MVP Race: Is This Getting Old Yet?

Each week I'll look at the players who would have the best shot at the league MVP award if the season ended today. Why? Because we're bound to disagree and fight each other with chain whips ...

1. Steve Nash, PG, Suns: The Suns beat the Mavs, again. Steve Nash did exactly what makes him a viable MVP candidate, Dirk didn't. Somehow, though, this makes Nash seem less convincing, too. He didn't really prove himself, he just didn't hurt himself--unlike last time these two met, when Mr. Two-Time went above and beyond our expectations. Shouldn't that be part of what makes an MVP: the ability to surprise even his biggest supporters?

2. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks: I wish I could demote him, I really do. Nash at least has an excuse for not taking over on Sunday, since anything dominant that team does counts as him taking over. Unfortunately, no one else is pushing hard enough to unseat that "best player on best team" logic. I also will only ever say this once: point guards and traditional post players can hide behind the team, freak scorers like Dirk can't.

3. LeBron James, SF, Cavaliers: Ladies and gentlemen, your Eastern Conference Player of the Month. This humble horse from out of Cleve-town averaged 30.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7 assists, leading the Cavs to an 11-5 record. He stepped up immensely in getting a win against the Pistons. And unlike the front runners, whose teams are stacked, or Kobe, whose team is lousy with him, he's a unquestioned alpha dawg whose squad responds to his magnificent example. I wonder if a whole season of this would be enough to leapfrog Nash or Dirk. Oh well. He'll get his three MVP's before it's all over.

4. Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers: This guy scored a lot for a team that had problems doing much of anything. He tried not scoring a lot in the beginning of the season and the results were mixed. When he did his thing, his team went on a winning streak. He also got that Player of the Month award. He might be the greatest scorer in the history of the league but I still think he is a selfish ass who doesn't know what it takes to win.

5. Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs: What the heck, why not. Best player on third-best team. Duncan didn't even average his customary 20 and 10 on the month, but the Spurs climbed in the standings and finished with a six-game win streak. Bryant has to shoot for his gang to succeed; with Duncan, it seems to work in the opposite direction.

On the cusp: Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd, Carlos Boozer

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

4-03-2007 @ 2:41PM

Max said...

I sure hope Kobe learns what it takes to win. Otherwise he might retire without an MVP or a championship.

4-03-2007 @ 2:46PM

KD said...

Remember that one (two) from last fall (winter)?

4-03-2007 @ 6:11PM

Jo said...

Retire without a championship? He has three. Granted, it was with Shaq, but he does have three titles. "Retire without a championship..." ::rolls eyes::

4-03-2007 @ 6:51PM

Dillworth said...

"a selfish ass who doesn't know what it takes to win." Ummm, Kobe's selfish ass won three championships with Shaq...I think the guy knows what it takes to win. Why not just finish up your statement about Kobe by saying, "He might be the greatest scorer in the history of the league, but I can't get over my blind hatred to appreciate what he has accomplished." Because you know that if Kobe won the championship this year...you'd still hate him. Hater.

4-03-2007 @ 7:28PM

dirk4mvp said...

yea, pretty sure dirk should be the MVP, we beat them out of the Playoffs last year, You cant just look at 2 games, look at the stats, dirk is obviously better.

Dirk is MY MVP, for suree

4-03-2007 @ 7:57PM

Jo, for someone who takes the time to actually write "rolls eyes", it seems like you'd be a bit more familiar with sarcasm. You idiot. That's called passive/aggressive if you were wondering.

4-03-2007 @ 7:54PM

The U will be BACK! said...

Kobe doesn't know what it takes to win...

You guys get funnier by the minute!

How many MVPs do we allow Nash without ever leading his team to the Finals - Mr. "Elevate everyone around him to the level of greatness!" If he is supposed to elevate his team so much, how come the Mavericks made it out of the west only AFTER they got rid of him?

People LOVE to call Kobe a stistics hound because he scores at will and his hapless teammates can't seem to get out of the way of themselves preventing them making it through the playoffs... Yet, Steve Nash is allowed to dazzle the hearts and minds of suburbia with his statistics (Assists, 3-pointers, not to mention points scored AGAINST), win MVPs for HIMSELF, while his team doesn't do SQUAT...

...EVER!

TRULY ASTONISHING!

Now let the feverish, unequivically thoughtless responses from the avid Nash groupies begin!

4-04-2007 @ 2:39AM

Lou AL Cinder said...

Wait..........

What do you mean we don't get french benefits?

I was told we got french benefits

4-04-2007 @ 5:17AM

michel said...

The U will be BACK- take a deep breath. I know its killing you that Kobe isn't the #1 choice for mvp but learn to live with it- he isn't going to get it! Yea, dump your venom on me but that isn't going to change a thing. Better luck next year.

4-04-2007 @ 6:35AM

JUSCHILLEN said...

Your right Kobe doesn't know what it takes to WIN... I knew somone just like him Selfish, Arrogant, anti-team, etc. DAM that JORDAN! He won the MVP in 87-88 and his team sucked like hell at the time. I hate that guy and know they call him the greatest? No wonder all these kobe haters are out to get him they don't want him to surpass Jordans selfishness God like ability! Shoals you are the man! cuz if Steve Nash was in laker land he would make Kawame's hands bigger so he can catch better and improve his jumping ability, Make Andrew Bynum onlder, Luke Walton turn into Larry Bird,etc... I mean gzz his current team suks w/out him they got no individual ability! STEVE Nash is the MAN! 2 MVP and his almost there in the conference finals maybe if he get this MVP he'll make it to the Finals and CATCH up to KoBe's 3 rings Cuz he doesn't deserve those he didn't contribute to any of the 3 TITLES!

4-04-2007 @ 6:33AM

4-04-2007 @ 10:38AM

JW said...

To counter your Nowitzki "best player on the best team" argument, Chauncey Billups was the best player on the best team (64 wins) last year yet he finished 5th in the MVP race. Nowitzki chokes time and time again during crunch time. EX. Suns vs. Mavs double overtime game. If you saw it, you know what I'm talking about.

don't hate the best said...

I totally agree JUSCHILLEN & The U will be BACK! Keep up the good comments.

Bethlehem Shoals. You obviously don't know what you're talking about. Phil Jackson told Kobe to start taking over at the beginning of the game. What do you think lead him to all those consecutive 50 point games?

4-04-2007 @ 12:29PM

Bill said...

Kobe & Shaq won championships together.

Seperately, Shaq has won one; Kobe has won zero.

Do the math.

4-04-2007 @ 1:20PM

pompadour8 said...

Have you all forgotten that Dallas beat Phoenix twice this year. Dirk hit the game winner in Phoenix. Yeah they beat us twice in the last couple weeks, but they are never going to even meet in the playoffs. They are going to be beaten by San Antonio in the second round then Dallas will meet San Antonio in the Western Conference Finals en route to there first Championship

4-04-2007 @ 2:16PM

Miss Gossip said...

"selfish ass"?...

I just want to publicly shame my colleague shoals for his blatant comment fishing!

4-07-2007 @ 1:47AM

andrei said...

"Kobe & Shaq won championships together.
Seperately, Shaq has won one; Kobe has won zero.
Do the math."

ok, we'll do the math. but for that you need to add d-wade, jason williams, gary payton, alonzo and walker into the equation and substract mihm and kwame who have been injured time and time again.

shaq said it when he moved to miami : "it's flash's team"