I hope Durant gets the MVP, and then Lebron smokes him in the Finals using that as motivation... (playoffs, win)
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The idea that anyone would gift Durant the MVP over Lebron is absurd? I guess master efficiency, making others better around you, and being the best defensive player in the league who can guard all 5 positions on the floor doesn't matter. If Lebron just channeled in on scoring and neglected the other areas of his game to fall in line with Durants level of play in said areas...I have no doubt Lebron would be a "scoring machine" as well. Bottom line= Durant gets the MVP, Lebron gets to be world champion.
I think MVP can often go to the guy having the best season and not necessarily the guy you would pick first to be on your team. If GM's could pick any player for this season to win a championship, I think most would build around Lebron. However, the gap is definitely closing very quickly. It's hard to knock a guy that's putting up 32.1ppg/7.6 reb/5.6 ast while shooting nearly 51%, 40% from 3 and 87% the free throw line.
but if you look at their numbers, preferably the per 36 numbers as it is a more balanced number they are pretty close.
durant per 36, 30 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 5.2 apg, 1.2 spg
lebron per 36, 25.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 6.2 apg, 1.5 spg.
now that said, the thunder have a better record than do the heat, AND the thunder have been without their 2nd best player for almost half the season. the thunder also play in a much more competitive western conference. durant doesnt have wade and bosh to fall back on. with westbrook out his 2nd fiddle is who exactly?
lebron is NOT that far ahead of kevin, if he is ahead of him still.
I am so tired of people talking about how great a defensive player Lebron is. Don't get me wrong he's good, but he is still overrated. He cannot guard 5 positions on the court. That is an absurd statement. When he has to guard big bruising forwards like David West, it is challenging for him and I have not seen him consistently stop a 5 in the league. To say he can guard 5 positions is an exaggeration. Can he guard most? Yes, but he has had times where he has struggled defending (Jason Terry?). On top of that as already mentioned Durant has put up comparable numbers in a situation without his second best teammate for most of the year. Lebron can still be the best player without being the most valuable and that is the case this year.
...I'm just saying Wade hasn't exactly been the second man for LeBron. I'd put Serge Ibaka as being just as important as Chris Bosh. So in the whole "hasn't had his right-hand man" I think its fairly equal.
...I'm just saying Wade hasn't exactly been the second man for LeBron. I'd put Serge Ibaka as being just as important as Chris Bosh. So in the whole "hasn't had his right-hand man" I think its fairly equal.
I do think KD deserves the MVP this year though.
Dwyane Wade = All-Star, played in 51 games
Russell Westbrook = ?, played in 42 games
Ibaka is no Chris Bosh. There is no comparison. Ibaka in one dimensional on offense. Bosh is a much, much more skilled offensive player and is a legit second option, while Ibaka is at best a third or fourth option.
I am so tired of people talking about how great a defensive player Lebron is. Don't get me wrong he's good, but he is still overrated. He cannot guard 5 positions on the court. That is an absurd statement. When he has to guard big bruising forwards like David West, it is challenging for him and I have not seen him consistently stop a 5 in the league. To say he can guard 5 positions is an exaggeration. Can he guard most? Yes, but he has had times where he has struggled defending (Jason Terry?). On top of that as already mentioned Durant has put up comparable numbers in a situation without his second best teammate for most of the year. Lebron can still be the best player without being the most valuable and that is the case this year.
Lebron is the best defensive player in the league. He has guarded 1-4 in the playoffs and made big stops on them. He has no major issues with guarding David West. He usually wont guarding. Lebron is almost West's size.
As for MVP Durant deserves it this year. Simple as that. Is Lebron still the best overall player in the league? Yes, but Durant has improved once again and deserves MVP. If the Heat did not have that 10-8 March and went say 14-4 it might be a bit different.
Do you really think Lebron cares enough about an MVP award (which he's won multiple times already) that it would give him extra motivation he didn't have otherwise to win a championship? KD's had an amazing season, and deserves his recognition. It's not like a Nash vs Bryant situation or anything close.
Ibaka is no Chris Bosh. There is no comparison. Ibaka in one dimensional on offense. Bosh is a much, much more skilled offensive player and is a legit second option, while Ibaka is at best a third or fourth option.
So to your first point you're nitpicking over 9 games.
They have slightly different styles but I think Ibaka is just as good, if not better on the two-way. Bosh gets a little higher PPG but he jacks up more shots getting there. If Bosh is still the better PF its not by much anymore. The only offensive edge he still has over Serge is the better pick and roll / pick and pop mindgame.
Lebron is the best defensive player in the league.He has guarded 1-4 in the playoffs and made big stops on them. He has no major issues with guarding David West. He usually wont guarding. Lebron is almost West's size.
As for MVP Durant deserves it this year. Simple as that. Is Lebron still the best overall player in the league? Yes, but Durant has improved once again and deserves MVP. If the Heat did not have that 10-8 March and went say 14-4 it might be a bit different.
Joakim Noah has done so as well and is a much more consistent defender.
Bottom line, unless I see Lebron guarding Roy Hibbert or Dwight Howard, we need to stop saying he can guard all 5 positions. It's just not true.
Last edited by justtitans; 04-08-2014 at 09:19 AM..
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