Max Kellerman has a way-too-early prediction for Finals MVP

Well, it’s that time of the year. The playoffs are here, which means that everybody’s going to fire hot takes left and right. From the Los Angeles Lakers being eliminated in round 1 to the Miami Heat going back to theNBA Finals, we’ve seen and heard it all already.

Pundits and analysts are already making their picks for who’s going to come out on top of each conference, who’s going to win every regular-season award, and who’ll be the last team standing at the end of the season.

However, none of them went as far as ESPN’s Max Kellerman, who’s convinced that the Brooklyn Nets will easily win the whole thing and that James Harden is going to be named Finals MVP.

Max Kellerman Says James Harden Will Be The Finals MVP This Season

“James Harden is going to win Finals MVP this season. He’s gonna be the Finals MVP. And the secret sauce over there? You know what this team really is? This is the D’Antoni Rockets, but they traded for KD & Kyrie. James Harden withD’Antoni went to a Game 7 at home, missed 27 straight threes in that game, no Chris Paul, and they only lost by single-digits to the KD, Steph, Klay Warriors. And now, Harden with D’Antoni sitting on the bench running that pick-&-roll has KD and Kyrie as weapons? Never mind Joe Harris? They’re going to stomp through the Eastern Conference, stomp whoever they see in the Finals. James Harden is gonna win Finals MVP,” Kellerman said.

It’s true that Mike D’Antoni brought out the best of James Harden and that they now have a super offensive trio at his disposal. It’s also true that Harden has a long history of underperforming in the playoffs.

Talent-wise, it’s not even close, the Nets should crush every single team they meet. Chemistry-wise and defense-wise, that’s yet to be seen. But one thing I’ll tell you, I won’t be the guy to bet against them.