Over the past few seasons, we have grown accustomed to the NBA MVP Race being dominated by two men: Lebron James and Kevin Durant.
However, with Durant spending long periods of time on the sidelines and Lebron playing below his usual standards as well as missing nine games in January, this year’s MVP race is one of the most open in recent memory.
In this article I will outline my prospects for the 2014-15 MVP and give a prediction as to where they will finish the race.
1. Stephen Curry
Season averages: 23.0ppg, 4.8rpg, 8.2apg, 2.14spg
Steph Curry is having a season to remember. The on-court leader of the Golden State Warriors, his dominant play on both ends of the floor has led his team to a 37-8 record, good enough to sit atop a highly competitive Western Conference.
Topping the All Star voting, Curry certainly has the fan support behind him. Curry has always been known as one of the best three point shooters in the league (39.5 per cent this season), however this year we have seen a Steph Curry who has stepped up and announced his presence as a top five player in the league.
His distribution skills are evident in his assists per game ranking of fifth, his scoring skills evident with his ninth placed points per game ranking and his defensive pressure equating to his 2.14 steals per game rating, the second best in the entire league.
Steph’s biggest MVP hurdle comes in the form of his fellow splash bros. Klay Thompson. If Thompson takes away too much of the offensive scheme from Steph, we my see this hurt his MVP chances.
Either way, Stephen Curry has become an NBA superstar, and is sure to be near the top come seasons end.
Prediction: 2014-15 MVP
2. James Harden
Season averages: 27.0ppg, 5.6rgp, 6.8apg, 2.0spg
‘The Beard’ has been destroying everybody on the offensive side of the court this season. He leads the league in points per game by quite a margin, and the two players who round out the top three (Lebron and Durant) have missed large periods of this season.
In comparison to anybody, these numbers are impressive. Although missing his partner in crime, the dominant Dwight Howard for quite a few games this seasons, Harden has managed 6.8apg this season – the most of any Shooting Guard and second only to Lebron for assists by a non-point guard.
Harden not being voted in by fans as the starting shooting guard in the west is hard to comprehend, with Harden easily the best in the league.
Previously ridiculed for his defence, he has stepped up his game this season, ranked fourth in the NBA for steals, as well as appearing more alert to the naked eye.
Harden is no longer a one-sided player and is now an all around star. His numbers may be slighty skewed due to Howard’s absence, however Harden will undoubtedly be ‘The Man’ in Houston for years to come.
Prediction: Pipped at the post by Steph Curry
3. Anthony Davis
Season averages: 24.5ppg, 10.4rpg, 1.7apg, 2.9bpg
The future is now the present. The prospect now a superstar. Anthony Davis has exploded onto the NBA MVP scene this season.
The 2012 number one pick has been known for his defence over his first two seasons, however this season his offensive game has exploded. Averaging 24.5, good for fifth in the league, and best among all big men this year.
His defensive game has taken no hit however, and the unibrow is first in the NBA for blocks, many times embarrassing opponents who test him at the rim.
His Player Efficiency Rating of 31.00 places him in exclusive company if he is able to sustain it, with the only three other players to ever finish a season with a PER of above 31 – Michael Jordan, Lebron James and Wilt Chamberlain.
Making an MVP case for Davis is not difficult, ranking inside the top ten for rebounds per game, top five for points and first in blocks.
However there are also many hurdles for Davis to cross if he wishes to become the NBA MVP. Just once has the MVP come from a non playoff team (Kareem Abdul Jabbar in 1975-76) and his New Orleans Pelicans are currently sitting ninth in the West, in a battle with Oklahoma City and Phoenix for the eighth seed in the West.
If Davis can pull it off, he will be the youngest MVP in history. I don’t think he can do it this year, but will undoubtedly do it in the future.
Prediction: Will finish fourth in this year’s race.
4. Lebron James
Season Averages: 26.2ppg, 5.5 rpg, 7.3apg, 1.6spg
The king is back. Following his dramtic off-season move home, Lebron’s play had dipped following his four seasons in Miami. Some assumed he was past it, some thought maybe it was the emotion of coming home.
Personally I think it was just him finding his feet in David Blatt’s offensive scheme. Either way his numbers were down, and Lebron found himself outside of the NBA MVP conversation for the first time in years.
With his newly assembled Cleveland team struggling to meet expectations, and Lebron himself going down with injury in January, his MVP race seemed run.
However, during his time on the sidelines, the Cavs went 1-8 and we realised how much of an impact he has on a team.
Since his return, Lebron has been simply awesome. Over his last five games he has averaged 29.2 points, 6.6 assists, 5.6 rebounds and 2 steals per game. His Cavaliers now sit 29-20 on a ten game winning streak and are pushing for home court advantage in the playoffs.
The best player of the last ten years is still in the race, however has he started too far behind to win his fifth MVP trophy? I think so.
Prediction: Surges in the second half of the season however is unable to top Curry or Harden.
5. Damian Lillard
Season Averages: 21.6ppg, 4.6rpg, 6.3apg, 1.4spg
Another member of the next generation, Lillard is a dark horse in the MVP race.
A scoring point guard style which has become so prominent in this year’s league, Lillard has been tearing opponents up with his offensive play, leading his Portland Trail Blazers (32-16) to a top-four spot in the ultra competitive west.
Despite being left off of the All Star roster for the 2013-14 MVP Kevin Durant, Lillard has been playing at an MVP Calibre.
His statline isn’t as impressive as other members of this list, however his play to the naked eye has been extraordinary and I expect it to only get better With his fellow superstar LaMarcus Aldridge down with injury, it may help his MVP case if he is able to up his game and his stats in the absence of Aldridge.
Lillard will be a very interesting player to watch over the back half of this season, as he firmly establishes himself as an MVP candidate in future seasons. Can he win it this year? I highly doubt it.
Prediction: Will round out this year’s top 5.
So there you have it, thats my breakdown of this year’s MVP race.
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