32 replies to this topic

[Red94]

Your top contenders right now are Harden, Anthony Davis, and Steph Curry.  Lebron eventually if those guys get it together.  Not sure I can think of anyone else off the top of my head.  Anthony Davis' challenge will be having a good enough record, otherwise the award has his name on it given the type of number he is going to put up.  Curry will probably end up the favorite given the media's lovefest with the GSW.

[timetodienow1234567]

Is curry playing the best on his team? Klay is playing pretty well.

[thejohnnygold]

I've been watching a lot of GS the past week or so--largely because they keep playing good teams.  Curry looks like he is trying to adjust his game a bit.  I think Kerr wants them to play as one unit on both ends and they are trying to make it happen, but right now it leads to a lot of turnovers.  Curry defers a lot on offense to the likes of Draymond Green, Mareese Speights, Iguodala, Bogut, Livingston, and on down the list.  Obviously, you want Curry taking lots of shots.

 

Initially, it is going to be a little rough, but I like what they are aiming for and, when it gels...yikes!  Meanwhile, I think this leads Curry to some up and down performances because he is less concerned about getting himself in a rhythm as he is the team on the whole.  Once he strikes that balance, again....YIKES!

 

I can say that San Antonio did a great job defending GS last night.  Watch the last 5-8 minutes or so of the 4th quarter.  They neutralized Curry and the 3 pt. line forcing GS to score inside--which they did an ok job of--but they were down 10 and the Spurs were equally, if not more, effective on offense.  The Spurs looked very, very good last night.  (also did anyone else see Dallas swap a -24 scoring margin into a +8 by the final buzzer.  Sacramento completely fell apart.  Dallas erased a 24 point deficit in 14 minutes of game play.)

 

On another side note, does anyone else think the NBA got noticeably better across the board from last season or am I just experiencing the relativity of not having watched much bball over the Summer?  It feels like the entire league took a step up from last year.  Maybe I just keep catching games where teams are performing really well....it's not like I'm tuning in to see Milwaukee vs. Philadelphia.

 

Also, don't leave Chris Bosh out of the MVP.  If Miami can finish 1 or 2 out East Bosh's story makes for some compelling voting.  A guy who spent 4 years embodying selflessness emerging to lead a team like he has so far will get some voter love.

[DenverRocket]

" I can say that San Antonio did a great job defending GS last night.  Watch the last 5-8 minutes or so of the 4th quarter.  They neutralized Curry and the 3 pt. line forcing GS to score inside--which they did an ok job of--but they were down 10 and the Spurs were equally, if not more, effective on offense.  The Spurs looked very, very good last night.  (also did anyone else see Dallas swap a -24 scoring margin into a +8 by the final buzzer.  Sacramento completely fell apart.  Dallas erased a 24 point deficit in 14 minutes of game play.)

 

On another side note, does anyone else think the NBA got noticeably better across the board from last season or am I just experiencing the relativity of not having watched much bball over the Summer?  It feels like the entire league took a step up from last year.  Maybe I just keep catching games where teams are performing really well....it's not like I'm tuning in to see Milwaukee vs. Philadelphia."

 

 

I saw both games and concur. I thought the officiating in the Dallas game favored the home team though, there were a lot of non-calls at the end that favored the Mavs IMO.

 

As for across the board general improvement, not sure. But there have definitely been some great games already. It's nice to see a few different teams in the early mix too.

 

The main thing,as a Rockets fan, is to just enjoy the ride (whatever the final outcome) and enjoy having somethingto cheer about. I've found myself wearing a Rockets hoodie out and about a lot this week and feeling GOOD about it :-)

Edited by DenverRocket, 12 November 2014 - 06:59 PM.

[Sir Thursday]

On another side note, does anyone else think the NBA got noticeably better across the board from last season or am I just experiencing the relativity of not having watched much bball over the Summer?  It feels like the entire league took a step up from last year.  Maybe I just keep catching games where teams are performing really well....it's not like I'm tuning in to see Milwaukee vs. Philadelphia.

 

I think that's an effect of the struggles some of the top teams have had. As a result of OKC and Cleveland being in difficulty, more focus gets put on the other teams that are playing well than they would normally get. You end up feeling like there are more good teams than usual (or at least, that's how I feel) when in reality it's just that the teams you normally associate with winning haven't been doing quite such a good job of it.

 

ST

[bboley24]

NONE OF YOU ARE LOOKING AT DWIGHT'S NUMBERS!!!!

If Dwight can sustain and we continue to do well enough to get into a top 4 seed; There will be a very good argument for Dwight as MVP if he can stay healthy.

[thejohnnygold]

Thanks for shouting at us without posting any pertinent information--you even found time to do it in multiple spots, but not time to post these amazing stats.    

 

Unfortunately, I just experienced the joy that is typing out an entire post full of all the wonderful details and data that none of us are looking at (allegedly) only to hit the wrong key and have it all vanish.  Alas, I won't be typing it out again, but the numbers are very good--Orlando good.

 

Here is a LINK to lots of good stats and stuff and here is the LINK I posted in another thread showing how good his defense has been.

 

Be sure to study his shooting chart.  He is killing it.  The fallacy that James Harden is our only creator and play maker will die once people realize that the post is a viable option for us.

[thenit]

He is a MVP candidate but unfortunately our two stars will split the votes. The reason Harden might win it is that he is the best at his position. I don't think you can argue that Howard is better than Davis. IMO Davis already surpassed Howard. His numbers are way better than Howard at the moment.

[Losthief]

Davis is a PF, Howard is a C, plus you don't win MVP unless your team is a top 3 record in the nba (its something like 97 percent). That said, hard to argue about the split vote thing...maybe they'll split all the votes and they'll win co-mvps!

Edited by Losthief, 17 November 2014 - 05:43 AM.

[Willk]

Your top contenders right now are Harden, Anthony Davis, and Steph Curry. Lebron eventually if those guys get it together. Not sure I can think of anyone else off the top of my head. Anthony Davis' challenge will be having a good enough record, otherwise the award has his name on it given the type of number he is going to put up. Curry will probably end up the favorite given the media's lovefest with the GSW.

Anybody notice that Harden is leading the league in win shares? Harden is also tied w/ Howard for the lead in def rtg.

[adonneus]

Anybody notice that Harden is leading the league in win shares? Harden is also tied w/ Howard for the lead in def rtg.

Link for people like me who weren't aware of where to look for this (I'm still trying to find my way around basketball-reference)

 

Looks like he's not at the top of Defensive Rating anymore, but Harden, Howard, and Ariza are all tied for the best Defensive Win Shares.

[Willk]

Link for people like me who weren't aware of where to look for this (I'm still trying to find my way around basketball-reference)

 

Looks like he's not at the top of Defensive Rating anymore, but Harden, Howard, and Ariza are all tied for the best Defensive Win Shares.

You're right. Harden is not topping the defense rating chart anymore. Top 5 is not bad:

http://www.basketbal...5_per_poss.html

here is the link for the win shares:

http://www.basketbal...5_advanced.html

[thenit]

Davis is a PF, Howard is a C, plus you don't win MVP unless your team is a top 3 record in the nba (its something like 97 percent). That said, hard to argue about the split vote thing...maybe they'll split all the votes and they'll win co-mvps!

My bad I should have included the best big man and Harden is the best guard.