LBJ MVP?

Sports history has taught us that a player from the winning team is always named MVP.  Not since 1969 when the Lakers lost to the Boston Celtics and Jerry West of the Lakers was named MVP, has an NBA finals MVP come from the losing team.  But that 45 year drought could be coming to an end this year.

(photo David Richard / USA TODAY Sports)

What has been most impressive about this NBA finals is not the disappearance of Stephen Curry’s scoring and shot making ability, but rather the play of LeBron James.   When Kevin Love went down towards the end of the Boston series, nobody wrote the Cavaliers off.  After Kyrie Irving went down during game 1 with a broken kneecap, everybody wrote off the Cavs and marked them as D.O.A. heading into game 2.  Everybody but LeBron James that is.  James has single handedly carried this Cleveland Cavaliers team to within 2 games of an NBA title.

Statistically speaking, James is having his best NBA Finals ever.  In his previous 5 NBA Finals appearances, James averaged 24.4 PPG, 8.6 RPG and 6.4 APG.  This series against the Warriors he is averaging 36.6 PPG, 12.4 RPG and 8.8 APG, recorded 2 triple doubles and is contributing to almost 66% of the Cavaliers offense.  Furthermore, per 538.com, his combined points, rebounds and assists per game are the highest of NBA finals MVP at 57.8.  The next closest is Shaquille O’Neil with 57 combined points, rebounds and assists.

Whatever the outcome of Game 6, James’s performance is MVP like and definitely worthy of him being considered MVP if the Cavs lose.  The question is now, should the Cavs lose will the NBA buck the trend and name James MVP?  Only the NBA can decide and the ball is in their court.