Who will win this year's NBA MVP award?
This year's NBA season featured high-scoring offenses as ten players poured in 50 points or more in a game.
However, only a handle of players should be considered in MVP discussions.
Here are some of the candidates.
5. Isaiah Thomas
Isaiah Thomas was a scoring machine for the Celtics, especially in the fourth quarter. Thomas led the league in the fourth quarter scoring and was able to help the Celtics secure the East's top playoff spot. However, his lack of defensive efficiency hurts his MVP consideration. Thomas could win Most Improved Player of the Year if his MVP campaign doesn't pan out.
4. LeBron James
Although James and the Cav's were unable to win the top spot in the East, he still managed to post incredible numbers. LeBron missed four games this season and Cav's couldn't pick up wins in any of these matches. When LeBron checked out of the game, the Cav's got outscored by 4.7 points per 100 possessions this year. With six straight finals appearances, James' numbers never seem to decline. He posted his third highest true shooting percentage of is career this season. This only makes his argument stronger for the MVP award.
3. Kawhi Leonard
There are only a couple of elite two-way players in the league. Kawhi Leonard is one of them. The reigning Defensive Player of the Year has upped his game by adding high-level scoring to his arsenal. He helped the Spurs secure the number two spot in the West. Leonard averaged 25.5 ppg this season while also guarding the opponents best player. His numbers and efficiency only seem to get better under Pop's coaching.
2. James Harden
Under D'Antoni's system, James Harden was able to really flourish this season. Harden posted 22 triple-doubles this year under his new point guard position. The Beard was also second in scoring this year with 29.1 ppg while leading the league in assists. Although Harden's defense has been a downside to his game, he played with more energy on the defensive end this year.
1. Russell Westbrook
Russell Westbrook's MVP case might be one of the strongest. Westbrook led the league in scoring while averaging a triple-double. He also made history and broke Oscar Robertson's record by tallying 42 triple-doubles this season. Brodie also led his team to the playoffs as the Thunder locked up the sixth spot in the West. The only conflicting aspects to his case are his supporting cast and the team's record. The MVP award typically goes to a player who records a lot of wins with his team. However, Westbrook's historic season may be hard to pass on.
