Derrick Rose is becoming what Stephon Marbury was supposed to be. And The Race apologizes if that seems like awfully faint praise for a player having a season as special as Rose's. Time was, though, Marbury was a budding, new-millennium prototype for scoring point guards in the NBA. He was teamed at the start with a superstar sidekick -- in Minnesota, with Kevin Garnett -- who was happy to let the Timberwolves' playmaker take and make the big shots. Even for several years after that, Marbury was one of only two players in NBA history averaging at least 20 points and eight assists through his career. The other? Oscar Robertson. Then came the unraveling, too disappointing and unsavory to recite in detail here. But Marbury spiraled downward individually and as a teammate. He appeared in only 10 playoff games from age 21 through 30. And the 14 he logged in 2009 were through the good graces, and on the coattails of, the Boston Celtics. Now he's over in China for a second stint, his NBA career over too soon, a cautionary tale as much as a success story. Starbury-crossed, one might say. Rose so far has been Marbury's mirror image: Similar in style on the basketball court, yet opposite in so many ways. Where Marbury was cocky, Rose is confident. In place of stubbornness, humility. Marbury envied and competed with teammates and only seemed happy if his name blazed on the marquee in lights bigger than the team's. Read more: http://www.nba.com/2010/news/features/12/31/race-to-mvp-week-10/index.html?ls=iref:nbahpt1
I wrote about this a few days ago in a different thread. He has to be considered if the Bulls have a top 4 record. Back then they were 7th or 8th best record. Now they're 6th.
He's right towards the top for me. I have a hard time including Lebron, given that he bailed on being "the man" and is playing with 2 other top 15 players. Wade is having as good a year as Lebron, IMO. I'd have to include Dwight Howard, Deron Williams, Dirk and Chris Paul in the equation as well.
Chris Paul is actually having a mediocre season. His numbers have really dropped as of late. Dirk's game is so limited on the defensive end and his numbers are not all that great either. I think that Denny is right that, if Rose sustains his play and doesn't get injured, it's all going to be about the Bulls' record. If they finish near or at the top of the Eastern Conference, it should be his.
Can't agree with you about Paul. He's currently leading the league in total steals, steals per game, assists and PER. He is playing 4 fewer minutes per game this year than last. On a per 36 minute basis he's better than last year in assists, rebounds and steals and is only 1/2 a point behind where he was last year. He's shooting a higher fg% and ft% as well. He's also currently leading the league in win shares. Also, for me, there is an importance to team component in the MVP equation. I think the Hornets would fall apart without Paul and they are a winning team in the West.
Ya, Paul has to be included in the discussion. Rose is having a hell of year so far! He deserves MVP discussion.
I think rose and paul are very similar regarding the team aspect cuz i think w/o either player, the respective team would be losing. Idk who'd be worse off tho. Them or us
I would only put Chris Paul in the MVP discussion if his team wins 48-50 games. I'm having a hard time believing they'll do that right now, tbh. And completely disagree about Dirk. He's probably been more valuable to his team than any other star in this league thus far. The talent drop-off after him is ridiculous. As it stands, i'd go 1. Lebron 2. Dirk 3. Rose but between all three, it's damn close.
Scary thing about Rose is he can still get significantly better. He could average 30pts and 13 assists with a few tweaks to his game. I wouldn't be surprised to see him do that in the first round of the playoffs. At this point his game is still evolving and he relies a lot on pure athleticism.
He honestly reminds me of a PG Lebron James in which he's just so physically/athletically dominating against everyone at his position. It's crazy.
when we drafted him, me and my friend said derrick rose and lebron are the same player, just different positions. only difference is lebron could play 4-5 if he ever took the time to post up and learn moves
Rose would have to be taking 26 FGA/game, every game, to average 30 pts. His assists would be up if he wasn't starting along side Bogans (and currently Thomas).
Okay, I'll step back from my argument about him having a worse season than he did last year, but I'm sticking to my guns about the MVP race. Paul would be a dramatic pick for a downtrodden franchise so I think he wins points there. But if he's leading the league in assists, he's only doing it at a 9.7 per game clip, and scoring fourteen points a game. That's not going to do it. Lebron, Dirk, Rose and Williams will probably get more votes.
No, he'd only need a shot or two more a game, and a better shooting and defensive 2 next to him. If he shoots 50% from the field that's 2 more points, and if he gets to the line 4 more times a game and hits 3 that's five points right there. Plus 2 from taking another two shots per game. And he can do that if he had a better defender/shooter next to him to knock down more shots and let him rest a little more on the defensive end. And that's a couple more assists per game. If the team really comes together and gets in sync, Rose could get 30 and 13 if he didn't get hurt.
I would put Derrick right at the top. I have a problem giving it to LeBron or Wade, just because of the fact that they're each playing with two other superstars, so that team was expected to be a great team. The Bulls were expected to be solid, but this good? I don't know about that. And especially the fact that they've only had 9 games all season with their full line up and have been lacking Boozer and now Noah for extended periods of time. Plus he's putting up fantastic numbers. It's hard to argue against him in my book.
Kukoc, I'd be careful with this weird position you're taking. Not only is LeBron playing like the Man, had he played in Cleveland this season he was projected at 29 PER by Hollinger. He's been playing at that level since the Cleveland Return game ironically, so he hasn't dropped off. You might want to consider a new Hobby for the next decade if you dislike Miami Heat Basketball. Yes Chris Paul has had the most consistent season, and LeBron "only" has the second most win shares this season. Damn what a terrible player he turned out to be in Miami. Although LeBron and the Heat are quickly stabilizing back to their true levels, and as you can see the Cavs are the worst supporting cast in the league. If anything leaving Cleveland was the smartest move yet in proving how much of an MVP he was. BTW I feel confident in saying LeBron will probably end up with the best stats again, on the best team in the league. But don't worry we don't need the MVP trophy. Magic won it over Jordan in his prime unfairly so whatever. It is a little popularity contest full of illogical people like you trying to take out personal vendettas. Looking at it objectively Chris Paul for me, then LeBron. The Heat just started out slow, but I don't mind giving Dirk the MVP or, insert random name from the team that Heat haters approve of. He probably needs to draw more free throws if he wants to join that next level. Or become much more efficient somehow, ala Chris Paul.
I'm glad you agree about Chris Paul. Hey, who is 2nd in PER and 3rd in Win Shares? Oh yah, that's the guy Lebron decided he needed to flee to in order to win something. That's cool. Miami is one hell of a team. Its just hard to argue that Lebron should be the MVP of the league when its not clear he's the MVP of his team.
Hmm who's 1st in PER Value Added, 1st in PER Expected wins added, 2nd in win shares, 2nd in WS/48, and better than Wade in all those categories? Oh right that half decent guy I mentioned. Yeah thanks for bringing up Hollinger, he told me you're ignorant. http://insider.espn.go.com/nba/holl...pn.go.com/nba/hollinger/statistics?sort=VORPe LeBron has better stats. Equal PER on less minutes per game means you're inferior. It is the reason Wade has never had more win shares than Kobe in a single season. Well I said CP3 was the MVP, but I've been observing his statistical lead all season and it is quickly narrowing. Applying age curves I feel comfortable in saying LeBron probably ends with most Win Shares. He's been better against elite defenses too, and he's 3 years younger so like I said get a new hobby. You won't be enjoying this game much. The Cavs have already proven to be the worst team in the NBA, everything else you've said about Chris Paul meaning so much pales in comparison, although I have no problem with not winning a political award. Yeah I hear the NFL is real fun if you want to watch a new sport, tennis isn't that bad either. That might be too european for you though, or elitist.
