MVP Wars Volume 1: Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. James Harden
We are over a week of action into the NBA, and already, the season is as insane as projected. Between the Golden State Warriors’ horrendous start and the Phoenix Suns pinch-me-I-must-be-dreaming performance so far, the landscape has changed. Yet, two players remain as dominant as ever. This is MVP Wars: Giannis Antetokounmpo vs. James Harden edition.
Two Sides of the Coin
Admirable champions want to defend their title legitimately. What grinds gears the most is the person who wins one pickup game and leaves with the ball. Sure, you left with a win under your belt, but it hits harder if you dominated the court for a consecutive game. Giannis Antetokounmpo is the epitomist of staying on and balling for another victory.
Inferring James Harden as the inspiration for the current challenge frenzy in the NBA isn’t a far fetched theory. Besides the rocking-you-to-sleep offense, the influence Harden has on officiating is an intangible skill no other player in the league possesses. Questioning whether or not Harden traveled or was fouled is a game in itself.
These two former MVP winners are rivals, even if separated by a conference. Both of their respected games represent polar opposite philosophies of basketball. On the one hand, Harden’s game is methodical, decisive yet more times than not sloppy, and outright a controversial playing style.
Antetokounmpo, however, plays at a different pace. Last season’s MVP is nowhere near the shooter his MVP rival is, although Antetokounmpo influences the game at a higher level. Defense and rebounds alone set him apart from Harden. Weaknesses and strengths aside, both players aren’t a lock for the award this season.
Both superstar talents will survive the premature smoke, withstanding some early other early candidates’ emergences. You can dislike Harden all you want, but he’s proven to having staying power in the regular season. Anetokounmpo plays in the Eastern Conference and despite some early hiccups, will pick up momentum for the Milwaukee Bucks.
The Game Tape so Far This Season
It’s evident the two former MVP award winners are nowhere near finished contending for the NBA’s prestigious player award. James Harden, the historic scoring machine, is unsurprisingly leading the league with 36.6 points per contest. Last season’s MVP, Giannis Antetokounmpo, isn’t on the top-10 scoring leader board.
However, despite Harden’s transition to point guard, he isn’t even in the top-five list of assist percentage. Antetokounmpo, as expected of one of the best players in the league, is dominating the said statistic. Over players such as LeBron James, Nikola Jokic, Kawhi Leonard, and ball-dominating Russell Westbrook, Antetokounmpo reigns supreme so far with a 60.6 assist percentage.
The Early-Season Case for James Harden
Regardless of his putrid 20 percent shooting from deep, Harden’s polarizing offense keeps him in the race, albeit the latter end of the rankings. The 2018 regular season MVP winner sets the tone at a league-leading rate: according to Synergy, Harden is the outright possession leader at 15 isolation plays per game.
Not only does he champion the isolation play in terms of volume, but he also capitalizes the most out of any other player. Harden scores 12 points in isolation; the nearest player is LeBron James, separated by six points. Harden’s persistent scoring keeps the Rockets afloat in the dangerously close Western Conference, which in turn, allows the dynamic guard a slot in MVP candidacy.
The Early-Season Case for Giannis Antetokounmpo
Although it’s early in the season, the Milwaukee Bucks are off to a slow start. Nevertheless, Giannis Antetokounmpo’s all-around performance keeps him in the running to repeat as MVP. Between the uptick in the assist category and rebounding, the Bucks’ franchise cornerstone is only picking up steam.
A runaway train best describes Giannis Antetokounmpo. The passengers are at his mercy, pedestrians are just about helpless, and the outcome only ends in carnage. Thankfully, this train stops in scored baskets. Antetokounmpo, along with Westbrook, leads the league with eight transition points per game.
The clutch gene, perhaps, is solely a made-up trait derived from an obnoxious sports debate program. Never mind the origin of the phrase “clutch gene,” the idea of players performing in the clutch creates legends and birth scapegoats. Although the clutch statistic is not the definitive stat for a great player, it’s a great piece of the million-piece puzzle.
Using NBA.com/stats PIE (player impact estimate) statistic, Giannis dominates the league, practically to the point of suggesting the stat should be named after the 2019 MVP. The Milwaukee Bucks star currently sits at a 225 PIE with Eastern Conference rival, Joel Embiid sitting at 93.3.
Ripping the Toronto Raptors
The Milwaukee Bucks were up against 2019 NBA champions Toronto Raptors, and unfortunately for them, Giannis Antetokounmpo saw red and didn’t stop until the clock hit zero. By the end of the first quarter, the Bucks had the upper hand with a 19-point lead.
The Bucks, despite the Raptors cutting it short in the fourth quarter, safely took the win all due to Antetokounmpo’s extraordinary efforts. The 2019 MVP dominated Saturday hoops with a 36-15-8 stat line. Not to mention, four blocks, including a ferocious rejection at the expense of Pascal Siakam in the third quarter.
In Closing
The MVP war between Harden and Antetokounmpo is only beginning, yet it’s clear the latter player is in the driver’s seat. The Bucks must ignite a winning streak for Antetokounmpo to ascend in the rankings.
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