Gallery: 3/5
James Harden
Why He Should Win MVP: A triple-double is arbitrary. When it comes down to it, in the scope of a 48-minute game, is there really that big of a difference in a point guard averaging 10.7 rebounds per game and a point guard averaging 8.1 rebounds per game? Westbrook is getting praise for averaging a triple-double, but what if he only averaged 9.9 rebounds per game? He wouldn't have the triple-double average, but he would still be pretty much having the exact same remarkable season.
In that sense, Harden averaging just 2.8 points and 2.6 rebounds less per game than Westbrook probably shouldn't be such a big deal, especially when he's averaging more assists (11.2 vs. 10.4), has a better true-shooting percentage (.612 vs. .555), and is the engine behind the West's No. 3 team and the league's No. 2 most efficient offense.
Why He Might Not Win MVP: Mike D'Antoni's system. Many voters may discredit Harden's overall numbers because the Rockets' up-tempo style (third in the league in pace) can lead to inflated numbers, pointing to other guards who have put up huge stats in his offense.
Also, defense. Though he is averaging 1.5 steals per game, the Rockets are just 17th in defensive rating, while Harden allows opponents to shoot 1.1 percent better than average. In actuality, those numbers aren't terrible (the latter is better than Westbrook), but Harden's reputation as a poor defender could hurt him. (Getty)