Finals MVP race packs intrigue
By Tony Mejia
Over the past week, LeBron James has talked about this secret extra motivation he has in chasing an NBA title this year.
While we’ve heard it referenced enough after he dropped the tease post-Game 2 that it now elicits eye rolls, many have speculated that it has to do with his displeasure over finishing third in the MVP voting. He admitted to Dwyane Wade on national television that he goes out expecting to be the most valuable player every time he takes the floor, so that’s probably it.
It could also be that Stephen Curry dropped the following nugget before the series started, telling ABC of being born in Akron, “No disrespect to LeBron, (but) I want to be the first to bring the championship to that area.”
A Finals MVP earned over the regular-season MVP would certainly be gratifying, even if some might feel that sounds trite to be harping on for an additional boost. We all know how James feels about Northeast Ohio, specifically his hometown. That playful little dig likely didn’t go over well. For the record, A sportsbook lists Curry as the current favorite (-180), while offering James up at (+200).
Personal slights could certainly be his secret motivation. There are so many of those someone might wind up creating a prop if we could be certain the answer will be revealed.
From wanting to spite Miami Heat president Pat Riley for questioning his “guts” to wanting to prove this underdog role was nonsense, James has been bombarded with indignities, both perceived and real.
LeBron also wasn’t thrilled with the notion that the Warriors put out there after Game 1’s OT win, that they were going to let him get his 40-point nights and stop everybody else, cutting off his supporting cast from getting in sync via open looks.
"You don't let me have 40. I go get 40. It's not like they're just getting out of the way,” James declared after a 44-point effort on a season-high 38 shots. “So those guys aren't saying ‘we're okay with letting him have 40’. You don't let me have 40… I'm making those shots."
He scored 39 and 40 points in Games 2 and 3, respectively, relishing in the victories. He faded alongside the rest of his teammates on Thursday, managing just 20 points, his third-lowest figure these playoffs.
Andre Iguodala started Game 4 and won the individual matchup with LeBron, so while he’s not the reason James would’ve volunteered there was additional fuel to his fire last Sunday, there’s now more on his plate. He understands something that doesn’t happen very often, people rightfully saying he was just outplayed, follows him into a critical Game 5.
“He’s one of the x-factors,” James said of Iguodala on Thursday night. “He came to play, shot the ball extremely well, hit 4 3s and was in attack (mode). He got a couple of dunks in transition early on in the game which got him going. He was really good for them.”
Iguodala has been so effective that head coach Steve Kerr called him, “our best player through four games.” While averages of 14.8 points, 5.5 rebounds and 3.0 assists don’t sound overwhelming, he’s been the key to both GSW victories. Iguodala is shooting 57.5 percent for the series, and most important, has held James to 18-for-54 (33 pct.) from the field when defending him one-on-one.
If you’re going to back a Golden State player at this point, I’d ride with Iguodala at excellent odds (+260) over Curry, especially since his work against James will be such a critical factor going forward.
Sure, Curry leads the Warriors in scoring (23.5 ppg) these NBA Finals and is a threat to do his thing the rest of the way and break Ray Allen’s 3-point record for a six-game series (22) or Danny Green’s (27) all-time best should it go the distance. But for him to be the favorite when he shot 4-for-21 from 3-point range in Games 1 and 2 involves more of a projection than anything currently merited.
Iguodala’s work as the difference-maker at both ends has definitely been noticed by media, which will ultimately cast the deciding votes.
While the Warriors are favored to win it all and were my pre-series pick to win in 7 games, I see the most value in backing LeBron in the Finals MVP race at this point. He might just become the second player to win the award on a losing team, doubling your investment by doing so.
Keep in mind, this would be no small feat. Jerry West won the inaugural award in 1969 despite his Lakers losing to Boston 4-3 because he averaged 38 points per game during the series and dropped a triple-double in Game 7 (42-13-12). No one has come up short in the Finals and still been honored as the best player in the series since, but if there’s a year it’s going to happen, you may be watching it unfold.
There’s no denying Golden State is the superior team. In James, Cleveland has the best player, who just happens to be putting up monster numbers and is certainly capable of squeezing out a least one more win to ensure this goes the distance. Despite the 20-point night on Thursday, he was still all over the place in grabbing 12 rebounds and dishing out eight assists, so his series averages remain incredibly eye-popping.
Due to overtime games, LeBron is averaging 45.8 minutes, 35.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 1.3 steals. He probably won’t break Michael Jordan’s 41.0 scoring average or reach the 284 total points Elgin Baylor dropped 53 years ago, but the fact he’s put himself in that class is a feat in and of itself. James should continue to flirt with triple-doubles in every game left and has a chance to overwhelm any Warriors performances that might be deemed worthy of winning an award named after Bill Russell.
Add that to the list of secret motivation for James. If he manages to win his third Finals MVP, it would place him in the company of Magic Johnson, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan as three-time winners. Only Jordan has more with his six, though it should be noted they didn’t give out the award in Russell’s day.
Legends like Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Willis Reed and Kobe Bryant won twice, so James might be interested in passing them.
Motivation lies everywhere for LeBron. That’s why it wasn’t a good idea that Andrew Bogut called him out for flopping into that camera in Game 4, subsequently resulting in a deep gash to his head. He wasn’t the only one thinking that, but you usually don’t see players on other teams be so candid in their analysis, especially when there’s a vengeful superstar involved. The New York Daily News plastered him on its back page as the King of Flop.
Slights galore. He can’t be happy.
At this point, paying off so nicely and given the real possibility he can do something that hasn’t been done in 46 years even if Cleveland’s Finals end in failure, James is a solid bet to back in the MVP race.
If he wins it, maybe he’ll come clean and divulge his big mystery. Hopefully, it’s worth the build-up.
NBA Finals MVP Odds
Stephen Curry (Warriors) 5/9
LeBron James (Cavaliers) 2/1
Andre Iguodala (Warriors) 13/2
Draymond Green (Warriors) 50/1
Klay Thompson (Warriors) 50/1
Timofey Mozgov (Cavaliers) 100/1
Matthew Dellavedova (Cavaliers) 200/1
