Friday, March 27th, 2009 at 11:50 am  |  423 responses

Links: Who’s The MVP?

Gimme five…

by Lang Whitaker

A few weeks ago, I saw a note on the video screen on the elevator here at work that some person had passed away, and that this person was known as one of the world’s greatest thinkers. Ever since reading that, I’ve realized I need to step my thinking game up. Sure, I can produce words on a screen, I can tweet, I can write stories, whatever. But I wondered: Why can’t I be a great thinker? Because thinking is on some other ish. You can think anywhere. You can think everywhere. You can think while doing other things. And best of all, you can say you’re thinking even if you aren’t, and nobody can tell the difference.

So I dedicated myself to becoming one of the world’s great thinkers. And, if I do say so myself, I think it’s worked out pretty well. I’ve been thinking like crazy lately. I mean, I’ve had some incredibly complex thoughts, things you’d never think I’d thought, I think.

And lately, I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about the NBA’s post-season awards bonanza. I was recently told that I will, for the second year in a row, be asked to vote in the NBA’s official post-season awards show, no doubt because of my amazing thinking ability. (How did David Stern know I’m a great thinker? Because he’s David Stern. And you’re not.) And I already got an email this morning from a team PR person lobbying me to vote for one of his guys in a particular category.

I haven’t even gotten around to considering most of the awards, but two of them have me vexed right now: MVP and Rookie of the Year. The two leading candidates in my mind for ROY are Derrick Rose and OJ Mayo, and I’ll get into that debate at a later date.

maurice_podoloff_mvpAs far as the MVP’s go, however, well, it’s gonna be a doozy. To me there are three obvious candidates: Kobe, Bron and Wade. I read a post on True Hoop the other day about the race, where a Lakers blogger said he felt LeBron would get the award because it’s “his turn.” Well, I don’t know who’s “turn” it is, and I don’t really care. I just want to vote for the person who deserves it the most.

And right now, I swear to you, I’m not sure who that person is. I think Dwyane Wade has been unbelievable this season, but the Heat, even with him, are only four games over .500. Without him, they’d definitely be way under .500, but how much of a difference does he really make? Then there’s Kobe, who is as amazing as always, but he still plays in what I think is one of the most dangerous systems in the NBA with one of the best coaches of all time who gets Kobe the ball in the best situations possible. And then there’s LeBron, who is surrounded by less talent than Kobe and has the Cavs battling for the best record in the League, but Bron also plays in a much weaker conference. And what about Dwight Howard? Tim Duncan? Joe Johnson? (OK, forget that last one. Sorry.)

Anyway, I thought I’d see what you guys had to say about this MVP vote. I’m looking for advice, for input, for your opinions. I’m your Super Delegate — this is your chance to have a say in how the MVP vote plays out.

I just looked at last year’s ballot and they asked for a top five. So who’s in your five?

Let me know what you think…

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  • I am the walrus

    Wow… 400th comment. MVP? Two words: Adam Morrison.

  • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBQEmmgDl9I Boing Dynasty

    Your all wrong. Sorry.

  • Jack

    LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade, Dwight, Chauncey. ROY goes to Rose.

  • Alan

    MVP is eazy. the best guy in the best team (best record), or at least top 3 teams. Sorry for D-Wade.

    ROY it’s harder to tell. I’d go with Mayo, just because Memphis needs some good news.

  • Rohrs

    For all those trying to use the Cavs’ record against the Magic, Spurs, Celtics, & Lakers this season against LeBron winning the MVP – STOP IT. You are undermining your own argument as the Cavs have played more games this year with injuries to members of their starting five (considerably more than LA, Orlando, San Antonio, and – dare I burst their bubble? – Boston) and given that the Cavaliers have a two-game lead for best record in the NBA, how can LeBron not be the MVP? He has played at a consistently high-MVP level all season.

    In addition, for anyone out there who is still stuck in last season didn’t LeBron lead Kobe in scoring, boards, & dimes last year while going 2-0 against the Lakers? That’s right – he did… But Kobe won, and deserved to win, the MVP.

    So give credit where credit is due this season and admit that LeBron James deserves to runaway with the MVP award. With apologies to D-Wade – we’ve seen this song and dance before… Most recently in the form of LeBron’s previous two seasons.

  • http://hibachi20.blogspot.com Moose

    1. Brian Scalabrine
    2. Matt Bonner
    3. Andres Nocioni
    4. Spencer Hawes
    5. Chris Quinn

  • Lz – Cphfinest3

    Late for the party but here goes:
    1. LeBron
    2. Wade
    3. Paul
    4. Parker
    5. Kobe

  • Basketball Fan

    Agree that the race is a close one, but I dispute your premise that the East is a “much weaker conference.” Respectfully, I think you’re stuck in last season on that one.

    Without question the East has 3 of the 4 best teams. The West clearly has a lot more teams that will finish with 50 wins. The East has a 226-208 record (.521) in interconference games. It seems pretty hard to navigate those facts in any way that makes either conference “much stronger” or “much weaker.”

    Since you were writing about the relative challenges facing the Cavs and Lakers, however, it might be instructive to look at those teams’ comparative records against the West and the East. The Cavs are 35-9 (.795) against the East and 25-4 (.862) against the West. The Lakers are 20-8 (.714) against the East and 38-7 (.844) against the West. It is pretty clear that as between those two teams, both of which completely dominate against Western Conference opponents, it is the Lakers who have an advantage playing more games against the “weaker” conference.

  • matt the jazz fan

    1. Lebron
    2. Kobe Bryant
    3. Chris Paul
    4. Dwayne Wade
    5. Tony Parker

    (apologies to Dwight, 6th, and DWill out with injury too long to qualify)

  • Jackie Moon

    Cavaliers against Magic, Spurs, Celtics, Lakers: 3-7

  • Rohrs

    It’s easy to see why you weren’t able to keep your team in Flint Jackie… Get with the times man – LBJ is the MVP!

  • greg

    So the writer of this column has an MVP vote. Well as far as I’m concerned he should lose it for not even mentioning Chris Paul. Everyone’s in love with D-Wade and the season he’s having. Not taking anything away from Wade because he has been awesome but CP3 has been just as unbelieveable. He has the Hornets sitting 18 games above .500 in the ultra competitive and talented Western conference. And the Hornets have been banged up all year yet Paul has been the glue that has kept them together. Last night they were without Peja/Posey/Chandler and yet they beat the Spurs because of clutch play by Paul. It was only one game but it’s one game that can best sum up the Hornets season. In conclusion, I don’t think Chris Paul should win MVP but he certainly deserves to be in the conversation just as much and possibly more then D-Wade.

  • Gque24

    Lebron does not ahve less talent than Kobe and the Lakers. Both teams are very good for their specific ways of attack. Cavs are full of spot up shooters who get wide open attempts all game. Lakers have skilled long players who get a lot of rebounds and pass the ball around great with the triangle offense. When it comes down to it, Cavs players are better and smarter overall at defense then the Lakers. Lakers real threats are only Kobe and Gasol, everyone else is inconsistent too many nights during the season and playoffs. The Cavs have Lebron, Big Moe, and Zeke to attack teams every night. Those 3 alone produce nearly as much as an entire Lkaers team in assists & points. This is why its ludacris to continue to say the Lakers are more talented. The Lakers are the same inconsistent bunch they have been for past 4-5 years. Only difference is Gasol and a healthy Ariza who still doesnt know what his role is going to be night in and night out. Either way its Kobe for MVP and lets see the ultimate showdown in the Finals Kobe vs Lebron = for the THRONE

  • Michael

    I’m a huge Kobe fan, but it isn’t even a contest at this point. Lebron far an away. He’s continued to play amazing and his team will more than likely end up with the best record in the league. D-wade has returned to earth and is now just playing merley great instead of good-god this guy isn’t a f**king human. And has spent the last two weeks jogging on the basketball court while thowring the ball somewhere in the vicinty of thw rim not really caring if it goes in or not.

  • Michael

    That last part is about Kobe not D-wade.

  • http://slammagazine AJ

    I read the majority of the post on this site for this particular question. Alot of people are favoring players because they like them or their team. Anyone who truly watches basketball and appreciates the game would only see one MVP, it is not a 3 horse race by any means. Im not going to say 2nd or 3rd because who really cares who gets 2nd. Like ricky bobby said ” if you aint first, your last”. Lebron Is the League MVP this year head and shoulders above everyone, LA time columnist J.A Adande even said its not even Lebrons to loose anymore, its Lebron’s period. Now for the arguments Ive seen on here. Whoever gets 1 seed should get it, people that say this are just AIG trying to get a bailout, Kobe got it last year Boston had best record??? not a good argument at all especially if you have been watching all year. Dwade has been great this year, I agree 100% but his numbers this year arent better than Lebrons the 2 years previous to this, and aren’t realy much better than his this year. For someone that said stealling rebounds…..really??? thats just a stupid thing to say, won’t acknowledge such a dumb statement more than I just did. As for Kobe he i having a good season, not as good as last season and he has not played well for the past 2 to 3 weeks argument for him is fading by the day. I like the argument about the roster talent when comparing Kb and LBJ, anyone who says the cavs are as talented as the lakers and would still be in the playoff hunt with and average SF is smoking something, reason being is you say…oh well mo williams is an all star….by default no one heard of mo williams before this year look at his numbers retty close to his ml bucks numbers from last year on a team with a better than avaerage sf michael redd??? and a better center than Z in bogut and they were not even close to playoffs last year. The lakers with an average sg with paul gasol would stll win the division and win 50 games, not to mention if you switchedthe two guys The cav would probably break the bulls record of 72 and 10 easily as they curently do not have a low post player at all the lakers with mo would be mediocre at best.. Lastly as for its his turn……Lebron is to young for it to be his turn….honestly he should have one it last year, but the writers gave it to Kobe for playing more like Lebron last year and because he had not won one yet and the cavs didn’t win 50 games. if anyone wants more I got a lot more to give, but this is already a lot.

  • Jackie Moon

    Lebron can be MVP. Kobe is the best player. Hey Karl Malone won once, too, while MJ was playing!

  • Rohrs

    Why are you on here Jackie? Shouldn’t you be spending your time writing the hit followup to “Love Me Sexy”? Oh wait – that’s right – your mom wrote that song! Maybe she should write your posts on the MVP debate as well since yours are so weak? Just a thought. Love your hair.

  • http://www.lkz.ch Darksaber

    “love your hair”: oh man, Rohrs diss was fresh. Laughed my head off.

  • RonBo

    I agree with Rohrs 100% LBJ is going to win MVP and even putting Wades name into contention is a disgrace. If anybody here has watched cavs games within the last month they would have seen why LBJ and the Cavs will take the championship with ease and the MVP award. The Cavs have not played (SERIOUS) in the 3rd quarter until they played Dallas and were down by 15.. The final score to that game explains everything.. LBJ did not even play in the 4th and he had 12 assists 5rebounds and 20+ points.. It is absolutely crazy what LBJ does for Cleveland and anything shy of a ring for LBJ will be a disappointment. He almost averages a triple double every game. It is crazy.

  • Get Money

    I just found this on youtube. Yo this MaGalls dude is off the chain.

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=51w7hTYjUis

  • rstove8912

    1. LeBron
    2. Dwyane
    3. Kobe
    4. CP
    5. Dwight

  • DT

    To Rohrs

    “Why are you on here Jackie? Shouldn’t you be spending your time writing the hit followup to “Love Me Sexy”? Oh wait – that’s right – your mom wrote that song! Maybe she should write your posts on the MVP debate as well since yours are so weak? Just a thought. Love your hair.”

    C’mon, people have opinions. You may not like the way she argues but that doesn’t give u the right to insult her.

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