Ranking the Finals MVP contenders
Thanks to the Game 5 heroics of LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, the NBA Finals once again appear up for grabs, with the Cleveland Cavaliers needing only a home victory Thursday to force a Game 7.
The Cavs reimposing themselves on the series also opens up the race for Finals MVP, which includes last year's winner and a collection of superstars.
Here's how the race breaks down through five games:
Game Score courtesy of Basketball Reference, on/off net rating courtesy NBA.com
Draymond Green
2016 Finals stats: 14.8 PPG, 9.3 RPG, 5.8 APG, 1.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG
Average Game Score: 14.2
On/off net rating: +27.4
Green may not have the mind-boggling individual statistics of James and Irving, but he has to be seen as the slight favorite for the Bill Russell award heading into Game 6.
The All-NBA big man was the best all-around player through four games - in which the Golden State Warriors won three of four - and his team looked like a shell of itself defensively in Monday's Game 5 loss, with LeBron in particular getting everything he wanted out of pick-and-roll situations.
| LeBron in Finals | eFG% | AST/TO ratio | Rebound Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Green on court (148 mins.) | 51.9 | 1.32 | 14.9% |
| Green on bench (55 mins.) | 57.1 | 3.67 | 20.8% |
Green is the Warriors' Finals leader in assists, rebounds, and steals per game, and he's averaged 12 more touches (84.8 per game) than any other Warrior, coming up just behind Irving's 85 per game. He's essentially running Golden State's offense while corralling one of the most physically imposing players in league history on the other end.
LeBron James
2016 Finals stats: 28 PPG, 12 RPG, 8 APG, 2.4 SPG, 2 BPG
Average Game Score: 24
On/off net rating: +11.3
It was always going to be impossible for LeBron to match the usage and base statistics he put up in last year's Finals, when the Cavs were without Irving and Kevin Love, but King James has been equally impressive this June, culminating in one of the finest Finals performances ever in Game 5.
He probably should've won the award in 2015 despite another series loss, and with a game or two remaining in the 2016 Finals, James remains in contention to join Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Tim Duncan, and Shaquille O'Neal as the only three-time winners of the Russell award.
Kyrie Irving
2016 Finals stats: 28.2 PPG, 4.6 APG, 3.4 RPG, 2.4 SPG
Average Game Score: 20.2
On/off net rating: +11.1
It seems unfathomable to imagine anyone but James winning should the Cavs complete the comeback, but credit Irving for at least making things interesting.
Irving has been the best point guard in a series that also features Curry. He's averaging a series-high 28.2 points per game on a 49-41-91 shooting line, boosted by his absurdly efficient 41-point performance in Game 5.
Andre Iguodala
2016 Finals stats: 11 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 4.4 APG
Average Game Score: 11.4
On/off net rating: +25.5
Iguodala has some work to do if he wants to join Jordan, Hakeem Olajuwon, O'Neal, Kobe Bryant, and James as a repeat Finals MVP, but he's done enough to at least warrant consideration, with the Warriors looking vastly superior with Iggy on the court as opposed to on the bench.
If he has another notable two-way performance in the series-clincher, Iguodala will surely be in the mix.
Stephen Curry
2016 Finals stats: 22.2 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.6 APG
Average Game Score: 14.3
On/off net rating: -7.8
Shaun Livingston and Klay Thompson are also both options here, but it still feels like if a Warriors guard is going to rise up and snatch the award, it'll be the reigning NBA MVP, who's averaged roughly 22, five, and five on a true shooting percentage of 59.7.
Having said that, it'll take something special from Curry over the next game or two, as he's largely been outplayed by Irving throughout the series, and the Warriors have been better with Steph on the bench.