Is it really a two-man MVP race?
Does he have an MVP case?Everyone — or at least the mainstream media — has decided that the League’s MVP race has come down to only two guys: Kobe and Chris Paul. An easy position to take, and you can already see certain sports media entities who were handing the trophy to Kobe all season are now slanting their coverage towards CP in order to keep the spirit of argument going.
But is there anyone who’s not getting enough consideration? Last year, for example, after everyone had decided the MVP was either going to Dirk or Kobe, I was still stumping for T-Mac, who had carried a flawed Rockets team to a top-four seed in the West when Yao got hurt and averaged 24 points, 5 boards and 6 assists. Even if he wasn’t gonna win, T-Mac at least deserved to finish 3rd, in my opinion, and still had my first-place vote.
So who’s not getting enough credit this year? Deron Williams? Dwight Howard? LeBron? Amare? Make their case here…
April 14th, 2008 at 9:13 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Now that the Lakers are going to wrap up the #1 seed….its a one man race. None of the other cats you mentioned have done enough both single handedly and to facilitate their teammates. Kobe has done it all on BOTH sides of the ball and its resulted in wins.
How could you possibly give it to LBJ when his team stinks???
One man race.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Prof. TX says:
Kobe has better help than most other candidates. Really, how bad is your team when Lamar Odom is your 3rd or 4th option? He’s a great player, people just like to spin this “Kobe gets no help” story to make him look better, but he really does have a talented (and deep) supporting cast.
Without Kobe, the Lakers could still be a playoff team. Without LeBron or Dwight, the Cavs and Magic wouldn’t even make 8th seed in the East. LeBron will get the trophy in time, but I wonder how much Dwight will have to do to be in the running. All those 20-20 games get lost in the news when every nba article is required to mention Bryant at least once per page.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:25 am
Amar says:
If it was only about the top teams, this is how utah looks so far:
Against DAL 2-2 (lost a game on that dirk 3 @ 0.9 sec)
Against DEN 3-1
Against GS 3-0
Against HOU 1-1 (game at home tonight)
Against LAL 1-3
Against NO 3-1
Against PHO 2-1
Against SA 2-1 (one game left to play)
Against BOS 1-1 (road team won both times)
Against DET 2-0
Against ORL 2-0
Against CLE 1-1
Deron Williams has a lot to do with all of that. But it’s okay, the regular season is just a warm up for him.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:30 am
doc says:
whoever get 1 seed in the West gets it.Everybody else step it up next year.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:42 am
YOUNGFED says:
Howard and Lebron deserve more credit. Also I don’t care who gets #1 seed in the west. Kobe gets it flat out anyone who saw the recent K-Hova vs CP3 match up knows that.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:45 am
Austin Burton says:
But didn’t the Kobe-for-MVP argument in 2006 and 2007 center on the fact that he carried weak teams to a 7th playoff seed?
April 14th, 2008 at 9:47 am
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Obviously that is not the criteria Prof. Tx, last year Kobe got the Lakers to the playoffs (when Lamar was hurt) with Kwame Brown and Smush Parker in the starting line-up.
You still have to bring your team together and produce wins. LBJ has not done that this year.
And Superman has disappeared at times (even got called out by his coach)
One man race.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:50 am
Three Stacks says:
I think Kobe deserves the award this year, even though I think CP3 had the better statistical year. If the media is gonna hand out the award based on team record, they should definitely take into consideration that the Hornets have been healthier all year. The Lakers have been playing without two main rotation guys (Bynum, Ariza) and even a third (Gasol) for a good chunk of the second half. This warrants mentioning.
But if I had to pick someone else to give the award to, I would definitely vote for McGrady. As great as Kobe is, I don’t think the Rockets would’ve come close to sniffing 22 consecutive wins if Kobe were on that team instead of T-Mac. He deserves some recognition, definitely.
1) Kobe
2) Paul
3) McGrady
4) Garnett
5) Lebron
April 14th, 2008 at 9:53 am
Borgs says:
I’m a one-eyed Jazz fan, and a massive D-Will advocate (he’s just as good as Paul, says I), but even I have to concede that, as good as he, LeBron and Amare (Hedo’s the real gun in Orlando) have been, it’s down to CP3 and Kobe. If I had a ballot, I’d be voting for the guy with the better team record. If the teams finish even: Paul.
April 14th, 2008 at 9:55 am
alberto says:
Can we get some love for Chris Quinn?…his name is Chris?…right?
April 14th, 2008 at 10:05 am
The Truth says:
1. Kobe
1a. CP
2. LeBron
3. KG
4. Nash
Dwight’s not even in the conversation this year.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:10 am
Amar says:
kobe for MVP . . . the lakers have been all kinds of injured, and they are #1 in the west. i’m not a kobe fan, but giveh im the MVP. CP has many more years to win it.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:19 am
Daily boy says:
Now I have to give credit where it is due KB24 is the baddest man alive on the court, but the award is called the most valuable player. Now the lakers would still be pretty decent if KB24 was not there(maybe not a playoff team this year,but maybe a 35-40 win team). Now if you took the other top choices off of there teams, YOU WOULD BE IN A WHOLE HEAP OF TROUBLE. The Hornets w/o CP3 Maybe a 20 win team, he creates so much for that team. LBJ off of the Cavs and they’re a 10 win. So My Vote For MVP is CP3 ya heard.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:24 am
Willis says:
K-Hova is such a stupid nickname. Its so annoying reading it everyday.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Kobeef says:
If the Lakers beat the Kings this week the MVP goes to Kobe. If not, it is worth debate.
No pressure, Kobe.
Next year will be harder for Kobe to win MVP with Bynum/Gasol/Odom starting and carrying the Lakeshow. That is arguably the best frontcourt in the league.
Portland with Oden, Aldridge and Outlaw will also be tough to handle and if it wasn’t for Jameer’s lack of playmaking Turkoglu/Lewis/Howard would be much tougher to handle.
April 14th, 2008 at 10:37 am
YOUNGFED says:
@ Post #6
What was your point?
They should give it to Kobe just for robbing him all those years. Best player in the league since 2004-05 and no MVP’s. HOW?
@post#14
Get a life dude. If a nickname bothers you that much you got some issues cuz that may require help.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:03 am
Sam I Am says:
And NOW!!! your 2007-2008 NBA MVP goes tooooooooooooooo……. Ricky DAVIS !!!!!!!!!!!!! for enduring so much with the Heat this season
Runner up - Smush Parker
April 14th, 2008 at 11:03 am
GEE... Where Brooklyn At? says:
It’s Kobe’s already. They actually already gave it to him. He is just going to have to bring it back for the ceremony so it can look, like it wasn’t done already.
Some dudes that should have gotten some mention though.
Deron
Tracy
LeBron had it in my book up until late mid season.
Amare
Dwight
K.G. of course
April 14th, 2008 at 11:14 am
jay says:
kobe has been the best player in the l 4 the longest he deserves it. problem with lebron he plays on the east and since the east is weak you have to win at least 50games.sorry !!! cp3 is the best point gaurd in the game (boom dizzle 2nd)but that might not be enuf it jus depends lebron cp3 and superman are the future of the sport they will get theres so the league is gon give it to kb24
April 14th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Chuck says:
It all depends on the criteria in which you are giving the award?
If your sole criteria is most improved team, then you would narrow the argument down to Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett. They both have pretty decent supporting cast. Ray Allen and Paul Peirce as team members definitely helped catapult the Celtics into playoff and championship contention. Chris Paul has David West and Tyson Chandler playing out their minds right now, and the perimeter players they have helps spread the defense so Paul can penetrate the way he does. I believe their teams make them better. Same argument for Dwight Howard and Kobe, they have a very good supporting cast, if we are basing the award solely off of a player carrying a team on his shoulders, then it only comes down to one individual and that’s Lebron James. If we are basing it on the person who has been snubbed and we should just give it to em then yeah, Kobe. I really believe it just depends on the criteria, right now Lebron is the scoring champ, he’s averaging 30-8-8, which is crazy, but Paul is averaging a double double and leading the league in steals, Kobe just whined at the beginning of the year more than everyone else about his subpar (in his eyes) team, so that’s what really makes everyone look at him right now. I could take into consideration he’s playing with a dislocated finger, but hey so is Allen Iverson.
MY personal choice would be Lebron, not only because of stats, and him carrying a team to the playoffs, but also the roster changes he had to deal with.
The best player on the best team crap just doesn’t appeal to me, especially since Dirks choke artist rendetion last year.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:36 am
doc says:
Fuck all that Kobe’s got robbed before.Its for this year and if he get best record out West its his.If CP3 get it its his.Youngfed fuck that last game. They played 4 times this year and its 2-2 and CP3 dicked them the same way.
April 14th, 2008 at 11:41 am
GEE... Where Brooklyn At? says:
Nice one Chuck! I got to agree with 99% of that!
April 14th, 2008 at 11:42 am
NYCLifer says:
Kobe has it locked down! You can’t even consider CP3 as a viable MVP candidate w/o throwing D-Will in there. Nobody can be compared to Kobe, but D-Will is right there with CP3.
April 14th, 2008 at 12:07 pm
Myrie says:
….
hahahaha. I laugh at this 1st place nonesense.
To all the voters using that criteria, I hope there is a monkeywrench in the plans; such as niether LAL nor NO finishing with the top seed in the West.
Then who would you all give it to?
Hahaha….
April 14th, 2008 at 12:09 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Doc, CP3 can’t fuck wit K-Hova and even he knows it. Yall need to PAY HOMAGE to THE god K-HOVA
April 14th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
doc says:
MVP aint about fucking with somebody yall got the award fucked up.Best player and Valuable player 2 different things.MJ would have got it every fuckin year then.What he got 5 out of like 16 years.If you take your team to the best record thats what it is.Who else gonna be first Myrie dont be a dick.Thats why Austin wont holla at you hahahaha
April 14th, 2008 at 12:44 pm
Austin Burton says:
But didn’t a lot of people think Dirk Nowitzki was undeserving of MVP when he led his team to the best record in the League?
April 14th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Michorizo says:
Is it ghetto comment day today?
April 14th, 2008 at 12:49 pm
YOUNGFED says:
Doc
Yall be the ones waiting on Austin to Chime in and talk. If dude feelings is hurt it is what it is. I was only joking bout seattle but if he wanna cry about it. Fuk It I could careless. See thats what I keep tellin’ people on here DO YOU DON’T WORRY BOUT OTHERS. Only person on here not afraid to say something to Dime is YallAllreadyknow. Now dude be on some dumb shit sometimes but he funny as hell and always speaks is mine. I can respect that.
On a lighter note having the best record only means you have the BEST TEAM. Not MVP try another criteria.
@Austin
Dude if you mad u mad but its all in good fun.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:00 pm
GEE... Where Brooklyn At? says:
You said Yall be the ones. So you including everybody pimpin? Naw I can’t get with that homey. Imma say cats on here ain’t afraid to say something to Austin, PC, Omi, Drew or anybody else, it’s just no need to do it or be rude.
Granted you already stated you was joking. I am just saying don’t think people scared to say stuff to DIME, and don’t act like cause you are saying something that it’s amazing.
As far as YallAllreadyknow, you said yourself he “be on some dumb Sh&^ sometime, but just because he is rude to just about everyone don’t make him a pioneer.
It’ ain’t a dude or female on here that I won’t spit and get at fa real, but I try not to go there unless someone has come my way.
I’m just saying don’t take a lot of folks being kind as being afraid. At the same time don’t take a lot of people as being ignorant (YallAllReady) for being courageous.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Austin Burton says:
For the record, I wasn’t mad about anything anyone said on the site today. That was kind of a cheap shot at Seattle that Youngfed took in Smack, but I understand it was fueled by lack of Pistons coverage.
April 14th, 2008 at 1:35 pm
Chuck says:
It’s not an amazing thing to respond in a rude way over the internet. It’s not like you all are face to face and you talking crazy.
Like Riley says in the boondocks. “That’s not gangsta!”
talking crazy over the internet is not gangsta at all.
This is a nice forum to share our basketball knowledge and politic over a game we love, not to prove how hard we are and who can talk crazy to who.
That’s not hard at all, that’s immature.
We all have our respective favorite teams, and that’s that, there’s no need to be all ugly and silly.
I am not referencing any one individual on this site, just giving my opinion.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:10 pm
James says:
LeBron wont get MVP but with more assist,points,andrebounds per game than kobe he should be in the hunt, plus he has taken another average team to the playoffs once again
April 14th, 2008 at 2:17 pm
Prof. TX says:
Previous years shouldn’t matter. It’s the award for this season’s MVP. If you think that Kobe’s previous accomplishments should count then you also have to like it every time the refs do a phantom make-up call against your team because they felt like they made a mistake on a previous one. It’s the same thing.
Kobe has a reasonable claim to this year’s trophy, but its the 2007-2008 MVP award, not the “sorry we overlooked you in ‘06″ consolation prize. If you count past years, then you also have to look at previous seasons that he’s had and hold it against him that this isn’t even Kobe’s best year, which would hurt him more than it rightly should.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:25 pm
word says:
definitely not no defence amare.
KG.. simple criteria, best player on best team. why people are overlooking that i don’t know. ok so he has pierce and allen, kobe has bynum and gasol regardless of injuries without them that team would be absolutely nowhere. lebron deserves credit to cuz he has absolutely no one to work with he deserves it more than kobe and cp doesn’t deserve it either he has d west and chandler, w/o them his assists would be nothing.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:28 pm
Matt says:
as much as it pains me to say this, and it does, Paul should get the award, they’ve won a top two seed in the west, and nobody expected that. The only problem I have with that is D-Will doesn’t even get a mention, he’s averaging a double double, and spanked Paul 3 out of 4 times this season, yet he isn’t mentioned, just like rookie year.
Kobe, has Fisher, Odom, Gasol, and had Bynum earlier this year, that’s too much help for the guy to win MVP in my book.
April 14th, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Fabian says:
BARON DAVIS FOR MVP
April 14th, 2008 at 5:54 pm
sam says:
I like how people are arguing that Kobe shouldn’t get MVP b/c his teammates are good but Lebron should b/c he’s been carrying his team into the playoffs with a weaker cast. Plus he leads the league in SCORING!!!
Oh wait, that sounds like KOBE the last 2 years!!!!
Not to mention the injuries the Lakers dealt with this year and still Kobe stepped up when he needed to, and he can take over the game int he last quarter when he needs to (sacramento, last 15/17 points in the last 5 minutes? dallas?)
not to mention
anyone forget about his finger?
April 14th, 2008 at 8:33 pm
Kobe Bryant says:
Ok, seriously, stop calling me K-HOVA.
New rule: if I haven’t used it, and no major network or publication uses it, then it’s NOT MY NAME. It’s not that hard, figure it out.
Google search: “K-HOVA”+”Kobe Bryant”
0 results
April 15th, 2008 at 3:08 am
karan says:
KG for MVP
my criteria is simply… which one player has had the most positive influence on the league this season
and thats the ticket
April 15th, 2008 at 5:17 am
YOUNGFED says:
Thats whats up Austin it’s all good homie. Wasn’t taking any cheap shots but you gotta admit if you weren’t a seattl fan that ish woulda been funny.
@Gee
How was I rude or were you talking about YallAllreadyknow? Also for the record I’m rarely rude unless someone says something first. However I maybe Arogant sometimes but rarely Rude.
@post#39
In the words of 3-6 Mafia “Shut The Fuck Up” lol. As yall can see I watched choices the other day.
April 15th, 2008 at 6:15 pm
doc says:
younfed what the fuck u talking about.I was talking to Myrie about Austin not talking to him offline.I dont care if I offend Austin or you.
April 16th, 2008 at 5:28 am
Nautic says:
Lebron deserves MVP hands down, he has a great all around game (except for great D and consitent 3pt) and if he had a legitimate team mate who could consistently strech D and score 15-20 points (Someone like Kevin Martin, Leandro Barbossa, Ben Gordon, Francisco Garcia, Manu Ginoboli, Monta Ellis, JR Smith, Hedo Trukoglu/Rashard Lewis, Anthony Parker etc.) he would realistically have a chance at averaging a triple double and his team goes from 45-50 wins, to 60, just for the simple fact that they have a consistent 2nd option who is used frequently, plays above average D and can strech D with 3’s so Lebron can drive and kick, he would get mvp. Teams have a very hard time containing him already and he can will his team to win with a mediocre selection of teammates. He needs someone who can play an inside outside game who has above average D and can hit a 3 consitenly, and they would be an elite team. The mvp race should be between Kobe, Lebron, KG, Dwight Howard and CP3. Chrs Paul is good, but Lebron would do far better with CP3’s teammates than if CP3 had Lebron’s and the same can apply to Kobe, KG, Howards teammates as well. Hell, even Lebron on the Knicks, Bobcats, Grizzlies, Sonics, and they would be a better team than the current Cavs he has now. Chris Paul and Dwight Howard are good, but they are not dominate if they don’t score. Kobe, Lebron, and KG can all takeover a game without scoring because of their passing/rebounding/defense. Howard and CP3 are good, but I think Lebron deserves it more than Kobe this year. The playoffs last year showed he can outplay better teams with deeper benches with a legitimate 2nd star. If Gibson kept up the hot streak, the Cavs could have easily pulled an upset as well…..Bottom Line, Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Baron Davis, Amare, Nash etc. are not legitimate mvp candiates compared to Kobe, KG, Lebron, Duncan.
April 16th, 2008 at 7:06 am
MSkittle says:
KG