With the NBA season coming to an end, everyone’s thoughts are converging: Will LeBron James win a championship back in Cleveland? Who is going to be the real MVP? Is Kobe Bryant still alive?
James will lead Cleveland to at least the Eastern Conference Finals to most likely play the Atlanta Hawks, who haven’t made it past the first round of the playoffs in three years, nor have they made it to the Finals since the 70s.
The Lakers are currently 20-58, and Kevin Durant (along with his mom) is about to give up the title of NBA’s Most Valuable Player.
The contenders for this year’s MVP include, but are not limited to: Stephen Curry, James Harden and LeBron James.
Although Harden is leading his team to second place in the Western Conference with a player efficiency rating of 27.0, they’re 10 games behind the Warriors and probably won’t even make it past the Western Conference Finals.
This most likely crosses Harden off of the list of MVP contenders.
James and the Cavs lead the division and are second in the conference currently, and there is no better player in the East.
His first go-around with the Cavs, he led them to their first NBA Finals appearance only a few years after his NBA debut. After taking his talents to South Beach, Fla., he played in four straight Finals and took home two championships.
After returning to Cleveland, who did not even qualify for the playoffs the years he was in Miami, James has led the Cavs to a playoff berth, and there is a strong possibility he could bring Cleveland their first championship this year.
Curry, on the other hand, is the reason I started watching March Madness, going back to his Davidson days. He leads his team in the Western Conference and will definitely take them all the way to the NBA Finals.
He leads his team in points, steals and assists, and leads all other MVP candidates in PER with 27.6.
Having all this on his 2014-15 résumé, I believe Curry truly deserves consideration for this year’s MVP.
My vote, however, is on James.
He’s always been good, and people are used to him going above and beyond.
The MVP isn’t just the best player but is the best player who brings his team up to his level.
It’s easy to be good and have a good team when everyone around you is good, but it’s harder to be above most of your team and bring them up to your level, which is exactly what James is doing, has done and will continue to do.
He’s the best player in the NBA right now, and his Cleveland dynasty has just begun.
