Here's the thing with the MVP race this year, you can make a legitimate argument for four different candidates. The candidates are all so worthy and so different that I wouldn't argue anyone's choice if they backed it up logically. Of course, there are a lot of illogical arguments out there, and I have no qualms about destroying them with my scathing wit :P. Also, if you're going to argue that the MVP is anyone other than KG, LeBron, Kobe or CP3, you have to wear the stupid helmet.
What makes this MVP race especially difficult to decide is that the candidates are so completely different. Do you think that the MVP is the best player on the best team? It's hard to argue against KG there. Do you think the MVP is the most productive player? LeBron has a pretty strong claim to that distinction. You can make the case for anyone, and a lot of it depends on what you think the MVP award means. How do you define "Valuable"? As I write this, I'm not even sure who my pick is, I'm just going to make the best case I can for each player.
Make no mistake, this is not who I think will win the award. Kobe's going to win it, I don't think there's any doubt about that. This is who should win the award.
I'm gonna throw some statistics out there that you might not know. They aren't necessary to understand, but I'm just putting them out there. I explain them quickly in this post, a little way down the page.
LeBron James Relevant Statistics: 51.8% eFG 71.2% FT 11.1 RB% 37.3 AST% 11.4 TO% 33.5 Usage% 116 ORtg
So, halfway through the year I announced that LeBron was my midseason MVP. What's changed since then? For LeBron and the Cavs, absolutely nothing. LeBron's stats are almost identical now to what they were at the halfway point. The Cavs' record at that point was 23-18, they ended the season at 45-37, almost exactly the same winning percentage. In fact, what I said at the time looks almost prescient in retrospect,
"LeBron is killing teams this year, and he’s dragging a
really bad team to a top 4 seed in the playoffs."
Quite simply, LeBron has been superb this season. Make whatever arguments you want about clutch or leadership or whatnot, but the fact of the matter is that LeBron has produced more, night-in and night-out, than any player in the league. To put things in perspective, the Cavs play the 6th slowest pace in the league, almost 10 possessions per game less than league-leading Denver. Despite that, he's putting up the kind of numbers that Oscar Robertson put up in his prime. He absolutely denies comparison, Within a few years, we could legitimately be talking about him in the "Greatest Of All Time" sense.History may show us to be fools if we deny him here. LeBron James has to be the MVP.
Chris Paul Relevant Statistics 52.4% eFG
85.1% FT 6.2 RB% 52.2
AST%
12.1 TO% 25.7
Usage%
125 ORtg
It's taken Chris Paul a mere three seasons to draw comparisons to Isiah Thomas in his prime. Three years to rejuvenate basketball in New Orleans. Three years to become the unquestioned leader of the #2 seed in the toughest conference in history. Three years to give the Hornets their first ever division title. Three years. That's how long it took him to average 21 points and 12 assists per game. You know how long you've got to go back to find the last guy who went 20 and 10 with assists? All the way back to the 92-93 season, when Timmy Hardaway did it. Even more impressive? Paul did it while playing on the 5th slowest team in the league. When he was on the floor, CP3 assisted on 52% of his teammates' field goals. The only other guy ever to do that? It's this guy you might have heard of, goes by "Stockton". He's responsible for single-handedly making Tyson Chandler an offensive force. You want to see improving your teammates? The two seasons before he came to New Orleans, Chandler shot 52.3% on 4.4 FGA per game. In two seasons with Paul, Chandler has shot 62.3% on 7.1 FGA per game, and the Paul-to-Chandler alley-oop has become one of the NBA's signature plays. In three short years he's taken the title of "best point guard" from a hall of famer still playing some of the best ball of his career. He's one of the most efficient players in the NBA, he's the league's best point guard, and he saved basketball in New Orleans. Chris Paul has to be the MVP.
Over the last 5 years, Kobe Bryant has arguably been the best basketball player on the planet. He's been to the Finals, he's carried a mediocre team to the playoffs the last two years, he's dropped 81 points in a single game, and he made All-Defensive Team after All-Defensive Team. In all that, he's been passed over for the MVP award time and again. People always had complaints: He shared credit with Shaq, his team wasn't good enough, he wasn't a good teammate, he looked for his own scoring too much. Well, no such complaints this year. Surrounded by a core of talented young players. Kobe has moved past his off-season discontent and been the leader the Lakers need. His guiding of an injury-plagued team to the #1 seed has been nothing short of amazing. Consider the Lakers' two main trade acquisitions this year. Paul Gasol has played effectively 26 of the 37 games since he came over, and Trevor Ariza has played a mere 24 of the 70 games since he arrived. Add to that the fact that centers Andrew Bynum and Chris Mihm have spent the majority of the year on the DL, and you see what a truly impressive feat it was for Kobe to take this team to the top of the Western Conference. He's become the player we kept saying he should be, and his team sits on top of the toughest conference of all time. Kobe Bryant has to be the MVP.
Kevin Garnett Relevant Statistics 53.9% eFG
80.1% FT 16.8 RB% 19.9
AST%
110.8 TO% 25.5
Usage%
118 ORtg
Two numbers ultimately describe Kevin Garnett's impact this season. 66 and 24. That's the Celtics' win total from this year and their win total last year. Lest this 42 game swing doesn't impress you, remember back to the beginning of the season, back before the Celtics started demolishing everyone in their way, back when no one was sure how this would work. 3 superstars with 0 championship rings between them, not much of a bench and a reliance on young, unproven guys to fill the other spots on the court. We knew they'd be pretty good, we certainly knew they'd be better than last year, but no one was ready for this. 66-16, the best record in the league wire-to-wire, a huge +10.26 point differential (3.5 points higher than second-place Utah), and the best defense in the league by a long shot. More than anyone else, Garnett's impact goes beyond statistics (and that's saying something, since his are quite impressive). His arrival brought about a culture shift in Boston. His intensity has ratcheted up the defensive play of every other member of the team. His deft passing in the post and willingness to give them the ball has instilled confidence in guys like Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Leon Powe. His presence has drawn in free agents like James Posey, P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell to give the Celtics veteran depth. As far as overall impact on a franchise, it's hard to argue anyone has done more than Garnett. He's the best defender in the game, he turned his team around, and he rejuvenated basketball in Boston. Kevin Garnett has to be the MVP
There are legitimate cases to be made for all four candidates. However, we've got to pick one, so who's it going to be?
LeBron might be the best basketball player on the planet, but his team hasn't been impressive this year. Despite their overall record, the Cavs actually have a negative point differential. Basically, they're lucky to have even broken .500, much less be a 45 win team. How much fault does LeBron take for that? I'm not inclined to criticize him much, since he's been surrounded by a truly sucktastic supporting cast this season. However, he certainly doesn't have the defensive impact that Kobe or Garnett have, and I'm not sure Chris Paul hasn't actually had the better offensive season.
Paul has certainly put up impressive numbers and led his team to be a lot better than they were supposed to be. However, he's also got some pretty solid teammates around him. Peja's shooting stroke and David West's solid all-around game (by the way, even though people keep saying it, he's still underrated) really complement his skills and give the Hornets a strong team. Unlike last year, and unlike the Lakers this year, Paul's Hornets have stayed healthy and haven't had to deal with much adversity during the season. Also, of all these 4, Paul is probably the weakest defensively.
Kobe's overall production and statistical impact just don't measure up to LeBron and Paul. Those two are having, quite simply, transcendent seasons. His season certainly doesn't jump off the page like the others do. Also, the MVP award isn't a career achievement award, it's an individual regular season award. Frankly, Kobe has had better seasons, and just because he didn't win it then doesn't mean that he should win it now. Sure, he has done a great job leading the Lakers, but does it even remotely compare to the job that Garnett has done in Boston?
Garnett might be the main force behind Boston's turnaround, but it's not like he did it alone. Having teammates like Paul Pierce and Ray Allen certainly helps. Garnett also isn't the guy who is going to take the tough shot at the end o####ame, he's never relished that role. Can you be the MVP if your team goes to other guys in the clutch, especially when compared to these other three guys?
The Pick
I've swung back and forth on this in the last few weeks more times than I care to count. As I said above, I hadn't decided who this pick would be even as I wrote the post. After poring over everything, I realized that my MVP vote has to go to Kevin Garnett. Here's the thing, all week I've kind of dismissed KG's candidacy. I thought he was the weakest of the four, not on the same level as Kobe, Paul and LeBron. However, as I looked over all that he's done this year and the numbers that he has put up, it becomes harder and harder to find any reason not to pick him. I'm not concerned with the fact that he isn't their go-to clutch scorer, I'm much more concerned with what happens in the first 45 minutes of the game than what happens in the last 3. I remember back to the criticism of the Ray Allen trade and how that only really turned into a good thing once KG was on board. I thought back to how uncertain I was of the Celtics at the beginning of the season. I thought about how Garnett transformed a team with no other guys who you could call reliable top-tier defenders and transformed them into one of the best (if not the best) defensive teams of the past ten years. His defensive presence, the way he has completely altered the team's atmosphere and the incredible turnaround from worst to first all point to one thing.
Lebron - Great player. Still not an All NBA Defender. Led a fair team to a bad record in one of the worst conferences in NBA History. The Cavs have had their injuries, but its not like they were battling to win 50 games for an eight seed. Hasn't had the best track record of making his teammates better. He has the best stats and he's got his scoring title, but not the MVP.
KG - Great player, best defender. Since the MVP isnt an award for prior achievments, I'll leave out that up until now and maybe a year in Minnesota, KG hasnt had a whole lot of luck turning his teammates into monster defenders. And it does help you win a lot of games when you have Paul Peirce and Ray Allen on your team. He deserves a lot of credit for the Celtics turnaround, but not all. Peirce and Allen have just done way too much. They're a Center away from sending 5 positions to an All Star Reunion party. I think KG is the DPOY, but not the MVP.
Chris Paul - Great player, best point guard (this season). I'm a stickler for letting players actually accomplish a few things before annointing them THEE BEST. I would say this is a two man race. Cant argue his stats and his impact on his teams offense is the best in the NBA. He has made his teammates better while leading them atop the West for a most of the season. Only one problem. Even though he leads the league in steals, he has been somewhat of a defensive liability. His team is a better defensive team without him on the floor. They give up around 6 more points per 100 possessions when he is on the court. Could be MVP.
Kobe Bryant - Best player, great defender. Gave up the scoring title (which he could have easily won) but gained the #1 seed in the dominant conference. 1st Team Defender again. Led his team through numerous injuries including an injury to himself that still requires surgery. Even without a "start" worthy center for 30 games this season, he still led his team to the best record in the greatest conference in NBA history. Led a good team to a great record. Pre Gasol they were on pace to win 56 games. And regardless if anybody wanted to hypothetically swap Bryant out with another player 6-4 to 6-8, and revisit this season a few years from now, and argue that the results would have been the same, they would have to also revisit the reasons why Bryant also won his 1st MVP.
tcbdog. great work. so this years eastern conference was the weakest in history, and the western conference was the best in history.
wrong.
this years western conference was the most competitive. there are 8 solid teams in this years western conference playoffs. doesn't mean that any of them are "great" in the context of "great" teams. none of them won 60.
why everytime i read a blurb on why kobe should be MVP the "he had to deal with injuries" is thrown in.
has anyone read about the injuries the cavaliers had to deal with in 08?
the cavaliers sported 21 different starting lineups in 08.
lakers 16.
hornets 12.
celtics 10.
plus ira newble started 13 games for the cavs this year dog.
I think KG is deserving but there are a few things that hold me back from selecting him:
1. The Celtics went 7-3 without him this season, including a win against the defending champion Spurs.
2. His team's success is aided GREATLY by the Celtics playing the L'East. I'm not saying they wouldn't be an elite team in the West but their win total wouldn't be the same. Boston was 2-3 in their longest Western road trip of the season.
3. He plays with two PERENNIAL All-Stars. I know he's valuable but I would argue that those two together are equally or more valuable than him.
I don't think you could say that about any two players on Kobe, LeBron, or Paul's teams.
great title for your book billyhoyle.
so true.
but i think you are seeing it as a negative..
he complained, the players and front office responded, and the lakers won the west.
the ends justify the means?
kobe.
when he has the numbers and carries his team, he's selfish and doesn't deserve the MVP.
when he doesn't have the numbers because he is trusting his teammates more and playing team basketball, his overall production and statistical impact just don't measure up.
poor kobe.
chris paul has averaged four more points and three more assists per game this year, nice.
lebron has averaged three more points, one more rebound, and one more assist, amazing.
kobe scored three less points, had the same assists, added a rebound to his average, was a team player and leader and the lakers won the west.
chris paul and lebron have transcendant seasons and kobe doesn't measure up?
i think that is a little off.
of course the arguement against KG is always going to be the same, too much help.
put ray allen and paul pierce with kobe and he'd probably turn into the defensive player of the year too. put them with lebron, or chris paul and they all dominate.
still, KG is deserving of the MVP for sure.
lebron has the same problem that kobe had the last two years, his team isn't good enough for him to warrant the MVP, even though both of them were pretty much solely responsible for getting their teams to the playoffs. but he has the stats because of his lack of help.
chris paul i don't like as an MVP candidate because the only significant difference i see in th
chris paul i don't like as an MVP candidate because the only significant difference i see in the hornets from last year to this year is Peja, and Peja is getting none of the credit for the turn around. chris paul supposedly made west and chandler great, why didn't he make Peja's replacement great last year and take his team to the playoffs? i think Peja being back created a lot of space and opportunity for Paul to improve.
Garnett, Kobe, and Lebron are legit, I need to be convinced more on Paul.
I would guess Lebron is out because the cavs aren't a top team, so that leaves Kobe and KG.
Either one is deserving.
I think Kobe did more with less, overcame more adversity along the way, and demonstrated maturity and leadership that has seemed to be lacking in the past (aside from all the technicals). his stats didn't improve, but his team did, because of him.
1) a) A ten game sample like that really doesn't tell us anything of significance. It could easily have been luck, their schedule, or any number of things. There's a lot of random stuff that happens over the course of a season. I'll throw an example out there for you. In 2001 the Lakers were 45-23 (66% win%) with Kobe and 11-3 (79%) without him. Does that mean they were better off without him? Absolutely not. If you do a statistical significance test on it, it fails. As I've said many times, weird stuff happens when you look at small chunks of the season. I'm a whole lot more impressed by the fact that Boston's margin of victory is the best of any team in the last 30 years that didin't have MJ on it.
b) That was a Spurs team missing Tony Parker, I'm not going to set huge store by that.
2) They were also 25-5 altogether against the West, a record I'm much more inclined to trust than a small 5 game stretch. They were actually better against the West than against the East.
Schedule arguments at the end of the year are very flimsy. Like I've said before, every team in the league will have at least 56 games in common with every other team, and the difference in strength of schedule at the end is miniscule.
3) Very true. However, lets be clear here. It was not the acquisition of Ray Allen that suddenly turned Boston into a defensive juggernaut. KG gets pretty much all the credit there.
syadasti- As you'll note, I didn't include PPG, APG or RPG among my significant statistics. You know why? Because they're crappy indicators of performance. Production-wise, Kobe's season just isn't on the same level as Paul and LeBron.
That's the only significant difference you see between the two years? How about the fact that last year Paul played only 64 games and West played only 52? Maybe a significant difference, when your top two players miss 48 games?
I don't know, I still don't feel like Kevin Garnett is worthy of an MVP. I know you're not supposed to take previous seasons into account, but I can't forget that he couldn't get that Wolves team into the playoffs despite the fact that I didn't think those Wolves teams were all that much worse off than Kobe's Lakers.
And the guy DOES play with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Say what you want about the two, but Paul Pierce is a legit player in this league and Ray Allen is one of the best shooters ever. Granted Kobe plays with Gasol, but I think the PP+Ray Allen combo outweighs that.
And the fact that at the end of the game I'd rather have the ball in both Ray Allen's and Paul Pierce's hands don't really help his case in my book.
I'd give it to the other three before I'd give it to the Big Ticket.
if you mean the laker front office responded by NOT caving to kobe's trade demands then yes. who knows how this season plays out if you trade bynum AND ODOM!!
kobe became a better leader this year because he learned to keep his mouth shut. (off the floor at least) can you imagine how good he, and the lakers could be if he learned to just shut up and play the game, and stop turning everything into a melodrama?
i sure hope things work out for the lakers in this post season.
First of all, if you're going to give the MVP to a Boston Celtic, might as well be Paul Pierce. If I remember correctly, he's the cluth player of that team, I also remember Ray Allen making 3's at the buzzer. If KG was the only player in Boston, no doubt I would give him the MVP vote. The problem is that you got 3 all-stars in one team, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce deserve some credit. Of course, from the beginning of the season, I knew they were going to have the best record in the NBA. How they talk about how the Celtics having the best turn around record in the history of the NBA. Well, lets trade KG and Ray Allen to the Heat, and guess what? Miami will have the best turn around record next year. You shouldn't give the MVP to KG. Paul Pierce played every game until the last few weeks. He deserves it more.
The TRUE MVP this year should go to Kobe. You want to give it to Lebron James? Why? Because he lead the league in scoring this year. WOW. Kobe did it two years in a row, and he didnt get nothing. Kobe could have lead the league in scoring again if he wanted to, but he realized that sharing the ball and scoring less can win more ball games, and that's a proven fact. Kobe can go out and score 50 points any time he wants to, but that's not the point. The point is that Kobe lead the Lakers to the top of the West. One of the toughest western conference of all time. After missing your center and your best defensive player of the team (Trevor). Kobe should be the MVP this year.
I am not going to talk about CP3. Truly, I don't think he earned it this year. If he's consistan
lakersfan - You know I'm a big time stats guy and I tend to lean towards that side of things, so believe me when I say that KG wasn't even on my radar a week ago. His statistical resume is the weakest of the four, and I've considered him the weakest of the candidates all year. However, when I really started looking at this, it became harder and harder for me to rule him out. His stats, though they're weaker than the other three, really aren't that far behind them, and what he has done defensively is nothing short of amazing. I think more than any other candidate, KG's impact transcends statistics. He's changed the entire atmosphere of this Celtics team with his intensity, and his leadership and willingness to pass the ball has been one of the big reasons why this big experiment has worked (and worked spectacularly). I know he has help, but what he has done simply amazes me. When we look back on this regular season in 10 or 15 years, I don't think we're going to remember the years Kobe or LeBron had, I think we're going to remember Kevin Garnett breathing the life back into Celtics basketball.
Playoff picks will be coming tonight, I had to get this done first.
i think that West being out too strengthens my point about Paul.
but i admit i didn't realize he missed so many games last year and that obviously is significant.
i do think it that it was definitely more the health of his team that got them where they are less than it was him making his teammates better or his phenomenal play.
i don't think West and Peja improved because of Paul anymore than he improved because of them.
he is a great player, but i don't think he is the same caliber as KG, Lebron, or Kobe.
You forgot to mention that Kobe is playing hurt with a finger that will require surgery. KG is playing with two future HOF players. Kobe can score we all know that, but this year his assists are up and is trusting his teammates. It is unfortunate that people try to drag the offseason stuff into the mix, but this is about basketball performance not a personality test. Kobe for MVP! Lakers are first in the West when some critics counted them out from even making the playoffs.
Regardless of facts and/or statistics thrown around these pages. People have their minds made up...period. No sensable argument will change ANYONE'S mind here. The battles lines were drawn by midseason (if not during Kobe's trial).
I had Kobe then, I have Kobe today.
The last three games of the season by the Lakers only served to put an exclamation point on it - for me. To come from nowhere...barely qualifying for the playoffs the last two seasons (putting quite a scare into PHX), the offseason turmoil, with basically the same roster (until the two trades) was very impressive. 8-1 the last 9 games, beating the #1 team to leapfrog them in the standings - then beating the definding champs to grab sole posession of 1st place (who would have thought after the losses to Memphis & Charlotte we would go on to win the Pacific...let alone the Western Conference??)
For those who say it wasn't due to Kobe are lying to themselves. Yes Bynum's improvement played a role, yes the aquisition of Pau was huge, but this is Kobe's burden to carry...always has been. The same people who give him no credit for the winning would lay the blame of losing squarely on HIS shoulders...but go ahead...deny it. The sportswriters may do the same.
syadasti - I understand the point that you're trying to make, but I think you're underestimating the monumental improvement of Paul from last year to this year. His shooting percentage and his assists are way up and his turnovers are down, all while taking a bigger role in the offense. Despite the fact that he's past his prime, Peja's been more efficient this year than in any of the past 3. His turnover rate is the lowest in the league, and easily the lowest of his career. You know why? Cause most of what he does this year is shoot open jumpers off of Paul passes. Obviously Paul benefits from West and Peja, but is it any more than Kobe benefits from Gasol, Odom and Fisher?
If the Celtics win a championship this year then I think you're right as far as legacy ten years from now, but if the Celtics go down then I don't believe that'll be the case.
I know you mentioned this wasn't one of Kobe's best years and from a statistical standpoint you're right, but I've been under the impression that this has been his best non-Shaq era season. He's seemed to found his way on defense again and is once again gonna be a DESERVING first team all D guy rather than the rep based first team all D nod he got last season. And he's seemed to pick and choose his shots more effeciently than he has in seasons past. Oh, and I know the numbers don't really show it, but he's struck me as a better rebounder with more lift this season too.
I've been running around saying that this is his best non-Shaq era season, is that not the case?
Hey BillyJoel...Your missing the point on the injuries....Lakers finished with the #1 seed despite the injuries, thats the point, plain and simple. Yeah, so the Cavs had more injuries....and they didn't even win 50 games in, yes I'm saying it, a weak conference.
Well researched, well written, well thought out. I liked it and I agree with it.
As a Lakers fan, I'm almost obligated to think Kobe deserves it this year. I get dirty looks when I don't chant MVP when #24 is at the charity stripe. But I don't think he's most deserving. He SHOULD have won it two years ago when he took that GOD-AWFUL (I'm sorry pheonix, "mediocre" doesn't even come close to describing the Smush Parker, Kwame Brown era) team on his back, had 81 points in one game and went up 3-1 on the Suns in the playoffs. But that doesn't mean that because he was punked then, we should punk someone else today. Granted, it wouldn't be to the same degree - they're all, as we've rehashed so many times, very deserving - but it shouldn't matter... most deserving is most deserving, no matter of the history.
I won't cry foul no matter who wins. But I agree with your article wholeheartedly. Nice writeup.
I would say that Paul benefitted more because they have been healthy, and the same team, all year.
It's only my opinion, I just think he gets way to much credit for the hornets turn around.
And, if he was the MVP, I think he would have led his team to stay at the top of the standings during the end of the season.
Instead they won 2 games (against the clippers and timberwolves), lost five, and haven't beat a playoff team in over two weeks.
In the same time frame the Kobe led Lakers took over the top spot.
As a post-script to my last post, I'll also say that I believe the NBA should put guidlines on what "valuable" means. Right now, it means something different to every voter. Is the MVP just straight-up, the best player in the league? Is it the guy with the highest VORP? (Sorry for the baseball reference) Is it the best player on the best team? The guy with the best raw stats? The best leader? The best player on the team that most surpassed expectations? The confusion lessens the value of the award itself and turns it into a popularity contest.
seriously man, all the other guys like chris paul and the other candidates have really or I must say better stats that some of them. but yo, do you think they're more deserving then the lakers' kobe bryant? i don't think so.
just look at "karl malone". he never had MVP for more than 11 years. it took that long for him to really deserve that award.
we all know, its all about stats stats stats. who gives #### about stats? .. now tell me guys, how deserving is 12years in the NBA and being called the best player in the NBA for at least 5years now and having the first spot in the west and still not giving the MVP award to kobe bryant? for me, thats ####. chrispaul can have at least 2MVPs in the future for all i know.
but as for now, its kobe that really deserves it.
and for garnett. jeez man, durr they have the best record in the east and you want to know why?. well its basically because he has ray and pierce. try putting KG back to the wolves and you check whether he still is a candidate for MVP? i guess not huh guys? ..lol
soo yea. it's KOBE B.bryant this year. Period! end of discussion!
im not a laker fan, but kobe does deserve it.
maybe there should be "STATS" award next season and chris paul can win it all. lol
This is a similar situation that Bryant is facing this year vs. the year that Malone got the MVP over Jordan. I think Kobe would rather have the championship if there was a choice!
1996-97:
Jordan had another great season, leading the league in scoring for the ninth time at 29.6 ppg, contributing 5.9 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.71 steals per game and being voted to his accustomed spots on the All-NBA and All-NBA Defensive First Teams. Although the voters elected Karl Malone of Utah as the league's MVP by a slim margin over Jordan, he gained revenge by leading the Bulls past Malone's Jazz in the NBA Finals and capturing Finals MVP honors for the fifth time in five trips to the championship series. Here were their teams records for that year.
Central Division
Team W L PCT. GB
Chicago Bulls C 69 13 .841
Midwest Division Team W L PCT. GB
Utah Jazz 64 18 .780 -
xphoenix87,
Kevin Garnett has been playing that kind of game eversince he joined the NBA. It's only a matter of right combinations with his team. Remember when he led the Minnesota Timberwolves to the Western Conference Finals against the Lakers, he played with Sam Cassell and Latrell Sprewell. So, its nothing new with Kevin Garnett's game. he used to play like that all his career. This year, he compiled one of his lowest scoring average in his career. he only averaged 18.6ppg and he is not even the top scorer of his team. For me KG is not worthy of an MVP. Remove Paul Pierce in the Celtics uniform and they are only a marginal team.
And Kevin Garnett does'nt want to take the last shot either. If you are MVP worthy candidate, you must accept all the challenges win or lose. That's why when Ray Allen was traded to the Celtics by the Sonics, KG did'nt hesitate to joined them because.................. he is afraid to take the last shot!!!!!!
xphoenix87,
The MVP of the first half of the NBA season is KG.
The MVP of the 2nd half of the NBA season is CP3.
But the most consistent of all is Kobe Bryant. From the Tournament of Americas(Team USA) up to the end of NBA regular season and even an injury to his pinkie did'nt stop Kobe from playing great all year.
i cant give KG the mvp when he's player with a HOF in ray allen and multi-time all star paul pierce. and i dont want to hear how KG turned the team into a good defensive team, i watched them the last 2 years when they were sucking, no one tried on defense, not even pierce. seeing them play defense now shows they werent even trying before, plus KG missed all those games with KOBE was without his main guys around him for long stretch, not to mention busting up his finger.
and the paul-to-chandler pick-and-roll lob-pass is one of the saddest plays to watch, because it works everytime, can some team just put a body there and stop it finally?
"he [Garnett] has completely altered the team's atmosphere"
More credit should be given to Doc Rivers for finding ways to keep the chemistry together and keep his players motivated throughout the season. More credit should be given to Paul Pierce, who has deferred a lot of his shots in order to accommodate other players for the betterment of team dynamics.
In turn, Pierce's teammates responded by playing with more confidence and trust in him, knowing that PP's ego was not going to be affected by the addition of KG and Allen.
KHAZTE71 just made all the right points as to why KG is NOT the MVP.
XP, I think you have allowed Boston's excellent regular season record to cloud your judgment.
Kobe actually overachieved this year, considering all the expectations that the Lakers would not even finish higher than sixth, while everyone knew Boston was going to be right back in the mix once KG and Allen were acquired.
Last edited by J-DIZZLE on April 18th at 11:28 PM.
I had all my comments written out, then accidentally deleted them. ####.
Lakersfan - I think Kobe's best season was 05-06, and I don't think it's close. In retrospect, what he did that season was huge. As pdloos pointed out, that team was TERRIBLE. Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Chris Mihm and Brian Cook all started over 40 games. Outside of Kobe and Odom, there wasn't a single above-average player on that team. Yet, they won 45 games and gave the Suns all they could handle. He should've won the award that year, but I'm not going to give it to him this year because he didn't win it that year, especially not with how strong the field is this year.
pdloos - Glad you liked it. You're right, in retrospect that team was absolutely terrible.
syadasti - To each his own. I'm not going to make a judgment on the strength of a one game difference, that's ridiculous. One game is a coin flip, it means nothing.
Walnutz - Glad you liked it
steph - See, this is the kind of argument I can tear apart. I've said it before and I'll say it again, the MVP is not a career-achievement award. I don't care about Kobe's legacy, I don't care that Paul might have more chances to win the award. What I do care about is who the best player THIS YEAR.
khazte - Garnett isn't their leading scorer, but he's their most effective offensive player when you include his offensive rebounding, his passing ability and the fact that he takes great care of the ball.
"If you are MVP worthy candidate, you must accept all the challenges win or lose."
Or, if you're an MVP, you know that you've got 2 teammates who are better at taking the last shot, and you care more about the win than about the glory.
zdeane - "i dont want to hear how KG turned the team into a good defensive team, i watched them the last 2 years when they were BLEEPing, no one tried on defense, not even pierce. seeing them play defense now shows they werent even trying before"
How can you not credit KG there? He's the most intense defender in the league. He's completely reinvigorated the Celtics. What, you think Ray Allen was the guy who turned the Celtics' defense around? Seriously. That's just looking at the effect of KG on the team, not accounting for the fact that he's an absolutely fantastic individual defender. He's a terrific helpside defender, he's a great on-ball defender, and no big man in the league defends the pick and roll better.
"the paul-to-chandler pick-and-roll lob-pass is one of the saddest plays to watch, because it works everytime, can some team just put a body there and stop it finally?"
Stockton-to-Malone baby.
Dizz - Last year Celtics fans were calling for Rivers' head. He's never been a good coach before, I'm not going to give him the credit for turning Boston around.
"XP, I think you have allowed Boston's excellent regular season record to cloud your judgment."
I think, like usual, your extreme homerism is clouding your judgment. :P
You said, "Sure, he [Kobe] has done a great job leading the Lakers, but does it even remotely compare to the job that Garnett has done in Boston?" It doesn't only compare, it trumps KG. Here's my argument.
Kobe is flat out the MVP this year because he has done the most with less while his team was going through adversity, injury, and turmoil all year. KG, meanwhile, had nowhere near the amount of issues Kobe had to deal with plus KG plays with two future HOF's.
When you play with two other HOF's on your team in the JV conference and get off to a fast start, it becomes alot easier to lead and appear valuable, especially when the opponents have never played against the Big Three before.
When you play with a bunch of unproven role players who have never reached their potential and lead the team to the top of the most competitive conference in the history of the NBA, you become most valuable.
And I'm not dismissing the fact that KG's a great defender. He's perhaps this era's version of Hakeem Olajuwon. But an MVP is great not just on defense but on offense as well. Most Valuable Player also means the Most Complete Player. And this year, it's been KOBE. YOu might want to make KG your pick for Defensive Player of the Year instead. :P
And those Celtics fans who were "calling for Rivers' head" are probably the same Celtics fans who are now screaming "Celtic Pride".
There's a reason Doc Rivers is in the running for Coach of the Year (he'll probably finish second) more than KG is for MVP (he'll probably finish 3rd
"Garnett isn't their leading scorer, but he's their most effective offensive player when you include his offensive rebounding, his passing ability and the fact that he takes great care of the ball." This doesn't all of a sudden make KG the MVP. These are common characteristics of All-Star players.
1) His offensive rebounding has always been great, and when you're the tallest player and most athletic big man on the team, you better be an effective offensive rebounder. You can argue that Lamar Odom is just as good a rebounder as Garnett but you can't argue that Chris Paul is as good a scorer as Kobe.
2) KG's "effective" passing ability has led him to average 3.4 apg, third on the team. This is hardly impressive considering he has two other 20-point scorers on the team. Yes, he's an effective passer, but that comes from his excellent basketball IQ. All the other MVP candidates have excellent basketball IQ's and are effective passers. I can even argue that Gasol's a better passer.
3) If you're not a guard and you don't bring up the ball and you have less touches and all you have to do is catch the ball in the post, you're supposed to take great care of the ball. Despite all that, KG still averaged 2 TO's a game while Kobe averaged only one more TO per than Kevin, and we all know how much more Kobe has the ball in his hands than KG during the course o####ame.
You don't get credit for enduring adversity and turmoil if you're the one who created it.
By the way, you all do know that Ray Allen is past his prime, having one of the worst seasons of his career and not an all-star caliber player anymore, right?
"If you're not a guard and you don't bring up the ball and you have less touches and all you have to do is catch the ball in the post, you're supposed to take great care of the ball."
You do know that big men almost always have lower assist rates and higher turnover rates, right? The fact that Garnett has the lowest turnover rate of anyone in this group and has an assist rate comparable to Kobe's is a tribute to his fantastic decision-making in the post. I like how you're willing to brush off his rebounding because it's what big men are supposed to do, but you're going to completely overlook the fact that he's a fantastic passer for his position.
I think this was an outstanding article. Let me add a few more arguments to the KG-for-MVP side.
*KG leads both Paul and Kobe in on-court-off-court +/-, he leads both of them in Per differential between himself and the man he's guarding, and he has a higher Roland rating than either of them (82games.com). Paul has the highest Wins produced (wagesofwins.com), but KG is also ahead of Kobe on this list as well. Bottom line; KG is very competitive with Paul or Kobe in stats that factor in offense, defense, and effect on winning.
*The Celtics had the biggest turnaround in league history, a whopping 42 games. The next 5 biggest turnarounds were also led by the addition of a legendary player, and all 5 of those players (Duncan '98, David Robinson '90, Bird '80, Nash '05, Kareem '70) won either the MVP or the ROY.
*Since 1960, NO team has ever led the league in wins by more than 6 games and not been led by the MVP. Nine teams have done it, all nine were led by the MVP. The Celtics won the league by 7 games.
Over the last 25 years there have been players have seasons like Kobe or Paul and not won the MVP. But there have been no players in at least the last 48 years, maybe ever, that had an MVP case as strong as KG without winning it. That's what makes the difference between two players with great MVP arguments, and the one player with the best argument that should win: Kevin Garnett
could've would've should've, the facts are the Celts went not 7-3 but 8-3 without KG and one of the loses happened when the celts clutched the division title so they basically rested the big 3. Not only that, KG stats doesnt add up to becoming a MVP player this year.
PPG 18.8 RPG 9.2 Blocks a game 1.25 Steals a game 1.41 FGs 54.5%
i dont know what numbers you put up but here is his numbers for the year.
KG is the 44th leading scorer in the league.
KG is the 22nd second leading rebounder in the league.
KG is 36th leading shot blocker in the league. (im not impressed with his shot blocking)
KG is the 23rd leader in steals(i am impressed but P.P is right behind him with 1.26 steals and Rondo ahead of him with 1.68)
And amongs PF only he is the 13th leader in Fgs.(i only counted players who played more then 25 or more games).
KG isnt even leading his own team in any statistics. you want to know the real reason Boston went 24-58 last year. Cause Paul Pierce missed almost half of those games. Boston went 4-31 without Paul Pierce last year. Meaning they went 20-27 with him. Boston went 8-3 without KG your only excuse is a ten game sample doest tell the story. But they beat Dallas and the Spurs at home in this run. And you want to say ten games sample dont matter. Point is minus KG the Celts still proved they was a 70% team. That tells you how valuable he is. Very valuable but they can manage without him.
Its hard to say the lakers would be a 500 team without Kobe. Samething with Chris Paul and Lebron. Lebron team is losing(Kobe put up great stats last two years and look what happen to him). Only real Candidates is Paul and Kobe. I still chose Kobe cause no one gave credit to John Stockton when he played (leader in steals and assist almost every year). Malone got all the credit. (nothing against Malone still second best PF of all time) Kobe puts more fear in your heart then Paul does. But Paul is a geat candidate to.
KG isnt no more valuable then Ray or Paul Pierce. Paul Pierce is the best scorer Ray is the most clutch(watched espn yesterday KG and Paul pierce said Ray is best suited to take the last shot of most games)KG brings the intensity.(ask me all them brings the intensity but KG yells all the time while doing it)
Personally i think P.P is the MVP of Boston. Cause when KG was hurt Ray was hurt to. Look up Boston Record when Ray and KG didnt play and Paul Pierce only played. He playe
he played every game except the ones at the end of the season. Boston is 8-3 without KG and 7-2 without ray. What Boston is without Paul Pierce? you dont no cause there isnt no answer. Paul Pierce is boston's MVP.
Now being that you is a Phoenix fans(most of them dont know have a clue about basketball) i should know that you would hate on Kobe he is clearly the MVP. And of course you would hate on Chris Paul cause you probably still wish Nash was the best PG in the game.
Little advise for the people reading this blog. Phoenixfans dont have a clue when it comes to basketball. MOst of them just started watching. Like where all you phoenix fans come from. i never heard them intil three years ago(Nash arrival)And they city havent won a championship ever. Little to no creditablity on this.
How can any resonable person not see that Kobe is the MVP. It just blows me away how people say he is selfish or a ball hog. The Laker teams of the past few years were horrible. They would dribble the ball until the 24 second clock was almost gone and then pass to Kobe who had to take all the shots. If they did shoot it was an ugly bad missed shot one after another. When Kobe had the ball they all just stood and watched him like they were fans or something. You all forget how many wide open shots his team constantly missed, how many passes for wide open looks were dropped and how many turnovers they had. How can you play 40+ minutes every game, score forty to eighty points almost every game, have tons of missed assists, be one of the top defenders and not be the MVP. If you put Steve Nash on the Lakers the past three years you would have never heard Nash's name, he would have had 1/4 of his assist totals and all his wild passes would have been missed shots or turnovers and the Lakers would have been in the cellar. If you put Kobe on the Suns the last three years the Suns would have three rings and Kobe would have three MVP's. To all you haters, give it a rest already Kobe is the best in the NBA hands down MVP MVP MVP MVP
drza - There are a lot of problems with +/- statistics, and I'm not a big fan of them. Same with Roland Ratings, Wins Produced and PER. On the whole, I don't think statistics that try to sum everything up in one number are much use for anything.
bassda - cover up, your ignorance is showing.
You want to know why I didn't use PPG, RPG, etc. to analyze players? Because they're TERRIBLE measures of performance. The Celtics play at a pace well below the league average, and KG plays only 32 minutes a game because Boston's been able to coast through the second half of the season. My statistics account for that, do yours?
"Point is minus KG the Celts still proved they was a 70% team."
No, the point is that going 7-3 without him proves NOTHING. I don't just say that this ten game sample doesn't mean anything, I know that this ten game sample doesn't mean anything. It's basic statistics, significance testing.
"Paul Pierce is the best scorer Ray is the most clutch"
Don't care, cause KG's the most efficient offensive player, easily the best defensive player, and the heart and soul of the team.
"Boston is 8-3 without KG and 7-2 without ray. What Boston is without Paul Pierce? you dont no cause there isnt no answer. Paul Pierce is boston's MVP."
So, your argument is that Pierce is the MVP because he hasn't missed games? Yeah, that makes sense.
ames has to be the MVP.
rleans. Chris Paul has to be the MVP.
