Mark Cuban: "MVP Is A Toss Up Between Lebron & Harden"

[Pimp]

Okc is losing because Olidipo is out and there's nobody to pick up the scoring. OKC even making the playoffs is a big deal since they lost ibaka and durant..

Lebron is so valuable but Miami about to make the playoffs without the big 3.

 

[HandyWithTheSteel]

He's right

Westbrook's team won't win enough games and he's too inefficient. Shooting 41.9% with 5.5 turnovers

Oscar didn't win MVP when he averaged a triple double either.

 

[<<TheStandard>>]

Just to play devil's advocate -

To be fair to Westbrook he scored 49 points on 47% shooting (8-15 from behind the arc) in that game, whereas Harden put up 26 points on 37% shooting and had quite a lot of ticky-tack fouls go his way (twice as many FTMs than FGMs). Sure Westbrook could've definitely made a better decision on that last possession, but it wasn't like he didn't thoroughly outperform Harden - who had the benefit of balanced scoring throughout the team (yes, it was partly because he was passing more, but the team did generate a lot of production without Harden's direct hand).

Harden's performed pretty poorly against the Thunder this season:

37% shooting performance with six turnovers
26% shooting performance with eight turnovers
25% shooting performance with six turnovers

When they've faced off this season, Westbrook has pretty much made him a footnote in most of those 12 periods, and despite his inconsistent decision making clearly showed why he's the one with a better skillset and more impact.

I can't argue with any of this.....I'd add, Harden has had some downright awful shooting games this year in addition to the same stat padding bullshyt I've seen from RWB which have inflated their numbers.

but isn't decision making a skill? It's one thing to have a better skillset and be able to put pressure on defenses like none other but what does it matter if you consistently make poor decisions and as you say his shot/pass compass is off.

 

[street heat]

i dont believe hes right, but even if he is, why would an owner come out and say these things ? and he wonders why none of the big free agents never want to go play for him. he even broke up the championship team in hopes of getting one and struck out every time.

 

[L&HH]

Okc is losing because Olidipo is out and there's nobody to pick up the scoring. OKC even making the playoffs is a big deal since they lost ibaka and durant..

Lebron is so valuable but Miami about to make the playoffs without the big 3.

I'm not getting you're Miami argument. It's not even anywhere near the same team. The only player that's there from the Big 3 days is Haslem and he doesn't even play.

 

[brother walt]

LeBron can be MVP every year literally people just tired of him getting it

 

[MJ Truth]

To me the MVP is between Harden and Kawhi and Kawhi has made a very strong push lately. Especially in the past 3 games where they could have easily let the Rockets back into contention for the 2 seed. The game winner in Indy, the strip on Jrue, the strip on Wiggins, just clutch plays all week and all year really. I think Kawhi's candidacy is being underrated by the respect people have for Pop's system and culture which in some ways is fair.

Lebron has been great but sits out too many back to backs. That hurts it for me. Also I think the presence of Kyrie/Love (I know injured as of late) and the begging for more help (although he was right in his assertion for a back up PG/playmaker since Delly left) makes it tough.


To me tho, this has been the difference between Harden and Russ when it comes to MVP. Look at the play Russ makes vs the play Harden makes to close the game. I can show about 5 or 6 games where Russ this year lost a close game/blew a lead on launching a stupid ass shot.
Also the team record makes a huge difference.

You're talking out of your ass. LeBron has only missed 5 games this year, which is the same amount Kawhi has missed.

 

[He Who Posts Well]

Either Leonard or Harden

 

[inndaskKy]

LeBron can be MVP every year literally people just tired of him getting it

More like the opposite, he could sit out 41 games, play like shyt in the other 41 and people would still claim he's the MVP simply because he's LeBron and he's gonna dominate the Eastern conference in the playoffs.

LeBron is always good, obviously the best player when he's at his peak, but the thing is that he's not always playing the regular season at his peak. And that's what the award is for so no, LeBron shouldn't get it every year just for being LeBron.

 

[SuburbanPimp]

It sucks that there really isn't a way to put the proper value on defense in these MVP discussions.... Kawhi should easily be a top 3 candidate. Has great numbers and is the only shutdown defender out of all the candidates. But since you can't properly measure his overall defensive presence I doubt he'll ever win.....

From watching both several times, I'd give Harden the edge over Westbrook. His game is a lot more fluid and it really feels like he gets his in the flow of the game while a majority of the time it feels like Westbrook is forcing it

 

[Fortunate Lee]

I know the Cavs are 42-14 with Bron but his overall team record and sittin out games hurts his chances..Harden is more deserving this season.

 

[b. woods]

at with the "Smack, who is this?!!"

 

[Shameonyou]

celtics damn near got the best record in the east and isaiah thomas aint the leading candidate?

 

[DarrynCobretti]

The MVP race right now is down to Harden, Kawhi, LeBron, Westbrook in that order.

All four have a rock solid case, but I think James Harden deserves it the most.
He's essentially stuffing the stat sheet like Russ but more efficient and a better shooter on a better team. I think Bron and Kawhi are the more well-rounded players out of the group and are much better two-way players than Russ and Harden. Kawhi especially is a defensive game-changer but the fact he's by far the weakest creator on offense out of that group(everyone else averages 5+ more assists than he does) and shockingly has the lowest rebounding rate out of the group(yet he's the 2nd tallest out of the group) is a knock on him.

 

[Pimp]

I'm not getting you're Miami argument. It's not even anywhere near the same team. The only player that's there from the Big 3 days is Haslem and he doesn't even play.

Coach never got credit.. They have no superstars so the coach must be decent.. Lebron should have been MJ status in Miami winning a title every year. Take Lebron off Cleveland and put westbrook there they have the same record..