As a bit of a preemptive strike on Skeets' weekly profile of the MVP race, I would like to submit the following hypothesis: This year's NBA MVP award is Dirk Nowitzki's to lose. That's right, if Dirk and the Mavs keep doing their thing, you can count on us all being Nowitznesses to Dirk's first Maurice Podoloff trophy.
The Mavs officially started their "Dirk for MVP" campaign during their home game against the Heat last week, where they handed out 20,000 t-shirts like this to the fans who attended the game. They no doubt wanted to send a message to the Dwyane Wade supporters that Dirk is The Man this season, but honestly it wasn't necessary. Dirk's the best player on the best team in the league, averaging almost 26 and 10 on the season. In no particular order, let's look at three of Dirk's top competitors for the award, and I'll tell you why they won't win it.
- Dwyane Wade: Wheelchair aside, you would have to argue that the presence of Shaq is more important to the Heat's fortunes than that of Wade. Although Wade is the team's best player, they were sub-.500 without Shaq, but have a winning record since his return. And with this recent injury, the Heat aren't exactly going to make a big run these last 30 games, so you can pretty much count Wade out of it.
More after the jump.
- Kobe Bryant: I think Kobe's the best player in the league hands down, but the recent six-game losing streak is going to kill his MVP chances. The Lakers would have to finish with a record that's comparable to Phoenix or Dallas for Kobe to be in the discussion, and with the Lakers' crop of injuries and people like Smush [Freaking] Parker in the starting lineup, it's just not happening.
- Steve Nash: The truth about Nash is, he could very well be the league's most valuable again this season. The guy is in a unique system which allows him to create for his teammates like few players we have ever seen. The problem is, I just don't see the voters giving him the award for the third straight year. There's plenty of controversy surrounding Nash even winning two in a row, and I think the voters will be looking very hard for anyone else to vote for besides Nash. After all, should Steve Nash be in the same sentence as Larry Bird, Wilt Chamberlain, and Bill Russell? If he wins three straight MVPs, that's exactly where he would be.
That leaves our man Dirk as the MVP by default, and honestly I have no problem with that. The Mavs have been focused enough to win an amazing 46 of their last 51 games, and Dirk's consistentcy is a big reason they've been able to get it done. That record is just plain ri-Dirk-ulous, and well-deserving of the MVP for Nowitzki. So Skeets, try not to give the nod to Nash this week, eh?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-26-2007 @ 10:15PM
Ardent Wade Defender said...
Seriously, what did Wade ever do to you? You obviously do not follow the Heat at all, and you just choose to hate on Wade. If you did, you would know just how important he is to the team. 2-9 without him. Shaq came back at a time when everyone else was getting healthy, and the team was just coming together. Don't be surprised to see them fall apart this coming stretch, and you can then blame Wade for not being there for his team. HATERS
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2-26-2007 @ 10:25PM
Jack Cobra said...
Wow, I can see this is going to be a touchy subject. It's a good read though, keep it up
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2-26-2007 @ 11:20PM
j. said...
Hmm, I'm not sure citing how the Heat performed before Shaq got there is really relevant to whether Wade stands a chance of getting an MVP this year (he won't get an MVP, but that has more to do with his new injury and the competition he's up against than anything). I mean, that was then, this is now. The year before Shaq got there was Wade's rookie year, and he hadn't fully come into his own yet. It's got nothing to do with this year.
I agree that the MVP is probably Dirk's to lose, but for the simple reason that he's the best player on a team that is utterly dominating this year, not because he's a 'default'.
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2-28-2007 @ 1:23PM
Chad said...
Why is that the Mavs never get any RESPECT. They are the best team in the league and have been for the past 2 seasons. I guees we don't get the respect becaues we have not one the Big One. Dirk has put up great numbers since comming into his prime. He is a great player and should get the MVP hands down.
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2-27-2007 @ 3:04PM
Jordan said...
The past two years Dirk has posted high scoring, rebounding and assist numbers consistantly...when will the guy get his notice as a premier player. Everyone has a supporting cast, the difference is Dirk knows when to step up and when to step back...watch the guy play. Nothing against Wade, he is a great player and will get his due but he hasn't been consistant from start to finish...he kicks in as time goes. Kobe...well he still has his issues and they sometimes overshadow his skills as a player. Kobe campaigned for the MVP in the All-Star game and it just didn't go far. Good luck to Dirk...he deserves it.
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4-10-2007 @ 5:17PM
ryan said...
DIrk Nowitzki is the best player in the league. He averages almost 26 points and hauls in 9 boards. His team will reach the 69 win mark. He is also 7 feet tall, a lot of people forget that, he is 7 foot and makes fade aways. Hes unstoppable. what really irks me is that everyone thinks that these little mouthy guards that shoot 25- 26 times a game or more and score 3 more points a game than dirk are better. Look at the field goal % people, if dirk took 10 more shots a game he would score near 38-40 points a game. Just because guys like kobe, mello, gilbert,ect chuck shots and run their mouths does not mean there the mvp or the best player.
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