If Sixers center Joel Embiid were to win the 2020/21 MVP award, it’d provide a sense of achievement for the team as a whole, head coach Doc Rivers opined, as relayed by Keith Pompey of the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“I think any individual award, no one does anything by themselves, right?” Rivers said. “So I think it would be a feel-good thing for the entire locker room. You know, obviously for Joel, because it is a hell of an accomplishment.”
Embiid is a strong candidate for the award, averaging a career-high 29.2 points, 10.7 rebounds and 1.4 blocks in 49 games this season. In addition to Embiid’s impressive averages, Philadelphia holds the best record in the Eastern Conference at 47-21. However, Nuggets center Nikola Jokic, who has put up huge numbers and has played over 800 more minutes than Embiid, is widely considered to be the MVP frontrunner.
There’s more from the Eastern Conference tonight:
- Rick Bonnell of the Charlotte Observer notes that Hornets guard LaMelo Ball has been grabbing at his wrist in recent games, and explores whether it should be a concern for the team. Ball recently missed 21 games after fracturing the same wrist, returning to action on May 1.
- Nets center Nicolas Claxton tested positive for COVID-19 but wasn’t hit hard by the virus, Brian Lewis of the New York Post writes. Claxton entered the league’s health and safety protocols on April 19. “I was testing positive for COVID,” Claxton said of his recent absence. “But I didn’t have any symptoms. I was just stuck in Miami, just there quarantining for about 10 days so I wasn’t really able to do much. I did a few quarantine workouts, but it’s just tough having to sit like that and then coming out here having to play. It’s just another obstacle. It’s nothing that I can’t conquer. This last week, it’s been a challenge, but it hasn’t been too tough … I’m just trying to get my rhythm back, get my wind back right before the playoffs so we’ll be able to make that push.”
- Speaking of the Nets, the team will be focused on its health and continuity as the playoffs near, Peter Botte of the New York Post writes. Brooklyn has dealt with significant injuries throughout the season, failing to sport a consistent starting lineup and effectively build chemistry. The team still has one of the most talented rosters in history, particularly on offense, making its future playoff journey intriguing.
Most of the last 20 years the MVP had the highest total of VORP+BPM+Win Share. That deviated when Giannis won back to back, it should have gone to Harden the last 2 years. And it should go to Jokic this year. Those stats are the best way to judge a players value. Because unlike other sports, the MVP is tied to winning. MLB doesnt matter if you have a winning record, and NFL is just best QB that year.
Tied to winning is why Giannis won it. He is an all NBA 1st team on Offense and Defense. Harden is a one way player. It’s why he’s never won. Whole NBA knows he’s a one way player. How can that ever be an MVP. The Game is half Defense. Look what’s it’s done for Knicks.
Jokic is front runner to me. His team depends on him more. Plus Embiid has missed gms. He’s still a close second. Embiid wants to show his displeasure for not winning it. Win the East and carry the Sixers. This is first year Sixers are playing to their potential. About time ……. is what I say.
So why has Giannis never won a championship if he’s so much better?
If Harden gets healthy soon, his chances are far better than Giannis’s.
As far as MVP qualifications go, Harden’s defense is no worse than Steph’s.
The metrics I cited, indicate how much a player has contributed to winning. Jokic leads all 3 this year.
Last year… Harden lead Win Shares and VORP, Giannis lead Box +/-. Middleton was in the Top-20 in Win Shares, Box +/- and VORP. Harden led by an overall rating of 0.8
2018-2019 Harden lead all three categories and by a significant margin – 3.3 total.
The main difference in that year was Middleton was not in the Top-20 on any of those lists, and Capela was for Win Shares. And for those saying well Harden doesn’t play D – he was in the Top-20 for Defensive Win Shares both years and Top-20 for Defensive Box +/-.
I would argue that Harden got completely robbed in 2018-2019, marginally in 2019-2020 but Giannis had a lot more help that year with Middleton’s play that year.
Not a Houston fan.
Jokic is avg to poor on d, Embiid is 2nd team at least
Jokic, Curry, and Harden are all below average defenders. All are MVP’s.
Joker’s metrics are so much higher than any other player this year it’s ridiculous.
Joker Win Shares = 14.7 next highest 10.6 (Gobert)
Joker Box +/- = 11.6 next highest 8.9 (Giannis)
Joker VORP = 8.1 next highest 5.4 (Curry).
34.4 Total vs Embiid 20.5
2 things stand out for Embiid this year – PPG and 30 and 10 games. Embiid is leading the league in 30/10 games and he missed 19 games. That’s impressive. But Joker is having a historic season for a Center. 2 other players have averaged 25 Points, 10 Rebounds, 8 Assists – Oscar Robertson and Russell Westbrook.
Not to mention his percentages.
56-40-86
He’s almost averaging a 50-40-90 while putting up there numbers.
It’s Jokic this year and it’s close but not real close. Embiid has just missed too many games. He has been the best player when he has been healthy, but it wasn’t often enough.
And Harden being “robbed” the last 2 years is a joke. You can make the case he could have won in 18-19, but last year Giannis was a better player. And don’t mention him at all for it this year. You don’t get to quit on a team so you can get traded and win mvp. Shouldn’t even be on the ballot.
Yeah I’d have it clearly 1 jokic 2 Embiid 3 CP3
I’m just hoping Simmons gets DPOY and we me atleast make the eastern conference finals
Jokic is the MVP & has been since day 1, no one has been even close to him, there hasn’t been a convo ’bout it, Jokic all the way!
1/ Jokic
2/Giannis
3/ Embiid
I’m so tired of people even mentioning James Harden in this conversation he doesn’t even deserve to be in it since he did fake playing in Houston before he left there. The Joker deserves the award because of his play and availability and Embiid deserves to be second despite being out with his injuries
Ummm… Injury is the reason he’s not in the conversation. He single-handedly carried the Nets for the long stretch when KD and Kyrie were out. He clearly was playing at an MVP level.
He single handedly played the Nets out of the playoffs by playing injured along with the puppet coach!