It’s that time of year where the great debate comes up in all basketball fans conversations, and we finally get more answers to these debates as the season comes to a close. This season we’ve seen players like James Harden and Stephen Curry take their teams to the next level with their performances and it has obviously shown through their teams respective records.
Now what seemed to be a two man race for the MVP crown may not have one Cleveland Cavaliers beat reporter convinced it’s either of those players that get the MVP nod.
As a Clevelander Jason Lloyd is one of the go to guys for facts and credible information. Lloyd has been front and center for The Cavaliers past four seasons with a combined 97 wins and every single rumor you can imagine surrounding this franchise.
Lloyd shared what his vote for MVP is and had a very good explanation as to why:
“MVP
LeBron James, James Harden, Steph Curry, Russell Westbrook, Anthony Davis
Maybe I’m the only writer in the country who doesn’t get swept up in the Curry/Harden debate and votes LeBron No. 1. That’s fine. I’m ready for whatever scrutiny comes with it. I laid out a couple of weeks ago why I believe James is still the MVP of this league and I’m not wavering now.
He lifted an entire franchise and region with his return. He took a team going on its third coach in as many years, with the worst overall record the past four years, a dysfunctional locker room and a hands-on owner and (eventually) steadied it all. Not to mention Kyrie Irving’s development playing alongside him.
My vote for James has nothing to do with working for his hometown paper. No other player in the league could’ve convinced Kevin Love to agree to a trade to Cleveland. No other player in the league could’ve pulled the Cavs from where they were to where they are. He is truly the league’s most valuable player.
Harden and Curry have both been fabulous as well. Harden earns extra points for improving defensively and carrying the Rockets while Dwight Howard was injured and doing it in the ultra competitive Western Conference. Westbrook’s effort in Oklahoma City has been Herculean at times without Kevin Durant, and Anthony Davis is the future of this league. His place on this list is only going to keep rising.
Harden has been the heart and soul of The Houston Rockets, and they wouldn’t be anywhere close to where they are now in The Western Conference without him. LeBron James though has changed the culture of this franchise and saved this team from being one of the bottom feeders in The NBA.”
Say what you want about LeBron’s decision to leave Miami after 4 straight Finals appearances, but he’s clearly made the right choice after the Cavs re-signed Irving and acquired key pieces to the team (Love, Mozgov, Smith, Shumpert).
If James does not return to Cleveland sure they would’ve had Wiggins, but they don’t have Kevin Love and who’s to say Irving stays in Cleveland if they do suffer another losing season or two?
James is now averaging 25 ppg, 7 assists, and 6 rebounds in 32 minutes a night. Now does this mean I think James will get his 5th MVP award? No. Just think it should not be a far fetched idea that James could/should be MVP of the 2014/2015.
I believe Stephen Curry gets his first MVP award, but I think James will not get enough recognition for what he has done this season and what he means to not only this franchise, but the city as well.
I applaud Jason Lloyd for his opinions on this and agree with what he stated, and he certainly will receive scrutiny for this opinion unfortunately just remember he isn’t disrespecting the things Curry, Harden, and Westbrook have done on the court he just understands what The Cavaliers were up against the past four seasons and a rocky start for the team and what a 180 this team has done as a franchise thanks to the return of James.
From failed draft picks, horrid coaching hires, and to the humiliation of losing the past four years LeBron James helped change that for the franchise which I think needs to be taken into consideration along with his stellar performance on the court.
