Predictions on the MVP Race and recap on the Playoffs thus far.

Through the first 82 games of the regular season, there have been many surprises! No one would have guessed Coach Kerr and the rest of the Golden State Warriors would finish with the second best home-court record in NBA history. Or Mike Budenholzer’s Atlanta Hawks being the first seed in the eastern conference. Yes we all know, the East is relatively weak in comparison with the powerhouses in the West.

Individually, Russell Westbrook has stood out. With 2013-2014 MVP and teammate, Kevin Durant out injured for more than half the season, Westbrook’s individual prowess for OKC is what kept them in the race for the 8th spot to continue post-season in the playoffs.  Unfortunately for OKC fans, Westbrook’s 11 triple doubles and 31 double doubles were in vain as the New Orleans Pelicans clinched the last spot due to the head to head advantage over Oklahoma.

As we had an exciting season, the main question is: who’s going to be MVP? This has been well debated since the beginning of March and the three names that seem to dominate the conversation are  Stephen Curry, James Harden, and Russell Westbrook. MVP “usually” goes to the most valuable player to a team. However, this season will probably be different. Harden single handedly took the Houston Rockets’ to the second season in the Western Conference playoffs without his injury-plagued center, Dwight Howard. That is impressive huh? Westbrook did the same with OKC however, failure to make the playoffs, certainly removes him from the discussion. Now, the fan favorite, vine-frenzy, light-hearted Stephen Curry comes into the picture. He is the front runner for this award: With the departure of the Warriors’ head coach, Mark Jackson, and the new coaching staff, first year head coach, Steve Kerr brought in, the Warriors have been impressive this season. Best record in the NBA, number one in offensive and defensive efficiency, first in 3 point shots made, and percentage. Their dominance this season can not be taken with a pinch of salt. The MVP award will hence go to Steph Curry.

With the playoffs that just begun on Saturday, a lot of discussion is on can the Warriors win the NBA? or Will they pull a Kentucky and slip at the very end of the playoffs? Also, 3 time MVP LeBron James ending the regular season with his hometown team Cleveland Cavaliers, we are curious how far they can go. The last talk is current NBA champions, San Antonio Spurs.

The Spurs have been less than impressive this season, although going on their longest win streak to close the end of the regular season winning 14 out of their last 16. There are certainly many doubts that they can retain their title of being the NBA champions, after raising expectations last season as they outclassed the Miami Heat. However, we all know Big Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobli, and Greg Popovic certainly aren’t getting any younger, rumor is they will all retire together. I think otherwise, although their style of playing the traditional way is certainly to be questioned, the Spurs’  resilience never fails to show especially in the playoffs. They are currently tied 1-1 so far in the first round to the Los Angeles Clippers who had a brilliant performance against them last Sunday, so there is a lot of change they have to put in if they want a chance of making it to the western conference finals.

This is certainly the most exciting event worldwide at the moment, with the soccer season winding down, and Golf Masters’ having concluded 2 weeks ago, all eyes are on the NBA for the next 1 and half months. We certainly will have surprises and thus be very entertained!