Paul Pierce: Can we just give James Harden the NBA MVP already?

Harden averaged 29 point in McHale's "system". In regards to Tracy, As Harden would say, "He’s a clown. Honestly" .

 

Greek Freak for sure is getting the MVP. But it's definitely between these two and everyone else should be out of the conversation.

 

There is nothing more frustrating to me in this argument than when someone lazily just says "it is only because of D'Antoni's system!"

Paul Pierce had just mentioned, right before TMac said that, Harden's run over the past 5 years... before D'Antoni was coach. Carmelo didn't do anything like this with MDA. Kobe didn't do anything like this with MDA. Nash was great, but he didn't do anything like this with MDA.

Having a good system that complements the player is important, sure. But what a disingenuous argument to just try to dismiss Harden by saying it's only because of the system.

 

lol if lebron was having the season harden is currently having, lebron would be a unanimous winner

 

I’ll take James Harden

 

My take:

Paul George has had an excellent season.

Giannis Icantspellhisnamecauseivehadtwodrinks has had an excellent season and led his team to the best record while playing in the much weaker conference.

James Harden has had an historically amazing season, the likes of which we won't see again for decades unless he repeats it next year, and single-handedly saved his injury-ravaged team from disaster while playing in the stronger conference.

To me it's pretty clear who the MVP is. Hell, I'm tempted to give Harden Most Improved Player as well. What he's done this year is SICK.

 

Nice take

 

You’re not wrong. I just unfortunately fear that voters who don’t watch Harden night in and night out like we do will understand this.

 

after harden's spectacular showing last nite, the first thing i woke up to was harden haters pointing out that he took 3 steps in OT on the steal from jokic and fastbreak layup. he is not winning mvp and the league office is not broadcasting him in the finals

 

TMac with the "it's D'Antoni's system" comment because it's tailor-made to make people look good ... just look at the Suns with Nash. Yeah, TMac, that offense was so iso-heavy. Pierce adds "then what happened with the Knicks?" since they had Carmelo. TMac's genius counter - but he's not pick-and-roll, he's more iso! TMac needs to watch some more games with his good eye.

Meanwhile, I don't think Pierce has ever heard of Giannis... lol. He's apparently turned into a huge pro-Harden fan.

 

My Take

Harden - insane season statistically - especially offensively. Agree it's going to be one of those rare seasons that is hard to repeat
Giannis akuatmpto!$@@$ - Led the NBA to the best record - amazing all around season - impacts the game defensively which is why I think voters will give him the edge over Harden

Paul George - great all around season - if it wasn't for the crazy years Giannis and Harden are having he'd be an MVP.

Everyone Else
-Durant
-Curry
-Lebron
Blah blah blah

 

As does Harden, just not to the same degree.

 

What an altitude. Maybe this is why he never won anything.

 

That video shows the reason why TMac never won a playoff series, MVP, even though he has much better athleticism, size, talent than Harden has. The attitude toward the better player is totally different between them. Harden wants to compete, and be better than them. TMAC? Just jealous, laugh. Do you guys remember when TMAC wanted to be a Laker as backup of Kobe?

 

It took TMAC a heck of a lot longer to get going then it does Harden

 

The truth knows what's up. Champion been there done that and knows how to win, unlike fraud ass t-mac hating as usual.

 

Harden is 1 of Pierce’s favorite players to watch, he respects his skill and understands how hard it is to do what he does...it seems like he’s in awe of Harden

T-Mac on the other hand is just a jealous hater always trying to think of ways to diminish what Harden is doing...if it’s not “quite a few players could do what Harden is doing it they had his green light,” it’s “Kobe would score 100 if he was in Harden’s shoes” or “it’s D’Antoni’s system that makes him look good”...what a joke

 

FTFY

 

I think he's the only player with a mic that is honest enough to admit he wouldn't be able to do what Harden has done given the same system / "green-est of lights".

Out of all the former players who commentate, the only Tier 1 star players who could relate firsthand would be Shaq, Tmac, Barkley. 2 of which are bigs and even Barkley is finding it hard to recognize any other star guard who can operate in the same capacity as Harden. Shaq had Kobe, so he probably feels he's seen it already and explains why he always comes back to "won't work in the playoffs".

Tmac - he doesn't get a pass. Sorry. Dude tried but didn't have the same stamina and strength that Harden has relative to his competition and position. He believes that if given the same system, he would be putting up the same numbers.

Tier 2 star players - Pierce, Webb, Reggie, Billups, Jalen (eh). Billups, Jalen, Reggie - They're all thinking Kobe, KD, Steph can do what Harden does. Being Tier 2, it makes sense since they were sidekick stars who relied on Tier 1 stars to carry (Billups to a lesser extent).

Pierce and maybe Chuck are the only ones who have concluded that no one could do what Harden is/has done this season, given the same system, era, usage rate.

Props to Pierce for being honest, though he ain't climbing any ladder at ESPN. All the others - they can keep furthering their careers and reading scripts.

 

Tmac was a great scorer so he probably thinks he could have achieved the same success given the same circumstances. What he probably isn’t thinking about is how tough Harden is.

Yeah! Well said!!! Case closed, give him the MVP.