Ryan Hollins: James Harden should be the unanimous MVP over Giannis Antetokounmpo

This is 100% true. If you're still using the excuse Harden doesn't play D then you don't watch Harden/Rockets regularly. People who still use that excuse are associating it with the time he didn't (as a fan I can honestly say there were years he was a black hole in that area) and are just holding on to it to throw into any opposing Harden argument they have.

Harden could be a prime time lock down defender and bone heads on social media/sports outlets would still say "but he doesn't play defense".

 

It absolutely makes a difference. It also helped his voting tally last year that he didn't win it the year before. Imagine if he won the MVP over Westbrook and flamed out against the Spurs as he did. Does he still win MVP last year instead of LeBron? It shouldn't matter, but psychologically it does with voters.

 

Its annoying as hell how the media is trying to push the MVP to giannes over pity.

Sure, his story is great, inspiring, whatever you want to call it, but it has absolutely nothing to do with the MVP decision. but literally right when the season ends we hear about all these stories trying to sway toward him. ESPN/bleacher report are pathetic.

 

Pretty sure Will Cain is a Mavs fan.

He's a Cowboy fan so likely a Mavs fan so the Rocket hate makes a lot of sense then.

 

Harden finished second in the NBA in steals.

That YouTube video from a few years ago that edited together Harden's bad defensive plays (which can be done to anyone) seems to have permanently colored every (lazy) analysis of his game.

 

people just won't believe that Harden is a good defender now. It's sad but true.

it's also annoying that I never heard a single mention of defense when Steph Curry won b2b mvps. But suddenly now it's uber important.

 

Wow that’s the first thing Ryan Hollins has ever said that made sense

 

That anger and laughing by those ESPN guys shows their bias, I mean seriously, saying stop it and shouting? I would've walked away. Ridiculous!

 

Lmao that white guy is an idiot. Keeps talking about defense " oh he had 4 blocks on Embid, oh he plays defense, oh he's on the best team" please someone tell this guy this is not the DPOY award.

 

Given that the whole point of hot take shows is to say the absurd things that we know are bullshit, I would say this is a bad sign for Harden that Giannis will be nearly a unanimous MVP.....at least Harden will get one vote from Wilbon.

 

Will Cain. So annoying.

"Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop."

I would say he's the worst, and he might be, but there is some pretty tough competition for the worst

 

Man I was feeling what Hollins was saying until he said he would take Middleton over CP3..

 

u didn’t hear about defense for Curry because many in the media don’t view him as a terrible defender like they do Harden

you’ll be surprised how many people think Curry is a slightly above average defender...I saw that a lot the past few years

there are people who think he didn’t do a bad job on Harden when switched onto him during the WCF...I’m pretty sure Nate Duncan or Danny Leroux is 1 of them

 

I shouldn’t have watched. People making the MVP case for Harden need to be fully prepared to give all of Harden’s defensive stats or it’s going to look like he just doesn’t play D which we all know is not true.

I’m ridiculously frustrated with the hate and lack of respect Harden gets.

 

I still dont get the "defense" argument for MVP - i dont recall Steph Curry being DPOY candidate for his "unanimous" MVP. You never hear about Westbrook's stellar all-defense caliber defense...

 

If Rockets won 60 games, I think Harden would have won it. But with the Bucks having 60 wins Giannis gets it. It's just how it works.

 

all by-products of a wholly rigged league. if you feel disgusted now bro, just wait till the 2nd round

 

jason mcintyre comes to mind

 

WHo is this WIll Cain loser, hly ****

 

ESPN and cable news is like that because analysis is not enough. This is drama for the viewer to be infotained.

Like cable news, it also means a narrative is easier to sneak in.