Race to the MVP.

[C-izMe]

The best player isn't necessarily the most valuable. It's a basic concept really (for example Dirk was more valuable to the Mavericks than Lebron was to the Heat in 2011).

[kamelion4291]

The best player isn't necessarily the most valuable. It's a basic concept really (for example Dirk was more valuable to the Mavericks than Lebron was to the Heat in 2011).

And if Kevin Love was Dirk's backup, is Dirk now less of a MVP candidate? He's still the same player. Derrick Rose was MVP, and the Bulls win a lot of games without him.

Your value is tested by your ability on the court, not that the team does or doesn't collapse if you go to the bench. When you're in a very good and very deep team, you're going to have a lot of surrounding talent to mitigate injuries. According to your definition of MVP, Garnett should have been MVP last season because Boston fell off a cliff every time he went to the bench. LeBron does more for Miami than Melo does for the Knicks. It's why he's universally regarded as the best player in the league.

Even if we both agreed that your definition of MVP was the correct one, Tim Duncan would still be a better choice than Melo right now by the way.

[kingkirk]

Carmelo has been terrific thus far, but Lebron still impacts the game a lot more in many other facets than what Carmelo can do.

Whilst its painful to admit it, Lebron is on another level in comparison to every other player going around.

[TheGarden]

Carmelo right now should be #1 on every ones list

Why? Heat are 5-1, the defending champions, and LeBron is leading the league in PER while being a standout defender. Like most people said before the season, it's LeBron's to lose unless the Heat underachieve or the media gets tired of voting for him.

all good points except the defending champs thing, that has no effect on the MVP for this year

LeBron is being LeBron, no changes really just consistent effort

Carmelo is playing the best basketball he has in the last 2 years, he's boasting 25.0 PER, James Harden only has 20 points tonight so his PPG went down and now Melo is leading the league in scoring while also playing inspired defense, so he has his say in the race

*sidenote* I think Kyle Lowry leads the league in PER by a hair

[Brickz7]

you take lebron off the heat and carmelo off the knicks the heat would go further..melo is more VALUABLE to his team at this point

[kamelion4291]

you take lebron off the heat and carmelo off the knicks the heat would go further..melo is more VALUABLE to his team at this point

It's the Most Valuable Player of the league award, not Most Valuable Player to his team.

[kamelion4291]

Carmelo right now should be #1 on every ones list

Why? Heat are 5-1, the defending champions, and LeBron is leading the league in PER while being a standout defender. Like most people said before the season, it's LeBron's to lose unless the Heat underachieve or the media gets tired of voting for him.

all good points except the defending champs thing, that has no effect on the MVP for this year

LeBron is being LeBron, no changes really just consistent effort

Carmelo is playing the best basketball he has in the last 2 years, he's boasting 25.0 PER, James Harden only has 20 points tonight so his PPG went down and now Melo is leading the league in scoring while also playing inspired defense, so he has his say in the race

*sidenote* I think Kyle Lowry leads the league in PER by a hair

Lowry's at 8th. LeBron at 1, Melo at 4.

[C-izMe]

The best player isn't necessarily the most valuable. It's a basic concept really (for example Dirk was more valuable to the Mavericks than Lebron was to the Heat in 2011).

And if Kevin Love was Dirk's backup, is Dirk now less of a MVP candidate? He's still the same player. Derrick Rose was MVP, and the Bulls win a lot of games without him.

Your value is tested by your ability on the court, not that the team does or doesn't collapse if you go to the bench. When you're in a very good and very deep team, you're going to have a lot of surrounding talent to mitigate injuries. According to your definition of MVP, Garnett should have been MVP last season because Boston fell off a cliff every time he went to the bench. LeBron does more for Miami than Melo does for the Knicks. It's why he's universally regarded as the best player in the league.

Even if we both agreed that your definition of MVP was the correct one, Tim Duncan would still be a better choice than Melo right now by the way.

Yes he's less of a candidate if he's less valuable to his team. Garnett shouldn't have been MVP because more people had more of an impact on their teams (Chris Paul and Lebron come to mind). Lebron doesn't do anything they can't replaces marginally (at least. Wade can do everything he can). Without Carmelo thy don't have anyone who can score consistently. At all.

And Duncan would be a better choice I completely forgot about him somehow (I actually said earlier in the thread he was the first week MVP).

[lolcat]

The best player isn't necessarily the most valuable. It's a basic concept really (for example Dirk was more valuable to the Mavericks than Lebron was to the Heat in 2011).

And if Kevin Love was Dirk's backup, is Dirk now less of a MVP candidate? He's still the same player. Derrick Rose was MVP, and the Bulls win a lot of games without him.

Your value is tested by your ability on the court, not that the team does or doesn't collapse if you go to the bench. When you're in a very good and very deep team, you're going to have a lot of surrounding talent to mitigate injuries. According to your definition of MVP, Garnett should have been MVP last season because Boston fell off a cliff every time he went to the bench. LeBron does more for Miami than Melo does for the Knicks. It's why he's universally regarded as the best player in the league.

Even if we both agreed that your definition of MVP was the correct one, Tim Duncan would still be a better choice than Melo right now by the way.

Yes he's less of a candidate if he's less valuable to his team. Garnett shouldn't have been MVP because more people had more of an impact on their teams (Chris Paul and Lebron come to mind). Lebron doesn't do anything they can't replaces marginally (at least. Wade can do everything he can). Without Carmelo thy don't have anyone who can score consistently. At all.

And Duncan would be a better choice I completely forgot about him somehow (I actually said earlier in the thread he was the first week MVP).

[andyo]

Carmelo has been terrific thus far, but Lebron still impacts the game a lot more in many other facets than what Carmelo can do.

Whilst its painful to admit it, Lebron is on another level in comparison to every other player going around.

Pretty much this. To add to that point, I don't see Carmelo's play holding up over a 82 game season.

[LeChosen1]

CARMELO IS THE MVP SO FAR....Yall need to calm down, still got 70+ games

[TheHartBreakKid]

If Kobe is in the conversation, Rondo has to be in the conversation.

Sure, Rondo can be in the conversation too as he has a sensational start to the season. I personally believe neighter are really "in the conversation" as much "they will be in the conversation once the team wins start adding up". However, one might argue that it's a far safer bet to assume that the Lakers will finish near the end of their conference by the end of the season than the Celtics will, and that is why my personal opinion is that Kobe WILL enter the conversation soon enough assuming he keeps up his high level of play (which is a big question mark...a finger/wrist/ankle injury is bound to happen and mess up his efficiency), while I don't think Rondo will ever really enter the conversation even if he does keep up his level of play because I don't see the Celtics being top 3 in their conference, though I do believe that they are one of the three best teams come playoff time. This is ofcourse my opinion, and I don't think it's foolish to think that the Lakers will start dominating soon while the Celtics will certainly improve, but won't contend for the number one seed in the East.

That unnecessary rant aside, both Kobe and Rondo have been great and if their teams were winning, they would have to be both in the conversation.

[starvinmarvin17]

The best player isn't necessarily the most valuable. It's a basic concept really (for example Dirk was more valuable to the Mavericks than Lebron was to the Heat in 2011).

And if Kevin Love was Dirk's backup, is Dirk now less of a MVP candidate? He's still the same player. Derrick Rose was MVP, and the Bulls win a lot of games without him.

Your value is tested by your ability on the court, not that the team does or doesn't collapse if you go to the bench. When you're in a very good and very deep team, you're going to have a lot of surrounding talent to mitigate injuries. According to your definition of MVP, Garnett should have been MVP last season because Boston fell off a cliff every time he went to the bench. LeBron does more for Miami than Melo does for the Knicks. It's why he's universally regarded as the best player in the league.

Even if we both agreed that your definition of MVP was the correct one, Tim Duncan would still be a better choice than Melo right now by the way.

Yes he's less of a candidate if he's less valuable to his team. Garnett shouldn't have been MVP because more people had more of an impact on their teams (Chris Paul and Lebron come to mind). Lebron doesn't do anything they can't replaces marginally (at least. Wade can do everything he can). Without Carmelo thy don't have anyone who can score consistently. At all.

And Duncan would be a better choice I completely forgot about him somehow (I actually said earlier in the thread he was the first week MVP).

no other team can throw a pf on a pg when they are lighting you up. just ask jeff teague the most recent victim

[Deathclutch23]

TD, Melo and LeBron are top 3 so far.

[TheGarden]

TD, Melo and LeBron are top 3 so far.

sounds about right

[carbine23]

Looks like Melo and Bron debates are up and running again. Been a while for NBA, since they were pitted against each other since their HS days or sumthin like that.

[PeteW]

Arent we talking about who is the MVP at this moment? Lebron is clearly the best player in the world but if the mvp season was to end right now Melo would win it.. Team is undefeated and the judges would look at the head to head match and knicks did beat the heat in their opener..

As the season progresses Lebron will probably become #1 in the ladder again but RIGHT NOW its Melo..

[wadeallday1]

Carmelo is shooting 44% from the field and averages 1 assist per game. You cant find one flaw in LeBron's game right now. Maybe his headband is too high?

[NBA4EVA2010]

Carmelo is shooting 44% from the field and averages 1 assist per game. You cant find one flaw in LeBron's game right now. Maybe his headband is too high?

[arifgokcen]

Carmelo is shooting 44% from the field and averages 1 assist per game. You cant find one flaw in LeBron's game right now. Maybe his headband is too high?