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In the past twenty years, only two players from the Eastern conference have won the MVP award: AI and Jordan.

Jordan won it 5 times and AI won it once. So 70% of the time the MVP has gone out West.

So take away the GOAT, and the East has basically won the MVP once in the past twenty years.

If Garnett wins, he'll be with some fairly unique company.

The elephant in the room phrase only works if everyone is aware, but no one wants to say anything. Not sure that's apt here.

Funny, I didn't realize that. Suppose I should change the title...

Well, LeBron is the best player in the NBA, so I'd expect the East to have another MVP in another year or two.

Well, Lebron is the second or third best player in the NBA, so I think there's a chance that when he develops a jumper and the ability to hit free throws at 75%+ clip he could win a MVP or two.

C'mon Cavs wrote:Well, LeBron is the best player in the NBA, so I'd expect the East to have another MVP in another year or two.

But the thinking around Lebron is "he's young he's got plenty of time to get it"

If they keep snubbing him like that he won't be so young and be robbed of half a dozen MVPs.

The award shouldn't be taken too serious anymore. The fact that Chris Paul is not going to win says it all.


You can't use the production or team success argument to deny him the trophy because no one else comes close to being tops in both.

KG isn't going to win it its Paul or Kobe...

Two man race right now.

Eh after the past few MVPs it just seems they are going by record. The award doesn't hold much weight anymore.


Perhaps its because there are so many derserving as opposed having one clear cut winner like in the past.

sweet_jesus wrote:Perhaps its because there are so many derserving as opposed having one clear cut winner like in the past.

That's exactly what it is.

bstein14 wrote:KG isn't going to win it its Paul or Kobe...

Two man race right now.

Co-signed.
And LeBron and Dwight are ahead of KG in voting, IMO.

I have a feeling it will be Paul this year.

why woud Dwight be in the running? After Nash won back to back MVPs it's really lost it's weight as an award.

I wish they changed the voting system to have it decided by coaches and referees or something. Anything other then sportwriters/fans.

Are the names of MVP voters public knowledge? Give me the link if it is.

That would just continue the thought that the East has been weak for a long period of time. I often hear now that Lebron can't win MVP since he won't even win 50 games in the East. That whoever comes out on top in the West deserves the award.

The fact is, that in 1987-1988, Larry Legend was second in the voting, so he would have won it if Jordan hadn't. Some would say that Pippen was an MVP-caliber player and he could have won the award as Chicago's leader if Jordan wasn't on them. Changing history means you're changing the circumstances, so it's hard to say who would have won if Jordan hadn't.

Pippen would not been winning MVPs if not for Jordan. I think you look back at the 90s and some might say that MJ was the best player in the league but was the next group of great players all in the West?

Anticon wrote:In the past twenty years, only two players from the Eastern conference have won the MVP award: AI and Jordan.

Jordan won it 5 times and AI won it once. So 70% of the time the MVP has gone out West.

So take away the GOAT, and the East has basically won the MVP once in the past twenty years.

If Garnett wins, he'll be with some fairly unique company.

I think it's unwise to try to make such a statement about the last 20 years, I'd stick to the last 10.

As for Garnett being in some unique company if he wins, he sure will. I think he'll be only the 2nd player in history to win the MVP with his team winning 7 games without him. The first was of course Bill Walton whose team won 8 games without him. Of course Walton missed 22 games and Garnett's missed only 9.

Garnett dosen't have the statistical numbers like the others.... but he posseses the other intangibles...His leadership is measured in his intense desire to win.... he takes every loss personal...

Before he became a Celtic, I never knew or even noticed this about him....he lights a fire in those around him....

KG has changed the whole complection of this team with that intense desire and the drive to succeed and to win.... its contageous!....and that's why he should be the leagues MVP IMO... just look at that Celtic turnaround from last year!... that didnt happen by accident!

Garnett is the heart and soul of the Celtics...and irreguardless of how the MVP voting goes, he's #1 in my book!

Celtsfan1980 wrote:The fact is, that in 1987-1988, Larry Legend was second in the voting, so he would have won it if Jordan hadn't. Some would say that Pippen was an MVP-caliber player and he could have won the award as Chicago's leader if Jordan wasn't on them. Changing history means you're changing the circumstances, so it's hard to say who would have won if Jordan hadn't.

Really though, how many MVP candidates were there from the East in the 90s? Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Ewing. I don't think Pippen would ever have been a serious candidate without Jordan.

Out West you had Barkley, Hakeem, Drexler, Robinson, Malone as top candidates, and lower tier guys like Stockton, Payton, and even a young Duncan and Shaq.

That distorts itself even further in this decade, until this year. Out West there was Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Garnett, Nash, Nowitzki. Out East there was AI, Lebron, and Wade.

I just think it's an interesting trend.

Anticon wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Really though, how many MVP candidates were there from the East in the 90s? Jordan, Reggie Miller, and Ewing. I don't think Pippen would ever have been a serious candidate without Jordan.

Out West you had Barkley, Hakeem, Drexler, Robinson, Malone as top candidates, and lower tier guys like Stockton, Payton, and even a young Duncan and Shaq.

That distorts itself even further in this decade, until this year. Out West there was Shaq, Duncan, Kobe, Garnett, Nash, Nowitzki. Out East there was AI, Lebron, and Wade.

I just think it's an interesting trend.

Pippen finished third the year Jordan wasn't around. He was a serious candidate.