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NBA Awards Watch: Why Isn’t James Harden The MVP Favorite Again?

By Gerald Bourguet

Feb 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) points to the sky against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Rockets won 127-118. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 10, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) points to the sky against the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Center. The Rockets won 127-118. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 6, 2015; Oklahoma City, OK, USA; New Orleans Pelicans forward Anthony Davis (23) and New Orleans Pelicans guard Tyreke Evans (1) celebrate after the game winning shot against the Oklahoma City Thunder at Chesapeake Energy Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark D. Smith-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Anthony Davis

46 games, 35.8 MPG, 24.5 PPG, 10.3 RPG, 2.7 BPG, 1.7 APG, 1.5 SPG, .551/—/.831 shooting, 31.8 PER

Last week: 3 (⇔)

Thanks to a sprained right shoulder injury he sustained after 13 minutes of play against the Chicago Bulls, Anthony Davis basically only played two games over the past week. Still, his place in the top three is unquestionable considering the kind of season he’s had.

If team success weren’t a factor here, Davis would probably be the hands-on favorite to win the MVP. His PER of 31.80 is right up there with Wilt Chamberlain‘s record PER of 31.82 and he also leads the league in blocks. If that’s not enough, perhaps a 41-point outing against the Thunder — including his first three of the season for the first game-winner of his career — is enough to grab your attention?

It’s also worth noting what happened as soon as Davis left that Bulls game with the shoulder injury: the New Orleans Pelicans proceeded to get blown out by 35 at home, and with the Brow on the bench Monday night, the Pellies lost to the Utah Jazz on their own floor. As far as “value” is concerned, Anthony Davis getting over that injury is paramount to New Orleans’ playoff hopes — and, by extension, his own MVP campaign.

For Davis to be a more unanimous selection, he’s going to have to push his PER into uncharted territory and past Chamberlain. He’s going to have to increase those block numbers back up to around three per game. But most of all, he’s going to have to get healthy immediately and lead the Pellies to the promised land.

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