[Jameh]

To me, it's just too hard NOT to give Kobe the MVP. People are talking about giving it to Bron because he's on pace to lead his team to 46 wins, but Kobe's on pace to bring his team to 44 wins and to me. That is a MUCH bigger deal, considering the supporting casts on both teams. Brons team is much more solid, and much deeper.

There are a few other candidates, one of them being Nash. He's been doing what he's always done and playing incredibly well. Still a playmaker, still finding the open mates, but his defense is basically nonexistant. To me, that hurts him quite a bit...not counting him out, but I think Kobe is having to do much more for his team than Nash is.

Dirk is playing like a madman this year, and could very well lead his team into and through the Finals. But again, his team is much better than Kobes, not to mention I think Kobe has the bigger and more well known name. Now sure it's not picked by fans, but that's got to factor in somewhat. And to me...I don't think it's that Dirk isnt playing better than Kobe, it's just that Kobe deserves it more.

There are a few others that could be mentioned...Brand being one. But I personally don't believe this award can be given out to anybody BUT Kobe this year. He's just doing so much, with so little. Not to mention he's having a career year...and when you're Kobe Bryant a career year is something that will be talked about for quite some time.

[ralaw]

Taking everything in here is how the top 5 will be voted by the voters.

note: the number behind the player name is the order I would vote them in. I will also add I have a problem with the idea of giving the award to the player with the best stats on the best team.

1. Dirk Nowitzki - 4
In my opinion Dirk winning the MVP is a travesty of biblical proportions (sarcasm), but they way the award has gone for several years, it seems the voters love to vote for the best player who has the reputation as being superstar with the best stats on the team with the best record (notice I didn't say best team). Dirk has the team record and the stats and name recognition to back up this award on paper. However, in my opinion he isn't an MVP calibur player, but the award has become a joke due to the politics involved in the voting.

2. Steve Nash - 3
Steve Nash has done more for this team this year due to necessity then he did last year when he won the MVP. However, Nash already winning is the problem, the voters are not willing to concede that Nash will be mentioned among the likes of Bob Pettit, Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareem Abdul-jabbar, Moses Malone, Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Karl Malone and Tim Duncan. Plus right or wrong, many consider Nash to simply be the driver behind a good car in D'Antonio's system.

3. Kobe Bryant - 2
The consensus best player in the league, Kobe will finish third out of respect for what he has done this season and for what he has accomplished throughout his career. Kobe has the name, superstar reputation, but doesn't have the team record. In my opinion if his team finished with atleast 45-50 wins the award should be his even if his team didn't have the best record because his name recognition is so powerful. Also, Kobe needs an MVP award to atleast be considered among the top players ever to play the game and it would go along way in saying he is great without Shaq as a well.

4. LeBron James - 1
LeBron James has everything the voters look for in an MVP, a superstar reputation, stats, and a decent team record. However, LeBron will be a victim of age discrimination and will not win the award. The voters will excuse this by saying he is only 21 and has many, many years to win the award.....just not right now, plus they will add his troubles this year with closing out games.


5a. Dwayne Wade - 5
As with LeBron James, Wade has the criteria for an MVP, but he has two major strikes against him, one is the same age discrimination and second is playing with Shaq. Some voters would like to conjecture that Shaq is still the dominant player he was in LA, therefore they will rationalize that Wade benefits from this, which he does, but not at a great rate. Wade's impact is that of an MVP.

5b. Chauncy Billups - 6
Once considered the favorite Chauncy Billups lost this award, due to his teams lack of consistency (as compared to how they started) since the all-star game. The Pistons seem to be coasting until the playoffs start and you can tell in their play. Billups has 2/3 criteria for the award.....he is missing the superstar status, however if his team was still on pace to for 72 wins he probably would be in the top 2 in voting.

[Intense Enigma]

2 weeks ago i got Nash = Dirk.


Right now,Dirk>>>>>>>>>>>>everybody else.


BTW,dont be surprised if they give it to LeBron.

[Kirk64]

Originally Posted by ralaw

3. Kobe Bryant - 2
The consensus best player in the league, Kobe will finish third out of respect for what he has done this season and for what he has accomplished throughout his career. Kobe has the name, superstar reputation, but doesn't have the team record. If his team finished with atleast 45-50 wins (which isn't possible now)

Huh? 7-3 gets them to 45. And they are playing well recently.

[P-Dub34]

As I've said numerous times before:

1) If you give Nash the award last year, you gotta give it to him this year because he's been even better.

2) If the Mavs finish with the #1 seed, my pick is Nowitzki.

[Pioneer10]

How are the Cavs after Hughes went down that much better in terms of talent then the Lakers?

With Hughes you have a case but w/o him, only Z is a Cavalier other then Lebron that would start for the Lakers. Conversely, Odom, Parker, Mihm (at PF) would all start on the Cavs. The Cavs starters include the worst starting PG in the league in Eric Snow and a backcourt that has featured starters such as Sasha Pavlovic and Ira Newble. I know Mihm has been out for the Lakers but AV was out for the Cavs for the 1st part of the season as well. Pretty equivalent terms of talent IMO: and it shows in there record both wildly inconsistent able to beat any give team but also able to lose to any lousy team

[Jameh]

Originally Posted by Pioneer10

How are the Cavs after Hughes went down that much better in terms of talent then the Lakers?

With Hughes you have a case but w/o him, only Z is a Cavalier other then Lebron that would start for the Lakers. Conversely, Odom, Parker, Mihm (at PF) would all start on the Cavs. The Cavs starters include the worst starting PG in the league in Eric Snow and a backcourt that has featured starters such as Sasha Pavlovic and Ira Newble. I know Mihm has been out for the Lakers but AV was out for the Cavs for the 1st part of the season as well. Pretty equivalent terms of talent IMO: and it shows in there record both wildly inconsistent able to beat any give team but also able to lose to any lousy team

Parker has openly admitted he probably wouldnt be in the LEAUGE right now if it wasnt for Kobe. I doubt he'd be starting. Besides, don't they have Damon backing up snow? Their backup PG is better than the Lakers starter.

[ralaw]

Originally Posted by Kirk64

Huh? 7-3 gets them to 45. And they are playing well recently.

I'll fix that. Maybe I should have said, "Not likely to happen." I guess we will see what happens. If Kobe gets this team to 45 wins in my opinion the final decision should be between him and LeBron James.

[Diable]

Originally Posted by Jameh

Parker has openly admitted he probably wouldnt be in the LEAUGE right now if it wasnt for Kobe. I doubt he'd be starting. Besides, don't they have Damon backing up snow? Their backup PG is better than the Lakers starter.

You must be kidding.Damon who?

[ralaw]

Originally Posted by Jameh

Parker has openly admitted he probably wouldnt be in the LEAUGE right now if it wasnt for Kobe. I doubt he'd be starting. Besides, don't they have Damon backing up snow? Their backup PG is better than the Lakers starter.

I disagree, Damon Jones this year has been terrible.