Two MVPs battle it out in the playoffs in the WCF semis. The last time two finalist MVP candidates have gone at it in the playoffs was 2017, when the Thunder played the Rockets (Russell Westbrook won).

The MVP is normally announced by now, the last time it announced this late by the league (outside of the NBA award show experiment from ’17-’19 was in 1998 (per the Athletic).

But why the late announcement while the two MVPs are still going at it?

For that exact reason — the two MVPs are in the heat of battle. Let them lead their teams as they battle it out, so even the typically impartial NBA fans buy into the argument why either the Canadian aura king or the Serbian Machine is the real MVP.

Tension + high level basketball = Views

Views + anticipation of the MVP = Good Ratings

Good Ratings = Business is Boomin’ for the League

Something tells me that whoever wins it though, the other half of the NBA fanbase will say the loser was robbed.

How it goes sometimes, but glad to have a good series.