Wemby MVP Bid? Spurs Chase Top Seed Over OKC

Wemby MVP Bid? Spurs Chase Top Seed Over OKC

Victor Wembanyama is making a serious case for MVP. The San Antonio Spurs are now just two games behind the Oklahoma City Thunder for the top seed in the Western Conference. After beating OKC four times this season, the Spurs hold the head-to-head tiebreaker. This means they are essentially one game back. The race for the number one seed is heating up, and it could have major MVP implications.

Last night, Wembanyama put on a show in a Spurs win. He finished with 19 points, 15 rebounds, and a whopping 7 blocks. His defensive presence was felt throughout the game. Early on, he stuffed a shot attempt by Taylor Hendris. Later, after being scored on by GG Jackson, Wembanyama responded with a powerful dunk right over Jackson, showing a bit of vengeance.

GG Jackson spoke about the sequence after the game. “I was I just got to like put it in the basket as quick as possible,” he said. “And then like the crowd, you know what I’m saying? Like I’m a Memphis guy. The Memphis crowd, they was supposed to they was supposed to pass out over that one.” Jackson also explained his decision to drive, admitting, “I only jumped because I figured if I was to get the block, that would have been crazy.”

Wembanyama’s strong play is putting him squarely in the MVP conversation. Kendrick Perkins, a former NBA player and current analyst, stated that he has already locked in his Defensive Player of the Year vote for Wembanyama. When it comes to MVP, Perkins currently has Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (SGA) at number one. However, he made it clear that if the Spurs catch OKC for the top seed, Wembanyama will get his MVP vote.

“If the Spurs are the number one seed, I don’t see how you could put somebody else at the top of your MVP.”

Perkins believes it’s a two-man race between SGA and Wembanyama. While he acknowledges the data might favor SGA, he feels voters will look for reasons to vote for Wembanyama. If Wembanyama leads the Spurs to the top seed, it will be very compelling. “I totally think that if they are tied or or you know, if they’re tied essentially, WBY will have the number one seed in the Spurs and and I would vote for him,” Perkins added. He feels Wembanyama’s defensive impact is much greater than SGA’s.

However, not everyone agrees that defense alone should tip the scales. Another analyst pointed out that SGA is ranked third among guards in defensive rating, showing he’s not a slouch on that end. SGA is also second in the league in scoring, shooting over 55% from the field. He is still defending effectively while carrying a heavy offensive load.

The discussion also touched on the narrative and the difficulty of each player’s role. SGA is asked to do a lot offensively for his team, especially with injuries to his teammates. Wembanyama, while bringing the ball up sometimes, is seen as the primary finisher and the anchor of the Spurs’ defense. As Draymond Green has said, defense is half the game, and Wembanyama’s impact on that end is undeniable.

Lakers Dominate Pacers, LeBron and Luka Shine

Meanwhile, the Los Angeles Lakers continued their strong play, defeating the Indiana Pacers. LeBron James and Luka Doncic led the charge. The Lakers started the game on a blistering 10-0 run and never looked back, leading by as much as 21 points in the first half.

LeBron James showed he’s still playing at an elite level, contributing 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 9 assists. He looked comfortable playing off of Luka Doncic and Austin Reaves. At one point, he made a no-look pass to Jalen McDaniels for an easy layup. His play suggests he’s in a happy place on the court.

Luka Doncic was on another level, scoring 43 points in the win. He had 28 points in the first half alone. His performance extended an incredible stretch for the Lakers on their six-game road trip. Doncic is averaging just over 40 points per game on this trip, making it an official success for the team.

This scoring average places Doncic in elite company. He is the first player to average 40 points over a six-game road span since Michael Jordan in 1986. He’s also averaging nearly 40 points over his last 11 games, the most in an 11-game stretch of his career. This also surpasses Kobe Bryant’s scoring tear in 2007 for the most by a Laker.

Nuggets’ High-Scoring Win Raises Defensive Questions

In another game, the Denver Nuggets secured a high-scoring victory over the Dallas Mavericks, 142-135. Nikola Jokic and Jamal Murray were spectacular. Jokic recorded a triple-double with 23 points, 19 rebounds, and 21 assists. Murray had a massive 53 points. This marked the second pair of teammates in NBA history to both record a triple-double and score 50 points in the same game, following Wilt Chamberlain and Guy Rogers.

However, the win also highlighted defensive concerns for the Nuggets. Giving up 135 points, especially without Aaron Gordon, is a worry. Gordon, who missed the game due to injury, is seen as the defensive glue for the team. Without him, Denver’s defense becomes abysmal.

One analyst questioned if the Nuggets’ offense can compensate for defensive weaknesses. He noted that Denver still lacks a true rim protector, which could be a problem against teams like OKC or the Spurs. While Jokic and Murray’s offensive performances were impressive, the team’s identity on defense remains unclear as the season winds down. The hope is that a healthy, home-heavy schedule ahead will allow them to improve their 21st ranked defense.

Source: Kendrick Perkins says Victor Wembanyama WILL TAKE MVP from SGA IF what happens?! 👀 | NBA Today (YouTube)