Giannis Now The Favorite

It came out earlier today that the Milwaukee Bucks Giannis Antetokounmpo is now a -250 favorite to win the MVP, or an implied probability of 71% to win. Now what makes this a real story is as earlier as a month ago James Harden was a -500 favorite to win the MVP which as a whopping 83% implied probability to be named MVP.

It was roughly a month ago where Harden began his current 30+ point in consecutive game streak, currently at 32 games in a row of at least 30 points. Harden averaged 43 ppg in January and is down to 37 ppg in the month of February, hardly a downtick in production. So knowing Harden hasn't had a drop in stats and knowing Giannis hasn't really done anything out of his ordinary dominance to cause a dramatic change in odds, what gives?

Is it the Milwaukee Bucks retaining their #1 overall record in the NBA through 59 games so oddsmakers are beginning to buy in completely? Is it the Rockets winning Saturday night in Golden State without Harden proving he may not be as valuable as once perceived? Is it Paul George's emergence in the MVP race that has led to some of the spotlight being taken off of Harden? Or is it something as simple as oddsmakers predicting some voters fatigue given Harden was just the MVP last year?

It's gambling, literally anything could have caused the odds to change!