Russell Westbrook is the real MVP

This year's NBA season has been filled with numerous players performing at an MVP level, more than any in recent memory. LeBron James has been...well...LeBron James. San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard has put together another quiet, yet masterful season.

Boston's Isiah Thomas and Milwaukee's Giannis Antetokounmpo threw their respective names in the hat with breakout seasons worthy of consideration.

And James Harden's resume would earn him the coveted award in any season....except this one.

This year, OKC's Russell Westbrook is the league's unquestioned Most Valuable Player.

With eight assists last night in Phoenix, Westbrook became the first player in 55 years to average a triple double for the entire season.

While this is a remarkable feat in any era, Westbrook's triple double average is not mere semantics. We're not talking about 10 points, ten rebounds, and ten assists...he is currently leading the league in scoring with just over 31 points a game.

In addition, Westbrook's season averages were not the result of stat-stuffing in meaningless games. The Thunder are 32-9 when Russ notches a triple double, and 13-25 when he doesn't.

To put this in perspective, the Denver Nuggets are currently on the outside of the playoffs looking in with 38 wins...9th place in the Western Conference. Without Westbrook's heroics the Thunder could realistically be lottery-bound instead of the sixth seed.

Talk about value...

And speaking of the Thunder...quickly...name the other four players in their starting lineup....

Don't worry...I'll wait while you Google it....

OK...I digress...

Yes, even with the historic season put up by Westbrook this year James Harden can still feel slighted if he doesn't win the award after transforming himself from a shoot first...no defense playing Prima Donna into a well rounded all around player that shares the ball while still getting his.

Harden leads the league in assists (no...you did not misread that), and as a result his Rockets are legitimate threats to knock off the reigning two time Western Conference Champion Golden State Warriors.

But as it relates to a mano y mano comparison with Westbrook I want to dispel a notion regarding the two...

Kevin Durant's departure from OKC last season put a spotlight on Westbrook as being an inefficient and selfish player, while Harden is widely considered one of the most efficient and deadliest shooters from behind the three point line.

Well...the numbers don't lie, and their shooting percentages to date are just about equal. Field goal percentage (Harden 44%, Westbrook 42%). Three point percentage (Harden 34%, Westbrook 34%).

All things being equal, Westbrook has amassed those numbers with inferior talent around him as it relates to Houston's roster, and when you add on the triple double season average it's a no-brainer.

With two games to play Westbrook is one triple double shy of breaking Oscar Robinson's record of 41 in a season, and given his tenacity and durability you should expect him to go for the all-time record....even with a playoff berth already secured.

Even if he doesn't eclipse the Big O, Russell Westbrook's overall body of work has earned him the right to be the league's Most Valuable Player this season.

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Memphis Grizzlies: Jekyll and Hyde ride continues

The Memphis Grizzlies have quietly been one of the most consistent teams in the league the last several years after bringing their core four of Marc Gasol, Mike Conley, Zach Randolph, and Tony Allen together.

The Grizzlies are one of just three teams to reach the playoffs in each of the last six seasons (San Antonio, Atlanta). The Spurs have locked up another playoff berth this season and the Hawks seem poised to join them in extending the streak.

As for the Grizzlies? It depends on which team you're talking about....Jekyll Memphis or Hyde Memphis.

The NBA's bipolar franchise from the Bluff City is currently amidst a roller coaster ride of streaks...and it's driving their fans nuts.

It all started around the All Star Break. Memphis lost their last game before the break to New Orleans, and followed that up with a dud on the road against the Indiana Pacers in their first game back in action.

Then the Grizzlies seemed to turn it around with back to back wins over Denver and Phoenix.

From there the bottom seemed to fall out starting with a four point loss at Dallas that turned into a season-long five game losing streak. The low point being a home loss to the dreadful Brooklyn Nets.

Grizzlies analyst Brevin Knight coined this phrase during that television broadcast..."Partner...we have officially hit rock bottom".

Or did they?

Jekyll Memphis emerged from that five-game fiasco to rattle off four straight wins against teams in or battling for a playoff position. They even knocked off a fully loaded San Antonio Spurs team during that stretch.

But then, Mr. Hyde Memphis reared it's ugly head again and the Grizzlies are currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak. The last loss, a 91-90 defeat to the lowly Sacrament Kings last night, was unacceptable given the tightness of the Western Conference playoff race....even without All Star center Marc Gasol.

So what now?

Well...the Grizzlies take on the Pacers at home on Wednesday night, followed by a home tilt vs the Mavs on Friday night and an early afternoon tip off with the Lakers Sunday afternoon.

A week-long sweep should not be too much to ask...but then again....

With less than 10 games to play and clinging to a four game lead over the suddenly surging Nuggets and Trailblazers, the 7th seed Grizzlies desperately need their winning alter ego to re-take control of the wheel....and the streak.

If it doesn't...then the playoff streak could end at six for Memphis.

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NBA: Remember Steph Curry?

You know how the NBA markets their star players by filming them walking into the arena with headphones on before nationally televised games?

Well...if you're Steph Curry of the Golden State Warriors then you've probably been listening to Janet Jackson's "What have you done for me lately" while strolling to the locker room this season.

Seriously...if you've been paying attention to the NBA this year then you've noticed that no one notices him anymore.

This time last year Chef Curry was the toast of the league. He was the reigning league MVP, reigning NBA champion, and reigning media darling in all of sports.

And in some circles he was considered the best player in the world. Yes...even better than King James himself.

Curry was on his way to the best regular season record in NBA history, the scoring title, and a second straight MVP award...the first unanimous MVP in league history.

He was everywhere...he was The Face of the NBA.

Fast forward to today and Curry is treated as just another good player on a great team.

How did this happen?

Blowing a 3-1 lead in last year's NBA Finals started his slide to anonymity, especially when you consider the fact that he was routinely targeted and torched on defense by Cleveland's Kyrie Irving during those all-important series clinching games.

And it all went downhill from there.

Curry's Under Armor shoe line was unveiled around that time, and was met with resounding criticism.

A month later Kevin Durant joined the Warriors in a move that dominated the headlines all offseason.

When the 2016-17 season started there was no talk of an MVP Three-Peat for Curry. In fact, that storyline couldn't even get coverage on the back pages of Oakland's local newspaper.

Instead, the NBA front page news has been reserved for LeBron James and his frustration with his critics and this year's roster, and the drama in New York with Phil Jackson, Carmelo Anthony, owner James Dolan, and former Knicks legend Charles Oakley.

In between those ever-evolving scenarios we have the ongoing feud between Durant and his former teammate Russell Westbrook.

And speaking of Russ, this year's MVP race has come down to him and fellow triple-double machine James Hardin of the Houston Rockets. No mention of Curry for the coveted award...

Not even a sniff.

It's gotten so bad that Curry rocked a red headband in last night's All Star game...knowing that it would ignite Twitter tolls worldwide. And for the record, the trolls didn't disappoint.

Even his little brother Seth, who has been relegated to less than second fiddle, chimed in with a troll of his own last night.

I guess if you're Steph, even if they are talking negatively...at least people are talking about you again.

Think about it, when it comes to newsworthy personalities on the Warriors this season Curry is fourth behind Durant, Draymond Green, and head coach Steve Kerr with his outspoken views on politics and marijuana.

And if Golden State goes on to recapture the title this season the overwhelming storyline will be Durant's first one...not Curry's second.

My how the mighty have fallen.

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