<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It appears that the worst-kept secret in the NBA will be out in the open by early next week Dallas Mavericks forward Dirk Nowitzki, whose coronation as the first European-born Most Valuable Player in NBA history has been expected for weeks, is scheduled to officially receive the MVP trophy at a Tuesday news conference in Dallas, ESPN.com has learned. The NBA has handed out its past three MVPs -- two straight to Phoenix's Steve Nash after Minnesota's Kevin Garnett won in 2004 -- at the start of the second round. But it's believed the league opted to put some distance between Nowitzki's ceremony and the Mavericks' stunning first-round exit against Golden State. By the time Nowitzki collects his award, nearly two weeks will have elapsed since the 67-win Mavs became the just the third No. 1 seed in NBA history to lose to a No. 8 seed. The previous two No. 1 seeds to lose so quickly, however, suffered five-game exits as opposed to losing a seven-game series: Seattle in 1994 to Denver and Miami in 1999 to New York. Said Nowitzki, reached by phone Thursday night: "Nobody's told me anything. You [media] guys have been talking about it for a while, so let's see what happens. "[But] it's hard to even think about that stuff right now. Everything [from the Golden State series] is still pretty fresh. It's been some tough days since we lost. "I thought this was such an incredible year. We won 67 games and then to lose in the first round, it just feels so empty right now."</div> Link
Just kidding, he deserved it after his remarkable play during the regular season. It's just a shame he disappeared in the playoffs.
Other than the 6th man award and ROY, none of the other awards went to the best candidates this year.
Well at least he made it to the Finals before, unlike other MVP winners. That's looking on the bright side of his career. Man up next year Dirk, but good luck to you.
Give the man some credit. Maybe a first round exit is not your choice for MVP, but Kobe also lost in the 1st round and Nash could be eliminated in the 2nd round. He had a remarkable season and he'd still be playing right now if the Clippers had grabbed the 8th seed.
I don't think the biggest story line about this is that Dirk got the MVP despite his vanishing act in the playoffs...it's that Steve Nash didn't. Even if Dirk averaged 40 ppg in the playoffs, he does not deserve the MVP over Nash. The Mavs won while Dirk had off-games. It seems that when I watch him, he has a lot of those. He'll get 20 points and 8 boards, but it's on 5 of 14 shooting or something. When Nash is not playing for the Suns, they can barely keep above water. And Nash hardly has any off-nights, because he could go the whole game without making a basket and still be the best player on the court. Dirk's defense is below average, for all the stats he puts up he's not a tough rebounder, and he still hasn't become a great playmaker. I guess I'm just amazed that he got this, when in my mind, there is no debate who the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player, is. It's Steve Nash. No questions asked. And it's pretty embarassing for him not to have gotten this award, regardless of whoever else it did actually go to.
<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think the biggest story line about this is that Dirk got the MVP despite his vanishing act in the playoffs...it's that Steve Nash didn't. Even if Dirk averaged 40 ppg in the playoffs, he does not deserve the MVP over Nash. The Mavs won while Dirk had off-games. It seems that when I watch him, he has a lot of those. He'll get 20 points and 8 boards, but it's on 5 of 14 shooting or something. When Nash is not playing for the Suns, they can barely keep above water. And Nash hardly has any off-nights, because he could go the whole game without making a basket and still be the best player on the court. Dirk's defense is below average, for all the stats he puts up he's not a tough rebounder, and he still hasn't become a great playmaker. I guess I'm just amazed that he got this, when in my mind, there is no debate who the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player, is. It's Steve Nash. No questions asked. And it's pretty embarassing for him not to have gotten this award, regardless of whoever else it did actually go to.</div> You know those writers wouldn't dare put Nash in the same echelon as Russell, Wilt or Bird. Even the G.O.A.T. Michael Jordan didn't win 3 in a row.
<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think the biggest story line about this is that Dirk got the MVP despite his vanishing act in the playoffs...it's that Steve Nash didn't. Even if Dirk averaged 40 ppg in the playoffs, he does not deserve the MVP over Nash. The Mavs won while Dirk had off-games. It seems that when I watch him, he has a lot of those. He'll get 20 points and 8 boards, but it's on 5 of 14 shooting or something. When Nash is not playing for the Suns, they can barely keep above water. And Nash hardly has any off-nights, because he could go the whole game without making a basket and still be the best player on the court. Dirk's defense is below average, for all the stats he puts up he's not a tough rebounder, and he still hasn't become a great playmaker. I guess I'm just amazed that he got this, when in my mind, there is no debate who the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player, is. It's Steve Nash. No questions asked. And it's pretty embarassing for him not to have gotten this award, regardless of whoever else it did actually go to.</div> Well I've got a lot of problems with those generalizations you made, but I'll just end up repeating myself.
<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think the biggest story line about this is that Dirk got the MVP despite his vanishing act in the playoffs...it's that Steve Nash didn't. Even if Dirk averaged 40 ppg in the playoffs, he does not deserve the MVP over Nash. The Mavs won while Dirk had off-games. It seems that when I watch him, he has a lot of those. He'll get 20 points and 8 boards, but it's on 5 of 14 shooting or something. When Nash is not playing for the Suns, they can barely keep above water. And Nash hardly has any off-nights, because he could go the whole game without making a basket and still be the best player on the court. Dirk's defense is below average, for all the stats he puts up he's not a tough rebounder, and he still hasn't become a great playmaker. I guess I'm just amazed that he got this, when in my mind, there is no debate who the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player, is. It's Steve Nash. No questions asked. And it's pretty embarassing for him not to have gotten this award, regardless of whoever else it did actually go to.</div> Whoa! Slow down buddy, I don't want you to get outrageous here.
I don't know why what I said is outrageous, honestly. Yes, Kobe Bryant is the most dominant scorer in the league, probably of the decade. And Dirk is a fantastic player...he's just had some breakdowns at key moments in his career. But I absolutely think Nash is the best. As I said, he's the only player around right now who can win a game for his team without scoring a point. Who else can you say that about, honestly? Bill Russell, that's probably close to it. Is Nash the winner, on a championship level, that Russell was? No way. That's the only hole in Nash's armor - he hasn't won the big one. But clearly, the MVP award doesn't exactly go to the guy who wins...it goes to an individual best, most valuable player. Without Nash, the Suns are completely average. With him, they're about as good a team as any out there, and he is the maestro of the most exciting offense in the game today. I guess it's all up to your definitions of things, like should the award go to just the best player, or the guy who wins the most, or the guy who puts up the best numbers, or what have you. But to me, Nash is absolutely the guy who everything rides on for his team. More than Dirk, more than everyone but Kobe. Kobe has the built-in disadvantage now of playing with a supporting cast that...well, isn't going to win any awards. I won't argue with somebody who wants to say that Kobe is the better player than Nash, mostly because that's a fight that you really can't win with most people, but also because there's some truth to that. It's just a matter of the criteria you're talking about and the traits you use to define 'the best'. I think it's Nash, but I mean no disrespect to Kobe or Dirk or anyone else in saying that. He's just the guy I'd give it to if the decision was up to me.
<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think the biggest story line about this is that Dirk got the MVP despite his vanishing act in the playoffs...it's that Steve Nash didn't. Even if Dirk averaged 40 ppg in the playoffs, he does not deserve the MVP over Nash. The Mavs won while Dirk had off-games. It seems that when I watch him, he has a lot of those. He'll get 20 points and 8 boards, but it's on 5 of 14 shooting or something. When Nash is not playing for the Suns, they can barely keep above water. And Nash hardly has any off-nights, because he could go the whole game without making a basket and still be the best player on the court. Dirk's defense is below average, for all the stats he puts up he's not a tough rebounder, and he still hasn't become a great playmaker. I guess I'm just amazed that he got this, when in my mind, there is no debate who the best player in basketball, and the most valuable player, is. It's Steve Nash. No questions asked. And it's pretty embarassing for him not to have gotten this award, regardless of whoever else it did actually go to.</div> Nash really did deserve to win one this year and he got robbed. It's pretty funny Nash getting robbed of an MVP award.
<div class="quote_poster">Schaddy Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I don't know why what I said is outrageous, honestly. Yes, Kobe Bryant is the most dominant scorer in the league, probably of the decade. And Dirk is a fantastic player...he's just had some breakdowns at key moments in his career. But I absolutely think Nash is the best. As I said, he's the only player around right now who can win a game for his team without scoring a point. Who else can you say that about, honestly? Bill Russell, that's probably close to it. Is Nash the winner, on a championship level, that Russell was? No way. That's the only hole in Nash's armor - he hasn't won the big one. But clearly, the MVP award doesn't exactly go to the guy who wins...it goes to an individual best, most valuable player. Without Nash, the Suns are completely average. With him, they're about as good a team as any out there, and he is the maestro of the most exciting offense in the game today. I guess it's all up to your definitions of things, like should the award go to just the best player, or the guy who wins the most, or the guy who puts up the best numbers, or what have you. But to me, Nash is absolutely the guy who everything rides on for his team. More than Dirk, more than everyone but Kobe. Kobe has the built-in disadvantage now of playing with a supporting cast that...well, isn't going to win any awards. I won't argue with somebody who wants to say that Kobe is the better player than Nash, mostly because that's a fight that you really can't win with most people, but also because there's some truth to that. It's just a matter of the criteria you're talking about and the traits you use to define 'the best'. I think it's Nash, but I mean no disrespect to Kobe or Dirk or anyone else in saying that. He's just the guy I'd give it to if the decision was up to me.</div> Don't worry Schaddy, I get what you're trying to say. I respect Nash as well just not to the same "MVP" degree.
Oh well. I really don't think Dirk deserves the award over Nash, but I guess he will get it anyway. Plus, Nash already has 2 and is still in the hunt for a championship this year unlike the "other" MVP.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Also, Moses Malone won the MVP twice while his team endured 1st round exits. </div> true, but Moses deficates all over Dirk in everyway possible and I can guarantee you he wouldn't let a bunch of 6'7 guys contain him in a big series....
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">true, but Moses deficates all over Dirk in everyway possible and I can guarantee you he wouldn't let a bunch of 6'7 guys contain him in a big series....</div> Wasn't comparing the two. I was just making the point that the playoffs have absolutely nothing to do with the MVP award. If it did, Malone wouldn't deserve 2 of his 3 and Wes Unseld wouldn't deserve MVP. Nowitzki played terrible in the playoffs, but he still had a terrific season. Even Moses said that Dirk deserves the award: Link.
I think a big part of the problem was having such huge expectations. After they lost in the finals, Avery and the team set out to WIN this year or anything less is a failure - that kind of unreal expectations can be too much pressure for anyone to live up to. Every year you start again. Anybody who plays sports knows that when you expect to win, you are in trouble - all you can do is expect to try HARD to win. You should expect to play hard, but not EXPECT any outcomes. Avery or Dirk or Cuban or whoever it was that put these expectations on the team was wrong. There is such a thing as too much pressure, and clearly these guys were putting too much pressure on themselves. Golden State meanwhile, could have gotten blown out by 30ppg in a 4-game sweep and their season would have been a relative success. This to me this gap in pressure between the two teams is the real reason why Dallas went out and not because Dirk didn't "step up".
Okay, the award is for the regular season. So Nowitzki probably deserves it because it's hard to overlook the team which posted one of the best regular season records ever which the winning streaks they posted. And, as was said already, I believe they were thinking even harder about it when it is about giving somebody three straight MVPs. For that, Nash would have been a crystal-clear MVP this season which he wasn't.
