No Deron MVP talk=wtf?

[erudite23]

Everyone has griped a little bit about the lack of MVP buzz for Deron Williams. Don't get me wrong, I think that there are more worth candidates, and I certainly won't say that he is having a better season than his young PG counterpart, Chris Paul. However, I think his name should at least get a mention here and there, bare minimum.

For a little perspective, I went back and compared his year thus far to Steve Nash in 05-06. Here is the tale of the tape:

...........DW......Nash
Pts.......19.1....18.8
FG%.....51.2....51.2
3p%.....40.0....43.9
FT%......79.1...92.1
Ast.......10.3....10.5
TO.........3.5.....3.5
stl..........1.1....0.8


As you can see, these stat lines are eerily similar. Nash has a slight edge in assists, with DW getting a slight nod in points. FG% and TOs are the EXACT same. Both are 40% shooters from deep, with Nash being better by a decent margin. Deron gets more steals. The only real significant difference is the FT%, which I've remarked several times is, imo, the biggest most inexplicable weakness in Deron's game.

Add in the fact that Nash was a turnstile on D, where Deron is certainly no worse than average (and I would argue pretty good), you can't say that from a quantifiable standpoint that Nash was any better that year than Deron is this season. In fact, I would say that Deron's defense edges him above Nash.


Now, if you want to look at the intangibles of the situation, things get more interesting. Nash has had an undeniable effect on the Suns, with the way they have gelled and worked as a team since his arrival. His presence has turned them into a juggernaut with the energy, passion and plain love for the game that he brings.

Still, Deron has done no less for us. We were a middling team before he arrived (just like the Suns). We had good players (again, just like the Suns), but no focus for the offense and all sorts of chemistry and relationship based issues. Upon Deron's breaking out, we immediately began to contend. When he is out, we look like lost children out on the court. He doesn't bring the same fun'n'gun personality as Nash, but we have taken on his personality the same way the Suns have with Steve. We are almost as good an offensive team as those Suns were.


So, even if you give the edge to Nash, which I probably would....how is it that one was not just the winner, but the runaway winner of the MVP, and yet the other doesn't even get mentioned? I'm confused.

[erudite23]

And for those that would argue that all this does is show how Nash's MVPs were a joke, save it. PGs usually don't win MVPs because a lot of their contributions are hard to quantify. This is why Stockton never won. Why J-Kidd never won, and why Isaiah wouldn't have won if he wasn't--in the eyes of the media--obviously the best player on a contending team (sort of like with Chris Paul this year, actually...).

That doesn't mean that they shouldn't, though. Whatever the case may be, Steve at least deserved to be in the running for MVP, there is no arguing that. Showing here that Deron has approached his level of play, why is it that he can't even get a mention?

[Ming Kong!]

The difference is that the Suns had the best record in the league, and the year before they were mediocre. Also consider the numbers of his rivals, and what they actually did for their team and they really didn't deserve it over Nash.

Now while Williams' numbers are just as good now as Nash's were then, and are likely to get better, he obviously doesn't stand a chance vs Kobe, who honestly is the only true candidate this year. Kobe disgruntled and all stepped into this season, and defied all odds, and has his Laker team in first in one of the most competitive western conferences of all time.

[erudite23]

Oh, that's what I forgot. This was his second year in Phoenix, when they only went 54-28, and had the 3rd or 4th best record in the conference. This wasn't his first year there, it was his second, and the team got worse, not better. Although, without Amare, the argument could be made that he kept the team afloat amidst adversity. Except when you remember that they had Tim Thomas sign towards the end of the year and help them immensely, or that Diaw was a MUCH better player with Amare out, and held the fort down nicely in his absence.

[jazzfan1971]

I think this is Kobe's year.

[erudite23]

Excuse me? LeBron is clearly this year's MVP. If Kobe wins it, it will be a cumulative vote, period. LeBron has scored more, assisted more, rebounded more, shot the ball better, blocked more, stole more, and generally played better. You know, the criteria for deciding an MVP.

[Phenom415]

I don't really mind the lack of MVP talk. Something that weirds me out, however, is that fact that Boozer is in the top 10 on NBA.com's MVP Rankings and Williams is not. To me, Williams is undoubtedly the MVP of this team.

[stevebozell]

You forgot the part about winning more, which I personally think is more important than any of those stats you named. I just think the term MVP is so vague, it leaves it open for all kinds of interpretations. I think you nailed the reason Nash won his, the first one because of the drastic turnaround, and the second because of keeping them contenders without Amare. To me, Duncan could win the MVP every year, just like Jordan could have, but they (the voters) seem to like to spread it around so they will pick different criteria every year. And it took over a decade of Malone dominating his position to even begin to be mentioned as the MVP before finally winning it, I think the small Utah market had everything to do with that, so I wouldnt even dream of Deron getting a sniff, hell he cant even get his true props when simply being compared to Chris Paul.

[Reckless]

Has a non-all star ever won a MVP award..i doubt it

but yeah I am getting tired of everyone slobbering over Chris Paul saying he is right up there with Lebron and Kobe for the MVP and no one ever mentions Deron.

[DelaneyRudd]

If the Rockets don't fall you could make a argument for... (dry heave).... T-Mac.

[schneiderjazz]

The only reason Deron is not being mentioned in MVP talks is because he hasn't missed an extensive period of time during a season, so nobody really knows how valuable he really is to the Jazz. Suns were mediocre before Nash went back to Phoenix and the Hornets weren't anything special with Paul injured. If that's what it takes for Deron to get MVP consideration, I really hope he stays out of the MVP race.

[Neon Black]

Something that weirds me out, however, is that fact that Boozer is in the top 10 on NBA.com's MVP Rankings and Williams is not. To me, Williams is undoubtedly the MVP of this team.

Maurice Brooks knows absolutely nothing about the Jazz, bottom line. I've desperately sent him comments about this exact topic, in vain of course. He always posts comments that makes Jazz fans look bad...there is NO WAY Boozer is more valuable than Williams.

[Duiz]

Has a non-all star ever won a MVP award..i doubt it

Excellent point.

I actually don't think it is either LeBron or James. I think that Paul has been putting a different type of stats and definetly has been very very dominant. Kobe as a great team around him. LeBron does a lot of things by himself, and his team record isn't that great.

But what Paul does and how important he is to their success in undeniable and his 21 PPG, 11 APG, and 2.7 SPG is just blistering. To me he is the MVP, obviously the hype will follow LeBron only if Kobe doesn't win the West.


Anyways, I agree.. I think that Deron should be ranked 5th or 6th..

1. LeBron James
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Chris Paul
4. Tim Duncan
5. Deron Williams
6. Paul Pierce
7. Dwight Howard
8. Tracy McGrady
9. Kevin Garnett
10. Carlos Boozer

Why Deron? Well, it wasn't until January after the Kover trade that he really started averaging sick numbers

January - 18.2 PPG/11.6 APG (Record 11-2)
February - 19.7 PPG/10.5 APG (Record 9-4)
March - 19.0 PPG/16.3 APG (Record 5-0)

That means since the Korver trade and since Deron started becoming more of a pass first PG, the Jazz have gone into a 25-6 run. Compare that record with the 27-4 run for the red hot Rockets since January.

The Jazz have gone from 16-16 to 42-22. That is because Deron has carried this team, and we are just 2.5 games behind the Lakers for being the top team of the most contested Western Conference race in history.

So let's see... On the R2MVP, Dwight Howard is ranked 4th, and his team ranks lower that ours and has lost season series against us too. Then there is Steve Nash who is a team that was apparently in the edge of collapsing. That is is also lower than ours, and he has a couple of points less, and a quarter of an inch more assists than Deron. Dirk Nowitzki gets suspended, also his team starts taking and is one game in front of Golden State, and hist stats aren't too impressive, and his defense has been such a liability to the Mavs.

Allen Iverson is a true warrior... but 26 PPG means nothing if you are 2 games out of the playoffs and you have to face the Spurs tomorrow. Deron averages two points less a game, and two assists more a game. Jazz have been far superior to the mediocre Golden State.

Tracy McGrady should be pretty high too, but he has missed a lot due to injury, and Yao Ming was the best player on the team until he got injured. His stock should rise after the fall of the Great wall of china, but still no cigar.

Deron is the man, he deserves some mention much better than stupid 13th. Boozer is not even the man of the team. I don't know what the record is when Boozer misses a game this year, but I assure you we haven't lost a game without him.

http://www.82games.com/0708/0708UTA1.HTM

This is the net points impact that the team had on the floor while the players are in. This is the top 3 impact in total for the season.

(1) Deron Williams +290
(2) Andrei Kirilenko +282
(3) Carlos Boozer +264

Note: OMFG, with all the injuries and missed games, Kirilenko has those net points, that is insane. Props to AK.

Jazz fans, let's stop this media holocaust against the Jazz and Deron from happening. Let's speak out, and tell Mo Brooks who makes R2MVP what we think about Deron and his rankings.

The more of us who speak out, the more chance we will have of getting Deron some spotlight.

http://www.nba.com/chat_and_mailboxes/r ... ilbox.html

[Neon Black]

i'm not 100% on this, but i'm pretty sure that the Jazz haven't won a single game WITHOUT Deron since last season.

However, we went on that 8 game win streak last year without Boozer, inculding wins against San Antonio and Poenix, and just obliterated the Lakers this year without Boozer or Memo. And of course, we've won plenty of games with AK's little injuries.

There is absolutely no way you can argue that Deron Williams is not THE crux of this team.

[DiscoLives4ever]

I'm fine with D-Will not getting any love. He's at his best with a chip on his shoulder, and as long as the media treats him a step lower than Paul (when reality it's a very, very small step) Deron will continue to be unstoppable. I can't wait to see him in the playoffs. Opposing defenses might as well bend over and spread their cheeks now in anticipation.

[jazzfan1971]

The award usually goes to the best player on the best team.

That might be KG, or it might be Kobe, depending on who you think is better. I give the edge to the Lakers because of how much stronger the West is, but, then it just might be my west bias.

I don't think Lebron has taken his team far enough to be considered, despite his stats.

[carrottop12]

I actually don't think it is either LeBron or James.

Well done.

And by the way, I do think it is LeBron.

[Duiz]

-= original quote snipped =-



Well done.

And by the way, I do think it is LeBron.

ROFTLMAO! I didn't realize I wrote that. I meant Kobe.

btw.

CJ Miles >Kobe Bryant>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> LeBron

[bleu]

I've wondered the same thing, but honestly, tell me with a straight face that Deron Williams is better than Kobe Bryant. It just won't happen within the next 3 years.

[sarah42]

Duiz - you like chris paul for mvp? wow!

i know my sig says the same thing, but the way the hornets are falling...meh. never going to happen.

ppl are still mad nash got those mvps.

if lebron gets it and his team doesn't get 50 wins, its a sham.

the celtics look like they will have the best record, and since they crushed the lakers twice this season, i think they are the better team. will voters give it to kg? something tell me no.

its looks like its kobe's year. yuck.

btw, deron should be higher in the mvp rankings, at least higher than carlos.

carlos, though very talented, doesn't impress on the defensive end.
deron is the dude that scares ppl first.