Cleveland Cavaliers: LeBron James’ MVP position after All-Star break
By Ryan Piers
1. James Harden
The Beard is LeBron’s most formidable competition for MVP. Despite missing a couple weeks due to injury, Harden has guided Houston to league’s best record at the All-Star break. He’s leading the league with 31.3 points per game, a career best, with a 54.7 effective field goal percentage. That is also a career best. His 9.0 assists with 5.1. rebounds per game aren’t too shabby either.
You’d be splitting hairs between picking he and James for first-half MVP. Take VORP, for example. Harden’s is a league-leading 5.8 with LeBron at 5.7. Harden is first in Box Plus/Minus while James is second, and both have the exact same true shooting percentage at 62.2 percent.
Harden electrifies crowds with an ever-improving array of crossover dribbles. Wily and efficient, he dominates opponents while seemingly moving at 75 percent speed. It’s probably this comfortable pace that allows him to have the league’s highest usage percentage. Just look at this clip. It’s almost as if Harden is moving in slow motion, but his NBA opponent still stumbles and stagnates as if his feat were stuck in quagmire.
Woops, my mistake. That’s a video of Harden embarrassing a child. But let’s be honest, NBA players hardly fare any better.
Now LeBron, too, amazes with his own acrobatics and continually improving outside shot, which is what keeps LeBron constantly in contention for the league’s most coveted individual prize. His improved jumper allowed him to keep pace with a changing, 3-point heavy game.
Again, you’re splitting hairs here. Both players are having excellent years and are clearly one-two in MVP discussions. Because he leads the league in scoring and most advanced measurements, Harden is the current frontrunner for the award. Captaining the team with the NBA’s best record doesn’t hurt either.
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But James is rising with a bullet thanks to the changes Cleveland made at the trade deadline. Even if Harden is on track for his first MVP trophy, LeBron is still in striking range to swipe it.