MVP Watch 2008... Part 5

[NO-KG-AI]

Yeah, Kobe has the MVP in a strangle hold, if the Hornets capture the 1 seed on some monster performances from Paul, I might be swayed.

[tkb]

It can't be a wash when one team wins and the other loses. Paul was in front before that game, but Kobe made up ground by beating the Hornets.

[Original Baller]

I bet Kobe won't win MVP eventhough Lakers will be the #1 seed. The media hates him too much. Just look at Jon Barry who was saying last week whoever finished first in the West would get his vote. And today he said he's going with Paul no matter what. Remember when Kobe didn't rank on like 20 ballots in '06 when he averaged 35ppg and finished 4th. There are too many guys in the media with a vendetta against this guy.

Props to Chris Paul for winning the increasingly meaningless NBA MVP.

[tkb]

Final rankings


1. Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers



Comments: Kobe's terrific season looks like will be capped off with the Lakers winning the nr 1 seed out west, which is a big accomplishment looking at where the team stood this past summer. Kobe has been a great leader, both on and off the court. He's also been an iron man the whole season playing with a fractured finger and numerous other injuries. Despite his roster getting hit hard by injuries, Bryant kept them in the hunt and they now stand as the nr 1 seed barring a loss to the Kings in the final game.

2. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets



Comments: The best point guard in the league put up one of the best statistical seasons a point guard has ever had, and he led his team to a big turnaround. Paul has been sensational this season, and he would win the MVP in a lot of other seasons with his performance. This kid is going to be scary good for a long, long time and I'm sure he will win at least one MVP during his career (which might happen this season actually).

3. LeBron James, Cleveland Cavaliers



Comments: Monster season statistically. Had James had the same team success as the top 2 contestants here, he would be running away with the award most likely. James has improved his defense this year, and as a result has had his best individual season to date in my estimation. Lack of team success puts him 3rd in the race though.

4. Kevin Garnett, Boston Celtics



Comments: Biggest turnaround in NBA history. That's a pretty nice achievement, and KG has been the catalyst for the Celtics achieving that. His stat line might not be as impressive if you look at raw numbers as the other players in the top 5, but KG has been a monster defensively and he plays less minutes due to the Celtics being so good.

5. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic



Comments: How good is this guy? Leads the league in double doubles averaging 21 points and better than 14 rebounds per game, at the age of 22. Howard has elevated himself to be the most dominant center in the league and considering his age, that's remarkable. Leading the Magic to 50 wins is also impressive, so he gets the nod over Duncan and Nash for the final spot on the ballot.

6. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
7. Steve Nash, Phoenix Suns
8. Chauncey Billups, Detroit Pistons
9. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
10. Tracy McGrady, Houston Rockets

HM: Amare Stoudemire, Deron Williams.

The race out west has made this an amazing season. All the big name trades were exciting as well. This MVP race is the best race in a while with 2 very deserving contestants. Hopefully we'll get to enjoy more seasons like this one in the future.

[Slava]

Wow I'm really surprised by Tim Duncan and Steve Nash making the list ahead of Ginobli and Amare respectively. Amare has been possibly the best scoring big man in the NBA this season alongside may be Nowitzki and Ginobli seems to have been the SPurs' best player this season.

[Chris435]

I was hoping someone in the NBA would put Kobe's case as the MVP to rest. Oh well, now I just hope he doesn't get it . Go KG!!! [/list]

[SA37]

I was hoping someone in the NBA would put Kobe's case as the MVP to rest.

That was never going to happen because he has a legit case for being MVP. However, he isn't the only one who has a great case for MVP, no matter how many Laker/Kobe fans want to dismiss many of these cases either by extrapolating Kobe's non-statistical impact or by trying to diminish statistical accomplishments by other players.

No matter how you feel the MVP should be decided Kobe has a case, whether you view the MVP as the person most indispensable to a team, the best player in the game, or best season on a contending team. His isn't necessarily the best case in any or every scenario, but he is certainly at the top of the discussion.

[Doctor MJ]

Wow I'm really surprised by Tim Duncan and Steve Nash making the list ahead of Ginobli and Amare respectively. Amare has been possibly the best scoring big man in the NBA this season alongside may be Nowitzki and Ginobli seems to have been the SPurs' best player this season.

Nash vs Amare really isn't close for me. Amare's been great in the second half, but Nash has been the guy for the full year who makes the most difference.

Duncan vs Ginobili is close. I had Ginobili ahead of Duncan earlier in the year, but then Ginobili slipped a bit. In the end I wouldn't have a problem with someone having Ginobili above Duncan, but I generally give the benefit of the doubt to 1) the dominant big man 2) the guy who plays more 3) the established leader & superstar. Duncan is obviously all of those guys.

[fadinaway]

I dunno about Dwight being 5th. He really fizzled down the stretch and let him team have some BAD losses. Hedo had more impact in the last quarter of the season that him IMO

My final rankings:

- Kobe
- CP3
- LeBron
- Amare
- Dirk (He really showed me something after that injury with his gritty/clutch play)

[Big Money]

Have to bring out the big guns in such a tight race

VIDEO
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5KKgs8o ... =1&t=t&f=b

PICS
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y87/mi ... 840-ge.jpg

[Kobay]

Nash's impact on the floor is too great for the suns. Despite amare beasting it up when Nash isn't on the floor their +/- suffers.

[eatyourchildren]

Amare? GTFO.

His isolation ability is *YAWN*

[Andrew Bynasty]

So does anyone still think Kobe isn't MVP?

[KDRE]

I don't think Mr Paul's year should be overlooked and that he should probably get the award but that doesn't mean he will.

For what he has done with that Hornets team and on his own individual basis, I think he should be frontrunner, but alas, changing of the criteria each year has made the selection process a farce.

[eatyourchildren]

I don't think Mr Paul's year should be overlooked and that he should probably get the award but that doesn't mean he will.

For what he has done with that Hornets team and on his own individual basis, I think he should be frontrunner, but alas, changing of the criteria each year has made the selection process a farce.

Nobody is overlooking CP's year. The guy is consistently voted as a 1st or 2nd place finish in this year's race. If that's called being overlooked, then Kobe wasn't even on the horizon in years past.

So wait, if CP wins it, the selection process isn't a farce? The selection is and always has been fluid. Deal with it.

[Kobay]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=MVP08

[eatyourchildren]

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?page=MVP08

Freakin Legler. Had Kobe #1 all of 2 weeks ago, then as #2 a week ago, and now as #3. Has Kobe played worse or something?

Abbot was no surprise, he's a huge Blazers fan, and if any team has been tormented by the Lakers, it's them (and the Kings).

Interesting to see who thinks Kobe's the best player in the game v. LeBron being the best.

[The MVPlaya]

LOL @ Jemele Hill having Kobe #1 now. That's ESPN is a nutshell for you.

Wasn't it her who just last week said it would be criminal and a shame to give the MVP award to Kobe over Paul?

Wow. What a difference 2 games makes.

[semi-sentient]

Pretty much every one of the ESPN "experts" that didn't have Kobe as #1 used the "Lifetime Achievement Award" as an excuse as to why they didn't select him. What a crock. I'm pretty sure the overwhelming majority of people believe that he deserves it based on how this season has gone. They are just taking that weak ass argument and running with it.

[semi-sentient]

PS: Hollinger, Ford, and Abbott are complete turds. Why don't they just write "I hate Kobe, so I'll give the vote that he deserves to LeBron" instead of trying to give us a BS excuse as to why they didn't place him higher?