What can two video games in the midst of March let you know about how NBA MVP voters are going to strategy (what is meant to be) an 82-game award?
These two video games in query advised us a bit of little bit of nothing, and a bit of little bit of the whole lot.
On Sunday and Monday, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander’s Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder hosted Nikola Jokic’s Denver Nuggets. The race for this 12 months’s NBA MVP award is down to those two gamers – no disrespect to Giannis Antetokounmpo, Jayson Tatum, Jalen Brunson, Donovan Mitchell, or anybody else who’s technically eligible. These two video games had been supposed to offer readability on what has became a razor-thin race between two spectacular superstars with two very totally different “narratives” on this race.
SGA supporters acquired the whole lot they wanted after OKC’s 127-103 drubbing of the Nuggets on Sunday. Gilgeous-Alexander dropped 40 in 35 minutes, going 13-21 contained in the arc (ignore the 2-11 from 3) and 8-8 from the road in a Kobe-inspired mid-range grasp class. It was a nip-and-tuck recreation going into the fourth quarter, when SGA (sometimes seated throughout most remaining quarters) erupted and slammed the door on a sluggish Denver squad, clearly nonetheless caught within the haze of Friday’s additional time win over the Suns.
Jokic, in the meantime, had certainly one of his rougher outings of his unimaginable 2024-2025 season (tough for Jokic nonetheless means 24/13/9). He struggled a bit with the mixed size/physicality of Isaiah Hartenstein and a fired-up Chet Holmgren and didn’t management each second of the motion the way in which during which Denver followers have grown accustomed (spoiled?) these previous few seasons.
Benefit SGA. How would Jokic reply?
Straightforward – 35/18/8 and a conductor’s management over his orchestra en path to a 140-127 win over the most effective group within the Western Convention and the league’s No. 1 protection. SGA was held to 25 factors (“held to” haha) however posted a minus-18 in 36 minutes.
Benefit Jokic.
Each fanbase had their preconceptions verified and challenged in equal measure. Each gamers proved precisely what makes them particular in a two-game snapshot of a 65-game pattern.
If these two video games couldn’t present any further readability, what can we anticipate to see when media members begin casting ballots on the finish of the season?
SGA goes to win, however Jokic may have had a greater particular person season.
SGA’s case is straightforward – he’s the most effective man on the most effective group. He’s the engine, the fulcrum, the solar, the alpha, and the omega of this relentless Oklahoma Metropolis assault. He’s posting prime Michael Jordan scoring stats on excessive effectivity. He’s this group’s offensive and defensive id. They’re probably going to win 60-plus video games and be the favorites to symbolize the Western Convention within the NBA Finals.
He’s actually good.
Jokic is simply, properly, higher. It’s no slight to SGA – Jokic is having a season that compares to the most effective seasons by a person participant within the historical past of the game. It’s the type of season Wilt Chamberlain would have enjoying in opposition to a bunch of fellows a foot shorter than him.
Jokic is difficult for basketball’s triple crown, with prime three positions in factors/rebounds/assists, alongside “is that this laptop damaged?” effectivity stats. He’s the game’s biggest drive multiplier, including 10-15% effectiveness to any first rate teammate you give him.
The largest argument on SGA’s behalf (group success) has been barely mitigated by Denver’s cost towards the No. 2 seed. SGA’s MVP case is bolstered by the actually outstanding Sam Presti, who’s work as Oklahoma Metropolis’s common supervisor has surrounded him with the most effective assortment of younger expertise within the league – with extra on the way in which. Jokic, in the meantime, has stored this Nuggets roster afloat by means of sheer drive of will and basketball IQ. He stored the ship crusing whereas Jamal Murray shook off a brutal summer time, Aaron Gordon acquired wholesome, and Russell Westbrook discovered his new dwelling.
This can probably not matter within the eyes of the voters, lots of whom have gotten bored with writing Jokic’s title on the prime of their poll. He already has three – together with his fourth going to Joel Embiid over related voter fatigue points. Sports activities awards like these are very similar to the Oscars – typically a compelling narrative triumphs over a superior efficiency. It occurs on a regular basis.
If SGA wins (which I anticipate him to) it is not going to be a travesty. He will likely be a totally deserving winner whose MVP marketing campaign simply occurred to come back concurrently historic greatness. Followers will find yourself trying again on this season years from now questioning why voters awarded Jokic three earlier occasions, however not for his finest season.
Awards are humorous like that. I simply really feel lucky to see each of those gamers at this level of their careers acting at this degree. It’s uncommon air.
And 1’s
• Choice Sunday is developing, which implies we’re within the thick of convention event season. Dozens of groups from each degree of school hoops are combating for entry into the 68-team discipline. Large 12 commissioner Brett Yormark not too long ago said he hopes to see the sector develop to 76. Hey, why not? Let’s get each SEC group in there as a substitute of solely 12-13. Let’s develop it to G-League groups. Let’s flip each bracket into probably the most sophisticated schematic this facet of “A Stunning Thoughts.” Go nuts.
• The ladies’s tourney is huge open this 12 months – properly, as “huge open” as girls’s faculty hoops ever will get. Annually, it’s normally one ultra-dominant group making an attempt to fend off challenges from a gaggle of 4-5 superb squads. This 12 months, nonetheless, we’re taking a look at a couple of half-dozen groups that would legitimately problem South Carolina and win this factor. Between Paige Bueckers, JuJu Watkins, Hannah Hidalgo, and Lauren Betts, this event may have star energy to spare – nothing fairly just like the Caitlin Clark phenomenon, however a beautiful number of stellar gamers with totally different ability units.
