NBA MVP Prediction and Pick: Will Voter Fatigue Play A Factor?
NBA MVP Prediction and Pick: Will Voter Fatigue Play A Factor?
Perhaps the most hotly-contested NBA award this season comes to us in the form of the Most Valuable Player award. Last season's winner, Nikola Jokic, is in the middle of another amazing season. But, Joel Embiid is leading the league in scoring and has been unstoppable on both sides of the floor. Who should you be betting on to win the award? Josh Gayle gives us his pick.
Joel Embiid to win MVP @ +145 (Bet $100 to win$145)
Odds available at FanDuel at time of publishing
Embiid has been nothing short of spectacular this year. Even through Ben Simmons sitting out, we see the Sixers in 3rd place of an unusually competitive Eastern Conference. Joel has put this team on his back and has kept them in relevancy even has his previous co-star was on the sideline. Now with James Harden in town I see Embiid efficiency going up and the Sixers record. If both go according to plan, I see him as the runaway candidate to win the MVP.
Joel Embiid is leading the NBA in scoring with 29.6 PPG and putting up a cool 11.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists. These are definitely MVP stats and more importantly, are accompanied by winning. Embiid has seen the most double teams I have ever seen him get and he is still shooting nearly 50% and is having his 2nd best season in terms of efficiency. We’ve gotta believe bringing in an offensive threat like James Harden will draw some attention off of the big man and help him see more one on one looks. Harden is undoubtedly a top 5 passer in the game and Embiid should be the primary beneficiary to James coming to town. I think Sixers could finish with a top 2 seed in the East and i know voters will remember this first half when Embiid carried the load single handedly.
To bet on something like this you have to put yourself into the mindset of a voter. For whatever reason, once you win an MVP once you’re now less likely to win it again. Obviously, it has happened multiple times but you have to even outdo your previous seasons which we can argue is right or wrong but seems to be the case. Embiids top competition right now is Giannis and The Joker. Both of whom have received MVP honors already. Voters will be more inclined to grace Embiid with his first as opposed to giving one of the others more hardware. 76ers remaining strength of schedule remaining is near the middle of the pack but I see plenty of center-friendly matchups for him along the rest of the way to help boost his stats and help him put up the stats needed to be the frontrunner.