The J-Notes
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Utah Jazz: Predicting the NBA Awards Show winners

By Jared Woodcox

BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Donovan Mitchell looks on at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images)
BROOKLYN, NY - JUNE 21: Donovan Mitchell looks on at the 2018 NBA Draft on June 21, 2018 at Barclays Center during the 2018 NBA Draft in Brooklyn, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Marion/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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HOUSTON, TX – MAY 28: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets talks with media after the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
HOUSTON, TX – MAY 28: James Harden #13 of the Houston Rockets talks with media after the game against the Golden State Warriors during Game Seven of the Western Conference Finals of the 2018 NBA Playoffs on May 28, 2018 at the Toyota Center in Houston, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Most Valuable Player – James Harden

Let me make one thing clear – these are my predictions and not necessarily who I personally believe should win the award. Such is exactly the case for my prediction for the MVP winner.

I’m going with James Harden and he certainly has an excellent case. He led his Houston Rockets team to the best record in the entire NBA and was the league’s leading scorer at 30.4 points per game, while also chipping in 8.8 dimes per contest. He proved himself once again as one of the league’s best isolation scorers and even made strides defensively on a team that focused much more on that area than they had in the past.

His fellow finalists, LeBron James and Anthony Davis, also both have extremely intriguing cases. Davis was a monster this season and LeBron truly carried his team on his back throughout the regular season. In truth, James would be my pick for this award due to the fact that his supporting cast struggled so much throughout the season and he had to adapt to so many new faces in the middle of the year.

If we’re talking solely about value to a team, I think LeBron takes the cake. Take Harden off the Rockets and with the likes of Chris Paul and Clint Capela, it’s entirely feasible that they still sneak into the playoffs. Take James off of the Cavs and they’re almost a sure-fire lottery team.

But, alas, LeBron’s greatest heroics came throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs where he was literally the team’s savior night in and night out. These are regular season awards though, and considering how high Harden elevated the Rockets compared to the Cavs finishing just fourth in the East, as well as the fact that Harden was such a prolific offensive threat, I’m pretty confident he’ll come away with the nod.

Many felt he was snubbed last season, but I don’t think that will happen again. I predict that James Harden will be the one hoisting up the MVP trophy this evening.

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