It's a familiar sight for any opponent of the Rockets. James Harden, killer of momentum, leads a fast break to halt the opposing team's run and put the game out of reach. James Harden, marksman, dribbles around the top of the key; the opponents know he will pull up and take the three, they defend accordingly, and he still makes it. James Harden, the agitator, drives into the paint and angles himself in such a way that the opposing center picks up his sixth foul, dragging his feet to the bench in frustration. And then he makes both free throws. Just to top it off.
The NBA MVP race, with no disrespect to Anthony Davis, LeBron James, Chris Paul, or Russell Westbrook, has essentially become a two-man contest. In one corner stands Stephen Curry, the baby-faced assassin who has been the best player on the best team in the best basketball league. With his propensity to knock down shots from any spot on the court, his three-point shooting prowess, and his pesky habit of getting steals, Curry has been an enigma this year. In the friendly market of the Bay Area, the city, and the league, have embraced Curry as a bona fide star this year in his magical campaign of bringing the Dubs to an astounding 67-15 record. Curry is a wizard each time he steps on the court, going for the highlight reel plays and crazy shots that seem to have been blessed with just a little bit of that magic Curry touch, pumping up the crowd, walking back on defense with some swagger in his step and the knowledge that he'll be #1 on SportsCenter's Top 10 tomorrow.
In the other corner stands James Harden, the Bearded One, a mean-mugging shooting guard who will take away the ball and your confidence. Playing with a mean streak that's been with him since his days as a Sixth Man in Oklahoma, Harden has an in-your-face attitude, keeping his oft-injured team not just afloat, but thriving. The player formerly known as a fun-to-watch player on offense and a meme in the making on defense has taken his stock to new heights this season. His defense has shored up, his offense has carried the team, and despite the fact that he's usually the only one defenders are concerned about, he still puts up 27 points a game, whether he's heating up on jump shots, laying it up off the dribble drive, earning from the line, or a combination of the three. He's going to score, he's going to win in the process, and he's going to leave everyone else in the dust, if the game goes his way.
The race this year is closer than it's been in any time in recent memory. Both candidates are incredibly deserving of the prestigious honor, and personally, I wouldn't fault the committee for either choice. However, I think the decision of the winner should be made with particular regard to the word 'valuable', because after all, the award should go to the Most 'Valuable' Player'. The dictionary defines valuable as having qualities of respect, admiration, or esteem. This definition makes the decision exactly 0% clearer. With the dictionary not being helpful in the least, I think I am justified in choosing how I define valuable, in the context of the NBA, and really, sports at large. Value, in basketball, is essentially how imperative a player is to his team's success. I always like to ask myself the question, if I took X player off of their team, what would be the magnitude of the effect. Obviously, the removal of both Curry and Harden would be incredibly detrimental to their teams. However, to me, the absence of Harden would mean more for the Rockets than Curry's for the Warriors. This makes Harden the most valuable player.
Mark Cuban, famous for controversiality, said, "James Harden, I think, is the MVP. Because that's not a very good team over there." While this was certainly a backhanded compliment, it's a good point. The Warriors are an incredibly deep team. In terms of starters, the combination of Bogut, Iguodala, Green, and Thompson, all healthy for the majority of the season, would be one of the best lineups even without a strong point guard. Plus, Harrison Barnes, David Lee, and Shaun Livingston are all probably above-average backups. Without Curry, the Dubs would still be a quality team: just not an excellent one. Without Harden however, the Rockets this season would have been a mess. Dwight Howard missed 40 games this season, Terrance Jones was in-and-out for most of the season, and Josh Smith and Corey Brewer were not acquired until midseason. At times, Harden single-handedly carried this team to not just victories, but a 2-seed. Without Harden, they might not even be in the playoffs, let alone ranked so highly. Harden's value to the team is immeasurable, but one stat that's helping if WAR, Wins Above Replacement. It's no surprise that the six MVP contenders finished in the top 6. But number one? No other than James Harden, coming in at 20.48. Drop those 20 wins from the Rockets' record, and instead of being up 2-0 against the Mavericks, they're watching the playoffs from their couches.
Another stat to help prove my point is the fact that when Draymond Green plays without Steph Curry, the Warriors outscore opponents by 7.4 points per one hundred possessions (Grantland). The Rockets have no such player who do that without Harden on the floor.
One major difference between the two is crunch time. The fourth quarter was often when Harden played his best, keeping his stamina alive to close out games in the clutch. Curry, on the other hand, often never had to play in the 4th quarter because his team was already pummeling the other team. We know that Harden has been a monster at the end of games, but we really don't know about Curry. This is no fault of Curry's, it's just a blank on his resume. For me, that's another Harden advantage.
Honestly, either player would be deserving of the award. They've both had legendary season that deserve to be celebrated with the highest honor the NBA can bestow on an individual player. Nonetheless, someone has to win. James Harden should be your 2014-2015 MVP.
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