by AAA Sports
Sunday, Jul 14, 2024To say that the 2024 playoffs were a disappointment for most of the Association’s legacy players would be an understatement of epic proportions.
***LeBron James’s Lakers barely made it into the playoffs proper after winning a play-in, then got crushed (again) by the Nuggets in Round 1.
***The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo managed to win all of two games before falling, also in Round 1, to the Indiana Pacers.
***The Los Angeles Clippers’ Big Three (Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden) wasn’t nearly enough against the Dallas Mavericks, with Leonard cashing in for the season after two games (both losses).
***Kevin Durant couldn’t get it done in Phoenix, his Suns politely bowing out after getting swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
***Steph Curry? His Golden State Warriors couldn’t even get past the play-in. Jimmy Butler? Banged up and cashed out in Miami.
None of the above old-timer superstars made it even as far as Round 2, and collectively they put together a combined playoff record of 6-20.
So is it any surprise that only one (Antetokounmpo) of the names above is anywhere near the top of the list of MVP candidates for the upcoming season? Curry is a distant 10th, but even he is a longshot at +5000. And with GS needing a jolt or two just to sniff the post-season, it’s doubtful Curry will get a lot of votes.
If none of the above, then who? Let’s round up the usual suspects:
NIKOLA JOKIC – He’s won it three times in the last four seasons, so the chalk understandably resides here. He’s +350, and with the injury to first-round pick DaRon Holmes out form the year with an Achilles tear, Jokic will once again log big minutes and big numbers. There is some concern that he might wear down, or that Denver will take the Miami route and sacrifice regular-season wins for playoff freshness.
LUKA DONCIC – Every year Doncic is pressured to get into better shape. Maybe this will be the one off-season when he listens, after limping around in the Finals against Boston. Doncic is listed at +370, and might even be a slight favorite if the Mavs hadn’t picked up Klay Thompson, who is sure to eat into Doncic’s scoring numbers.
JOEL EMBIID –The Sixers are officially in the Three Stars Club, hoping that Paul George and Tyrese Maxey can take some of the scoring load off Embiid. If fewer minutes can keep Embiid (+600) on the court late in the season, it will be worth it in the W column and maybe end Philly’s run of playoff flops. How it all affects Embiid’s chances of getting in 65 or more games and winning another MVP award is anyone’s guess.
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER – The reality is that Gilgeous-Alexander (also +600) plays half his games in flyover country, and needs to overcome that if he is going to leapfrog past the likes of Jokic, Embiid and Doncic. SGA is the best player on the team that tied (with Denver) for the best record in the Western Conference, so the question is: What more can he do?
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – Two questions: Has it already been four years (2020) since won his MVP? And did the Bucks cost him another shot at one by taking the bait and basically exchanging Jrue Holiday for a tired Damian Lillard? Antetokounmpo’s Bucks seem as tired as they are old. Assuming good health, Antetokounmpo’s numbers will be huge, so there appears to value at +650.
***LeBron James’s Lakers barely made it into the playoffs proper after winning a play-in, then got crushed (again) by the Nuggets in Round 1.
***The Milwaukee Bucks and Giannis Antetokounmpo managed to win all of two games before falling, also in Round 1, to the Indiana Pacers.
***The Los Angeles Clippers’ Big Three (Kawhi Leonard, Paul George and James Harden) wasn’t nearly enough against the Dallas Mavericks, with Leonard cashing in for the season after two games (both losses).
***Kevin Durant couldn’t get it done in Phoenix, his Suns politely bowing out after getting swept by the Minnesota Timberwolves.
***Steph Curry? His Golden State Warriors couldn’t even get past the play-in. Jimmy Butler? Banged up and cashed out in Miami.
None of the above old-timer superstars made it even as far as Round 2, and collectively they put together a combined playoff record of 6-20.
So is it any surprise that only one (Antetokounmpo) of the names above is anywhere near the top of the list of MVP candidates for the upcoming season? Curry is a distant 10th, but even he is a longshot at +5000. And with GS needing a jolt or two just to sniff the post-season, it’s doubtful Curry will get a lot of votes.
If none of the above, then who? Let’s round up the usual suspects:
NIKOLA JOKIC – He’s won it three times in the last four seasons, so the chalk understandably resides here. He’s +350, and with the injury to first-round pick DaRon Holmes out form the year with an Achilles tear, Jokic will once again log big minutes and big numbers. There is some concern that he might wear down, or that Denver will take the Miami route and sacrifice regular-season wins for playoff freshness.
LUKA DONCIC – Every year Doncic is pressured to get into better shape. Maybe this will be the one off-season when he listens, after limping around in the Finals against Boston. Doncic is listed at +370, and might even be a slight favorite if the Mavs hadn’t picked up Klay Thompson, who is sure to eat into Doncic’s scoring numbers.
JOEL EMBIID –The Sixers are officially in the Three Stars Club, hoping that Paul George and Tyrese Maxey can take some of the scoring load off Embiid. If fewer minutes can keep Embiid (+600) on the court late in the season, it will be worth it in the W column and maybe end Philly’s run of playoff flops. How it all affects Embiid’s chances of getting in 65 or more games and winning another MVP award is anyone’s guess.
SHAI GILGEOUS-ALEXANDER – The reality is that Gilgeous-Alexander (also +600) plays half his games in flyover country, and needs to overcome that if he is going to leapfrog past the likes of Jokic, Embiid and Doncic. SGA is the best player on the team that tied (with Denver) for the best record in the Western Conference, so the question is: What more can he do?
GIANNIS ANTETOKOUNMPO – Two questions: Has it already been four years (2020) since won his MVP? And did the Bucks cost him another shot at one by taking the bait and basically exchanging Jrue Holiday for a tired Damian Lillard? Antetokounmpo’s Bucks seem as tired as they are old. Assuming good health, Antetokounmpo’s numbers will be huge, so there appears to value at +650.
