Chris Paul Will Be the MVP
CP3 (Photo. Mannion)
Why will this be the best season season ever?
Because Chris Paul will be the MVP
Chris Paul doesn’t need the newfound tradition of awarding MVPs to guys who should have won it in past years to win one in 2009. After a year in which his numbers (21.1 ppg, 11.6 apg, 2.7 spg) were considerably better than Steve Nash’s during both of his MVP seasons, CP3 is now officially on the waiting list. But with the maturation of Tyson Chandler and the addition of James Posey in New Orleans, Paul will not only take home the hardwood he deserved last year, but he’ll also exceed his own numbers.
By the end of last season, CP3 had virtually mastered that pick-and-roll lob with Chandler. It was the equivalent to a Johan Santana changeup; right before Paul released the ball, it was impossible to tell whether he was about to take a floater or lob a pass for Chandler to dunk. Now, Paul will have that weapon in his arsenal from Opening Night.
Add in that, with the addition of Posey, opposing defenses won’t be able to collapse down on Paul, Chandler and David West like they had a year earlier. With Posey and Peja Stojakovic spacing the floor, Paul will have a lethal option everywhere he turns. Look at what Posey and Ray Allen did for Rajon Rondo in his second season—they made him look like he was almost always making the right decision.
Worst of all for the opposition, Paul spent some serious time this summer honing his spot-up jumper to combat the international zone defense while playing with Team USA. On its own, that makes CP3 one of the most dangerous players in the League. With his vaunted supporting cast, teams will have to pick their poison, or Paul will end up choosing which one they drink.
Will CP3 be the MVP? If it’s not him, who will it be?
From Dime #45, available on newsstands now
October 28th, 2008 at 2:27 pm
Meica says:
Oh, it will be CP3, no doubt. If you ask me, he should have won it last year.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
izzy says:
Agreed. CP3 is a definite beast and if he wins it, he deserves it completely. Just to take the glass half empty approach, i can see it not happening for these reasons:
— Peja is hardly the vaunted outside threat he was a few years ago.
— Tyson Chandler and David West are one injury away from derailing the campaign.
— Posey is great when he plays with superstars (Ala the Celtics x 3 or Shaq and Wade). Outside of CP3, not sure i would call the rest great players yet.
Just my two cents.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:31 pm
K Dizzle says:
the usual suspects: Kobe, Lebron, don’t count out D-Wade cuz that team should increase last year’s win total by 25-30 wins, KG. Problem with Hornets is that one of the key cogs always gettin hurt so we’ll see how it plays out
October 28th, 2008 at 2:32 pm
D.Miz says:
Like last year, it’ll depend who’s at the top of each conference. If they won one more game last year, he would have gotten it over Kobe. His stats were ridiculous, landing him #1 in all Fantasy leagues as well.
http://www.breakindownthegame.com
October 28th, 2008 at 2:45 pm
Austin Burton says:
CP’s toughest comp will be LeBron, who has to get credit for carrying the least-talented good team in the League and will get some “He’s due” MVP votes. I’d also say D-Wade shouldn’t be counted out, but I’m seeing more of a 3rd-place finish at best for him. And don’t count out Duncan, either, who will have to carry San Antonio earlier than usual while Manu is out.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:48 pm
George W Kush Sr says:
“After a year in which his numbers (21.1 ppg, 11.6 apg, 2.7 spg) were considerably better than Steve Nash’s during both of his MVP seasons, CP3 is now officially on the waiting list.”
I’m in Canada, and I cant tell you how mad I am at the NBA for giving Nash 2 MVP’s. Those racist suns of bitches…
Its gonna be between Paul and Lebron, thats for sure.
October 28th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
LBJ is the one who deserves it this year. Without a doubt Kobe deserved His for a awhile.. Some “Experts” say he’s been the best for the last 5-6 years. But now it’s LBJ’s time to get that Hardwood.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Michorizo says:
Chris Paul is one of my two favorite players to watch, Kobe is the other so I hope Chris wins it this year…plus Kobe got his and I dont see him making a play for it.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
fallinup says:
CP3 hands down will get it. He’s gonna have a great season.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
Ian says:
paul was the mvp last season
but this season ill say it duncan will be in the mix
no manu till january means hell have to pick up the scoring and with 10plus boards and 2 plus blocks hell be in the mix.
October 28th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
karizmatic says:
LBJ is going to get it this year and he should have got it last year, Kobe should have got it the year before, Nowitski shouldn’t have got that one. CP3 will have to wait until at least next year to get his unless he averages 30 pts and 15 assts this season
October 28th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
Drink the Haterade (KB24 Chip 09) says:
@ Youngfed–
What’s up with this rumor?
If all the Pistons wanted to do was make a trade, that can happen whenever they want. A team such as the Denver Nuggets would have no problem giving the Pistons Kenyon Martin and/or Allen Iverson for a couple of Dumars’ core guys. But does that make Detroit any better? On PlayStation 3 or XBox 360, maybe. But not in the real world. Even with an aging roster, the Pistons still are one of only a handful of teams that can be taken seriously when talking about winning an NBA title. — Ann Arbor News
October 28th, 2008 at 5:29 pm
Dave says:
I’m predicting that there will be someone at the same position in the same conference who has a better year than Chris Paul. Deron Williams. If they could get Boozer to the wizard to find him a heart to go along with his skills the Jazz could end with the best record in the West and Deron will be deserving of the MVP. By the way for those of you who don’t know this yet, he owns CP….look it up.
October 28th, 2008 at 6:59 pm
David says:
Chris Paul rocks! need more highlights like his dunk over Superman:
http://www.squidoo.com/ChrisPaulDunk
October 28th, 2008 at 7:53 pm
Dagomar says:
Bron will probably put up a season for the ages and his pathetic team might even sniff 50 wins. It will be tough to deny the league’s best player the MVP after six insanely good seasons. But if the Hornets stay healthy Paul is a serious contender.
October 28th, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Ian says:
karizmatic
no man dirk was the mvp that season
playoffs dont count