Thursday, March 20, 2014

The Informer Breaks Down the 2013-14 NBA MVP Race Between Kevin Durant and LeBron James


Just so we are all clear, the next statement The Informer is going to make is not a bold prediction –it is a statement of fact. 

Are you ready? 

Kevin Durant of the Oklahoma City Thunder is the 2013-14 NBA MVP

This is a statement of fact because the OKC superstar has led his team to the top of the West division while averaging 31ppg 8rpg and 5.5apg. Basically, this season KD has been a better version of 2008 LeBron James (The year James won his first MVP after averaging 28-8-7). 

The problem is, over the past month LeBron has decided to step his game up and all of the sudden the once obvious conclusion of “Durant for MVP” has in some peoples mind (wrongfully) turned into an argument about LeBron over KD.

In the words of ESPN’s Lee Corso, “Not so fast my friends.”

While LeBron has been great for the past month, do you know who else has been great –Kevin Durant.  Just take a look at their last ten games (The stretch that has everyone saying LeBron has turned up the heat –pun intended) and you will see what The Informer is talking about. 

  KEVIN DURANT

LAST 10 GAMES
POINTS
REBOUNDS
ASSISTS
GAME 1
29
5
12
GAME2
41
10
9
GAME 3
36
10
2
GAME 4
43
12
7
GAME 5
28
8
3
GAME 6
42
3
10
GAME 7
28
10
9
GAME 8
37
6
5
GAME 9
28
6
5
GAME 10
42
9
3
TOTAL AVERAGES
35.4
7.9
6.5

LEBRON JAMES

LAST 10 GAMES
POINTS
REBOUNDS
ASSISTS
GAME 1
31
8
12
GAME 2
13
7
5
GAME 3
37
9
3
GAME 4
36
13
9
GAME 5
42
9
6
GAME 6
33
7
3
GAME 7
31
4
4
GAME 8
20
9
7
GAME 9
61
7
5
GAME 10
22
6
1
TOTAL AVERAGES
32.6
7.9
5.5

Does anyone else find it interesting that during LeBron’s so called “MVP stretch of basketball”; Durant’s numbers across the board are better? 

Furthermore, the thing that stood out the most about these stats is LeBron has three games in this stretch with 22 points or less, including one 13 point game. 

The Informer has to ask: How in the bluest of H.E. double hockey sticks does the most dominate basketball force since Wilt Chamberlain get held to 13 points in 39 minutes? The only logical answer is he gave the minimum effort needed to win the game and nothing more.
This is the biggest problem The Informer has against any LeBron for MVP argument. He has too many games where he gives minimum effort to win. The Informer is talking about games where he scores less than 20 points, grabs 5-8 rebounds while dishing out a handful of assist. Yes, for an average to a good player that is a great night. For the best player in basketball, who averages 28-7-7 for his career, it is a “minimum effort” game. 

The Informer note – LeBron has seven games this season where he scored less than 20 points while grabbing fewer than 10 rebounds and dishing out less than 10 assist. Now, The Informer realizes LeBron only averages 7rpg and 6apg so it is no surprise he would have less than ten of each in said games. However, my point is that even on the nights when “The King” isn’t scoring, he is not picking his effort up in other areas to compensate for his lack of offense. 

Listen, The Informer is not faulting LeBron for his “minimum effort” games. The Informer understands James is going to coast during the regular season at times because his end game is championships, not regular season wins. 

To be honest, The Informer has absolutely no problem with this strategy. 

The thing is, if you are going to employ this strategy and someone else comes along and averages 31-8-5 over the course of an entire season you can’t be upset when that guy ends up being called the best player, or in this case the MVP. 

Again, The Informer is not saying LeBron is no longer the best in the world when it comes to overall talent, what The Informer is saying is the MVP is a year to year award based on who played the best basketball for that 82 game stretch. 

Judging by the first 59 games, the best player in “This” season has hands down been KD.
And as long as Durant stays remotely close to his averages for the next month, then when a perspective voter looks at all the numbers they will have no choice but to name Kevin Durant the 2013-14 NBA MVP. 

Like The Informer said before, Durant winning the MVP is not a prediction –it is a statement of fact.

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