I don't think so, although that's going to be a big factor, because it increases title chances.

Lebron carried several otherwise non-playoff teams all the way to the finals. To me, getting into the playoffs with and because of Lebron is more value added than getting the top seed because of Durant.

It's still a regular season honor, but it's recognizing improving title chances over winning regular season games (or just doing awesome stuff in the regular season).

That's why I think the Harden case is the most interesting. The only way to a title was beating Golden State and the only way to beat Golden State was with something like those Rockets teams and Harden was the only guy who could carry a team like that.

So, while Harden generally doesn't meet my perception of what winning basketball looks like, I do think he was the MVP for a couple of years there. No one else, other than Lebron and Kawhi, was giving his team any real chance of beating Golden State. And, of those three guys, Harden's supporting cast was by far the least impressive.

It's an interesting discussion and I'm still crystalizing my views on it, but I don't think guys should be winning MVP unless they're thought to be the reason their team has a shot at a title.