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NBA MVP bets: Our best, worst preseason predictions

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Is it good to have a financial stake in the Golden State Warriors, only for them to finish the suspended season with the worst record in the league? Asking for me.

A day after reliving my nightmare and sharing that I recommended taking the Warriors' win total over, I may as well expose myself even more and admit that I endorsed an MVP candidate on the same team.

Please have a laugh at my expense as I list all the players I thought were good MVP bets prior to the season.

Steph Curry (5-1)

So, Curry averaged 20.8 points, 6.6 assists, and 5.2 rebounds ... in five games. He suffered an injury four games in and came back for one more before the season was shortened.

Reasoning: "But this season, with Klay Thompson sidelined and Kevin Durant no longer present, Curry can take the league by storm if he carries the Warriors to 50-plus wins.

He's still arguably the most dominant offensive player in the league, and the 31-year-old won't have to split as much usage this year. The team's win total is the biggest question here, but I'd be willing to bet Curry gets a bump if he leads the way while the Dubs exceed expectations."

The Warriors had a .231 winning percentage. Curry played five games. I am not alive inside.

Joel Embiid (14-1)

Embiid was a better pick than Curry, but it didn't matter. Despite putting up 23.4 points, 11.5 rebounds, and 3.1 assists per game on average, Embiid was on the shelf with an injury, too, missing roughly one-third of the season.

Reasoning: "When he's at full strength, Embiid is one of the NBA's most polarizing yet unheralded players. A player's typical peak in the NBA is 26 years old, and Embiid will hit that next March. He's coming off a season in which the fourth-year pro did just about everything, averaging 27.5 points, 13.6 rebounds, 3.7 assists, and 1.9 blocks per game."

And then he got hurt, again.

Ben Simmons (40-1)

Why have one injured Sixers player when I can have two? That's right, I chose a pair of teammates whose team had a win total of 52.5, only for both to get hurt. Simmons was averaging 16.7 points a night, meaning he'd need roughly 68 in every game once he comes back to be in the scoring leader discussion.

Reasoning: "So, the Sixers will be in the thick of things and I get a ball-dominant player at 40-1? I don't need much else to be persuaded at this price."

Then what happened?

Donovan Mitchell (33-1)

I should have known that taking a smaller-market player with a cap on his ceiling was a brutal pick. Considering I was big on Utah coming into the season, I swung for the fences and tried to cover every base.

Reasoning: "There's no question the Jazz will be good this year. They own a higher win total than the two L.A. squads and hold a legitimate shot at a top-two seed in the West. Mitchell is a budding star who should build off his 23.8 points per game last season. He just needs to improve in other areas after putting up only 4.2 assists, 4.1 rebounds, and 1.9 steals per contest."

Not to be discredited, Mitchell had a solid season, averaging 24.2 points, 4.4 rebounds, and 4.2 assists per game. He was just nowhere near James Harden or Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Alex Kolodziej is a betting writer for theScore. He's a graduate of Eastern Illinois who has been involved in the sports betting industry for 12 years. He can quote every line from "Rounders" and appreciates franchises that regularly wear alternate jerseys. Find him on Twitter @AJKolodziej.

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