Will Nash Repeat As M.V.P?

Well let's see. I'm Canadian, I'm not over six-feet, I'm hungry for any positive association between north-of-the-border and good basketball, and I've always felt the point guard position has been undervalued in the pro game.

So no, I don't think Nash will repeat as the leagues MVP.

With parity at an all-time high in the pro game, it's no wonder there are so many worthy candidates this year. Eyeballing the top dozen contestants, we come up with the following individuals, and count down to our chosen one:

(12) Gilbert Arenas, Washington. There's been a lot of talk about point guards leading teams to surprising transformations, but has there been any greater transformation than the Wizards 25-win performance last year to making the second round of the playoffs this year?! No, my friend, there has not been. Gilbert was astonishingly good this year, probably the best second-round pick in the history of the NBA. He elevated the level of play of those around him, and was equally good at finding his own shot. He's got a bizarre temperament, and Larry Hughes was arguably just as good, but he deserves some serious praise if not the ultimate hardware.

(11) Lebron James, Cleveland. Lebron is not really part of the elite until he does well in the playoffs this year hoping they would make it. Well, I don't know if anyone noticed, but here are a few fun facts: Third in the league in scoring. Seventh in assists. Turnovers went down from last year. So did fouls. Third in steals. Either considered the forward with the most assists or the guard with the most rebounds, you decide. Despite disappointing finish, still led a team that found 18 minutes per night for Tractor Traylor to winning record. 20 years old. MVP coming up.

(10) Dyane Wade, Miami. I first saw Michael when he was playing for North Carolinaoops, my bad, wrong player assessment. Man is this guy legit. So awesome. Shaq goes down? No matter, Wade puts on the cape and wins games by 30 on his own. I think if Miami had traded away Lamar, Caron and company for ZERO in return...this team would still have made the playoffs. Dude is that good. He's just a shade away from being compared to arguably the best basketball player in the league in Kobe Bryant and a frontrunner for the M.V.P award, but I'm guessing he'll be happy settling for the finals MVP this year.

(9) Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas. Fourth in the league in scoring, and actually improving a team that lost this year's MVP, a lot of consideration has to be given to the big German. So many facets to his game, Dirk is always fun to watch and always plays hard. But I don't think he's quite at the MVP level. Many critics feel he shouldered an enormous load, as he outdistanced the next best scorer on his team by more than 10 ppg, but let's put everything in perspective. There were EIGHT guys on the team who average over 9 ppg, seven of them in double-figures. This team was the deepest Mavs team since Fat Lever played the backcourt. Love the big man, but he doesn't win enough games on his own steam.

(8) Tracy McGrady, Houston. I really thought he'd do better. For a guy with top-3 ability, he wont have a great year with the addition of Stomile Swift. It took the Rockets three months until they started building a more appropriate supporting cast around their top dog, but the team has more work to do. McGrady's scoring was off but he did demonstrate the all-around game that has coaches on every opposing team scratching their heads, with roughly 6 boards and 6 dishes per contest. McGrady must make better use of his 1-2 punch if he's going to claim the award.
(7) Allen Iverson, Philadelphia. Hard to ask the little guy to do any more. Not only does he lead the league in scoring, averaging nearly 31 per game, 3 points more than his nearest competition (eh-hem, wake up Kobe), but he averaged a whopping 8 dishes per contest. Those numbers are ill. Chris Webber came to town, but the two couldn't quite find a way to play together, largely due to Webber's injury-diminished game. A.I. is one of the most exciting players in the league, and can thoroughly dominate in a way few can because he handles the ball for almost the entire 48-minutes. If he ever finds a way to compliment a potent big man and his team soars past the 50-win level, the trophy will be his.

(6) Amaze Stoudemire, Phoenix. Shaq Who? Amare will have a breakout season once again. Even though he wont see a championship until 2007 when he joins Kobe Bryant for their quest to another championship.

(5) Ray Allen, Seattle. The surprise team of the West, nobody saw this coming. Allen led this team of misfits and to a division championship. Ray was in a contract year, so there's always a little eyebrow-raising as to whether this is a one-year reprise, but hey, we're only judging on the one year here. As good as it was it was the team that surged to elite heights more than their best player and his 24 PPG. He is good, but not MVP good.



(4) Kevin Garnett, Minnesota. Despite a jaw-dropping descent from conference-favorite to lottery contestant, he still played with pride and ferocity as his supporting cast melted into the scenery. 22.2 points per game, a league-leading 13.5 rebounds per game, a big man-leading 5.7 assists per game and over 100 blocks and steals are fantastic numbers. But basketball is a game where one great player can raise the game and win total of an entire squad, and KG did not accomplish that. Expect him to demand a trade to the LA Fakers after this season.

(3) Tim Duncan, San Antonio. Always a popular choice, the Spurs' primary horse is as good as they get. He's already led two squads to the Promised Land and nobody would be surprised if he took a third with the addition of Finley. But his numbers, though potent, were decidedly down. He only played 33 minutes per game, by far the lowest of the MVP contenders, missed 16 games due to overwork in the summer, and saw his numbers across the board fall off, including his notoriously solid field goal percentage which slipped below 50% for the first time in five years. His scoring and rebounding were the lowest of his career. Though San Antonio was impressive in winning the lone division in basketball to boast four playoff attendees, a ton of credit needs to go to Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker, both of whom have taken their games to new levels. Not this year TD.

(2) Steve Nash, Phoenix. The classiest superstar in the game. Humble to a fault. Deserves all the praise he's getting as he took a lack-luster, underperforming team to the one of the biggest turnarounds in team sports history. Reminded Amare that he's the next Shaq. Reminded fans that skilled, fast-paced ball could still win out. Easily led league in passing and shot over 50%, a totally incredible number considering he hoisted more than 200 threes. The best floor general in the game, a guy who elevates his play and those around him when the pressure is on. Very happy he won MVP...but I dont think he will repeat.

(1) Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers. Just like the twelve years Michael Jordan was the best player in the game and didn't win the MVP, so goes life for Kobe Bryant. He's the best. Kobe Bryant, the best basketball player in the world is smashed into the ropes. And like every fabled American hero, this one is getting up. He's getting up soon. And he's going to lay a beat down on his opponents that will inspire even the most scornful of distracters. Dump all you want on the man and his actions the talent is real. Kobe is going to win the M.V.P! Now that the Zen Master Phil Jackson is back I hope the Lakers become on of the Elite in the west and Kobe wins a championship just to prove those doubters.

(Note: With Shaq not winning the M.V.P last season, I dont think he wants to win the M.V.P anymore. Shaq is slowing down every year. Shaq has more to prove than Kobe. New city, making all sorts of proclamations, dying to prove to the world he's still the best in the game. What ever. It's Kobe who has everything to prove. Shaq is already credited as the main reason for the three-peat in LaLaLand. Those will always be Shaq-led teams in the history books. Shaq failed to win a championship in Miami and it was chalked up to age and injury. And Yet Nobody will question his heart or his character. But I sure as hell do.

 

Kobe...MVP??? No. It will be between Shaq and Garnett.

 

I'm not too sure about Kobe being MVP. I have faith the Lakers will make the playoffs as a 6, 7, or 8 seed, but usually the MVP's team has the top record in the conference or league (if not, one the top records). Statistically, I think he'll have the best season along with Lebron, but i'm not sure that will be enough for him to get the MVP.

 

tracy mcgrady should be top 5
rockets are expexted to have a monster year and if they go deep into playoffs it might happen

 

That was a great list of players with great analysis....Though I was disappointed to see that the ONLY biased opinion you wrote was about Kobe Bryant. Your other analysis's were factual, thought out and you proved your points...the one on Kobe was just your opinion and venting lol.

I wouldn't have put Gilbert on that list...I can't beleive u left out Shaq and put Gilbert instead. I don't even like Shaq and I recognize that as long as he steps on the floor he'll be considered for MVP.

Im a huge Kobe fan but there are so many things working against Kobe and a quest for MVP- here's what he'd have to do:

Drop 25 pts, 8 asts, 7 rebs a night while leading the Lakers to 49 + wins, and at least the 6th seed in the west.

Turn Kwame Brown into a most improved player of the year candidate while improving L.O. into a 20 & 10 player.

Become playful and VERY cooperative with reporters all year long in an effort to make the all-interview team.

Consistently joke, laugh and high five fans at Staples Center while signing autographs for the fans on the road, despite being booed during pre-game introductions.

Make news off the court through charities and good citenzenship.

Kiss his wife and daughter every single second he gets during home games for everyone to see.

Do everything he can in his advertising campaigns and pray his shoe sells well.

*As you can see Kobe's quest for MVP has a lot more to do with image than it does basketball. The NBA is still wary of fans reception of him, and are not going to give him the MVP unless they see that his fan base grows...drastically. Kobe and MVP is more about politics and marketing (for the L) than it is about stats, both individual and team.

Shaq isn't winning the MVP unless he leads the Heat into the playoffs with homecourt advantage throughout resulting from a 63+ wins record. He will have to average 25 and 12 a night to steal the credit for this feat from Dwayne Wade.

Either way- its probable that neither of these former Dynamic Duo will be bringing home the hard ware. In my opinion Kobe could win it in 2 years, while Shaq will never win it again.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">tracy mcgrady should be top 5
rockets are expexted to have a monster year and if they go deep into playoffs it might happen</div>

MVP award is decided before playoffs begin, so his teams playoff performance would and could not be considered. Tho i do agree they are going to the WCF

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting STAT5:</div><div class="quote_post">Note: With Shaq not winning the M.V.P last season, I don?t think he wants to win the M.V.P anymore. Shaq is slowing down every year. Shaq has more to prove than Kobe. New city, making all sorts of proclamations, dying to prove to the world he's still the best in the game. What ever. It's Kobe who has everything to prove. Shaq is already credited as the main reason for the three-peat in LaLaLand. Those will always be Shaq-led teams in the history books. Shaq failed to win a championship in Miami and it was chalked up to age and injury. And Yet Nobody will question his heart or his character. But I sure as hell do.</div>

Amen to that brothah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

This is the rule for MVP: Team Success

It doesn't matter how much you do one your own, Tmac put up 32-7-5 or whatever it was, but was an 8th seed. It's all about team sucesss. I don't think you have to have back to back good seasons, but you have to be a Top 3 Seed record wise in your conference. The Lakers will not be that, they just don't have the talent, a team like Phoenix had the talent, but just had holes in their roster.

Nash is not likely to be a Top 2 candidate. 1) Amare is taking the spotlight, 2) Their's no element of surprise anymore, 3) The underdog thing won't really be a factor this coming season, 4) The Suns aren't as good a team as they were last season as of now.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's all about team sucesss.</div>

It's not ALL about team success. Individual impact plays a major role. A.I finished #4 or was it #5 in last season MVP voting and his team only won 43 games and finished a mere 7th seed in the Playoff race. While players like Ray Allen and Amare Stoudemire had some individual success but most importantly they're team did great but yet A.I was above them as far as MVP goes mainly because of his individual success. The way I see the individual impact plays as much of a role as team success unless if you?re someone like Shaq which in his case seems mandatory that he should be a MVP candidate no matter what he does.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">That was a great list of players with great analysis....Though I was disappointed to see that the ONLY biased opinion you wrote was about Kobe Bryant. Your other analysis's were factual, thought out and you proved your points...the one on Kobe was just your opinion and venting lol.</div>

Exactly. I would like to see how the rankings would really turn out if you were factual and not bias about Kobe.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's not ALL about team success. Individual impact plays a major role. A.I finished #4 or was it #5 in last season MVP voting and his team only won 43 games and finished a mere 7th seed in the Playoff race. While players like Ray Allen and Amare Stoudemire had some individual success but most importantly they're team did great but yet A.I was above them as far as MVP goes mainly because of his individual success. The way I see the individual impact plays as much of a role as team success unless if you?re someone like Shaq which in his case seems mandatory that he should be a MVP candidate no matter what he does. </div>
I'll say it again, winning MVP is all about team success. Their's a good amount of players that can put up good individual numbers, so that's not the case. I'm not talking about being runner-up, who cares about the runner-up's. Go through the past whatever years, and the MVP has had a Top 2-3 team record wise in his conference. When AI won his MVP, Philly was #1 in the East.

Last year also showed it, many could argue that Nash wasn't even the "best" player on his team, and his individual numbers were not anything super. If Phoenix won 52 games, do you think Nash would've even been considered highly for MVP? No, not really.

I'm not saying if Detroit is 1st one of their guys will win MVP, I mean out of the Top individual performers [that should've been a given], the winner is determined by team sucess.

 

Shaq won't win because he will be sharing points with his newly aquired talent who also demand the ball. It would be possible for Shaq to get MVP if Walker wasn't there, but I don't think he will get it this year.
Kobe has the best chance of the two to get it, actually a very good chance over all the candidates. It will be harder for Steve Nash to get it, because he will have to prove more than he did last year. If Kobe racks up a double double a night, creates good chemstry, helps his team bloom, and get along with Phil Jackson off and on the court, and make the playoffs, then he can easily get it. If Kobe knows that it's possible to get MVP, then he will work hard to get it. He is the NBA's hardest worker who always wants to improve. And if he is after the MVP, then he will work his ass off to get it.

 

If Heat win 60-62 games even If Shaq only average 22 and 10 he will get the MVP award. One may argue If he played the last few games and the Heat ended up winning 60+ games he would of got It. The MVP award will go to the guy who has most of the wins and has the stats + the impact.

As long as Tim Duncan is healthly he should win the MVP award. If he plays in over 70 games the Spurs should win at least 60-62 games which should give him the advantage. Playing in the a tougher and deeper conference would likely give him the nodd over Shaq.

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe has the best chance of the two to get it, actually a very good chance over all the candidates</div>

Please take off the homer glasses. Kobe even If he averages a triple double would not get the MVP award unless the Lakers were part of the elite. Which we all know won't happen as the Lakers aren't really close to competing at that level.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">If Heat win 60-62 games even If Shaq only average 22 and 10 he will get the MVP award. One may argue If he played the last few games and the Heat ended up winning 60+ games he would of got It. The MVP award will go to the guy who has most of the wins and has the stats + the impact.</div>

Shaq won't get it if they have a perfect record. Fact is that Wade plays a hell of a lot better than Shaq. Wade gets people open looks and he is a monster in the inside. Heck, Wade has a better chance than Shaq, because Shaq is unrelyable. You don't know when his poor little toe is going to act up again.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting YourNewChef:</div><div class="quote_post">Shaq won't get it if they have a perfect record. Fact is that Wade plays a hell of a lot better than Shaq. Wade gets people open looks and he is a monster in the inside. Heck, Wade has a better chance than Shaq, because Shaq is unrelyable. You don't know when his poor little toe is going to act up again.</div>

Stop being so bitter. Shaq opens things up for everyone else. His impact is bigger than Wade's and If you can't see that then there is no real hope for you. Saying you can't depend on Shaq is pure garbage.

 

PJ Brown will win it,he got one vote last year so why not? (Im kidding)

 

One thing that could work in Kobe's favor is 'the element of surprise'. Meaning if LA can get a 6th seed with 45-50 wins, he would have a great chance, seeing as how it would be a surprise to the rest of the league (except for Laker fans I guess).

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Saying you can't depend on Shaq is pure garbage</div>

Not true. I'll admit that Shaq, though declining, is still scary as hell, and demands constant attention from 2 or more players. He can still pass, still motivate, and still throw it down. One thing he isn't however- is reliable. It's not his fault, but he hasn't been healthy in years, last year throughout the entire playoffs. Shaq did his part, but the reason the Heat got as far as they did is because of Dwayne Wade. Much like Kobe used to do finishing games. Has anyone noticed a slight pattern here? Shaq sets his team up for success, but can't push them all the way- and he's always bailed out by some young electric gaurd....

 

Agreed that team record is the biggest factor. If your team has the best record and you're the teams best offensive player, you are a legit MVP candidate.

It's pretty early to speculate. Can you imagine predicting Nash from a year ago? Wow would people have laughed at you. Top candidates in no particular order. Personally :

1. Wade - even if Miami goes nuts and beats everyone, Shaq will probably average 15 and 8. Those aren't MVP numbers. So Wade is the candidate from the Heat.

2. Bibby - yeah, i know it is "out there" but so is Gilbert Arenas, I mean Gilbert Arenas?? - anyway I see Sacramento going on a tear and winning a Lot. Man to man they have even more offensive talent than Miami. People forget that Bibby is a Sick point guard. They are the deepest team by far from what i can tell, just look at their entire roster it's ridiculous. Between Shareef and Brad Miller Bibby will find either one or shoot himself. If they don't finish in the top 4 in the west then it's their own fault.

3. Stoudemire OR Nash - Q-Rich for Kurt Thomas was a GREAT trade for Phoenix will be as dangerous or more so next year. No one has an answer for Nash's unorthodox playmaking and no one can stop Amare either. To add Kurt Thomas down there and they've still got Marion on the wing? Another 60-win season is likely. So Stoudemire and Nash are contenders.

4. Dirk has a real shot. It's truly his team now and Avery has confidence in him. They are going to win games, no question. Plus he seems like he's exceptionally driven. His people skills aren't the greatest but if the guys work with him and not resent him they could go on a tear. 50+.

5. Kobe has a REally good shot. No one puts them higher than 6-8 in the west? Teams can change fast, look at Phoenix. They added Nash. LA added Phil Jackson, who knows a thing or two about winning AND taking a talented individual and turning him into a superstar (e.g. Kwame). It's conceivable that L.A. could be top 4 in the west during the regular season. I can easily see them coming out with a better record than Houston, Denver or Minnesota.

6. Kevin Garnett will be a strong candidate, for being as driven as Dirk is.

7. Of course Tim Duncan. You have to wonder how hungry the Spurs are though compared to other teams that haven't been there.

OKAY given what Nash did last year I have to throw in a FREAK one for the heck of it:

Emeka

As far as omissions, I think Houston will be the same underachieving team with no cohesiveness. And Lebron's team just don't know how to stop people.
So Tmac and mr. sprite ain't gonna get it next year.