Kansas Crimson

He’s also got arguably the most onerous contract in the league, and reportedly longs to return to playing a role in which, absent Harden or Kevin Durant, he’s never gotten out of the first round of the playoffs.

Meh. Every PG needs help. It’s a tall man’s league. Pretty much every star needs help. Even Carter and T-Mac will end up in the Hall.

He might not be your cup of tea, but the truth lies somewhere in between you and Illy.

Yeah.

I don’t give Russ enough credit. Dude’s a hell of a talent either way.

I just get frustrated with his low bbiq. Dude must lead the league in contested jumpers with 20 seconds on the shot clock.

I think Russ is like most athletes where their strongest mental attributes will help and hurt them.

We give LeBron a lot of shit on this board for basically being the opposite kind of guy of Russ.

Would he be proud? I almost never use my phone as a phone.

CrimsonNBlue wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:02 am I think Russ is like most athletes where their strongest mental attributes will help and hurt them.

We give LeBron a lot of shit on this board for basically being the opposite kind of guy of Russ.

Yeah, if Lebron had Russ mentality, oh man.

But that depends, I guess. Russ is fuck you competitive, which would be that much cooler if Lebron had it.

But Russ also has sort of a self-absorbed game, and Lebron is such a better playmaker for others (all star stuffing aside)

Which brings me to maybe my fave competitor of all time: KG. Dude didn’t just want to win, he wanted to humiliate you doing it, and was still willing to do it in the context of a team to get there.

ousdahl wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:18 amBut Russ also has sort of a self-absorbed game, and Lebron is such a better playmaker for others (all star stuffing aside)

Right. Mentality is often the gift and the curse. Russ doesn't win an MVP without the same thing that hinders him.

LeBron is so talented that it's hard to definitively say he'd have more titles being a different guy. But, there is a reason why many just like MJ better and remember his moments more.

Oh. Stat* stuffing, btw

I do think the MVP shouldn't primarily be based on how well your team does ( though I do think it should be voted on after the playoffs ) but Russ's MVP season resulted in a 6th place finish and a 1st round 4-1 exit.

Stat stuffing dries out your turkey.

Ha.

I almost made a star stuffing joke.

Cuz the REAL mvp of the holiday dinner table is...

Russell Westbrook is the cranberry sauce.

pdub wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:52 am I do think the MVP shouldn't primarily be based on how well your team does ( though I do think it should be voted on after the playoffs ) but Russ's MVP season resulted in a 6th place finish and a 1st round 4-1 exit.

Dude had a hell of a series against the Rockets.
Granted, he probably took 1000 shots and had 500 turnovers.

What my stupid Basketball IQ has me confused about is how a guy that is 6-3 had 12 games with at last 15 rebounds his MVP season and there were probably only 10 guys in the league who averaged more rebounds per game.

He'd get 1 or 2 rebounds a game from shots that his centers back off of - especially free throws.

pdub wrote: ↑Fri Nov 13, 2020 10:52 am I do think the MVP shouldn't primarily be based on how well your team does ( though I do think it should be voted on after the playoffs ) but Russ's MVP season resulted in a 6th place finish and a 1st round 4-1 exit.

Truthfully LeBron should be MVP nearly every year. Especially if MVP was voted on more like you are implying it should.

The voters are allowed to take into consideration whatever criteria they want, including team performance. Although, it is a regular season award.

That's a good rule.

Then they should call it the NBA Regular Season MVP award - not the MVP award.
Postseason play is extremely important - NOT to say that a player who missed the playoffs but preformed leaps and bounds above everyone else wouldn't be considered - but you should have the whole season as a factor.

It's a dumb rule.

Well, then what’s the Finals MVP award for?

Or do we want a “playoffs MVP” award to recognize Russ’s stats in those first round exits?

I'd have a Finals MVP and a season MVP ( by season I mean the whole season not just regular ).
The Finals MVP wouldn't hold as much weight as a season MVP but still of course would be legit.

To clarify, the good rule comment was meant about leaving the voting criteria to the discretion of the voters.

Whether they should change the award to include playoff performance, I don't really have any stance on. Although, if they do it, then yes, I'd agree there wouldn't be much point in having two awards.

I do think one award could also present some problems.