RCP Roundtable: NBA Awards

MVP

Jakob Ashlin (@JakobAshlin): Giannis Antetokounmpo

I am tempted to go with Damian Lillard, but after Paul George’s shoulder injury, this has become a two-man race. No matter how you feel about James Harden‘s style of play, his historical season has been nothing short of amazing.

Nevertheless, the MVP award is about more than just basic statistics. It is also about team success and overall value. The Milwaukee Bucks have the best record in the entire NBA, and Antetokounmpo’s dominance is at the forefront of that.

Antetokounmpo’s statistics are very impressive, as well. He is averaging 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists per game while shooting a remarkable 57.8% from the field.

His defensive ability puts him over the top for me, but more on that later…

Aaron Gershon (@agershon99): James Harden
Personally, this race isn’t as close as it looks. If MVP truly means the most VALUABLE player, James Harden wins this race in a landslide. The Rockets had a brutal start to the season falling well below .500 and seeing Chris Paul go down. What does Harden do? Go on a 32 game 30+ point game streak and carry the Rockets back towards the top of a loaded Western Conference. Not only is Harden averaging over 36 points per game which is higher than what named him MVP last season but his rebounding is much improved. Harden gives it all he has every night and has carried the Rockets this season and deserves a second straight MVP honor.

Shade Piper (@theLob_Shade): Giannis Antetokounmpo

It’s very tough not to go with Harden after the season he is having averaging 36.1 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 7.6 assists per game. That is a very MVP worthy stat line and maybe even a little better than Giannis’s 27.7 points, 12.5 rebounds, and 5.9 assists, but I think Giannis has an overall bigger impact on the game.

Giannis is a big defensive presence as well as an unstoppable force on offense. Harden may be equally or arguably more unstoppable on offense, but while his defense has improved, it still isn’t even close to the level that Giannis’s defense is at. Also, Giannis has led his team to a 60 win season and a number one overall seed.

Trenton Corn (@theLob_Trenton): James Harden

I mean the dude is putting up 36.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg, and 7.5 apg on the season. He has also shown his “value” which I still look at when determining the most VALUABLE player, by keeping this Rockets team afloat during all the injuries they had this year thanks to his amazing streak of 32 straight games of scoring 30 more points per contest.