PARIS (George Eddy's International Show) - The first few games of this new NBA season have confirmed for me that Stephen Curry and Russell Westbrook are my two most likely candidates for MVP despite what the bookmakers and NBA General Managers think!

Curry, like he's done throughout his career, is using the fact that he and his team are once again under-estimated by the majority, to fuel his motivation. Michael Jordan made an art out of this strategem and the loveable, baby-faced Steph is continuing the tradition!

After three games, this pint-sized Pete Maravich with quicker feet, longer range, better percentages and team spirit than the "Pistol", is averaging 39 points and 7 assists on almost 60 percent shooting in three wins for the Golden State Warriors.

His 53-point explosion against the New Orleans Pelicans - including 28 points in the third quarter - was one point off his career high and proved that Anthony Davis should not have been picked ahead of Curry for MVP in pre-season predictions. It's too soon for Davis and his 0-3 Pelicans.

You might say "ok but that's only three games into an 82- game season" and I would respond that these three games are a sign of things to come. The Warriors have the core of their team back this season and they know how to win in the modern-day NBA. Once considered frail by the NBA scouts, Curry was calmly bombing in three-pointers from 10 meters away over Davis' outstretched tentacles.

The most explosive player on earth, Westbrook, was no less impressive in his first three games averaging 32 points and 9 assists a game for the undefeated Thunder.

His 48 points and a near triple-double against Orlando were impressive! For me, Russell is clearly the first option on offense this season as Kevin Durant tries to come back after three surgeries in six months on his hurting foot.

The two are perfect when they play next to each other on offense because Westbrook can attack the gap and Durant's defender cannot help out or Kevin will spot up for an easy catch and shoot. They run an excellent pick and pop and Westbrook is mature enough now to take better shots and force alot less.

New Thunder coach Billy Donovan is, like Fred Hoiberg of the Chicago Bulls: a college coach preaching the extra pass, spacing and moving without the ball to a team that abused isolation plays the last few seasons under coach Scott Brooks.

Serge Ibaka and Enes Kanter are great players to have inside who complete the individual talents of Russ and Kevin. Ibaka, a great shot-blocker, can also shoot from mid-range to liberate the lane for drives while Kanter is a rebounding machine who loves to receive alley-oop passes from Westbrook on pick and rolls.

If everyone stays healthy, OKC and its spectacular style could be a good match for Curry and the Warriors.

Other MVP candidates like Blake Griffin and Kawhi Leonard have started off strong while LeBron James, seemingly everyone's favorite, looks to me like he's going to defer a lot more to Kevin Love which will probably lower his individual stats but also preserve his energy for the big games and playoffs, definitely a smart thing to do! Durant is MVP material too but after missing two-thirds of last season, Donovan would be smart to rest him more even if he doesn't agree!

One big-time self-proclaimed MVP candidate, James Harden, is off to a terrible start shooting 22 percent in three losses by 20 points for a decimated Houston Rockets team.

Houston is the most disappointing team up to now along with Indiana, Milwaukee, Brooklyn and New Orleans while Detroit and Toronto have gotten off to surprisingly good starts.

Of course, it's early and only time will tell but nevertheless, this first week has been exciting!

George Eddy

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