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Green isn't creating anything. He is setting up shop at the corner or the 45 and waiting for Parker/Manu/Duncan/Leonard to create a shot for him.

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Very rare that the guy standing in the corner leads the team in scoring for the series and seems to hit all the big clutch shots. But that's what has happened so far.

Duncan is averaging like 16/11/2 in the Finals. I think I still give it to him. I think that with his incredible paint defense is much more impressive than Green hitting his open threes.

btw, I don't expect Green to handle LeBron in the post or anywhere else. He's bigger, faster, better than Green.

He's balling on offense and has some decent plays on defense.

Tim or Tony need to have a monster game 6 to win Finals MVP. Green with the great shooting display and the Finals 3 point record is going to be hard to overcome with the voters.

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Very rare that the guy standing in the corner leads the team in scoring for the series and seems to hit all the big clutch shots. But that's what has happened so far.

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It is rare. Because a good coach would say "Hey, you know what. Lionel Richie's son has just made 25 threes in just 38 shots against us. You know when you double team Parker? Don't leave Green open. Leave that fat guy or that awkward white guy open. kthxbye"

Green is definitely getting the media love and they do love to give these awards to the underdog. Still, he really has just done 2 things. Shoot lights out 3's of course and play good but not great perimeter D. Whenever he has tried to create off the dribble and drive he has turned it over about half the time.

He's still just a role player because if the Spurs tried to focus him on the offensive or defensive end they would lose by 30. They are daring Miami to put defensive focus on him so they will light them up with Parker/Duncan/etc. If you focus on covering the perimeter 3 point shooters against the Spurs they will light you up driving the lane or pounding it inside. That's what makes them so damn good, you have to pick your poison but there is no good choice because SA has multiple guys that know their primary job is to shoot 3's. Every time I saw Green or Neal put the ball on the floor and drive I cringed because they are working outside the system and far too often that results in a bad turnover and quick points the other way. Manu has always been guilty of this too but fortunately last night he was able to make up for it. When he took that off balance jumper with 20 seconds on the shot clock and 3 minutes in the game I know Pop wanted to strangle him.

Smart, disciplined basketball is the key for the Spurs to win.

The real key has been Manu though. If he plays like he did last night where he is handling the ball well and creating off the dribble it's a nightmare. You have to stop Parker and Duncan first so if you have that 3rd guy who can handle and drive the lane what do you do?

I guess the cool thing is you could give the MVP to several guys if you wanted. It's really about what you value. Every player on the Spurs has a job and they all work together, who is the star really has to do more with what the other team is doing than that player themselves for the most part. Green has been amazing but he is playing in his comfort zone. It would be kind of like if they decided to just put Birdman on Duncan one on one for the series, he would be putting up 30/18 every night.

Some of you are talking like Danny Green is just having shooting practice from the corner with no one near him. You're not watching the same games I am. He's made a bunch of contested shots, and many of the uncontested ones that are going in are being launched from 26-27 feet, well behind the 3 point line.

The dude is playing lights out, give him his due. Yeah he wouldn't get all those without a lot of team help, but the opposite is also true--Tony and Tim would be having a lot crappier games if Danny wasn't playing so well. And his defense has not been given enough credit. He gets beat in half court at times, but his transition D has been otherworldly this series. And Danny Green has brought it almost every game, even when the Spurs were losing.

Quit being Spurs purists and celebrate his performance for what it is--sensational.

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The problem with Green as an MVP is that he is the third scoring option, and he's only that high because he's shooting so well. He's getting open looks because the Heat are focusing so much attention on Parker and Duncan.

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I have a couple disputes to this:

1. The guy has made just as many with a hand in his face. At the line... or 2 feet beyond it.

2. Games 3 & 5... every time the Heat got close or cut it to single digits, Green has been there to close the door with another 3. He has hit the biggest shots when we needed it most.


Nobody is going to argue that Parker is the man. He's done the same thing he's done all year long and he is the center of our offense. But if the Spurs win the championship it's because one guy in particular took his game to a completely different level... a record breaking performance that no team in NBA Finals history has ever faced before. The Spurs are the definition of TEAM and everybody is so important to their success... but if you have to choose 1 MVP it's Danny Green.

At this point it would be Green.

I don't think anyone disputes any of that about Green. He's had a great series. I think the only thing being pointed out is he has had a great series because of what the star players have done. Green isn't taking over the game or killing Miami on his own. When he has tried to create his own shot by driving he has been bad and he also hasn't been creating for others though.

I'm fine with him winning MVP because it goes to the spirit of who the Spurs are. Still, part of me knows if he wins it then a few years from now in the "Greatest of all time" discussion with Parker and Duncan if neither wins the MVP it will be held against them as though they didn't play well which is also incorrect. Everything starts with those 2, if they don't bring it then it doesn't matter what Green does. If Green has an off game though the Spurs can still win by 20. That's not a knock on Green per se, it's just a statement of fact that he is a role player who is being relied on right now because of the way Miami has chosen to defend the Spurs.

Parker or Duncan are the MVP if the Spurs win. Green is a great story and a huge contributor but he's not having the same level of impact as the stars. It is rather unique to have this kind of debate in any finals. Usually its obvious. That's a testament to how the Spurs play ball as a team.

Parker really helped his cause last night, but I still say it's Green, then Duncan.

I just think that the reason Green is getting those looks is because of Duncan's brilliant back screens, Duncan's ability to command the double team in the post and Parker/Ginobili's ability to drive and break down the defense, but still pass out of pressure quickly and accurately.

I have a tough time with giving a spot up shooter the MVP when Duncan is playing so good and doing all the little things that are winning the games for SA.

In the Spurs three wins, Duncan has:
20p/14r/4a/3b
12p/14r/2b in only 28 minutes in the blowout
17p/12r/3b

13 of those rebounds in the three wins have been offensive.

Timmy is playing great and is the heart of the team on both ends of the court. I just can't see not giving it to him.

I think it should be Green.

That said, it's nice that there is a legitimate debate as to whom the award should go to: Green, Duncan, or Parker (could even see an argument for Kawhi). It's a good sign of team basketball.

Green is not just shooting well, he is shooting historically well.

Miami is leaving him historically open.

DANNY GREEN

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Miami is leaving him historically open

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You could also make the argument that if it weren't for Green, Parker would have no opportunity to even get close to the paint. I think we all agree it's going to be a complete team victory if we walk away with the title. Take a pick between any 7 guys on that team, remove one of them, and the Spurs probably don't win the series.

It may be Parker's knife, but Green is the one pushing it in!!!

Who gives a crap though... just win one more!!!

I think Green simply because what he has done has NEVER been done before. There have been good role players in the past - every team who has ever won has had to have one or two role players step up. But Green has been extraordinary in the Spur's wins.

Malik Rose

Gary Neal has 12 3's on 50% shooting as well though. Love what Green is doing but if you leave a 3 point shooter wide open they can knock them down. I'm sure if Allen was on the Spurs he would have some ridiculous numbers too.

Green is playing some good defense as well and that is noteworthy. Still, he's behind at least Leonard and Duncan in terms of defensive contributions.

As I said, I'd be fine with him winning it because it's a great story and it fits with the Spurs' MO but he isn't their MVP. If he was able to make those drives to the basket he had in the 1st Half work I might feel differently but all they did was show he is very limited offensively and much more effective as a jump shooter. Love the guy but in order to be the MVP you need to be the one who can dictate play, it takes more than just fulfilling your role of shooting when you are open.

If Miami leaves Green open because they don't think he can beat them, and then he does beat them, it seems you could make a case for him as the MVP.

Still a game or two to go. If it ended today I would honestly say Green deserves it but Tony is very deserving also and my guess is he plays well on the road to seal it up.

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Quit being Spurs purists and celebrate his performance for what it is--sensational.

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THIS.

Manu has been a turd the whole series until Game 5 (and he actually outplayed Parker in Game 3). Duncan has been great from a rebounding standpoint but his field goal shooting has been some of the worst of his career. 16 and 11 is solid but not award-worthy.

I'll get to his shooting in a second, but Danny Green is nearly leading the team in blocks for the series (one less than Duncan) and has twice as many steals and rebounds as Parker..and he's outscoring BOTH.

Quit worrying about Tim and Tony racking up individual awards so you can can have a *****-measuring contest with other great teams/stars from a historical standpoint.

Danny Green is putting on the greatest three-point shooting performance in NBA playoff history. Period. Better than Reggie. Better than Ray. Better than Fisher and Horry. Better than Bird. Better than JORDAN.

This is Halley's Comet type shooting. First of all, enjoy it and second, give the man his due.

The ultimate goal of the game of basketball is to put the ball in the basket and he's doing like no one ever has before from downtown. To this point, he is unquestionably the MVP of this series.

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3). Duncan has been great from a rebounding standpoint but his field goal shooting has been some of the worst of his career. 16 and 11 is solid but not award-worthy.

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Green:
18p/4r/1a/.566/.658

Duncan:
16p/11r/2b/.460/.769

Parker:
16p/7a/2r/.493/.250

Kawhi:
12p/10r/2s/.490/.375

Let's not act like Green's stats are other worldly. They are just vastly over what anyone would expect of him. Duncan's are right in line with what you would expect from him. And Duncan is still the heart and soul of the Spurs.

I think you could make a solid case for any of them.

Duncan's numbers aren't significantly different than Leonard's. Two baskets per game and that's about it.

Green is shooting 10% better from the field than Duncan and is doing it 20 feet further from the basket. Duncan wouldn't even finish second on my MVP ballot based on the first five games (Green, Parker).

...and way to leave out steals and blocks in your comparison. Exactly the kind of garbage I'm talking about.

His three-point shooting is ABSOLUTELY otherworldly. NO ONE has ever shot the ball like he has from outside with the ring on the line.

[This message has been edited by Look Out Below (edited 6/17/2013 3:05p).]

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...and way to leave out steals and blocks in your comparison. Exactly the kind of garbage I'm talking about.

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Danny Green has .8 SPG and 1.6 BPG. He also has 1 assist per game. 3.4 fouls per game. 83% of his FTs.

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Green is shooting 10% better from the field than Duncan and is doing it 20 feet further from the basket.

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Probably has something to do with Duncan getting double teamed down low and Green getting completely open looks. Just guessing. Why is Green getting the open looks? Because Miami is committed to double-teaming Duncan and not giving up on that game plan despite the fact that Green is hitting all those open looks.

You get MVP awards for production, not for drawing double teams.

I fully realize Duncan is the heart of the Spurs, but you don't get awards for that either (except perhaps at the team banquet).

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You get MVP awards for production, not for drawing double teams.

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Right so Duncan leads the team in rebounds, blocks and is one bucket/game away from Green for leading the team in scoring. Duncan is getting three times as many rebounds as Green and the offense revolves around him - not the spot up shooter that is benefitting off Duncan's talent. It has been true for 15 years and it is true now. The Spurs live and die with Duncan. He is without question the most valuable player on the Spurs team.

[This message has been edited by Guitarsoup (edited 6/17/2013 3:36p).]

Green has been otherworldly from downtown and as I said, if he gets the MVP that's fine.

Still, it is noteworthy that he has 5 FG's that are not 3's and 5 points from FT's. So outside of his 3's he is scoring 3 points per game.

Here is the video of all of his 3's. In many ways it is awesome to see but you also can see how the overwhelming majority are the result of others drawing attention and leaving him wide open. He is only heavily contested on a couple of shots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3JSWmM8F9E

The point on Parker/Duncan isn't to "pad their stats" but to recognize their accomplishments. They are both far more important to the Spurs in this series than Green. I just think the MVP is about more than making open jumpers.

Perhaps if he'd shoot as well as Green, we wouldn't be having this conversation. The great ones find ways to score even in hardship.

You act like Duncan is shooting terribly. He had one bad game. Outside that outlier, Duncan is hitting 52% of his shots.

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The great ones find ways to score even in hardship.

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GTFO. Duncan is one of the great ones of all time and it isn't debatable. Green has yet to face hardship in this series.

You are trolling worst than Simplebay at this point.

[This message has been edited by Guitarsoup (edited 6/17/2013 4:07p).]

Duncan and Parker ARE scoring though, they just aren't shooting at the same percentage as Green because they are having to score by working the paint against All Stars. Those guys typically have to get around 2 or 3 guys to shoot and they are still doing so. Whenever Green has put the ball on the floor to drive it has typically resulted in bad things. He either misses, gets blocked, or makes a bad pass. Did you not see that awful dunk attempt in the first half?

He is shooting 3's and playing good transition D. Period. He certainly isn't doing anything to stop Lebron, Wade, or Bosh in the halfcourt. Duncan and Parker are all over the place making plays. Green is doing those 2 things. The good news is that is his job, that doesn't make him into the MVP though.

I love the guy, I just think the Green love has gone over the top.

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Perhaps if he'd shoot as well as Green, we wouldn't be having this conversation. The great ones find ways to score even in hardship.

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Lol just go away. Duncan has been far and away the best spurs defender this series. The Spurs aren't asking him to score 20 points a game so he isn't doing it. You really think he couldn't if he wanted to? He shot 7/10 last night and looked fantastic. He could have went for 30 if he wanted to go full Kobe.