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NBA Awards Watch: Stephen Curry Is Going To Win MVP

By Gerald Bourguet

March 31, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after scoring a basket against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
March 31, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) reacts after scoring a basket against Los Angeles Clippers during the second half at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Apr 2, 2015; Dallas, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard James Harden (13) defends against the Dallas Mavericks during the second quarter at the American Airlines Center. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

2. James Harden

76 games, 36.9 MPG, 27.7 PPG, 6.9 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.9 SPG, .443/.381/.865 shooting, 27.0 PER

Last week: 1 (⇓1)

For weeks I’ve argued that James Harden should be the MVP favorite over Stephen Curry. Even Grantland’s Andrew Sharp agreed with me — in terms of the strict “Most Valuable” definition, this award belongs to nobody but the Beard.

If you take a look at the rosters of the Houston Rockets and Golden State Warriors without their MVP candidates, you’ll notice a major difference: one is still very good and one is not. Dwight Howard has missed half the season and yet Harden is carrying the likes of Donatas Motiejunas, Josh Smith and Trevor Ariza to the second seed in one of the most brutal Western Conferences we’ve ever seen.

The Warriors would still be a playoff team sans Curry. The Rockets would be a lottery team sans Harden, especially with an injured Howard. There are so many conflicting stats that serve as testaments to both Harden and Curry as being more deserving, but suffice it to say that we can make the argument for Harden over Curry just as easily as Curry over Harden.

If we were still doing these rankings according to who is the most deserving, I’d probably still have Harden at No. 1. But it’s time to accept that Curry is going to win the award. He’s more likable, he’s the best player on the league’s best team and his game is far more aesthetically pleasing than Harden’s…which is too bad, since Harden is having a season on par with peak Kobe Bryant and peak Dwyane Wade.

Next: No. 1 - Chef Curry