I don't understand the logic of the MVP debate.
Most VALUABLE Player.
To me, like I think most of us, that means a combination of the player's individual performance meshed with just how key that player is to the team's success.
In my mind, teams like Cleveland and San Antonio should be able to, give then stars on their roster, win without James and Leonard, respectively. Cleveland has Irving (who could be MVP on a different team) and Love, and is deep, while San Antonio has Aldridge and Gasol (albeit a bit past his prime) and is also deep.
That leaves Harden with Houston, and Westrbook with OKC. I think both are vital to the success of each team. Without either of them, neither of those teams are going to the playoffs. Potentially Houston could scrap a bit, and get there, but I doubt it. So by that logic, Westbrook should have an edge, just because without him, OKC would be cellar dwelling. That team has no one on it. Oladipo is good, but not as good as I thought he'd be. Kanter and Adams are solid, but nothing spectacular. Without Westbrook putting up his gaudy numbers, that team doesn't sniff the playoffs.
Edge - Westbrook.
Stats-wise, they speak for themselves. Harden plays in a system that highlights the PG. D'Antoni used it to make Chris Duhon look like a salvageable starter in this league for a time. Harden was an All Star and great player before D'Antoni, so obviously, his talent has a big part to do with his numbers as well, but they are inflated a tad (not much, but a tad).
Westbrook, on the other hand, HAS to carry the load, and has exploded. Sure, he takes and misses a lot of shots, but so did Iverson in his MVP season. Like Iverson, Westbrook has to take those shots to make the team competitive.
So to me, this is a no-brainer, even if Westbrook didn't set the triple-double record, or even if he didn't average a triple-double. The fact he did solidifies it even more. Then if you think about how OKC lost Durant, but didn't replace him with anyone near his talent level, it made Westbrook's job harder. To me, this is a no-brainer. Westbrook is the league MVP, and it shouldn't even be a question.
And I am very much a pro-Sonics guy (the Wolves, Sonics, and Knicks were my teams, in that order), so giving anyone involved in the OKC franchise credit these days is tough. But Westbrook's year is just undeniable. Arguably the greatest individual season in NBA history