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Nowitzki
Duncan
Kobe
Nash
LeBron
MVP Debate Rages On
By Kori Ellis
SpursZONE.com
With the NBA playoffs right around the corner, the MVP debate rages on. With just a week left in the 2006-07 regular season, no clear cut winner has emerged. However, a case can be made for (and against) five top candidates for the award.
Kobe Bryant
Los Angeles Lakers
Points - 31.2
Rebounds - 5.6
Assists - 5.5
Blocks - .48
Steals - 1.44
FG% - 45.9
3FG% - 34.7
FT% - 86.6
Minutes - 40.8
Why?
Last month Kobe Bryant had a historic stretch of games, scoring 50 or more points in four straight outings. For the month of March, he averaged an astounding 40.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists, while shooting 46% from the floor. Bryant is again leading the league in scoring and is without a doubt the most explosive offensive player in the league.
Why Not?
If the MVP was awarded based on talent alone, Bryant would be a shoo-in. But when factoring in team success, Bryant falls short. Despite his histrionics, the Lakers are in seventh place in the Western Conference, hovering just above .500. At some point, individual achievements need to translate into team success and at this point there isn’t much evidence that Bryant makes his teammates better.
LeBron James
Cleveland Cavaliers
Points - 27.5
Rebounds - 6.8
Assists - 6.0
Blocks - .72
Steals - 1.62
FG% - 47.4
3FG% - 32.0
FT% - 70.3
Minutes - 41.2
Why?
Though his season stats are slightly down from a year ago, a case can be made for LeBron James. James, who is averaging seven rebounds and six assists to go along with 28 point per game, is perhaps the most well-rounded player in the league. With no other star in Cleveland, James’ contributions are invaluable.
Why Not?
The Cavaliers have been faltering as of late, losing seven of their last 12 contests while currently sitting in the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference. And although Cleveland is good, they are still not one of the league's elite teams. Until James can enjoy more team success, he will continue to be a perennial MVP candidate but always fall short.
Tim Duncan
San Antonio Spurs
Points - 20.1
Rebounds - 10.6
Assists - 3.4
Blocks - 2.36
Steals - .82
FG% - 54.2
3FG% - 11.1
FT% - 64.0
Minutes - 34.3
Why?
The Spurs, who have won 24 of their previous 27 games, are the hottest team in the NBA coming down the stretch run of the season and Duncan is the main reason. The two-time MVP is the Spurs’ main focus on offense and is one of the best defenders in the league. He is the undisputed best low-block player in the NBA and has improved his numbers across the board from a season ago.
Why Not?
The Spurs, although playing much better as of late, still trail the Suns and the Mavs in the standings. On top of that, Duncan isn’t a flashy player and his numbers don’t jump off the stat sheet. He also has two all-star quality guards (Tony Parker and Manu Ginobili) on his team that carry a lot of the load.
Steve Nash
Phoenix Suns
Points - 18.9
Rebounds - 3.5
Assists - 11.5
Blocks - .08
Steals - .76
FG% - 53.4
3FG% - 46.8
FT% - 89.3
Minutes - 35.4
Why?
Nash is a great player in his own right, but his value to the Suns is multiplied because he makes everyone on his team better. His ball distribution and ability to draw double teams opens up opportunities for the rest of his squad. His absence would likely be more significant than the other MVP candidates because everything he does on the court affects everyone else on his team.
Why Not?
It's hard to legitimately argue against Nash. One of the only arguments that I've heard against Nash winning the MVP is, "Come on, Steve Nash can't win three in a row." Certainly, it would be a huge accomplishment, seeing as the only others to accomplish the feat of three in a row are Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain and Larry Bird. If Nash wins the MVP award again, he’d historically go down as one of the best players of all-time.
Dirk Nowitzki
Dallas Mavericks
Points - 24.7
Rebounds - 9.1
Assists - 3.4
Blocks - .83
Steals - .65
FG% - 49.9
3FG% - 41.2
FT% - 90.2
Minutes - 36.4
Why?
The Mavericks are the league’s best team and Dirk Nowitzki is the undisputed leader. He has developed into a devastating offensive player, combining a sweet outside stroke with a willingness to attack the rim. Nowitzki is also passing better than ever, while shooting at career-high clips from the field, on three-pointers and from the free throw line.
Why Not?
One can argue that Nash is a better distributor, Duncan is a better low post player, James is more dynamic and Bryant is a better scorer. However, that would ignore what Nowitzki and the Mavs have accomplished this season. The Mavs are on pace to finish with one of the best records of all-time, while Nowitzki has consistently played at a higher level than everyone else in NBA. For that reason, Nowitzki should be the hands down winner of the MVP award.
Note: Statistics reflect games played through April, 10, 2007.
http://www.woai.com/content/sports/s...9-4e984522bf64
Nowitzki
Duncan
Kobe
Nash
LeBron
Nash/Dirk-co-mvps
i don't even care or really want Dirk to win it. just anybody but Nash....please dear God ANYBODY but Nash...if he joins the ranks of Russell, Chamberlain, and Bird, that will be one of the biggest disgraces in the NBA.
That would be pretty cool IMO...
His atrocious defense? But then again, Dirk can be accused of that too I suppose.
I really think its the only way to go this year
Kobe
Dirk
Duncan
Nash
T Mac
You know, its funny T-Mac has gotten no love this year, he's putting up numbers comparable to Dirks, but no mention of his name.
Last edited by mardigan; 04-12-2007 at 01:21 PM.
Kobe/Nash/Dirk...
Kobe is more effecient than both of those players and plays on a far worse team riddled with injuries all season. Also, he's putting up crazy #'s and elevated his game to historcial levels. 2 time Player of the month as well. Still, I don't see the writers vote him in...but he definitely would get the players vote.
Dirk's defense is significantly better than Nash. Dirk also grabs rebounds on the D-side of things. Nash doesn't do a damn thing for his team unless the ball is in his hands. If it's not, he's their biggest liability.
Perhaps the most eye-opening thing about this is the stat comparison between Duncan and Dirk.
Dirk has a big edge on points, while Duncan has a slight edge in boards and a huge difference in blocks. Dirk shoots much better from the stripe, but Duncan has a higher FG%.
The one stat I wasn't aware of is that Duncan gets more steals per game than Dirk.
Based on numbers alone, I might have to go with Duncan over Dirk. Of course, numbers don't tell the entire story... but I find it hard to believe that the media is so quick to discredit Duncan from the MVP race this year. I was suprised to see him in this list.
/homer rant
Dirk's defense isn't atrocious, he's gotten up to a decent defender. His main defensive "move", I guess you would call it, is swiping the ball away from slashers in the paint. He has good blocks from time to time (he had the block against New York that helped the Mavs win), but like I said he's decent. Nash on the other hand sucks at defense. I don't care if he takes charges, thats the easiest type of defense you can play.
Define efficient. Dirk clearly shoots a better percentage and gets more rebounds. Dirk does what the team needs to win all the time pretty much.
This is why I don't see the Suns getting past the Spurs. Parker has owned Nash everytime they've gone up against each other in the playoffs.
Totally agree.
Define effeciency...well based on the NBA effeciency stats...Kobe tops them both.
That's a meaningless stat. A real stat is how well your team is with you in the game compared to what they do without you. Dirk clearly is on the top here.
Shouldn't the team that the player plays on have to be one of the top teams in the league for him to get the MVP award? That would eliminate Kobe as the Lakers are not one of the top teams.
The MVP 'debate' is just something for writers to talk about. I'd rather make playoff predictions. There is no agreed upon definition of MVP - is it the best player, the guy having the best individual season, or the person "most valuable" to their team? If it's best individual player, Nash isn't anywhere close. He's a top 10-15 player for sure, but Kobe is hands-down the best individual player in the game. As for "most valuable," how can you decide amongst LeBron, Kobe, KG, Dirk, Duncan, Nash, Arenas, Wade, etc, on who is more valuable to their teams? They're all significantly worse and up creek without their stars.
And riddle me this, Nash -lickers: Dallas loses him and gets better. The Lakers trade an aging but still effective Shaq and actually get something valuable in return, and still go from elite to middle of the pack. Could it be that Nash is in a system that maximizes his strengths and minimizes his weaknesses? It's not a big thing, nor is it very impressive, that the Suns can hang 130 points on Charlotte or Atlanta in February. They have yet to prove that they can do the same 4 out 7 times in late May-June against the heavyweights. Until the Suns prove that they can put their pants on just like the big boys, they're a very good regular season team, nothing more, nothing less.
Yes, that's why Dirk will probably win it....he's on the best team...even though I put KG ahead of him. Still, I guess being effecient doesn't matter.
i'll be happy with anybody but skirt
It doesn't matter when your team is 40-38 and hobbling into the playoffs. Dirk's team is 65-13.
No, it's clear cut by now. Dirk and Nash.
Go Kobe!
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