue poster this season and that issue will be zion luka
― k3vin k., Monday, October 21, 2019 10:38 AM (three weeks ago) bookmarkflaglink
― k3vin k., Friday, 15 November 2019 03:25 (four years ago) link
lol
― lag∞n, Friday, 15 November 2019 03:38 (four years ago) link
Lagoon is just asking questions. All the questions are about Luka not being good somehow but
― Matt Armstrong, Friday, 15 November 2019 16:04 (four years ago) link