Over the past week, the talking heads of sports journalism have debated over who deserved the 2006 NBA MVP award in the newspapers, on the radio and all over the internet. The MVP controversy even appeared at the NFL Draft this past Saturday when former USC running back LenDale White donned a Chauncey Billups tee-shirt with the phrase "got robbed" scripted on the chest.
While some defend thedecision to give Phoenix guard Steve Nash his second straight award, fans and analysts continue to lobby for the likes of Kobe Bryant, Dirk Nowitzki, LeBron James and White's cousin, Billups.
Why Nash deserved the MVP: Behind 18.8 points, and 10.5 assists per game, Nash’s numbers topped even that of Chauncey Billups. With injuries to superstar teammates, Nash helped dictate the tempo of the Sun’s games in a teammate- friendly, pass-first based offense. He improved his stats from last season, when he also won the MVP award.
Why Nash didn’t deserve the MVP: Based on pure stats, Nash may not be the quintessential league MVP- he’s probably closer to third banana. While he edged out Billups by the narrowest of margins in points and assists, he couldn’t touch Billups or his three point swagger. In April Billups destroyed Nash for 35 points and five assists, and four rebounds. That same day, Nash only mustered 13 points. Nash also averaged 17 points less per game than Kobe while only tallying six more assists per game. His six more assists per game would all have been needed to be converted in the form of three pointers for his offensive output to surpass that of Kobe’s.
Why Billups deserved the MVP: Unlike his hair, his points per game (18.5) and assists (8.6) stacked up pretty well against Nash. His on court leadership and three point prowess helped the Pistons become invincible at certain points of the season. In a game earlier this spring, Billups scored 11 points in a little over a minute to secure a come from behind win against the Grizzlies. It wasn’t always pretty jumpers and fancy passes, but it was always consistent through the lane, from the line and behind the arc. His 4.1 assists to turnover ratio is probably the most telling stat of all.
Why Billups didn’t deserve the MVP:His offensive numbers were even further away from Kobe’s than Nash’s and even though his division was deeply talented, the rest of the Eastern Conference was not. Much of Billups’s success can be attributed to his four starting teammates who are arguably better than any supporting cast on any other team. Reliable back up guards also made it possible for Billups to get the rest he needed, so he could shine in crunch time. Kobe, Dirk, Nash and LeBron did not share that luxury.
Why Kobe deserved the MVP: He took an irregular cast of underachieving characters and turned them into a 45 win team. In case you missed it he averaged 35 points a game and earned his second straight scoring title. He also dropped 81 points on the Toronto Raptors. Some people label him as a ball hog but he also averaged 4.5 assists per game, the second most on the Lakers. Besides, what is he supposed to do, roll over and let his team lose to the bottom feeding Raptors?
Why Kobe didn’t deserve to win the MVP: He had no viable options around him which raised his scoring output and made his offensive accomplishments look much better. He got suspended for a few games mid-season which translated into two losses for the Lakers. MVP’s don’t do that.
Why Dirk deserved to win the MVP: Although there really aren’t stats to show it, his defense drastically improved while his offensive stats stayed in place. Even with a long, awkward last name, Dirk averaged over 26 points and nine rebounds per game – the most rebounds of the bunch. His offensive output topped that of Nash and Billups even among a starting five that all averaged over 10 points per game.
Why Dirk didn’t deserve to win the MVP: His offensive counterparts were arguably as productive as the Pistons starters at some points. In terms of points per player, Dirk’s next five options were better scorers than that of Billups. His 2.8 assists per game, were nothing to write home about.
Why LeBron deserved to win the MVP: In terms of individual impact, nobody has had a greater affect on his teammates than King James. His overall athletic ability cannot be rivaled by Dirk, Nash or Billups. His 31.4 points, seven rebounds and six assists per game gives him the second best complete stat line of the bunch. More importantly, his team probably wouldn’t be in the playoffs without him. The same cannot be said about Dirk, Nash and Billups.
Why LeBron didn’t deserve to win the MVP: His assist to turnover ratio is only half that of Billups, and his teammates lent a strong helping hand when it comes to scoring. The clutch factor was also not in the King’s favor this season. According to 82games.com, LeBron was 3 for 17 on game winning shots this season, well below some of the league leaders like Carmello Anthony.
As you can see, a case can be made, or not made, for any one of the five best NBA players of the 2005-2006 season. No certain player excelled in every category and no certain player wasn’t the best in a unique way. Since they each brought a different style of play into a different team environment the only way to truly judge the league MVP, would be to pull a switch-a-roo, but obviously that will never happen. The talking heads of sports journalism can argue until they are blue in the face, but as far as far as Dirk, LeBron, Nash, Billups and, Kobe go, there was no clear cut winner or loser.
Jon Gunnells is a journalism junior at Michigan State University who thinks Kobe should have gotten the nod for the MVP award just because his nickname is Mamba. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu
Welcome to the Gunn Show version 2.0 where CCW'S are always free
Overwhelming amounts of NBA playoff talk makes me hungry. So it should be understandable that I’m thinking about fast food at this critical first round juncture. The more I think about fast food and NBA teams, the more similarities I uncover.
Take the Chicago Bulls and McDonald’s for Example:
The year is 1991; if you don’t like the Bulls and you don’t like McDonald’s your basically dead to the world. Still, 15 years later, the Bulls and McDonald’s go together like lamb and tuna fish. Just like McDonald’s, the Bulls have their moments. They’ve got the old favorites- the nuggets, the Big Mac, the Fillet-O-Fish, but once you get deeper on the menu, and or depth chart, things change. Whereas you once thought the Dollar Menu McChicken was a formidable front office move, you also thought the Erik Piatkowski acquisition was something to write home about. Then all of a sudden, three bites into your bargain bin poultry you say, “Hey, I just gnawed into a chicken tendon, this is almost as disgusting as saving a roster spot for an eleven year veteran out of Nebraska.”
I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking Gunnells, you’re crazy. Piatkowski owns just about every record involving the three ball and the Los Angeles Clippers. But that my friend is when you get yourself in trouble. That’s the time you go back to McDonald’s and order the McChicken, only to be foiled once more by a grade-D slab of hen. If I haven’t already confused you, I’m going to use the Clippers as a segue to my next comparison
The New York Knicks and Long John Silvers
I don’t make this comparison because Long John Silver’s and the New York Knicks are the worse fast food restaurant and basketball team this decade. I make this comparison because a fish stick could manage to build a better organization in New York than Isaiah Thomas.
The Los Angeles Clippers and Sonic Burger
Sonic Burger and the Clippers use the term good as loosely as possible. I see these Sonic Burger commercials up here in the original love glove, but never, excluding my trip to St. Louis for the Final Four, have I seen a Sonic Burger. Sonic Burger, which is heralded as not being just good, but being “Sonic Good.” Was so mediocre in fact, when I drove by after the Louisville-Illinois blowout, the eatery was closed. Similarly, the Clippers version of good involves getting the sixth best record in the Western Conference. Congratulations Clipps you’ve reached Detroit Pistons status circa 1998.
The Detroit Pistons and Wendy’s
I’ve always enjoyed a nice, tall, cold, and frosty. On it’s own it’s good, but by no means an All-Star like a Whopper or a Big Montana. But, when you put the frosty next to a Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger, a side salad, and two- five piece chicken assortments, you’ve got yourselves a starting five about as impressive as the boys in blue.
PG- Chauncey Billups- Jr. Bacon Cheeseburger; the heart of the meal
SG- Rip Hamilton- side salad; the burger’s sidekick
SF- Tayshaun Prince- Frosty: tall and reliable
PF/C-Ben/Rasheed Wallace – the nuggets: filling but not overshadowing.
The Denver Nuggets and Taco Bell
If I need to go further than comparing Eduardo Najera’s hometown (Chihuahua, Mexico) to the former talking canine Taco Bell spokesman, you are clearly not a member of my target audience. But for sake of proving my point I will take my idea one step further. Is there anything more clutch than the Cheesy Gordita Crunch, or in basketball terms, Carmello Anthony? I think not.
The Cleveland Cavaliers and Burger King
In the land of burger’s the Whopper is king. In the land of hardwood and high tops, Lebron James is King. No word yet if you can order King James without lettuce and tomato.
The Los Angeles Lakers (A.K.A. Kobe and the Misfits) and Arby’s
There is nothing good to eat at Arby’s besides the roast beef. There is nothing good to watch on the Lakers besides Kobe. Glad we cleared that up.
The Miami Heat and Del Taco
For those of you unfamiliar with Del Taco, you are truly missing out. This Mexican themed restaurant not only serves breakfast and top notch fish tacos, they also serve fries burgers and shakes, bringing together the best of both fast food worlds. In a similar fashion the Miami Heat brings together the best in both the backcourt and frontcourt world’s behind thunder-chunky center Shaquille O’Neal, and young team leader Dwayne Wade.
The Dallas Mavericks and Jack in the Box
Although I’ve never seen a Jack in the Box restaurant, or the Dallas Mavericks defense, I am sure they both exist because I googled them earlier.
Jon Gunnells is journalism junior at Michigan State University who is competing in the NGS 2 and finally using a word processor. He can be reached at gunnell2@msu.edu.
