<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">An 81-point effort and accounting for 34 percent of your team's offense might result in more endorsements and perhaps a scoring title for Kobe Bryant. Dominating games with your immense physical skills and ability to score at will might result in a playoff appearance for LeBron James. Scoring effortlessly and proving you're one of the elite players in the league might result in respect and a Northwest Division title for Carmelo Anthony. The NBA Most Valuable Player award is designed for perhaps more worthy candidates, those who elevate their game to a special level and catapult their team toward the league's upper echelon. The Sonics host the Phoenix Suns tonight and reigning MVP Steve Nash will make his lone appearance at KeyArena, carrying better numbers than he racked up last season. Nash is averaging 19.5 points and 10.9 assists as the Suns are headed to another Pacific Division crown without standout center Amare Stoudamire. While Stoudamire is healing from microfracture surgery and is unsure when he will return, Nash has willed the Suns to success, prompting some NBA insiders to endorse him for a second consecutive MVP award. "I would give it to Nash," Sonics guard Ray Allen said. "No question about it. I don't think anybody in the NBA is playing the way he's playing and his team is doing what they're doing. Take him off the roster and they would not be where they are." The Suns were expected to take a major fall without Stoudamire, perhaps the game's most dominant inside force under 25 years old. But Nash has scored more while also incorporating players such as Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and James Jones into an already formidable offense. Nash edged Shaquille O'Neal last season in a controversial vote. But his second season in Phoenix has further legitimized his value to the Suns. "Considering all their injuries this year, they continue to win and you have to give (Nash) a lot of credit for that," Sonics coach Bob Hill said. "And Nash doesn't have those big guys to set screens for him and he's still scoring and setting up his teammates." Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki benefited from Nash's presence in Dallas for six years, and now he has emerged as a prolific scorer who can get to the free throw line at will. The Mavericks are tied with San Antonio for the best record in the Western Conference and the loser of that duel for the Southwest Division will fall to fourth in the West. Nowitzki is averaging 25.6 points through 63 games, but potentially more impressive is his 89 percent clip from the free throw line and he is sixth in defensive rebounds. Nowitzki's reputation as a shooter is unblemished, but he also has improved his defensive presence. The Mavericks are one of the more impressive defensive teams in the NBA. "I guess you have to throw Nowitzki in as a candidate although no one has really thought of him in those terms before," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "His team is challenging for the lead in the league." With stalwarts such as Tim Duncan and O'Neal missing time because of injuries and others such as Kevin Garnett, Allen Iverson and Paul Pierce playing on subpar teams, the race for MVP has expanded to otherwise unconventional candidates. Dwyane Wade has experienced a splendid season, seizing the mantle of Heat team leader from a supportive O'Neal. In a game against Detroit earlier this season, he scored 17 consecutive points, including the winning shot. Wade is in the league's top 10 in five statistical categories, including scoring, steals and assists. While James and Anthony were the more heralded players in the 2003 draft, Wade has emerged as the most versatile and his team has enjoyed the most success. "Wade can do so many things," Hill said. "And when O'Neal demands a double team, Wade can kill you. I don't think anybody knew he would be quite this good coming out of Marquette." Chauncey Billups entered Monday 33rd in the league in scoring and fourth in assists, yet he is the unquestioned leader of the Detroit Pistons and the primary reason why they are marching through the Eastern Conference and the prohibitive favorite to reach the Finals. Billups spends a good portion of his time on the court making life easier for his teammates with pinpoint passes, such as the one near the baseline to Richard Hamilton that resulted in the winning shot to beat the Sonics on March 3. Billups always was considered a scorer, but he's learned how to manage Detroit's offense without losing his scorer's identity. The Pistons sent four players to the All-Star Game and that quartet made a furious run for the Eastern Conference in their win over the West. Detroit fans have chanted "MVP" for Billups and he appears to receiving the credit many NBA experts felt he sorely desired. "Obviously I think Chauncey Billups is really the guy that controls the throttle over there," Jackson said. "He is an important part of their success."</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe23:</div><div class="quote_post">nah! it's either kobe or nash</div> Ill take nash over kobe anyday.
Let me be real here, The MVP is really a 5 man at the most 6 man race right now: Nash, Dirk, Wade, Billups, Brand and maybe Lebron if you want to stretch it. Kobe is not in the running for MVP if we're going to be serious here. Brand and Lebron will also have a tougher time getting it, it's really between the first 3 guys for the most part, and Billups.
If we are being realistic It is only a two man race for MVP Dirk or Nash No one else really deserves to be in the race as It stands now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">If we are being realistic It is only a two man race for MVP Dirk or Nash No one else really deserves to be in the race as It stands now.</div> Why doesn't Wade or Billups deserve to be in the race?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Why doesn't Wade or Billups deserve to be in the race?</div> They deserve to be mentioned but in terms of who truely deserves the award It's only really Dirk or Nash. Billups has had a great season and would be in the race If the Pistons kept up the amazing pace although he would never of had a great chance due to the fact he has so much support and many see big Ben as the best player on the team. Likewise with Wade, although has had an amazing season only took Miami to 500 ball without Shaq. Just look at the Suns record with Amare out all season thus far. Dirk also needs to be praised for leading a team to the top of the west or near to with Jason Terry as their 2nd best player. No real good playmaker and although very talented team is full of players who are good role players but in the past failed to make much noise on other teams. I guess Avery is a bigger reason for that. Dirk and Nash's stats are great but also leading their teams to alot of wins in a very tough conference.
I would still include Kobe Bryant in the MVP race. The Lakers still have a chance to get the 6th seed out West, and if they can pull it off with a strong finish, it would justify Kobe receiving 1st place votes. Right now Steve Nash is the clear MVP.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting odde23:</div><div class="quote_post">It is a two man race between Steve Nash and Shawn Marion.</div> Marion will get some votes, but he has no chance at MVP.
I like Nash more each year and continue to be amazed by his leadership. He is a strong consideration for the Most Valuable Player award, but from my observations this year the following players are also valuable players to their teams and deserve discussion: (1) List Nash here, but not because I would give him the nod right now. (2) Tim Duncan. Would the Spurs be more than a jump shooting team having to work every game to make the playoffs without Duncan? Parker has become a top guard and shooter, but the presence of Duncan has nurtured his growth. Ginobli has proven his array of skills, no where more so than in the playoffs last year. But he is not the same this year and needs to rest and rehabilitate himself. Duncan remains the focal point or the crux of the team many say is the best. He is capable of scoring and rebounding in large numbers, and he is capable of running the offense by finding the open cutter or shooter and plays pretty good defense. (3) Tony Parker. Runs one of the 3 best teams in the NBA making few mistakes, shooting as well as any guard in the League, and gets his assists every night. Wins games for the Spurs when injuries slow their other stars. (4) Kobe Bryant. He is carrying a fair team into the playoffs by himself, shooting as well as anyone in the League with possibly the widest variety of offensive maneuvers ever seen. Without Kobe, the Lakers might not win another game. (5) Dirk Nowitzki. How many games has he won for the Mavericks in the final 12 minutes? He's managed to stay healthy when nearly every other important player on the Mavericks has missed weeks of games, yet they have one of the best records in the NBA. And its because of Dirk N. He scores, rebounds and plays hard when the game is on the line.
