NBA recap: All-Star roundup, 3 storylines to monitor and games to watch
2. Can anybody separate themselves in MVP race?
The MVP race is one of the highly contested debates to keep the NBA Twitter engine functioning in full force throughout the NBA season. Revisionist history loves to go back and quibble at why James Harden and Kawhi Leonard fell to triple-double king Russell Westbrook in the 2016-17 season, and this field of MVP hopefuls is deeper and as contentious as the 2016-17 race.
The triumvirate of superstars vying for this year’s MVP includes the current holder of the award in James Harden, the best player on the NBA’s best team in Giannis Antetokounmpo and the league’s best two-way player this season in Paul George.
Players like Stephen Curry (ridiculous efficiency), Kevin Durant (typical KD season), Kawhi (best player on league’s second-best team averaging a career-high in points), Joel Embiid (monster two-way season) and Nikola Jokic (leading the Denver Nuggets to the 2-seed with his wizardry) are a step-below this trio, which speaks to the level they are playing at this season.
These three players are all enjoying career seasons on very successful teams, but each case is different, which will inevitably lead to the splitting of hairs among voters. Harden is breaking scoring records (second longest 30-points scoring streak ever, averaging 36.6 points per game overall) for the Houston Rockets, doing most of his damage with Chris Paul sidelined due to injury. However, his isolation-heavy game may rub voters the wrong way.
Giannis has the preseason narrative working in his favor, and would have even better stats than his 27.2 points (shooting 58.1 percent from the field!!), 12.7 rebounds, 6.0 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks in only 33.2 minutes per game if the Milwaukee Bucks weren’t destroying the league. He’s the best player on the NBA’s best team, something that usually swings voters to their side.
Paul George is merely averaging career-highs in points (28.7), rebounds (8.0) and assists per game (4.1) while shooting a ridiculous 40.6 percent on 9.6 3-point attempts per game. PG has been clutch for the Oklahoma City Thunder all season, and is the favorite to win the Defensive Player of the Year award. This two-way prowess is rivaled by Giannis, but PG does more on-ball defending and takes on the opponent’s best scorer every night.
This vote is a matter of what you value. Is needed hero-ball and unprecedented scoring your cup of tea? Or dominance on both sides of the floor with better team records more of your style? Regardless, the MVP debate will be one of the main storylines until the award is announced.