NBA Reacts: Schedule condensed, MVP vs. best player results and more

Welcome to SB Nation Reacts, a survey of fans across the NBA. Each week, we send out questions to the most plugged in Cleveland Cavaliers fans, and fans across the country. Sign up here to join Reacts.

Cleveland, like every other team in the league, is working through a non-stop schedule to end the season. With the end of the regular season scheduled to come May 16, the NBA is forcing teams to finish their schedule.

However, according to the latest SB Nation Reacts survey, more than two-thirds of fans around the NBA think the league condensed the schedule too much.

One major reason it’s believed the league was so adamant on finishing this early is because of the expected 2021 Olympics this summer. However, only 44 percent of fans believe that’s a worthy reason for playing games at this pace.

From a Cavs perspective, I think I agree. The team has not had any COVID-19 issues, but the injuries have to be related to the breakneck pace. Maybe the play-in tournament would have been fun, but when Cleveland’s season ends 10 days from now in Brooklyn, it’ll be good for every player to rest and recover for a whole summer. The best thing for the Cavs will be to get refreshed, get healthy and then go into next season ready to hit the ground running.

While the schedule is difficult for everyone, some teams are having more success than others. That’s in large part due to the success of star players around the league. This year’s MVP race has seen a changing group of players from start to finish.

As the season nears its end, though, one player has emerged as the front runner for the award. 61 percent of fans nationally think Denver Nuggets big man Nikola Jokić is the league’s MVP. Phoenix Suns guard Chris Paul was the next closest with 17 percent.

While Jokić appears to be the clear MVP, that doesn’t mean he’s considered the best player in the game right now. That title, according to fans, still goes to Lakers superstar LeBron James. As the Cavs rep here, I think this and the MVP results are right.

Paul’s re-emergence with the Suns has been a game-changer. The point guard was picked as the player who has made the biggest difference on their new team, far surpassing Brooklyn’s James Harden. There is no Cavalier that should been considered for this question, for whatever that’s worth. Jarrett Allen was and is a good addition, but the team stinks.

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