If the NBA could have chosen a matchup in the Playoffs, it would undoubtedly be Shai Gilgeous-Alexander against Nikola Jokic. It would have been chosen for the Western Finals, although fate has willed that they meet in the second round. It will be one of the stellar duels of the Playoffs from now on. Almost two weeks to see, face to face, the two best players of the season and probably the two best players in the world at the moment.
Although basketball is a team sport, personalizing the tie in these two stars does not seem far-fetched. While Oklahoma City Thunder tries to leave out the Denver Nuggets and vice versa, in the offices, with the votes, another battle will be resolved, that of the MVP award of the season.
Although it will be almost secondary, because the idea of each player is to advance to the Western Conference finals, the battle for the MVP is something that will be present in the series. It is certain that the winner will be known during the games, much more noise around a very promising tie.
We have spent hours debating whether the MVP will go to Shai (deservedly so) because he is the closest thing to an American among the candidates, or whether it will go to Jokic (deservedly so), who would win it for the fourth time in his career, the second in a row. Suddenly, fate has decreed that both players will meet just when the winner will be announced. The third candidate is Giannis Antetokounmpo, but at this stage, the Greek is out of contention.
We will do wrong to circumscribe the tie to the personal duel between Shai and Jokic but we all know that this is what we are going to do. After all, on the court, one against the other, will be the two best players on the planet. Jokic (29.8 points, 12.8 rebounds and 10.2 assists, on average), is the player capable of doing everything in an amazing way. Shai (32.7 points, 5 rebounds and 6.4 assists on average) is the indestructible leader of the best team of the season, capable of leading it to 68 victories. There will be no better Playoff series in the second round.
The duel will also see Russell Westbrook face Oklahoma, where he spent his first 11 seasons. It will be another of the multiple focuses of one of the best playoffs that could fall to us. We are lucky…
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