I think Ray Allen's presence on the floor is overlooked in the matter of how the team performed when KG was out; Rondo's as well, and to a degree, Powe and Glen Davis. When KG went down, Pierce was the same Pierce he's been all season so far. He's the man on offense, he's playing that Jim O'Brien defense he used to play, and did I mention he's the man already?
Many of the Pierce fans KNEW he'd be able to play great on a team that actually had other great players and good role players... we were just waiting patiently for this to happen...
If Pierce is the MVP though, I feel it should be looked at how he's performed all season, not just how the team won when KG was out, because it was far more than just PP behind that stretch, IMO. Rondo stepped up big time, as did Powe and Baby, IMO. Ray has been consistent all year, period. What that record proved, IMO, was that this team is deeper than just the big three. It proved that basketball is a team game and KG
alone isn't the reason this team can be considered one of the best in the league. I think Pierce's season overall has earned himself some MVP talk, not just that stretch. Perhaps that stretch could definitely be used as some evidence, but I as a fan of his, I like to think it has been a total accumulation of what he's done over the season...
Team success is what will get him MVP honors if he's to win it. He is playing the same way he's always played, IMO. It's more noticeable now because he's on a much better team overall than he's ever been on, and perhaps will ever be on.
MVP is more than just who's the best player, IMO. If we assessed who's better in every area of the game between Garnett and Pierce (rebounding, defense, scoring, etc.) then most of us I feel would end up putting Garnett on top. However, the game is more than that, especially when you're talking MVP.
Personally, I think all 3 of the all-stars can make a rock solid case for MVP of this team.
