The unfair assassination of LeBron James’ MVP case
By Jason Timpf
In conclusion
So all of these criticisms flying around are mostly without merit. Is LeBron a flawed candidate? Yes but so is Harden along with all of the others. LeBron’s case is nowhere near as flawed as it has been portrayed.
So let’s get to the bottom line here: What has LeBron done for his team?
The Cavaliers entered this season in flux, with a new GM, a half-dozen new pieces and the departure of one of the ten-best players in the league. LeBron promptly led them to a 23-8 start, winning 18 out of 19 at one point. Over that stretch he averaged 28 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists on 57% shooting.
Even during the awful stretch that Isaiah was in the rotation — a period of 17 games — LeBron averaged 24 points, 8 rebounds and 8 assists on 52% shooting. His allegedly terrible month was better statistically in almost every metric than Steph Curry’s 2015 MVP season.
In the 20 games since Isaiah was traded, LeBron is averaging a triple-double. 30 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists. He’s shooting 14% better over that stretch than Russell Westbrook did during his triple-double season.
The Cavaliers now sit with the sixth-best record in all of basketball. This despite LeBron playing with his least-talented supporting cast in almost a decade, and Kevin Love missing 18 games with injury.
On top of it all, LeBron has been the picture of reliability, playing in every single game. (This is of course ironic because “rest” was used against him last year. James Harden has missed as many games this year as LeBron did last year.)
He has season averages of 28 points, 9 rebounds and 9 assists on 55% shooting.
In many ways, LeBron’s MVP case this year is a much stronger version of Russell’s last year. A great player with a limited cast drags his team to otherwise unachievable success. Except LeBron’s case lacks Russ’s flaws. The Cavs will win more than the Thunder did, for example. And LeBron was far more efficient. (Not to mention the validating playoff run that is sure to follow)
So after all of that, why should Harden win the MVP? Because he’s actually been a little better. But that is the beginning and end of that case.
Related Story: LeBron James is the rightful MVP
Stooping to unfounded LeBron slander is completely unnecessary.
Let’s celebrate James Harden instead.