Who’s The Real NBA MVP? A Case For Russell Westbrook

Jan 25, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) looks to shoot against Oklahoma City Thunder guard Russell Westbrook (0) in the fourth quarter at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Russ vs. LeBron James

Westbrook Stats (Per Game): 27.4 PPG, 8.1 APG, 7.0 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 3.9 TOPG, .434/.286/.838 shooting

James Stats (Per Game): 26.3 PPG, 7.3 APG, 5.7 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 0.7 BPG, 1.9 TOPG, .491/.338/.715 shooting

Let’s just get this out of the way: Both of those stat lines are FILTHY. For any person to put together a single game with those numbers is ridiculous. To average those over the course of the season? You’re simply not human. But I didn’t need to tell you that. While both players have their fair share of detractors despite night-to-night brilliance, I’m not sure there’s too many people who will dispute that both guys are playing at a ridiculous efficiency level despite insane usage rates.

When reducing the race to purely numbers, Westbrook wins this one fairly handily. He beats LeBron in nearly every statistical category, aside from shooting efficiency (arguably LeBron’s biggest strength).

Unfortunately for Russ, it’s not that easy. If we were going strictly off numbers, Michael Carter-Williams would be right in the mix of the MVP race seeing as he is currently sitting second in triple-doubles. LeBron has spent the season working with a much better supporting cast than Westbrook so naturally the King’s statistical explosion opportunities are depressed.

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So the real question we should be asking ourselves is, who has truly been more valuable?

The first place we could look is how has the team fared WITHOUT the two respective players?

Cleveland (w/o James): 2-9

Oklahoma City (w/o Westbrook): 5-10

Granted, that doesn’t tell the whole story, but it does seem pretty damning to Westbrook’s case. Cleveland sans LeBron had a much better supporting cast than Oklahoma City sans Russ (reminder: OKC was also without Kevin Durant during Westbrook’s absence) so the fact that they had a WORSE record than the Thunder only further reinforces LeBron’s case.

But what does the tape show us? Different things.

On tape, Cleveland simply doesn’t work without LeBron. When Cavs head coach David Blatt arrived in Cleveland he immediately instilled his uber-complicated, Euro-inspired offense and the early results were troubling. At times, it seemed LeBron was the only one who fully grasped the system. Fortunately for the Cavaliers, he’s more than willing to play quarterback for the team.

In this play, Kyrie Irving opts out of the layup attempt and kicks it to Shawn Marion in the corner. Marion bobbles the catch and Cleveland is forced to reset at the elbow. LeBron immediately goes to work, barking out orders. LeBron freezes Indiana’s defense by motioning for Marion to go into the post. However, his brilliance is actually in his fundamental understanding of the offense. LeBron knows Kyrie is cutting without even looking at Irving. The defense is distracted by Coach LeBron and never sees James throwing a no-look pass for an easy bucket. 

This is partly why the Cavs were so unsuccesful without LeBron. Despite having a healthy Kevin Love and Kyrie Irving in the lineup, Blatt’s sophisticated offense doesn’t work without LeBron acting as the all-seeing facilitator. 

Westbrook impacts the game in a different but every bit as devastating way. LeBron is toying with defenses, mapping out future strategies and tactics before the defense has even reconciled on the play at hand. It’s calculated, it’s chess. Westbrook, on the other hand, has no time for chess. He’s too busy launching himself across the court like a coked up Sonic the Hedgehog strapped to an inter-continental ballistic missile. 

Here, Westbrook somehow beats Tobias Harris to a loose ball despite conceding a two-foot head start to the athletic forward. Orlando probably should have quit on that play at that point. Westbrook then streaks down the court before deciding that physics are really more of a suggestion than a law and somehow sends a bounce pass zipping between his legs at full-stride for an Andre Roberson transition dunk. 

So what’s more valuable? Is it LeBron’s tactical mastery of a game that is constantly evolving or Westbrook simply being the greatest athlete to ever don the title of “point guard”? It’s hard to say. In my opinion, this is really the MVP race that SHOULD be getting discussed but because of voter fatigue with LeBron and the weird notion that Westbrook being injured should remove him from legitimate MVP discussion, it’s not. 

I give the slightest of edges to Westbrook primarily because he is being asked to do more on a night-to-night basis. LeBron can concede possessions for Kyrie and Love to carry the team. Westbrook is afforded no such luxury until Kevin Durant returns. That being said, LeBron has been quietly inhuman this year. If the Cavs keep winning, and mind you, they should, James will inevitably hurdle the Brodie.

Next: Westbrook vs. Harden