In the sports world, sometimes we need to manufacture stories if a period of time passes when there is not a whole lot of significant news, and over the past month, it seems like one of the "filler" stories has been the debate about who the Most Valuable Player in the NBA will be, and the two names mentioned as possible winners have been Kevin Durant and LeBron James.
As usual, both of these guys are putting up superstar numbers, and it is pretty much them and then everyone else when it come to the MVP discussion, and the chances of "everyone else" winning the award is pretty much zero. What I have a problem with though, is the people who are already crowning Durant as the MVP, and have been doing for at least a month now. At this point in the season, my MVP choice is Durant. However, anyone who claims that the race for the award is already over is flat out wrong. The All-Star break is only a week in the rear view mirror and the MVP race is already over? No way.
Looking at the numbers, Durant has the edge on James in most categories. Durant is averaging 31.5 points per game, James is averaging 26.8. Durant is averaging 7.8 rebounds per game, James is at 7.1. Durant is an 88% shooter from the free throw line, James is at 75%. Durant's Oklahoma City team is 43-12, James and the Heat are 38-14. His leads in those categories are apparent, but are they far and away better? I don't believe so.
When we look at some of the other statistical categories, James has the advantage. LeBron is averaging 6.5 assists per game, while Durant is averaging 5.5. James is shooting 57% from the field, while Durant is shooting 51%. The two have also posted identical numbers in the steals category, with both averaging 1.5 per game. So, like the categories in which Durant leads, the categories in which James leads are also by a pretty slim margin. To put it in perspective, rounding up in each category, Durant is at 32, 8, and 6 per game, while James is at 27, 7, and 7. James has the lead in field goal percentage (although with both over 50%, it is undeniable that they are both having outstanding seasons shooting the ball). Durant's team is 3.5 games ahead of James' team in the standings. The biggest difference between the two is free throw shooting, with Durant holding a clear advantage in that category. What this all adds up to is, in my opinion, Durant being the frontrunner for MVP at this point. However, is his lead insurmountable (as many analysts would say)? Absolutely not.
The Heat and Thunder are in the midst of a game in Oklahoma City as I write this. After tonight, Oklahoma City will have 26 games remaining on their schedule. Miami will have 29 games remaining. That means that both of the teams have over 30% of their seasons still to play. In an 82 game season, that is still a lot of time to go, and it is still plenty of time for things to change significantly. Hot streaks, cold streaks, and of course, the biggest equalizer in all of sports, injuries, could still play a factor in the seasons of both James and Durant. We saw Durant go on an epic scoring streak in the month prior to the All-Star Game. Is it out of the question for James to go on a similar streak with 29 games still to play? Absolutely not. Both of these teams have won a whole lot more than they have lost this season, but could Miami or Oklahoma City go through a stretch of struggles in which their records seriously decline? While not entirely likely, it is certainly possible. And, while both Durant and James have been models of consistency as far as durability to this point, injuries are always a possibility, and an injury to either player within the near future would obviously throw an enormous wrench into this entire discussion.
At this point in the season, Kevin Durant has been the Most Valuable Player in the NBA. However, is the race over? Not a chance. As a four-time MVP, James is obviously a worthy contender, and it is not as though he is having a dreadful season. Tonight, James and the Heat currently have a double digit edge on Durant's Thunder, and James has far outplayed Durant in terms of individual numbers, although there is still plenty of basketball yet to be played. And there is still plenty of basketball yet to be played in the season.
Durant and James are definitely the two best players in the NBA today. Oklahoma City and Miami are definitely two of the frontrunners to contend for the NBA title in 2014. However, neither race is close to over. I hate the fact that MVP voters can send in their ballots before the season ends, and I hate even more that some of them have seemingly already crowned Durant as the winner of the award. What Durant is doing this year is MVP-worthy, but is James having a below average season unworthy of being considered MVP-worthy? No. So, let's not be to premature in crowning a league MVP when there is still a whole lot of basketball to be played before the award is actually given out.
Daily Nets Update: Brooklyn won last night in Utah, and in doing so, moved up to the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference, which means they are close to home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs. The west coast road swing will continue this week, as the Nets will make trips to Golden State, Los Angeles, Portland, and Denver. The next week and a half will surely be tough for Brooklyn.
Daily Rangers / Team USA Update: The much-awaited showdown between the United States and Canada will take place tomorrow, with the winner advancing to the Gold Medal game. In the other semifinal, Henrik Lundqvist and the Swedes will face off against Finland. Lundqvist has been dominant all tournament long, and no matter which team wins the USA vs Canada game, we could see Lundqvist facing some of his Rangers teammates in the final.
Daily Diamondbacks Update: Spring training games begin in less than a week, and they will go a long way in deciding some roster spots that are certainly up for grabs right now. There will be battles for playing time in the outfield, as well as in both the starting rotation and the bullpen. The competition at shortstop is the most intriguing in my eyes, as Chris Owings and Didi Gregorious could be fighting for a full-time job at the position that could last for a long time. Catcher, first base, second base, and third base are pretty much the only positions in which we have a clear view of the Opening Day starters. Other than that, there is plenty left to be decided.
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