http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/...6100.xml&coll=2Very good article. I still have Nash over him slightly, and about tied with Kobe. I want to see what he can do in final 8 games or so. IMO, Dirk has dissapeared in past month or so, Chauncey's Pistons have slowed down greatly, and that leaves Nash, Kobe, and Bron. Nash has slowed down a lot, but that is excusable considering how Amare shook things up, emotionally and physically. Stat wise, Kobe, Bron and Nash are all tops IMO.What it will come down to ultimately is how they finish the final 8 games, and if any of them can really do amazing things, as people forget beginning of seasons and are strongly influenced by last month or so of season.
Chauncey's Pistons have slowed down greatly? They've won 6 in a row, including 9-1 in their last 10 games. Believe me, Billups is still a candidate. There's always a time where a MVP candidate goes through a slump with their team. And those players have all gone through it, yet they are still mentioned as MVP candidates.
Well, compared to when everyone said they were gonna win 70, they have slowed down. But yeah, I don't think Chauncey should be mentioned as highly rated as Nash, bron or Kobe.
I didnt think they were going to win 70. But yeah, those are the primary choices for MVP. Personally, I think its just between LeBron and Nash. Kobe has been great, the 81, the 62, the consecutive streak of 45+ pt games and all the carrying he had to do with the Lakers. But, keep in mind, that Lakers are only 4 games above .500, while LeBron's team is 15 games over .500, and Nash's team is 24 games above .500. You could obviously make a case and say:"Well, Kobe's team is much more different than Nash's or Lebron's team, in terms of talent. Kobe has much more less talent on his roster."But if you really think about it, LeBron's team has been up and down this year with streaks. Injuries have also killed them (Hughes). Hughes was signed mainly for the Cavs to give LeBron some rest, and not have him take up all of the scoring load. It hasn't happened. Hughes has been out for 45 games this year, and other aquisitions Marshall and Jones are having career-worst years in terms of 3pt shooting that the Cavs struggle in. Thing is, LeBron had to carry his franchise just as much as Kobe has to carry the Lakers. Nash has good teamates. But the only reason they're playing well is because Nash has made them play better. He's a pass-first point guard. He simply just makes his teamates play better than they ever have. Who the hell knew about Eddie House, Boris Diaw, James Jones, Leandro Barbosa, and Raja Bell? Mostly all of them are having their best years. Shawn Marion is also an MVP candidate. Why? Because of Nash. You also have to throw in the fact that Nash has only played with Amare Stoudemire for 3 games. While Amare is trying to get back in uniform for next season, Nash is performing all this wizardry out on the court. Also, Quentin Richardson who played with PHX last year, averaged 15 PPG. Now, he's wishing he never got traded to the Knicks. One of his worst career years, 8.2 ppg. :thumbdn1: The MVP award is about how your presence changes your team in a positive way, and its not about self-performance. That's why I think Kobe isnt going to be MVP.
Great post, Zards. I do feel everyone has to give Kobe his props. He is breaking so many records. By season's end, he will be on top 10 all time list for most PPG for a season, most straight 45 point games since I believe MJ, most 40 point games in LA history, the 62 in 3 quarters, 2nd most points scored in NBA history, etc....As I said before, the next 8 games could possibly be the decider for each of these players.
I'm definitely going to give Kobe props. In fact, I dont hate him at all, he's one of my favorite players. What he's doing out on the court, scoring-wise, is amazing. He's also only 27 and he's accomplishing all of these great tasks. I agree with your point about the remaining games important for each of these candidates. This is time where all players have to truly point out that they should be MVP, and all of them have proven just that. Thanks for the compliment. :biggrin:
All kobe needs to do is to score like 80 or even 100 again and he wins the mvp. It might sound like a huge feat but i think he still isn't finished in the scoring department.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Clutch_Melo_061 @ Apr 7 2006, 08:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>All kobe needs to do is to score like 80 or even 100 again and he wins the mvp. It might sound like a huge feat but i think he still isn't finished in the scoring department.</div>Again you scare me. Kobe scoring 81 points was a once in a lifetime thing, and I promisie you if Kobe gets 70 again in his career I will literally eat my own <Censored>."All Kobe needs to do is score 80 or 100 again..."What the hell man?
You think it's a one in a lifetime chance? That's what happened when he scored 62 in 3 and everyone was saying he'd never do that again.We will wait and see...
I could see Kobe dropping 70 again, but not again this year. He and Phil have both said he is starting to lose hise legs, and he doesn;t look as fresh as early ins eason. But this thread is about Bron!
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Apr 7 2006, 09:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>http://www.cleveland.com/cavs/plaindealer/...6100.xml&coll=2Very good article. I still have Nash over him slightly, and about tied with Kobe. I want to see what he can do in final 8 games or so. IMO, Dirk has dissapeared in past month or so, Chauncey's Pistons have slowed down greatly, and that leaves Nash, Kobe, and Bron. Nash has slowed down a lot, but that is excusable considering how Amare shook things up, emotionally and physically. Stat wise, Kobe, Bron and Nash are all tops IMO.What it will come down to ultimately is how they finish the final 8 games, and if any of them can really do amazing things, as people forget beginning of seasons and are strongly influenced by last month or so of season.</div> How did Amare shake things up 'emotionally and physically'....
Well, just look at the record. In past 10 games, they have been consumed by rumors of Amare, and his actual return. They are 4-6 in last 10 games. In the 3 games Amare played, they were 1-2, one of those game sincluded the Suns worst game since Nash arrived. First they think he is coming back and they change offense to center a little more around him and the post players. Then he arrives, is a bust, and takes a break. They do not know if he would return, so everything is a little messed up. Now they find out he isn't coming back, and they have to re-shuffle again. This is the time of season teams are supposed to fine tune everything, not be in such uncertainty.
Your making too big a deal over it, they have played the whole year without him. Every team goes through spurts, Kurt Thomas is out...etc...Saying they are emotionally and mentally shaken is being overly dramatic. It's basketball, not a Dr. Phil session.
Yes, basketball. They had to reshuffle their whole offensive scheme because of Amare, and fret over whether he is returning or not. However you look at it, the Suns are entering the playoffs the opposite of how they want to enter the playoffs.
Dirk has dissapeared...lol.Man you want everyone to give Lebron his props, which he deserves, but then want to bring down Dirk, like he doesn't deserve his.I'll say this, the ballot will end up looking like this:1. Nash2. Dirk3. KobeWith Chancy, Lebron, and Wade close behind.
I am not trying to bring down Dirk, but his end of the season hasn't been up to par with Kobe or Bron's last few eeeks. And if you have been following all the latest articles, from ESPN to yahoo.com to NBA.com, you will see because of Bron's last month, his MVP candicy has greatly increased.
It has increased, I've never said he isn't in the discussion, but it took these last few weeks to even put him in the discussion.That's my point.Guys like Nash, Dirk, Chauncy, and even Kobe, have been in the discussion all year, Lebron just now got in there.I'm not bringin Lebron down, he has a very good arguement, but no better tha Dirk or Kobe, and definately not as good as Nash.Just my opinion.
I feel Nash is MVP myself, but I feel Bron is close 2nd, tied with Kobe. The past few weeks just gave him the extra push for MVP and opened people's eyes, similar to Kobe's 81. Bron has been averaging 31/7/7 on 48% shooting all year, though. Just took an above average month for him to get noticed more.
See we agree on Nash, but I beleive Dirk is in that mix at second, if not 2nd by himself, with Kobe and Bron closely after that.But we'll never agree on that.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Marvinmartian @ Apr 7 2006, 10:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>It has increased, I've never said he isn't in the discussion, but it took these last few weeks to even put him in the discussion.That's my point.Guys like Nash, Dirk, Chauncy, and even Kobe, have been in the discussion all year, Lebron just now got in there.I'm not bringin Lebron down, he has a very good arguement, but no better tha Dirk or Kobe, and definately not as good as Nash.Just my opinion.</div>Come on. LeBron has been talked about as an MVP since almost day 1. Billups was the early favorite, but Nash has past him. But Lebron has been in the mix. I don't think he should win.I think it is 1. Nash and 2. Kobe. Then the rest are all way behind.Nash has made questionable role players, yes questionable role players, very good players. Diaw? Bell? These are two guys no one really wanted or thought could be huge difference makers.Kobe has carried talentless team to a pretty good record for 1 man. I'm probably more of a Kobe hater then anything else, but I have to give the man his due for his play this year. Dirk can play, but he isn't a better candidate then those 2 by any margin. And I could argue a few others that are equal or better than Dirk as a candidate.
