My bias wants to give it to Phil. He's beaten the other top 2 teams in the NBA twice and has led the Lakers to the best record in the NBA at All Star Break, despite battling through some key injuries (Farmar and Bynum in particular). However, I have a hunch it'll go to Mike Brown.
Pops has done a marvelous job this year. He kept the team afloat, despite injuries to Manu and Parker to begin the year.
If Cleveland gets it, the award should go to LBJ. I don't think Mike Brown is that great of a coach. I'd look at a team like Portland. Their turn around has been very nice and for being such a young team, they are playing very well.
I don't think Portland is that much of a surprise. I would say most people had them pegged as a playoff team this year anyways, especially after how surprising they were last year.
I wouldn't even say LeBron is the clear-cut MVP anymore. Depending on how the Lakers do without Bynum, Kobe could easily win his 2nd straight MVP.
Gasol has been the guy who has stepped it up in Bynum's absence though, while Odom has picked up the slack on the boards in a big way. Who do the Cavs have that is comparable to Pau?
No one, though Mo Williams has been a great sidekick to LeBron. The Cavs haven't exactly played a tough schedule though either, and they also don't have a signature road win. The Lakers got 2 of those last week, both without Bynum. I think to discredit what Bryant has done since Bynum has gone down is nuts. He's averaging something in the line of 33ppg, and while Pau and Odom have been great, Kobe has been an enormous part, shouldering a good chunk of the added offensive load.
I'm not discrediting what Kobe has done, but he's going to have to do a hell of a lot to overcome LeBron between now and June, and I don't think it will happen.
