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What’s good, family. It’s Sykes, once again, leading you into tonight’s playoff action. But first, a thought on the MVP race that was.
For pretty much the entire season there were three MVP candidates putting up historic numbers that totally deserved consideration for the award: Nikola Jokic, Giannis Antetokounmpo, and Joel Embiid.
So far through three games this postseason, Antetokounmpo and Embiid have at least one a single game. Nikola Jokic — who will probably win the award — has not.
The conversation surrounding MVP has already gotten awkward and the playoffs just started.
Look, Nikola Jokic totally deserved MVP. The numbers bear it out. He put up a historic season with the Nuggets and carried a team that had no business making the playoffs to a 48-win season. But there is also certainly something to be said for him being another MVP who may possibly be out in the first round of the playoffs.
That’s sort of where that conversation starts and ends, though. Would a first-round exit mean he doesn’t deserve MVP? Absolutely not. The fact is this is a regular-season award. And the postseason has no bearing on it because, well, no one can predict the future.
If anything, the Nuggets’ performance should probably bolster his candidacy. It’s become pretty clear that, without Jokic, the Nuggets might be one of the three or four worst teams in the NBA. And for him to drag them this far without any co-stars? That’s pretty impressive.
So let’s maybe chill on Jokic a bit and start thinking more critically about what MVP means as a regular-season award. Once we do that, then we can circle back and have a much better — and more productive — conversation.
The Tip-Off
Some NBA goodness from around the USA TODAY Sports network.
Kevin Durant is playing some of the worst basketball we’ve ever seen him play right now against the Celtics.
I wrote a bit about that today after crunching the numbers and, whew boy, are they bad.
Durant has only shot worse than 25% on at least 15 field goal attempts five times in his playoff career including Wednesday’s game.
The last time it happened was 6 years ago in 2016 against the Mavericks where he shot 7-33 (!!!!!!) from the field. That might actually be the worst shooting performance of his career.
The Nets have to free KD up a bit. Otherwise, they stand no chance in this series.
One to Watch
(All odds via Tipico.)
Nuggets (+115) vs. Warriors (-2.5, -140), O/U 223.5, 10 PM ET
The Warriors have been blistering the Nuggets with their new death lineup of Stephen Curry, Klay Thompson, Jordan Poole, Andrew Wiggins and Draymond Green. That lineup has a +123.9 net rating in the series.
It’s hard to pick against them tonight. So I’m not doing it. The Warriors win this thing in a blowout. I’m taking the under.
Who’s in and out?
—Luka Doncic (hamstring) is listed as questionable for the first time in the Mavericks series against the Jazz.
—Andre Iguodala (neck) is listed as probable for the Warriors in game 3 against the Nuggets.
Shootaround
—The Celtics are looking good, but you probably shouldn’t bet on a sweep of Kevin Durant, writes our Prince Grimes.
—Speaking of sweeps, Joel Embiid basically just promised Drake he’d sweep the Raptors.
—The 76ers praised Tobias Harris as the unsung hero in their comeback over the Raptors, Ky Carlin of Sixers Wire writes.
—Scottie Barnes missing time in this series changed everything and Tyrese Maxey isn’t happy about it.
That’s a wrap, folks! Til next time.
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