NBA: Kawhi Leonard Is The MVP

Kevin Durant leaves the Oklahoma City Thunder and suddenly Russell Westbrook has a season for the ages. James Harden gets to handle the ball more as the Houston Rockets don't have a point guard. While for the San Antonio Spurs Kawhi Leonard gets little to no love.

Isn't it amazing how Leonard who helped the Spurs to a 61 win season gets little to no love from fans or the media when it comes to the MVP.

Yet, bright shiny numbers from Harden and Westbrook do.

Leonard is among the top defensive players in the NBA and is looking for his third straight Defensive Player of the Year Award. Westbrook's defense throughout his career has been among the best at the point guard position until this year when it became easily his worst season and Harden has looked passable at times on defense.

Those who have been tweeting about their favorite candidates seem to only like at the numbers peripherally. Who wouldn't want to vote for Westbrook? He averaged a tripe double and got the Thunder the sixth seed! Harden put up some great numbers as well and led the Rockets to the third seed.

Still what about Leonard? He helped the Spurs get the second seed.

Westbrook finished the season averaging 31.6 points per game, 10.7 rebounds, 10.4 assists, 1.6 steals and 5.4 turnovers on 42.5 percent shooting, 34.3 percent from three and 84.5 percent from the free throw line.

Harden averaged 29.1 points, 11.2 assists, 8.1 rebounds, 1.5 steals, 5.7 turnovers on 44 percent shooting, 34.7 percent from three and 84.7 percent from the free throw line.

Leonard averaged 25.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 1.8 steals, 2.1 turnovers on 48.5 percent shooting, 38.1 percent from three and 88 percent from the free throw line.

Obviously the numbers don't paint the entire picture. Against the top three teams in the western conference (Golden State Warriors, Spurs and Rockets) the thunder were 2-9. Add in the (Los Angeles Clippers, Utah Jazz, Memphis Grizzlies and Portland Trail Blazers) the four other playoff teams the record is 9-7.

Meaning the overall record against playoff teams in the west was 11-16.

How about the Rockets with Harden? Against the top three teams (Golden State, San Antonio and Los Angeles) a 5-6 record. When including (Utah, Oklahoma City, Memphis and Portland) Houston's record is 7-5, meaning overall their record was 12-11.

The Spurs versus the top three western conference playoff teams (Golden State, Houston and Los Angeles) a record of 5-5, against the four other playoff teams 7-6 and overall 12-11.

With the records tied what is the tiebreaker between Harden and Leonard? Efficiency? That goes to Leonard. Defense again that goes to Leonard. Overall record for the season? Again that goes to Leonard.

As for Westbrook he's a distant third.