SGA
No that isn't an old 15 pin video display standard (that's a deep cut old man/nerd reference there) it stands for this year's NBA MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander of the Oklahoma City Thunder. His team is about to win its first championship and there is no doubt he is a huge part of that.
But my buddies and I have been involved in a good-hearted argument for the past month. First, I don't think anyone not named Nicola Jokic should even be considered for MVP. I have watched basketball for 45 years and I've never seen anything like him. He does everything on offense: pass, dribble, shot, drive, and rebound and recently he has used his giant brain to become an above average defender. He is so good mentally that players like Anthony Edwards thought Jokic was cheating because he always knew what play the Timberwolves were going to run. But he's not cheating, he's just a basketball genius. Without Jokic, the Nuggest wouldn't even make the playoffs. There is no one more valuable to their team.
That is what started the argument. I couldn't believe that SGA won the MVP. Yeah he has great numbers and is an excellent player, but I just can't accept anyone but Jokic. The OKC Thunder or so stacked that they would still win a playoff series even without SGA. I also had not seen very much of SGA so I was just going by the stats. Which are definitely impressive. So when I sat down to watch this year's playoffs, one of my goals was to really watch SGA. And for the longest time, I wasn't that impressed. He is a great scorer. But I was waiting for some "wow" moments. Every once in a while he'd drive to the hoop and make an awesome "wow-worthy" move but there weren't that many of them.
I started to wonder if he were just a product of the fact that OKC is so solid that you have to guard everyone and someone is bound to score. Because that is what my belief engine was telling me, that is all I saw. And then my buddy sent me an eyeopening stat. he sent this:
Wow. That is some really good company and not easy at all to do. This blew my mind and kind of reset that belief engine that was causing me to be so biased. Maybe SGA is just an incredibly smart, calm consistent player that doesn't need to be flashy. He scores and gets assists in a very calm manner because he is so good that he does not need to have big "wow" moments. He's just going to robotically do the right thing. I can see him like the Terminator going through a list of prompts "I will score now". "I will drive and kick now." I Will draw a foul now."
Although I still don't think anyone but Jokic should be the MVP, I have done a 180 and now think that SGA is far more special than I was giving him credit for. He is a very unique player. usually I like to use the "eye test" when judging a player. Do they look awesome? Do they look like they are dominating? Well SGA doesn't always look like that but by the end of the game, he killed you. He may do it calmly and surgically, but he killed your team nonetheless. I think to judge him, you have to look at the stats. They don't lie and they tell the story of an exceptional player.
He's still not Jordan though.
Anybody else think like this? Any other players who are just surgical assassins?
I’m totally with you, Jokic is one of a kind. It’s like he’s from another planet. Every time I watch him play, it feels like I’m watching a piece of art. His vision, those insane passes, even his improved defense all of it makes him a true MVP. Without Jokic, Denver would be just an average team, and that really shows how valuable he is.
Yeah they would be pretty bad without him.
I support your post, but I have no feedback since I don't watch the NBA anymore.
Sometimes I question why I watch. But I'm still entertained and its summer.
Game seven now right? They are trying to make it interesting...
It's an impressive list along with LeBron and His Majesty. I sincerely consider him an incredible player. OKC, let's say, dominated the difficult West and they're doing wonderfully, almost one step away from being champions. But we have to give it time and see if it stays at that level for more years, lowers it, or if, on the contrary, it improves even more. In addition, it would be achieving what Durant, Westbrook, and Harden couldn't do.
Good point about maintaining this. Oh and write after I posted it, his team got destroyed lol.
Of course, that's why I say SGA is an excellent player, but based on just one postseason, we can't say he's at LeBron's level, much less his majesty.
It's just like that, there are some people in the world who always try to bring happiness to the faces of others. Just like you said about this player, he also tries very hard to give a good performance and make people happy. And whenever he meets someone, he meets them with very good manners and that's why he is successful.
SGA has been on bad list since I watched him play summer league when he was just starting out. I think he appeared lazy to me.
I have not watched him play much this year at all but my vote was for Jokic for MVP as well. I love watching him play. Playing with the Joker would be a dream. He always make the right shot and pass.
I was kind of thinking the same thing, but I honestly think I mistook calm for lazy. He works hard but he's just so calm that it honestly doesn't look like he's trying but obviously he is. Its weird. And of course after I poste dthat I'm starting to come around, his team got destroyed.
Yeah. Game 7 should be fun. Looking forward to it.
Hi @hanshotfirst! First I’d tag @tangibleay here because he just joined Hive and He has the same perspective with you on this. He is a big Jokic fan and we had this argument recently.
Now to my own view. I wasn’t a fan of SGA before infact I actually didn’t think what he does was too spectacular until I began to think one day and I began to research and I discovered something.
SGA is suprisingly good. He isn’t as energetic as prime Westbrook or flashy like Chris Paul or Trae young or provide assists like Hali, however he scores like crazy. 3 level scorer and what makes him scary is his efficiency. At some point in the league, like what you displayed- I began to think oh he won’t score much the next game, and guess what? He did. Game after game, he shows up.
Considering his size too, he drives to the paint. Yes he is labeled as a free throw merchant, however I think he is smart, he knows how to initiate contact, trick defenders and get the Job done.
Overall I think he is even underrated because if it was booker or Tatum dropping consistently like SGA, they would have put them in all time debates.
I don’t think I’m a big SGA fan, however I respect him a lot more now.
PS: Pacers won at home. Series tied at 3-3
What do you think? Who takes this?
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His efficiency is off the charts for sure.
Who takes game 7 in your opinion?
top level basketballer
SGA is the truth man. Jokic moves the game forward and is crazy talented but SGA earned it this time around. OKC does have depth but they’re also wildly inexperienced. It’s a lot of young guys balling and getting it done. They get it done defensively as a team but when they get in trouble they throw SGA that ball and tell him “Be great! Save our asses!” and he does it…
Dude is mentally strong too. He doesn’t let opponents or situations shake him or get him off his game. He keeps his poise and does his job… MVP!
!PIZZA
!BEER
!BBH
I definitely have not been factoring in him holding together such a young team. Great point.
$PIZZA slices delivered:
@bigtakosensei(1/10) tipped @hanshotfirst
Come get MOONed!
https://x.com/jewellery_all/status/1936080736714629295
#hive
The question is who would base the project of a team on, Jokic or SGA, and I think the answer would be Jokic because he can do everything on the court and not give the MVP an individual award for the achievements of a team.
Only through good performance can one make a name for oneself all over the world
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