Thursday, April 5th, 2012 at 9:00 am  |  147 responses

LeBron James Won the MVP Battle Over Kevin Durant


by Marcel Mutoni / @marcel_mutoni

The 2012 NBA MVP debate was more or less settled last night in Miami.

The two leading candidates, LeBron James and Kevin Durant, showed up to make their respective cases, in what had suddenly turned into a tight race for the game’s highest individual honor.

After last night, you’d be hard-pressed to give the award to anyone but LBJ this season.

James led the Miami Heat to a tough, physical win over the visiting OKC Thunder, posting a typically absurd line: 34 points, 10 assists, 7 rebounds. LeBron also played tremendous defense on numerous players (including Durant, who despite his own solid performance, coughed up the rock 9 times) , and nailed several big shots down the stretch to ensure the victory.

The AP has the postgame quotes:

“Every night I go out on the court, I try to play like the MVP for our team,” James told the reporters surrounding his locker after the game. “I’ve always said that. … It doesn’t matter to me. For us, we got better tonight as a team. And I was the MVP for our team and just trying to lead those guys, lead us to a victory. That’s what it’s all about.”

“I think he’s the best two-way player in this league,” Heat coach Erik Spoelstra said. “He does it in a night-in, night-out basis and he does it in a way where most teams would not ask a player to shoulder that type of responsibility. But the fact remains: He must play at an MVP level at both ends of the court for us. We’ve talked about him playing like a defensive player of the year, to defend all five positions, while at the same time playing four positions offensively.”

Last night’s Heat/Thunder matchup was of the more relentlessly competitive games of the season.

One gets the feeling that most NBA fans wouldn’t mind seeing these two squads meet again in June, where LeBron James and Kevin Durant would battle for an even more important MVP award.

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  • LA Huey

    We talk about the MVP race because the Finals are still two months away. Duh.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Huey, I’m not arguing that he is a good defender. And I am not at all talking about his team defense, that is putrid. But his individual, one on one D isn’t bad. He’s not a big liability unless they are playing against a top 6 PF. (Dirk, Pau, Bosh, Love, Garnett, Z-Bo)

  • http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=320404014 Allenp

    Wasn’t Tyler Hansbrough giving it to Boozer last playoffs?
    Boozer is decent in team defense, in my opinion and bad on the ball. He employs the initial stop then swipe and foul defense. He will put up some initial resistance, then fail to move his feet and swipe at the ball or just push the other man. Against some players, that initial show is enough.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Boozer doesn’t rotate. Hansbrough was hitting mid-range jumpers.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Lake, when KG and Perkins were together & healthy that was the best team defense I think I’ve ever seen.

  • http://scores.espn.go.com/nba/shotchart?gameId=320404014 Allenp

    That is true about Perkins and KG. People really underestimated what he was doing before the knee injury and with someone as smart and skilled as Garnett as his PIC.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    nbk, no because of the finals and the number of wide-open shots/layups/dunks I’ve seen them give up this season.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    I C Jt, I don’t agree but I understand. I think the Heat have a top 3 defense when they are all playing they’re hardest. They get complacent in the regular season too often, but during the playoffs they are one of the best defenses in the league. They were better defensively in the playoffs last year than either Chicago or Boston.

  • http://cnbc.com JTaylor21

    that’s the point I was trying to convey. They are too inconsistent on defense during the RS compared to CHI and BOS to be considered in the same class defensively but when they do turn it up especially in the playoffs, they are on a different plateau. The Finals were a different story.

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Honestly the Mavericks were strongest in the areas that Miami tries to force offenses into. It’s like trying to force Steve Nash to beat you with his passing ability. Dallas is a jump shooting team that relies on other teams trapping and switching. Miami is a defense that forces teams to beat them with jump shots by trapping and switching.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    nbk, I wanted to say that, but I figured i’d have to defend that position and didn’t want to defend the Celtics about anything lol.

  • http://jsklff.com Jukai

    JTaylor kind of has a point, but I don’t think it has to do with “defense” as much as it has to do with “Spo still can’t make proper in-game adjustments.”
    When the switching defense starts failing because the other team is making a lot of mid-range or three point jump shots, they keep doing the same sh*t. They never change up their scheme. Boston would change how they played defense depending on the team and if it wasn’t working, would change to something else. Spo rarely ever does that stuff, usually it’s “focus on this guy and keep on switching.”

  • http://SLAMONLINE.COM Gab

    I personally think its silly to crown the MVP to some over one game(MIA vs OKC 3/25) ESPN always gassing shit up. But as a HEAT fan KD has been balling like the MVP the passed 2 weeks but with overall stats and all Lebron now took the jump over KD for the MVP race.

  • LA Huey

    Miami’s defensive weakness are 3 point shots. That’s why Orlando is a potential match-up nightmare for the Heat in the playoffs.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iF30WneDtQc Datkid

    true LA huey…and also bc nobody on the heat can effectively guard Dwight. what happened to eddy curry?

  • http://slamonline.com nbk

    Lake you wouldn’t have to defend that to me, actually you’d probably have to just argue with yourself being a Lakers fan and all. Which would be entertaining as hell.

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Haha precisely. Not worth the energy. I can never beat myself at an argument.

  • http://www.twitter.com/MeSSiahDaTruth Messiah Da Truth

    Lebron is the MVP point blank. Everyone hypes KD up but he has been in the league for 5 years and hasn’t been to the finals yet and has a way better team than Lebron ever had in Cleveland but by year 5 Bron had been to the finals! I never understood why people just hate on Lebron for the dude is a beast and clearly D-Wade has lost a step. He is way more valuable to the Heat than D-Wade is and will be the reason they win a title if they win! Durant scores more because unlike Lebron if they are blowing teams out he sits Durants stays on the court even when there up 40 to just pad stats!!! #LBJ #MVP

  • Jamaal87

    Peace, Zombie Sonics!

  • http://slamonline.com LakeShow

    Messiah. The East was a little different then. West was kinda stacked… Different scenarios.

  • Heals

    Good stuff and some C’s love sprinkled on top at the end, not to shabby…

  • showtime

    i’m a laker fan but i think the mvp should be the chicago bulls role players who’ve been without their star for awhile now and are still on top of the east!

  • LA Huey

    Yeah, comparing Durant and LeBron’s career arcs is a bit unfair. I mean, Rondo got his chip way before Zeke did in his career. Circumstances have a HUGE influence on your successess.

  • honest truth

    KD IS THE REAL MVP AND HE DOESN”DOESNT HIDE HIS HAIRLINE WITH THICK SWEATBANDS OR LACK OF .

  • http://www.kb24.com The Seed

    Lebron is not MVP, first 20 games yes, last 20 games no. KD deserves it, but Westbrook great play is hurting KD chances. BOOK IT!!

  • Boogers

    Can we be serious for a moment.

    OKC team leaders:
    Points – K. Durant–27.6:::::
    Assists – R. Westbrook–5.4:::::
    Rebounds – K. Durant–8.1:::::
    FG% – S. Ibaka–53.1::::::
    Steals – R. Westbrook–1.8:::::
    Blocks – S. Ibaka –3.4::::::

    MIA team leaders:
    Points – L. James–26.9::::
    Assists – L. James 6.5::::
    Rebounds – L. James 8.1::::
    FG% – L. James 53.6::::
    Steals – L. James 2.0::::
    Blocks – J. Anthony 1.3::::…And Lebron aint far from Joel in this category either. This is starting to get ridiculous. This is the obvious MVP. Stop hating!

  • http://www,nba.com VanCityBBall

    this is confusing to me… when OKC beat MIA at OKC, people were saying right off the top that Kevin Durant was MVP 4 seconds after… but the next game that MIA beats them LBJ is all of a sudden MVP. i guess it goes by bais even myself i will admit it, but if you like a player that is just “GOOD” at all aspect’s then obviously LBJ would be your choice, but if you like a player that is “GREAT” at one thing but “OK” at the others then you would like KD as MVP. if you are basing MVP ranks by just single game stats then why wouldnt Rajon Rondo be considered because of his tripple dub’s?< (just an example)

  • http://www,nba.com VanCityBBall

    and i dont remember Steve Nash winning MVP because of his defence… so it’s a real toss up

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ thePhoenix

    Luol Deng is the MVP. The Bulls have the best record in the NBA and Rose has been out too much to be MVP. Therefore the best player on the best team is Deng. See how that logic is flawed?

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ thePhoenix

    There should be two requirements in determining MVP. It should first be the player who’s team is very very good with him. There are roughly 8 ‘very very good’ teams each year. Probably less. Of those ‘very very good’ teams, find the player whose team success would suffer the greatest falloff. That man is the MVP.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ thePhoenix

    There should be two requirements in determining the MVP. First, it should be the player who’s team is very very good with him. There are roughly 8 ‘very very good’ teams each year. Probably less. Of those ‘very very good’ teams, find the player whose team success would suffer the greatest falloff. That man is the MVP.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ thePhoenix

    Slam won’t post my MVP criteria.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ thePhoenix

    Whose*

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ thePhoenix

    Using that criteria, Chris Paul and Dwight are very strong candidates for MVP. Those teams do not make the playoffs without them. 8th seed at best. OKC, MIA, CHI, SAN, BOS and LAL would all still be very competitive playoff teams without Durant, Lebron, Rose, Parker, Rondo and Kobe. The trouble is whether you think the Clippers and Magic are good enough WITH Paul and Dwight to merit MVP consideration. Arguably, they are not. Durant and Lebron are no doubt having the most outstanding seasons of all players, but they may not be the most valuable. Kobe has a better argument as far as value goes. In saying that, since the award is more of a combination of outstanding play/stats and valuableness, then Lebron is my pick. Otherwise I’d take CP3.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=542782613 The White Steve Smith

    Would you like to try the new chicken McBites?
    -Nah im straight.
    -Let me get a big mac with bacon and extra mac sauce, two double cheese burgers with no pickles, fish fillet with no tarter sauce oatmeal rasin cookies and a chocolate milk.
    Will that complete your order?
    -And let me get the all american cups yall got left over.
    Please pull around for your total.
    -Yall take Antonie Walker checks?

  • Boogers

    Chris Paul and Dwight are strong candidates for the MVP. They just aren’t as strong as Lebron or Durant because of wins for the team. That should be one of the main criteria judging by previous years.

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ An interesting guy

    I don’t always post comments, but when I do, I prefer LeBron

  • AQWORD

    Bron has greatest impact on both ends & is the most complete player in the L. He adds most wins for his team, there are no players on his level & thats why he is MVP. simples

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/lebron-james-won-the-mvp-battle-over-kevin-durant/ thePhoenix

    My argument hinges on how you would IDEALLY define valuable though. Not on who should be MVP this year based on the precedent set by previous years’ MVPs. And to me valuableness is defined by the difference that the individual makes on the success of his team. While I agree Lebron is no doubt the most outstanding player in the league, and may very well be the MVP, I don’t think the Heat would be much worse without him. Same with Durant and the Thunder. Whereas the Magic and Clippers would experience a huge drop off in success without Dwight and Chris Paul. What I’m saying essentially is that although the Heat and Thunder have superior records, those records aren’t completely attributable to Lebron and Durant. Their strong supporting casts diminish their overall ‘value.’ That’s all. I’m not saying I’m right, it’s just a thought on how to define the ‘valuable’ part of MVP.

  • FnF

    Getting your team to the top 3 in standings should hold LITTLE weight in an MVP discussion. All of the MVP candidates secretly wish for a better supporting cast. Once you get a better supporting cast, the MVP candidates relative value diminishes. The team isn’t dependent on that ONE superstar but their sucess is now a function of a collection of players. IMO, the MVP’s team should at least have a winning record. To follow up the comment above, a Kobe-Smush-Kwame line up makes Kobe hella valuable to that team. Kobe-Gasol-Bynum makes Kobe less valuable because the supporting cast is better. Durant-Westbrook-Ibaka; Lebron-Wade-Bosh; Dwight-Nelson-Anderson… Which superstar in their respective trio is the most valuable relative to the other groups?

  • http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/04/mike-brown-kobe-bryant-getting-overlooked-in-mvp-race/ thePhoenix

    @FNF: precisely. If we’re talking strictly ‘value’ which I don’t think a lot of people really are.

  • GeeCyrous

    Both players have the Luxury to play with other elite players. It makes their job alot easier. Tony Parker deserves it more than any of these two.

  • Drig

    MVP of the year is definitely LeBron. Kobe’s in 2nd :P

  • Drig

    @FnF……I’d say Howard~Kobe>LeBron>Durant. Howard because it’s obvious. Kobe because LA has no perimeter production without Kobe drawing doubles away from Sessions. LeBron because Miami is more Big 3 dependent than OKC, which is a lot more deeper. However, this sort of selection makes it heavily biased towards PFs and Cs as they influence a team more than any other position.

  • Jake

    LeBron should be MVP for numerous reasons……first of all, when he plays on ALL cylinders, the rest of the team responds & steps it up. He’s also an all-around guy, KD is a good shooter PERIOD!! An MVP should be someone that deserves that title, not many players can play all-around, however, there are quite a few GOOD shooters, that’s the difference!!

  • FnF

    I can’t wait for an MVP to use this speech, “I’d like to thank the scrubs that I play with for making my value standout amongst the league’s elite. Shoutout to the GM for drafting back-to-back busts and the recent hasbeen signings. I’d also like to thank myself for the hardwork that only I could have put in to save this organization from being a disgrace. I’d like to thank myself again for the countless heroics and highlights I provided. Don’t worry I just showered, so you can go ahead and kiss my a$z. Thank You all”

  • 23

    Here’s the thing . Okc without Durant is still a scary playoff team without Durant. Probably scarier than a LeBron-less heat team. But having Durant and LeBron elevates the team from playoff team, to serious contenders. As a matter of fact, not just serious contenders, but overwhelming favorite to win their respective conference. That’s very valuable in my eyes

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