Doc Rivers doesn't have an MVP ballot

Doc Rivers doesn't have an MVP ballot. Good thing, too.

The MVP discussion seems to have been mostly settled, with even LeBron James somewhat endorsing Kevin Durant as the winner. Those two will almost assuredly

finish one and two, but that's where things get weird. Who's third?

On Rivers' ballot, it's LeBron. Wait, what? Via ESPN.com:

    “I think second because I'm coaching him,” Rivers said of Blake Griffin. “I think Durant has had the best year. I still think LeBron [James] is still

the best player in the NBA but I think Durant has had an MVP year. I don't know who has had a better year. And I honestly think Blake would be right behind

him.”

So to recap, Rivers would go Durant first, Griffin second and LeBron third. A coach campaigning for his own man? SHOCKING.

So forget the bias there. Let's just look to see if Rivers has a point, even slightly. LeBron's season hasn't been up to his ridiculous standard, but he has

still be terrific, averaging 27.0 points, 6.4 rebounds and 6.9 assists with a PER of 29.36, ranking him second in the league.

Griffin is averaging 24.1 points, 9.6 rebounds and 3.8 assists with a PER of 23.84 (10th overall). But the case to be made for Griffin isn't what he's done

with raw statistics as much as it's in how he carried the team playing without Chris Paul, who missed more than month with a shoulder injury. During that

stretch Griffin played some of the best basketball of his career as the Clippers went 12-6 without Paul, scoring 112.3 points per 100 possessions. That was

largely due to Griffin's brilliance, who assumed the role as the offensive focal point.

But that's probably the case to put him third on your ballot. Because while LeBron has slipped some this season -- primarily defensively -- he's still put

together a season worthy of winning his fifth MVP, had it not been for the ballistic season Durant put together.

It's nice of Rivers to make his point for Griffin, stepping up for his man and showing some loyalty. But that doesn't make him right.
Topics: Blake Griffin, Chris Paul, Kevin Durant, LeBron James, Los Angeles Clippers, NBA