2019 MVP Race

With the 2018-2019 NBA season coming to an end, fans ask themselves, who is the MVP going to be. The Maurice Podoloff MVP award is the most prestigious award in all of the big 4 sports for an individual. Being named an MVP in the NBA is almost like being given a ticket to the Hall of Fame, unless your name is Derrick Rose.

The race this year is considered to be a lot tighter than it should be and is being evaluated based more around hype than statistical analysis. Most years the MVP trophy is given to someone who is undeserving rather than to the player who is actually the most valuable player to a team.

Lebron James has been snubbed COUNTLESS times as we see what happens when he leaves Cleveland, they go right back to being the worst team in the NBA and it shows how VALUABLE Lebron James is as a player.

You have James Harden in 2017, yes Russ averaged a triple double for the first time and only the second player ever, but James Harden was incredible and has continued to improve year in and year out.

Let us not forget the years Steve Nash went back-to-back averaging about 17 and 11 while prime-time Kobe Bryant was the sole reason the Lakers were in the NBA putting up 35 a night.

and lastly when they decided to screw over Chris Paul because Kobe deserved an MVP back in 2008.

Being said, the MVP is not always awarded truthfully and this year I think will be another case of that if the media continues to build its hype around Giannis Antetokounmpo.

The MVP race is cut down to 3 players currently with Paul George making a case night in and night out that he deserves this award, Giannis having the media build his MVP case because although he is on the BEST TEAM IN THE NBA RIGHT NOW, his supporting cast is all solid NBA players who all are sharing the rock and getting wins, and finally the favorite who should win the MVP even if he did not play another game, James Harden.

James Harden went into the season with a debatable top 5 point guard (not in my top 5 but still one of the best in the league) Chris Paul, a 100 million dollar center who was coming off his best year yet in Clint Capela, and a very very solid cast. CP3 has been injured for most of the year as has Capela, the Rockets have made many different moves like trading for Faried, cutting Melo, and getting rid of other players, but still have been very competitive due to Harden's elite offensive game. The streak is over and that was the best thing for this team as I believe it was all Harden was starting to care about, the only issue is Harden can score 30 without any effort, on any given night. The man is a Certified Bucket Getter (CBG) and is going to continue his MVP season through the playoffs. His play is the sole reason the rockets are in playoff contention after the year they had, Harden is not playing along any All-Stars due to injury but has a solid cast not as built like the other 2 in the conversation.

Yes he has Clint Capela, yes CP3 is still there, Eric Gordon is an elite 6th man, Kenneth Faried is playing extremely well, but Giannis and PG have elite cast.

PG is playing along side a former MVP, top 3 point guard in Russ, the strongest man in the league Steven Adams, has Dennis Schroder on the bench, and don't forget lock down defender Andre Roberson who should be back for playoffs.

Giannis is playing alongside all-star Khris Middleton who has been one of the better players in the league over the last 3 years, Eric Bledsoe who is a baller, Brook Lopez who is playing his best ball since he was on the Nets, former Rookie of the Year Malcolm Brogdon, and newly acquired Nikola Mirotic.

All 3 of these guys are playing with great talent, but I do not think either of the other 2 would be able to handle the load Harden has and still be successful.

The 2019 MVP race should be closed down and awarded to Harden early as his play this year has been unmatched and deserved to be recognized by not only a 1st team All-NBA selection but by an MVP trophy as well....

Thanks for the read

-AP