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James Harden didn’t wind up in Portland, however he nonetheless might be a trailblazer.
No participant ever has received NBA MVP honors in the identical season he was traded, however Harden’s efficiency over the 2 months since he was acquired by the Nets from the Rockets may make him the primary. Actually, solely three MVPs of the previous 38 years — Moses Malone (76ers) in 1982-83, Charles Barkley (Suns) in 1992-93 and Steve Nash (Suns) in 2004-05 — had been of their first season with a brand new crew once they received the award.
Harden is averaging 25.7 factors, 11.5 assists and 9.1 rebounds over 28 video games with the Nets, who’re 21-7 since combining Harden with Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving.
Whereas Harden’s case rests partly on his numbers — he may be part of Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook as the one gamers to common a triple-double over the course of a season if he makes a push in rebounding — he additionally appeases the group that emphasizes the “helpful” in MVP. Laborious to consider the season started with Harden, solely the fifteenth former MVP (2017-18) to be traded, because the butt of jokes for being out of practice and egocentric as he demanded a commerce from the Rockets.
The place would the Nets, who’re tied for the lead within the Japanese Convention, be with out buying and selling for Harden? Durant hasn’t performed since Feb. 13 however the Nets are 12-1 with out him as a part of an prolonged 14-1 stretch. Irving was on a private go away of absence when Harden was acquired and he has sat out three video games through the latest surge, together with Wednesday’s win over the Pacers, as a result of numerous shoulder and groin accidents.
“James is so elite he’s in a position to make the large performs that only a few folks could make down the stretch,” Nash mentioned after teaching Harden via his eleventh triple-double (40 factors, 15 assists, 10 rebounds) in 42 minutes on Wednesday. “When he performs that many minutes, he stuffs the stat sheet. I may go on and on about James and the nuances of what he does all evening, however he positively is a winner, a frontrunner, and an elite, elite performer.”
Harden’s MVP case improved final week when front-runner Joel Embiid suffered a bone bruise on his foot. Embiid, who ranks third in scoring and seventh in rebounding, is anticipated to overlook no less than one other week. If the 76ers determine to be additional cautious given Embiid’s in depth harm historical past, then the Nets may overtake the highest spot within the East, starting Friday in opposition to the Magic.
Listed below are the instances for the remainder of the sphere, holding in thoughts Harden is making an attempt to drag off a two-team feat achieved solely as soon as within the NHL (Joe Thornton in 2005-06) and by no means in MLB.
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Bucks: Two-time defending MVP who additionally received final 12 months’s defensive participant of the 12 months award. That’s the two-way impression that the majority different candidates — particularly the defensively poor Harden — don’t provide. He’s fourth in scoring, fourth in rebounding and on hearth (31.9 factors per recreation) through the Bucks’ present 10-1 stretch.
Nikola Jokic, Nuggets: If a star enjoying in Milwaukee can win MVP, why not a star in Denver? He’s really the brand new favourite with a 40.5 % likelihood, in keeping with Basketball Reference’s analytics mannequin based mostly on earlier outcomes. To the general public at giant, he nonetheless feels just like the quiet candidate, however he ranks prime 10 in scoring, assists and rebounding as one of many prime passing bigs of all time.
LeBron James, Lakers: Typically MVP fatigue units in, however that shouldn’t be the case right here as James solely has received it 4 occasions and never since 2012-13. Even at age 36, he’s typically thought of the perfect participant within the sport and infrequently takes an evening off, positioning the Lakers close to the highest of the West regardless of 17 video games missed by co-star Anthony Davis.
Damian Lillard, Path Blazers: One in every of solely two gamers (Bradley Beal) averaging greater than 30 factors per recreation and has kicked it as much as 33 over his previous 14 video games, together with a 50-pointer this week. Co-star CJ McCollum has missed 25 video games however Portland continues to be within the playoff image. There won’t be a extra harmful participant with the ball in his fingers within the remaining seconds of a detailed recreation proper now.
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