Dark Horse MVP Candidate: Manu Ginobili

[huskerdu]

Why did the original thread get deleted? And as of right now, Ginobili deserves the MVP.

[Lionel Messi]

It was merged into the MVP thread bro. Pinned at the top. It was my fault for not putting it there in the first place.

[huskerdu]

ahh gotcha

[Alex_De_Large]

There are atleast 15 better options.

[Tommy Sneakers]

Best player on the best team. He deserves to be considered an MVP candidate.

[Donald Kaufman]

There are atleast 15 better options.

Sure, for people that know nothing about basketball.

[tsherkin]

Manu's playing very well, but to suggest that he's a legit MVP candidate is a bit of a stretch.

His 22/4/5 is pretty good. His D has been good, he's been clutch, etc, etc. The Spurs are playing way faster than usual, and he's a big part of that.

But he's certainly not an obvious MVP at this point. Hell, there are a bunch of guys I'd look at right now. What Nash is doing, holding down the 3rd-best offense in the league with Channing Frye, what remains of Grant Hill and other assorted spare parts while posting 19/10? That's worth as much of a thought as anything else. I wouldn't give Nash the MVP at this stage, but what he's doing with the Suns is at least as good as what Manu is accomplishing with superior help.

Kevin Durant in OKC? Leading the league in scoring, posting about 27/7/3 on a 12-6 team? He's at least as deserving in principle, though given how well Westbrook is playing, one might temper KD's case.

27/4.5/6 in 33.6 mpg from Kobe on an L.A. squad that's 13-5 is worth a look. Gasol's playing exceptional ball at the moment (21/12/4, good D, etc). One also has to at least mention Derrick Rose and his 27/8 opening to the season. We could talk about Rondo, but a better choice would be Chris Paul. You could make a compelling pro-Deron case as well. He's managing 22/10 on a 14-5 team. Dwight Howard? 22/12 on a very successful team.

And last, but certainly not least, the 32 year-old Nowitzki managing just under 26 ppg on a very successful team.

All of these guys have, at WORST, an equivalent case for the MVP at this time as has Ginobili.

Manu is good, for sure, this is arguably his best season so far, but that doesn't make him a runaway MVP favorite at this stage of the season when so many others are playing at a similar or higher level on teams with a similar record.

[jinxed]

^good post

[Mr David Stern]

JJ Hickson begs to differ.

[Joel Embust]

I agree, he's a dark horse MVP candidate.

[Donald Kaufman]

Best player on the best team. He won't win of course, but he should at least be in the conversation.

[Hilltop]

Ed David just entered the race

[cubzfanatic120]

It would be awesome. Spurs fans, unlike another fanbase...don't diminish players to prop up our franchise player...same can't be said for another team, not gonna name names

[Edrees]

I'd vote duncan before i voted Ginobli for MVP

[BFrizzy]

Duncan has played some good games, but also played some mediocre ones this season. Manu has been far superior to Duncan so far, and has come up big in a lot of games.

He wont win the MVP, but who wouldnt want him on their team?

[ImmortalD24]

He's easily the best player on the best team.. I don't see why not.

[Kid Vicious]

First of all, wouldn't he be a 'White Horse' candidate?

Second of all....LOL!!!!!!

[jaypo]

I love the fact that someone with a bigger nose than me is in the running for MVP!!!

Seriously, though, he can't be a candidate. That will go against the popular notion that Duncan has never had any help and singlehandedly won 4 titles!

[Flash3]

It was merged into the MVP thread bro. Pinned at the top. It was my fault for not putting it there in the first place.