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MVP race not a two-man show

March 17, 2009 @ 6:41 pm by Eddie Johnson · Filed under Dwyane Wade, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James

Ask me who I think is the best pure basketball player on Earth when it comes to smarts, overall ability, mental toughness, fundamental skills and clutch play and I will say Kobe Bryant. Ask me who I think is the most physically dominant basketball player with similar traits and I will say LeBron James.

But if you ask me who I think will win the MVP award if voting is in favor of the player that has the weakest supporting cast and yet still has his team in the playoffs and competing at a high level… Then I will tell you it’s Dwyane Wade.

I have been one of Wade’s most vocal critics, but his dedication this year in getting his body in great physical shape to play 82 games has paid dividends that we all knew he had.

Wade listened to someone this past offseason – or maybe he just watched the ultimate workout machine, Kobe Bryant, over the past few summers while playing for the Redeem Team. He reported to the Olympics in great shape and it showed with his ability to play great on both ends of the court and stand out more than anyone else on that gold medal team.

Wade was the best player this past summer and he is trying extremely hard to convince a great number of writers to change their thinking about who should be MVP this season. What he has done this season – 29.9 points a game, and even better after the All-Star break – sends a signal to anyone who thought it’s a two-man show between LeBron and Kobe for the award.

The run Wade has been is Jordan-like for sure. He is not only putting up insane numbers. He is also flirting with triple doubles every night and winning games with Hollywood endings. He has truly become an un stoppable force with his ability to get to the rim at will to set up his improved shooting range out to the three-point line.

Kobe and LeBron have taken notice because their numbers have risen in this stretch as well.

Wade is on such a rapid pace with a mediocre team that I can’t help but say he has become a serious contender to Kobe and LeBron. If voting goes to the standards of how to view a MVP, Wade should walk away with the award beating this year’s most dominant player – LeBron James.

That has happened before. Charles Barkley and Karl Malone won the award during the Michael Jordan era. Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki have been MVPs this decade – basically dominated by Kobe, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan.

So we must assume the MVP does not usually go to the best player in the league. The best example would be Steve Nash, who admitted during his back-to-back MVP run that it was absurd to think he was better than Kobe, LeBron, Duncan or Shaq. But he was doing something no one expected and that was taking a 28-win Phoenix Suns team and help turn it into the most exciting team in the league by winning 62 games.

Wade is not doing that. He has the Heat only six games over .500 (36-30) and in fifth place in a weak Eastern Conference, but if you look at the Heat’s roster without him they would be lucky to win 12 games.

That reason alone will increase Wade’s chances of leapfrogging over Kobe and LeBron.

The easiest comparison of the three might lie in if the voters agree with my thought that the Lakers and Cavaliers would still be potentially play-off bound teams minus Kobe and LeBron and where would the Heat be without Wade.

The Lakers have Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum and Derek Fisher, which would be a legit fifth or sixth seed in the Western Conference. The Cavaliers have Mo Williams, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and a trio of solid veterans that could have them competing for a sixth, seventh or eight seed in the East. Miami? It would be lottery-bound squad with an aging Jermaine O’Neal surrounded by a nucleus of young players still trying to figure the league out.

That sceanario should really get Kobe’s and LeBron’s supporters scrambling because if Wade continues with this rapid pace and somehow overtakes Atlanta for the fourth seed, then Wade will have a chance to win his first MVP award and that will be the biggest steal he has had all year long.

Dwyane Wade: 29.9 ppg, 7.6 apg, 5.1 rpg, 2.28 spg 49.8 FG%
LeBron James: 28.5 ppg, 7.2 apg, 7.5 rpg, 1.76 spg, 48.7 FG%
Kobe Bryant: 28.0 ppg, 4.9 apg, 5.4 rpg, 1.27 spg, 47.5 FG%

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167 Comments

chris Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 6:53 pm

If that’s the case why didn’t kobe win mvp when he averaged 35 a gameand took a horrible lakers squad to the playoffs in the much tougher western conference and pushed no. 2 phoenix to 7 games, not only did he not win it he wasn’t even considered.
JBEAN Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 7:25 pm

Chris, i couldnt have put it better myself. And eddie, Im pretty sure you can’t all of a sudden count bynum just to make your point. That laker team without kobe and bynum really isnt as good as people make it out to be. Gasol is dope but he is the only talented big man in that last decade to not get double teamed.
Jaredallas Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 7:26 pm

“Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki have been MVPs this decade – basically dominated by Kobe, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan.”
A decade with 7 different MVPs was dominated by no one.
eddie Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 7:42 pm

seems like all you Laker fans show up like ants to food. you guys are so funny. the reason Kobe did not win it was because Steve Nash was doing the same thing but better.

Now all of a sudden Pau Gasol is a dope? give me a break. if you put Pau Gasol on the Heat they would be the lakers.

You guys have issues—who did i say was the smartest and most pure player on earth? it just does not matter to you Laker Fans. Even when someone compliments you. it’s difficult for you to be humble. lol

to Jaredallas

the league was dominated by those three because they won the championships. duh! the Pistons were the only blip.
eddie Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 7:45 pm

You Laker fans Wonder why most of America enjoys it when you lose. i hate to think that i was once a Laker Lover, but only because my favorite player of All-Time and good friend made it easy. Magic.
JBEAN Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 8:40 pm

eddie, now your just getting rediculous. I love steve, but he did the same thing as kobe but better, im, pretty sure he made the all defensive any team. Saying Gasol is dope is giving him a compliment unlike the dope your smoking to make some of your arguments. Everyone talks about this tear wade’s been on. But I saw kobe score over 40 in 9 straight, and 50 in four straight, surpass jordan in 60 point games, and carry a team with a starting point guard who barely gets minutes in the D league and Kwame as his starting center. wade is off the hook but you need to go watch some video from a couple years ago. Kobe is the only player i have watched in the last decade to ever make me gasp and think this was the best i’ve ever seen.
eddie Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 8:57 pm

Well watch Wade and might gasp some more. Steve carried his team from 28 to 62 did Kobe do that? No —– so it was better.

I never have smoked anything in my life sir, sorry.

Bottom line Wade is carrying the whole team and rather you like it or not he might upset both and if he does not win it—Lebron will. does that make Kobe any less? no

i have said it before and i will say it again—its apples and oranges and now its up to the voters and if Wade continues on this run —he will win it.
Kenan Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 9:23 pm

The Lakers went to the playoffs those years without a good team because they got all the calls from the refs. This is especially true in their first round series against Phoenix. Phoenix could not buy a call in games 3 and 4. The only reason why they beat them is because in the last three games they beat the living crap out of the Lakers, so referees could not do much.

Are you all forgetting what Dwayne Wade did in the finals against Dallas. The man single handedly beat the Mavericks. If you look at some of the replays from that series you would see instances where literally the whole Mavericks teams is guarding the guy trying to stop him from getting to the basket.
CJ Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 9:26 pm

I don’t know what else Kobe has to do to get what he deserves. The critics say he shoots too much and that he doesn’t utilize his team. Up until last season the GM gave him a team-he played with KWAME BROWN arguably the worst #1 pick ever, and Smush Parker. Even Lebron plays with a former All star In Ilgauskas. Put Wade or Bron on those laker teams and see what happens. Now he is playing a team game that made TEAM USA win the Olympics, inspired Wade and Lebron to elevate their play this season–and he still isnt given his due. He Takes over–u cry, he plays 4 his team –u cry.

WAde shouldnt win because he is doing what Kobe did a couple years back when Nash Won, even Dirk won
In a Conference dominated by only 3 teams that aren’t the HEAT he doesn’t deserve anything. The best Player on the Best Team (DIRK)

Lebron has just as much help in Mo Williams and Co.

So If LA pulls out with the best record Kobe wins it

U either love his game or u hate it
No middles ground

Overall there is no consistency in choosing MVP its a play of favorites.
haha Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 9:26 pm

lol…. if we wana go by your brilliant then why didn’t lebron win the mvp in ‘05-’06 year when the cavs won 50 games. He was avg’s were 31.4 pts, 6.1 boards, and 6.6 assists. Vastly superior to Nash’s numbers. Or what about when he single handily took the cavs to the finals. That team had nothing and you can say, well they had Hughes… he was trash.

You could argue each year that Lebron SHOULD win the MVP… no other player has meant as much to his team as lebron has. There is no way you can argue that.

Dwyane Wade is a great player, BUT, he will not win the MVP this year (nor should he!). History shows that the MVP goes to the best player on the best team. Not necessarily the best player on any team regardless of record — which has snubbed lebron out one maybe two MVP’s.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 9:30 pm

There’s no way DWade will win MVP. And, he shouldn’t. The Heat will struggle to win 45 games this year. And, the Cavs and the Lakers will both win at least 60 games a piece, closer to 65 each. Even though DWade is nothing short of brilliant, you have to reward the guy who has made his team THE best in the League.

Unfortunately, I think it might come down to who has the better record, the Cavs or the Lakers… which shouldn’t decide it, but might in voters’ minds. Obviously, I’m voting for LeBron for the MVP. He’s got the stats AND the record. Tonight’s game just reinforces that choice. I think the real question should be:

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME THE LEAGUE HAD THREE PLAYERS BETTER THAN KOBE, LEBRON AND DWADE???
Michael Bennett Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 9:34 pm

2008-09 NBA MVP

1. LeBron James
2. Kobe Bryant
3. Dwyane Wade
4. Dwight Howard
5. Chris Paul

Another great question:

WILL DWYANE WADE MAKE THE ALL-NBA FIRST TEAM OVER KOBE?

If so, it will be the first time since 04-05 that it’s happened. Interesting…
Top_Gun Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 9:58 pm

DWade for MVP ! Media gets to vote the winner and they usually go by popularity. This year LeBron seems to be the popular player.
Jarhead Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 11:19 pm

Hey Eddie,
Lebron James has averaged ridiculous stats every year for every season. He has never won the MVP before because they claim that his team is not good enough even though they make it deep in the playoffs with a mediocre fight. The MVP has always been given to the best player in the best team. I don’t agree with that assessment but thats just how it works. Giving it to Wade this team just because Lebron’s supporting cast became better is an insult to what he has been doing his whole career. Tell me, what the heck does Lebron needs to do to win an MVP? Average a triple-double? Get Ferry to trade away Mo Williams so his supporting will suck again?
With your twisted logic, it means that Tmac (or Knee-Mac) should have won when he was in Orlando.
For a former NBA player, I expected more from you.
god matias Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 11:31 pm

Dwyane it is. The definition of MVP is most valuable player. Evidently the winner should go to the player who carries the team in his own hands. Whilst, Jordan won multiple times, and other classic players like David Robinson, Larry Bird, Magic etc….
Since Jason Kidd loss to Tim Duncan a few years ago - there’s not point of debating on who should win the MVP.
Not only a shame, but a problem.
Jams Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 11:41 pm

Anyone that thinks Wade is gonna get the MVP is a fool. Everyone with any sense knows that they always give it to someone on one of the teams with the best record. If they based it on who was actually the most valuable Jordan would have won it about 10 times, Shaq about 4-5 times, LeBron already about 2-3 and Kobe already about 2-3 as well. I think its fair enough how they judge it at the moment as it rewards success, it would be a bit hollow to be the MVP if your team stinks and you only just make the playoffs.
Alvin Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 11:51 pm

okay when steve carried his team from 28 to 62, he deserved that mvp, but what people like eddie don’t know was that that wasn’t even the same season kobe avg 35. it was the year after. INFACT steves team went from 62 to 54 games won..soo why’d he still win the mvp over kobe’s 35??
WITH ALL THAT SAID WADE SHOULDN’T WIN MVP.

AND US KOBE FANS NEED TO REMEMBER THAT MANY PEOPLE DIDN’T LIKE KOBE AND REFUSED TO GIVE THE MVP TO HIM EVEN OVER THE LITTLEST THINGS LIKE OHHH THEIR SEVENTH SEED..HE SHOULDN’T BE IN THE CONVERSATION..
Carlo Said,

March 17, 2009 @ 11:57 pm

Dwyane Wade will win the MVP. He is the most valuable player on that heat roster. Without Wade they would have the record that Sacramento have (lucky if they get to that).

Imagine if from the beginning of the season he has someone to help him on the team besides shawn marion, and now heat got jermaine. he doesn’t have the team that kobe and Lebron has.

Dwyane Wade MVP!!!!!
eddie Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:42 am

I don’t the Miami Heat stinks. i think they have been elevated by the player who is playing like the MVP. Best record does not automatically qualify you. The Lakers and Cavs would make the playoffs without their two stars. The Heat would probably have the worst record. Wade is scoring against more concentrated defenses because he has no very good players along side him and he still is shooting better than Lebron and Kobe.

I think that is more impressive in my book.
god matias Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:45 am

Whilst the term should be changed to Most Vulnarable Pain in your A&&.
god matias Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:47 am

Eddie, I believe its all because Jams has the hots on Kobe and Lebron. hahahaha
Jarhead Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:10 am

But everything Wade has done this season has been done by Lebron for the past few years already. Taking a mediocre team to become competitive (note: not good) has been done by a player before and they rarely win MVP. Let’s face it, although Wade has been spectacular recently (he hasn’t even been spectacular the whole season), Lebron or Kobe deserves it more this season. But more Lebron because he now has the better record with the weaker supporting cast.
But if you want to argue to point that Wade should be MVP, let me ask you: What else does Lebron need to do to win an MVP?
MIchael Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:21 am

Well said Eddie!!! Lakers fans are a special group aren’t they!!!
J Munoz Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:37 am

Hi Eddie,

I would have to disagree with your argument. I agree that Wade is playing at MVP/”Jordaneque” during the late stretch. BUT lets not get too excited and jump into this media circus. LeBron has consistently elevated his team to contender level (in fact on the way to carrying the best record in the league) and while his team is arguably good, without LeBron would undeniably be lottery team (too further strengthen this argument, check the win-loss record of the cavs last year without LeBron).

Another point is I had in mind is that LeBron made made his teammates better (gave shooters their space). What did Wade do to make Beasley or J O’neal better?

Stats alone shouldn’t be a decisive criteria in selecting the MVP (with that Starbury should have been a candidate seasons ago).

A key to a respectable writer, from a readers perspective is have a mind of his own. By simply joining the Wade- media bandwagon or writing what the fans or the media likes to hear is not making your case any better.

I hope you keep this into consideration, Eddie.

Much love from China
januko Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:41 am

For me, Eddie’s right. Dwyane Wade should be MVP. I know there are a lot of debates and yes, MVP awards are mostly given to players who are in a team with the best record. But since Steve Nash’s back-to-back MVPs, I think the deserving winner for the award is for the one who has a great impact for a team that without him, the team would just sink at the bottom of the standings and waiting for pingpong balls after the season ends. Mostly the guys here is still using Jordan as barometer when it comes to MVP — highlight reels, great winning record in the regular season, and popularity. For me, presenting the MVP award to an NBA player must have a new criteria, a criteria in which Eddie just pointed in this article.

Nice one Eddie! I hope the MVP voters can read your article.
J Munoz Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 2:25 am

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=txplayweek&prov=st&type=lgns

By the way Wade lovers, even with his “Jordanesque(?)” week, he didn’t even win player of the week.

Thus my question still remains: If Wade should win it this year, what the heck does Lebron need to do to win MVP???
john marshall Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:16 am

I agree also. Then again we all know Laker fans are not rational. I just love how when Kobe teams was losing he wanted to be traded and trash his team in interviews now they land some good help and he MR.Perfect. I think Dwayne Wade deserves it for all the same reasons and he great for the game. His success is success for basketball as a whole same goes for LBJ. They are liked by just about everyone but Lakers fans. There a reason Kobe is 3rd in the race on ESPN award watch.
balla4real Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:30 am

Lebron need I say more
balla4real Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:34 am

Dis man is a walkin triple double r u guys serious
Mirak Kazanjian Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:44 am

I do not believe that Kobe deserves the MVP. It is definitely between two men for me: D-Wade and Lebron James.

The only place I do not agree with you, Eddie, is when you say that the Cavs will be a decent team without LJ. That is not the case. Let me give you these three cases:

Lebron in Cleveland: makes his role players better
D-Wade in Miami: makes up for his “role players”
Kobe in LA: makes his role players worse

You heard me… I think that a lot of beef is thrown at Pau. He is a good player that has only improved recently, but because he is on a team with Kobe, he hasn’t been able to blossom. Ariza is growing into a good player as well, but has a lot of pressure coming from Kobe. You can see it in his style of play.

Kobe is by far the best player of the three overall, but the question of MVP is a lot deeper than that. I enjoy watching Lebron and D-Wade for the entire 48 minutes. Kobe - I can live off highlights, because I get fed up with his attempts to draw fouls and his harsh attitude to the refs. Lebron and D-Wade bring a new level to the sport and make it an art.

I do believe that D-Wade should and will win the MVP award as long as he continues doing what he has been doing until the end of the season. I give him major props.
Bhavik Patel Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 6:08 am

KOBE IS MVP. PEOPLE JUST HATE ON HIM. HE HAS A LOVE HATE RELATIONSHIP. KOBE IS THE BEST PLAYER ON THE EARTH. LEBARON HAS SAID HE IS THE GREATEST. PUT KOBE ON THE CAVS TEAM INSTEADS OF LEBARON JAMES AND YOU MIGHT SEE THAT TEAM WIN 73 games and break jordans record. HEAT WOULD HAVE A SIGNIFICANTLY BETTER RECORD. WADE AND LEBARON PLAY IN WEAKER CONFERECES meaning they play last talented teams more often. Western coference teams play each west team 4 times and play each east team 2 times vice versa for the east. KOBE HANDS DOWN should be the mvp. Lamar odom has not played to his level recently. if you count lamar as a big time player the lakers have this season the same can be said of marion was on the heat and ben wallace on the cavs.
thebleeptruth Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 7:02 am

Wade definitely deserves tremendous recognition and should finish among the top 3 in the MVP voting. But let’s get serious here. We all know how the voting goes. You can actually notice a trend. It’s pretty obvious. Although I hate the guy cause he’s such an attention whore, a show-off, a “performer” and not much of a “player,” LeBron will WITHOUT QUESTION win the MVP this year. It’s not even gonna be close. Chris Paul should have won it this year cause I think he didn’t get enough respect last year. Kobe deserved the MVP of course but the vote differential over CP3 was too wide. Way too wide. But this year was a disaster for CP3’s Hornets. From the start of the season, it really should have been his year. As for Kobe I don’t think he gave too much effort on trying to repeat as MVP this year, until maybe a few weeks ago. LeBron, on the other hand, from day 1 told himself that he was gonna be MVP, and he did (will). He is, and always will, be after individual accomplishments and records. I say give it to him just so he’d finally shut the hell up. But please please LeBron STOP being such an attention whore.
thebleeptruth Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 7:04 am

But if Wade pulls off a miracle and really wins this year, THANK THE LORD!!!! And IN YOUR FACE LEBRON!
knoc911 Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 7:25 am

Bhavik you have got to be kidding with that. Kobe probably is the best player on the planet but put him in the Cavs and theres still no way youre knocking on 70.
Sure the Lakers are in a stronger conference, but that team is still head & shoulders better (even without bynum) than any team in the west besides Spurs (injuries) and Rockets (injuries and chemistry). Take Kobe off the team and you still have a Lakers team that will compete for a playoff spot. Take LBJ off the Cavs and theyre back in the lottery, same thing with Wade. Now what does that tell you about the Cavs and Heat without their stars in a weak conference.
With that said, any of the 3 could take out mvp honours. But LBJ is slightly ahead imo.
dorin Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 7:34 am

wade mvp ? thats ridiculous .. if miami were in western conference, they wouldnt even qualify for playoffs
Dr. Ian Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 8:23 am

Are you people crazy? Have you seen what Wade has done recently? He is playing like a man possessed. He has been the best player in the league since the olympics. The Heat would be lucky to win 10 games without him. He is surrounded by rookies and an overrated O’Neal.
A Most Valuable Player is one who is most valuable to his team. Take Kobe and Lebron off their team and the Lakers and Cavs are still playoff bound. Take Wade off the Heat and they are top 2 in the draft bound.
Get real people! Lebron and Kobe are sick, but Wade is the PLAGUE!
Damon Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 8:27 am

how could wade watch kobe during the summer? kobe didn’t play in 06, wade didn’t play n 07. so this logic is wrong…
Eric Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 8:36 am

Based on Stats, a solid case could be made for Wade over LeBron. I’ve argued with people the last 3 years b/c I said Wade was the best player in the game, but let’s be honest. LeBron could drop 45 every night if he wanted too. At least 1/4 of his minutes goes completely towards getting his teammates more involved.
I first saw LeBron as a high school senior. He took 2 shots in the first quarter and tried to get his teammates involved. Early second quarter, it was his time. He dropped 50 and didn’t play the last 5 minutes of the game. The other team had two high school all americans too.
LeBron is the MVP.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 8:46 am

The case for LeBron as MVP:

- 28.7 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 7.2 apg, 1.8 spg, 1.3 bpg, 49% FG, 34% 3P. These stats are unbelievable. We don’t have to hear again who the other players have been to average 28, 7 and 7 over the entire season. LeBron’s doing it in under 38 mpg.

- 30-1 record at home. Best home record in the league.

- 54-13 record. Best record in the league.

- 22-4 record against the West. Everyone says that the East is weak (which is BS - the East has 3 of the top 4 teams in the league), but LeBron and the Cavs have shown that they can handle the other conference better than any other team in the league.

- Defense. It’s no coincidence that LeBron decided to step up and focus on defense, and the Cavs are the best defensive team in the league.

- Take him away from the team, and the Cavs have one of the league’s worst records. Right now, their record would be 14-53. Their starting lineup would be:

PG - Mo Williams
SG - Delonte West
SF - Wally Sczcerbiak
PF - Anderson Varejao
C - Zydrunas Ilgauskus

They would NOT be a playoff team in the East. Anyone who thinks otherwise doesn’t watch any Cavs games. LeBron IS the Cavs. His penetration and dishing is the reason why Mo, Delonte, Wally, Pavlovic, Z, any of these guys have open looks. To see how good the Cavs are without LeBron, look at the first six minutes of the 2nd Quarter and first three minutes of the 4th Quarter when LeBron is sitting.

- The Cavs record will probably be 65-17. That would make them have one of the best records in the history of the game.

- Last year, LeBron averaged 30, 7.9 and 7.2 - similar numbers to DWade this year. But, his team was 45-37. In 2005-06, when Kobe averaged 35.4 ppg, his team went 45-37. DWade’s team, this year, will probably go 45-37. THERE IS NO WAY YOU CAN GIVE THE NVP TROPHY TO A GUY WHO WINS 45 GAMES!

DWade is brilliant. I love him. To me, he’s the best SG in the game. I’ve said it on here before. And, I said it with a million Lakers fans going crazy. But, LeBron is not only the better overall player, he’s the 2008-09 NBA MVP.
thedeeofdees Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 8:53 am

Wade should be the MVP!
I get what you guys are saying but lets add up all the factors.
The heat have beaten top teams before the O’neal trade.
They have beaten the lakers, magic and cavs.
Thats extraordinary!
Last season Kobe demanded a trade then the lakers got Pau and the team went to the finals.
This season Lebron got Mo clap clap, Miami had a chance to get him I dont know why they didnt.
But back to the point at hand with the Cavs and Lakers being a whole lot better than Miami, Wade is single handedly winning games for Wade county.
His assists are better than Kobe and Bron, He is shooting a career high 31% from 3’s and his steels are up aswell.
As good as the Cavs are they lost the the freaking Celtics without K.G but last week Miami won against the C’s.
Lakers with such a deep team lost to the sixers last night, to the kings earlier this season and the thunder so are you kiddin me?
Hands down it should be between Wade and Bron.
And if Wade gets his team to the fourth and final home court playoff spot he should get the MVP for sure!
WhatWhat Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:00 am

eddie, you make some valid points. if i could choose the mvp this season, it would be wade…but i would also have chosen kobe 3 years ago because he basically did what wade is doing this year but a little differently. kobe was more impressive scoring-wise but wade’s all-around game is better than kobe’s was. don’t act like all laker fans are ignorant because in an idiot-to-real fan ratio, every team is practically the same. it’s just that the lakers have more fans around the world….unless you’re a celtic fan, then theyre all idiots : P
Harry Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:16 am

Wade has had five teammates in double digit scoring the entire season. He is hardly carrying them alone. Put Lebron or Kobe in the same situation in Miami, and that team has 5-10 more wins.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:24 am

The MVP will not go to a guy with 45 wins. That’s that.
Sam B Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:28 am

as a heat fan i know for a fact that D Wade ain’t gna win the MVP. what really bugs me though is that people forget what the award is about, its not about the team! its called the most valuable PLAYER! i agree with lebrons assessment of it, that if you take that player off the team how bad will they be, and we all saw that down here in south florida last season and it netted us the #2 pick. the lakes n the cavs would still be competitive without there respective stars, but miami without d wade is garunteed for the lottery
Lewis Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:36 am

@ Jaredallas / March 17, 2009 @ 7:26 pm
Do you really think the decade was dominated by no one? Duncan and O’Neal were on the NBA finals from 99 to 07.
skywarp Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:42 am

Lebron will probably win. Kobe’s the best, but Wade is playing the best. The interesting thing is Chris Paul isn’t getting more recognition. He’s basically putting up the numbers that Isaiah Thomas put up in the mid-eighties with a better shooting percentage against modern defense (not 80s run n’ gun) why is he not mentioned more. The Hornets will still win 50+ games even with their uneven play…
Jeffery Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:42 am

Lets count the Vote…

D-Wade:1
Lebron:0
Kobe:0
RJ Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:43 am

eddie, im not really a lakers fan but to say that steve nash winning 62 games with amare, jj, q-rich, raja bell and some other serviceable players was better than kobe carrying a bunch of scrubs to the playoffs while having one of the best individual seasons is pretty absurd. That kobe wasn’t even considered for the MVP that year is a travesty in itself. nash clearly had more to work with and by the look of things, kobe had much less than what wade has to work with now.
Boule Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:50 am

Wade’s team is not as bad as advertised, you could even argue that the heat are major underachievers!!! just look at the roster, with the exception of point guard, this, on paper, is a very strong roster AND has been before the trade.

Put Kobe or LeBron on a team with O’Neal, Haslem, Moon and Beasley and you have a superior team. period. Same if you have Marion and Haslem. These are major sidekicks!

the decision has to be Kobe or LeBron even though Wade has a strong year.

The Lakers without Bynum might even provide the weakest supporting cast of those three teams and still Kobe keeps them rolling. I’d go with Kobe for MVP again. He is just the most complete player by far, knows exactly when to take over and when to pass. If that’s not “most valuable” to a team then I don’t know. Kobe could do what Wade can, but he is beyond that.
J Munoz Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:54 am

From the looks of things, Michael Bennett should be the one writing articles for this site. He seems to have more basketball sense than Eddie. Tsk tsk…to think he was a former basketball player
Sami a Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:00 am

Wade. Look at where the Heat were last year? This year, Miami certainly could surprise a lot of people in the post season solely because of Wade.
G Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:01 am

Wade is the MVP. No doubt.
thebleeptruth Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:05 am

Enough with this talk about “take this player out and they’d be a worse team than if the other MVP-candidate was taken off his team.” Wake up people. The MVP voting does not work that way, though it SHOULD work that way. The most basic formula or trend of how MVP’s are chosen are simple: an all around game (like stats everywhere or at least a double double), winning a whole lot of games more than last season, winning at least 55 games, having a new teammate become an All Star for the first time or become a strong candidate for Most Improved Player award, a lot of noise - being talked about a lot, and momentum. Despite not liking the guy, the attention-whore, given all those I’ve mentioned, the MVP will land in the hands of LeBron James. And he’s gonna win it by a mile. A miracle would have to happen for Wade to win the MVP. C’mon guys let’s get serious. Wade for MVP????! Not this year. I really want him to win, but the odds are stacked against him.
Lupe Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:08 am

Read whole thing please to understand argument!!!

Why Kobe never has won more than one MVP.
Kobe is a lot like Lindsay Lohan. Both started out media darlings, and their off set/court behavior has had an effect on their careers. Let’s be honest with ourselves, the feuds, adultery, holding L.A. hostage with contract negotiations, and throwing the team under bus got to us. He’s been a top 5 talent since the Lakers 2nd title in the Dynasty, but his self-created bizarre behavior has held him back. You can’t justify any of it, and if Kobe had learned to be a grown-up sooner, he’d have a pair more of MVP’s in his closet. To be fair, Kobe, unlike Lohan has recovered from the debacle(she probably won’t ever recover).

Who should be MVP?
Lebron!!! Sure he still has a terrible jumpshot, and he could do better coming off of screens, but he has the best record in the NBA. His cast is undeniably weaker than Kobe’s. Though D-Wade’s team would be vying for a #1 draft pick w/o him, I feel the MVP should be given to someone with a chance at the Finals.

NBA 1st Team
Chris Paul
Kobe Bryant
Lebron James
Tim Duncan(Not based on the recent, but rather holding the Spurs together when Manu, and Tony were out)
Dwight Howard

NBA 2nd Team
Deron Williams
Dwyane Wade
Kevin Durant(Arguably the 2nd best SF behind Lebron, and I know Carmelo exists)
Kevin Garnett
Yao Ming
matt Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:35 am

DUMB! DUMB!! DUMB!!!!

what a made up article. just to get people to read and discuss (it did work).

i mean if eddie REALLY has any nba knowledge (he should) or been around the leauge long enough (and he HAS) he should certainly know better.

sure Wade is playing out of his mind. but if he gets MVP then Lebron should have gotten at least twice in he past 4 seasons.

end of story. case closed.

ps.
the media will do anything to divert attention away from Cleveland.

HATERS! everylast one of ‘em!
Kenny Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:49 am

dude, lebron DOES NOT have as much help as kobe…even without bynum
cHUTCH Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:52 am

Lots of valid points listed above me,
I agree with one common statement that giving the award to Dwade, no matter how amazing he is this year would be a contradiction to the process in the past … as everyone has noted the best player with the best stats has not won the award over the past few years, always a top player on a top team … which wade isnt.
All 3 deserve it, and it does suck that all 3 cant make the ALL NBA first team (unless somehow wade is excepted as a PG so kobe can be SG and lebron obviously SF)
One thing that is driving me crazy is saying that the cavs would be playoff caliber without lebron. I agree his supporting cast is better then Wade’s, but look at past years when lebron doesnt play they can barely come within 20 points of winning a ball game. Also are you telling me that the tandem of Big Z and Mo are a better pairing then what any other team has? those 2 would suck trying to carry a team and crash and burn… even pacers with granger and ford is a better tandem, or Butler and Jamison, or Bosh and Calderon/Matrix, the list goes on … without lebron that team would be terrible!

itll be a close race!
kingsblade Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:57 am

@RJ

The problem with your statement is that you are ignoring the fact that none of those guys were considered to be as good as they are now UNTIL they played with Nash.
jg2gbaby Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:12 am

GOOD WAY TO STIR UP A DISCUSSION EDDIE .. YOU GET POINTS FOR THAT BUT LEBRON IS M.V.P. THIS YEAR NO ARGUEMENT NEEDED !!!
jg2gbaby Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:16 am

DO YOU REMEMBER POSTING THIS EDDIE??? 1. LeBron James

He continues to hold on to the No. 1 spot because he is doing the best job of carrying a team since Hakeem Olajuwon carried the Rockets to back-to-back championships. Also, his follow up to Kobe scoring 61 against the Knicks was downright ridiculous. Scoring 50-plus is one thing, but getting a (quasi) triple-double to boot was the icing on the cake that has kept LB on top. I watched that game and he could have easily gotten 60 if he wanted to.
AGAIN LEBRON M.V.P.
Max VG Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:24 am

Kobe is the best player in the best team and should therefore be considered
the league’s most valuable player. If It was not enough he is a proven winner,
a terrific clutch player. and the reason why Gasol is never double teamed.

By the way he should have won in 2006 already and I’m not a Laker fan nor a long time Kobe nuthugger.
eddie Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:29 am

J Munoz Said,
March 18, 2009 @ 9:54 am

From the looks of things, Michael Bennett should be the one writing articles for this site. He seems to have more basketball sense than Eddie. Tsk tsk…to think he was a former basketball player

J Munoz– Thanks, because i always worry about Michael taking my job. maybe then i will come take yours.—where do you work? lol
eddie Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:32 am

jg2gbaby Said,
March 18, 2009 @ 11:16 am

DO YOU REMEMBER POSTING THIS EDDIE??? 1. LeBron James

He continues to hold on to the No. 1 spot because he is doing the best job of carrying a team since Hakeem Olajuwon carried the Rockets to back-to-back championships. Also, his follow up to Kobe scoring 61 against the Knicks was downright ridiculous. Scoring 50-plus is one thing, but getting a (quasi) triple-double to boot was the icing on the cake that has kept LB on top. I watched that game and he could have easily gotten 60 if he wanted to.
AGAIN LEBRON M.V.P.

yes i do and i still believe that he has been un real, but since i wrote that article Wade has averaged 37 ppg and has been circus like. So now he is in the picture.
Joe Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:36 am

This year’s MVP race is an easy one to pick: it’s Lebron. It isn’t a 3-man race or even a 2-man race, because no one else is even close.

Kobe obviously doesn’t compare favorably to Lebron this year: his stats are significantly lower than Lebron’s, plus his team’s record isn’t any better than the Cavs, despite having a MUCH better roster. People need to realize, the Lakers talent level is so much higher than the Cavs, it’s not even comparable. Plus, with Lebron’s improved defense, he now dominates Kobe in EVERY aspect of the game, with the possible exception of 3-point shooting. Lebron puts up more points, boards, assists, blocks, steals… what more do you want from the guy?

Oh and he’s more “clutch” than Kobe is, any day of the week. 82games.com has studied “clutch” shooting in the final minutes of games, and they pretty much dispelled the myth that Kobe is a clutch player. He takes all of the last-second shots for his team, and as a result he is bound to make some of them… but in terms of percentages he is not a clutch player at all (just look at Kobe’s playoff performances without Shaq for more proof of this).

Wade’s stats are closer to Lebron’s, but still not as good overall. His team is 17.5 games behind the Cavs, which pretty much takes him out of the equation. You can say his supporting cast is weak, but Lebron’s is just as bad. I mean, last night the Cavs played Varejao more than 32 minutes, and Delonte West played over 36 minutes (in a victory over Orlando). You would expect that from a team like the Grizzlies or the T-Wolves, but never from a team with the best record in the league! Sure, they made a nice addition with Mo Williams, but Lebron’s supporting cast is still undeniably weak. He should win the MVP race in a unanimous vote.
Harry Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:38 am

Eddie,

I like your articles a lot more when you’re breaking down the X’s and O’s of the game than when you’re trying to rank players by imaginary standards that evolve and don’t exist.

Wade is a great player. Top 5 maybe. Top 10 definitely. I think his play the last month has been impressive. His body of work this season, however, is inferior to Kobe and Lebron’s. To me, this just piece just smells of you jumping on the Candidate C bandwagon that happens every year this time. Last season it was the absurd calls for a Chris Paul MVP. This year, it’s Wade.

Besides, any basketball fiend knows that without the continuation rule change, Wade is just a very good player.
Hibachi Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:15 pm

I agree with everything said here. Wade does deserve MVP, then Kobe, then Lebron. Yesss
whatwhat Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:44 pm

joe im sorry but…you have no idea what you’re talking about. if you’re saying that kobe isn’t clutch then you really have no credibility at all. any logical kobe hater can at least admit that he hits big shots on a regular basis…

being clutch isnt measured just by how many game-winners you’ve hit. what about the shots that put the nail in the coffin with 1 minute left? what about going on 10-point scoring sprees in the 4th quarter to get your team back in the game?
Craig bailey Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:46 pm

How soon ppl 4get… Honestly the current MVP criteria makes no sense. The last few years it has gone to the best player on the best time which is the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. U telling me the MVP is someone who is on a great team with a great supporting cast… come on people. It should always go to the player who does the most wit the least. I am a die hard Laker & Kobe fan but the MVP this year should go to D Wade. Even tho wat he is doing is what Kobe did 3 years ago and with much less talent and a much tougher conference.

I guess im kinda on the fence with it b cuz if D Wade wins then that shows that the voters are full of crap, which means Kobe shouldve won it @ least 2 times (not including last year)

SO in conclusion this how things should be
1.D Wade wins it this year
2. Chris Paul shouldve won last year
3. Kobe was robbed 2 consecutive years
4. the Steve Nash argument is bullshit, he played with 2 other all stars and a good supporting cast.
5. Lebron will probably win b cuz the media chooses and he’s the most popular rite now.
6. The whole thing is stupid b cuz these media reporters know nuthin about the game. they go strcitly from popularity and a ridiculous criteria.
Craig bailey Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:48 pm

Come on people

Lakers starting 5 in 05/06
Kwame Brown
Lamar Odom
Luke Walton
Kobe
Smush

Suns
Amare - All Star
Shawn Marion - All Star
Boris Diaw
Raja Bell
Nash - All Star

now u tell me who had less to work with.
raptorman Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:51 pm

all i have to say is that i think jELANI MCCOY should be getting a few looks for mvp this year!

Raptors suck!!
Michael Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 12:56 pm

The year Kobe scored 35ppg, he was played 41 minutes per and shooting 45% from the field he was also taking six more shots per game. Also, look at his defensive stats compared to Wade this year: KB-1.8 steals and 0.4 blocks, DW- 2.3 steals and 1.4 blocks.

I have no intention to belittle Kobe, he had a phenomenal year during the 05-06 season and is one of the best players of the last decade. That said, the unending obsession with him is extremely odd. He has always had an only passable field goal percentage and has been an overrated defensive player at best, if not deceptively mediocre.

That said, this is a five man race that should probably look as follows:
1. Lebron James
2. Dwyane Wade
3. Kobe Bryant
4. Dwight Howard
5. Chris Paul (though he probably deserves to be higher.)
Hibachi Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:29 pm

Joe im sorry too, kobe has the most clutch in the nba. lebron has made one buzzer beater, against the warriors. wade made three buzzer beaters against the bulls in one game, thats more than lebrons entire career. if you take wade off the heat, theyre nothing. wade was the hero in this past summer olympics, and he is the best right now. he deserves it, but probably wont get it.
wes Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:30 pm

If you take Kobe off of the Lakers then I highly doubt they make the playoffs. They wouldn’t be all that much better than the Grizzlies when they had Pau. Even if you don’t factor in Bynum’s injury, a lineup of:
Fisher/Farmar
Ariza(?)/Vujacic
Odom/Walton
Gasol/Powell
Bynum/Mbenga

Would not be able to win enough games to make it in the West. Whose your go to guy? I love Gasol and think hes a great player but I wouldn’t necessarily want him as my number 1 option. You could also argue that the team would not be playing as well without Kobe creating for them. I’d say they would get about 28-30 wins this season (if Bynum is healthy) and maybe a few more if Bynum progressed quickly. The same could probably be said about the Cavs. A team with Mo Williams as the number 1 option still making the playoffs? Maybe because they’re in the East, but it didn’t work for the Bucks when Redd was injured last year.

It seems that people forget how much better Kobe and Lebron make their teammates. When Gasol got to LA, he started playing better, Farmar has raised his game each year, Ariza broke out in LA, Odom has finally been able to find a decent niche in the league, Powell has become a solid rotation player. Mo Williams was never considered an All Star level talent until he got to Cleveland, Ben Wallace is back to being a good role player instead of a liability, JJ Hickson is young and considered a project but has put in solid minutes this year, hell Mike Brown wasn’t considered a good coach until Lebron started maturing in his game.

The criteria for the MVP has been the best player on the best team the past few years and it should be the same this year. Wade is doing some impressive stuff, but I think you are undervaluing his team a bit and Lebron and Kobe are doing equally or near equally impressive things with better records. Also, I doubt that the Heat will be able to overtake the Hawks for the 4th seed. Atlanta has turned it up recently since they got some guys back from injuries and Joe Johnson is out of his slump.

With that said I loved you as a player Eddie and enjoy your writing, but I have to disagree on this one.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:44 pm

Eddie - I had nothing to do with what J Munoz wrote. You won’t EVER have to worry about me taking your job.

I think your NBA articles are flat out THE best on the web. I enjoy your writing more any other online sports journalist.

Our discussions/arguments on here are a riot. I love it! But…

LeBron IS the MVP this year.
scott Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 1:44 pm

I do love Wade’s game. Wade also has done something more important than either Kobe or Lebron has done, win a playoff MVP. In a playoffs with the game on the line and he is probably the guy with the best instincts to get the high % shot, draw the foul, or find a teammate, as the situation dictates.

But this MVP is all Lebron’s. His team will be #1, or at worst a close #2, in the league. His cast has many flaws and is overrated, last I checked when teams were lead by Z or Mo W they were among the worst teams in the league. And they also have had injuries and roster holes, for instance outside of Lebron they have wings that simply would not play on a decent playoff team. Without Lebron this is not a playoff team even in the East–not even close (just look at Bucks last year with Mo W as the #2 guy). Lebron also has the best individual stats (consider PPG, FG, RB, APG, SPG, BPG), including PER, a cumulative statistical indicator.

In Wade’s case, his team is in the lower seeded group. I think in the modern the MVP race this hasn’t happened, except maybe by Moses Malone and Jordan when they were just so overwhelmingly dominant relative to other candidates. Wade does have the #2 stat line (including PER), with a slight possibility of ending at #1, but even so it would just be ever so marginal over Lebron.

Now Kobe will lead the 1st or 2nd best team. That said, he is 5th in PER, and well behind the top 3 of Lebron, Wade & Paul. Assists, steals and scoring efficiency should count for something–they do in PER, and Kobe isn’t in the ballpark of Lebron and Wade (and perhaps Paul) in the non-scoring ways to impact a game. That said, I have no problem with Kobe as #2 in the MVP race, team performance and being individually dominant/efficient both matter, and if choosing one (Kobe) over the other (Wade/Paul)–for MVP you go with the former. Again though, you get both with Lebron, team performance and individual dominance/brilliance)–so a very simple decision at the top of the MVP ballot.

1st team all NBA will be a much tricker matter. Who are you going to leave off among Kobe, Paul and Wade for the two guard spots? A month ago I would have said Kobe. But unless Paul and (even more so) his team gets playing more like they are capable (they should have had an easy route to the #2 or #3 west seed with the Spurs and Rockets injuries), I think it is him who is off.
scott Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 2:00 pm

Funny people would bring up the rule changes and say it would more affect Wade’s game.

If you watched the playoffs the last few years–when deep in the playoffs defenses tighten to counter great offensive players (even if defenses bend the rules to do it–best of Boston, Pistons, Spurs, etc), further confirmed by the summer with international rules, the most dominant and effective players over the course of a game or series are now Lebron & Wade, in some order. (It used to be Shaq and Duncan). If fact under international rules it was Kobe who had the most trouble adjusting, shooting the worst %s on the whole team despite the most shots taken.

Kobe is a great player, and is clutch, but he is not the best player to carry a team or execute the highest percentage plays against the toughest defenses. Wade and Lebron have superior ability to penetrate, physical strength to take fouls again and again, and better instincts for hitting the open man, and these over the long run are more important to beating great opponents than Kobe having a purer jumpshot.
jay o. Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 2:10 pm

because of the number of wins i have to concede to LeBron the MVP for this year eventhough i am a huge Wade fan. But to hear you guys claim Kobe is better than those 2 is absurd! Whenever Wade or LeBron have big scoring nights just look at their other stats and you will see that they are also impressive considering the positions they play (LeBron passing like a true PG or Wade blocking shots like a C). This means they help their team more, making them MORE VALUABLE than Kobe. Kobe just shoots the basketball and that’s it and they only become significant again in NBA basketball when they acquired Gasol.

By they way how many girls does Wade have to rape to gain the Laker fans respect???
eddie Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 2:55 pm

Michael Bennett Said,
March 18, 2009 @ 1:44 pm

Eddie - I had nothing to do with what J Munoz wrote. You won’t EVER have to worry about me taking your job.

I think your NBA articles are flat out THE best on the web. I enjoy your writing more any other online sports journalist.

Our discussions/arguments on here are a riot. I love it! But…

LeBron IS the MVP this year.

Michael i know you are the man! but if Lebron was averaging 15 points you would still think he was MVP LOL.

I must admit i think before its all said and done he will become the greatest ever.
DJ Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:05 pm

Let me just say that just because you are the best team in the conference, doesnt mean an mvp must come from that team. In that case the mvp would be a team award. Surely, Dwyane Wade has been the most valuable player hands down this year, both offensively and defensively.
sean from cayman islands Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:18 pm

dwade is the MVP…to anyone who has a brain. KB24 is the best player …LBJ is the 1st draft of a new type of player never before seen by mortal fans….but wade is the MOST VALUABLE..player to his team..
noah Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:24 pm

Several people here claim that the MVP usually or always goes to the best player on the best team. Maybe we should do some research before we make such proclaimations:

2008 - Kobe - #3 overall, #1 in the West
2007 - Dirk - #1
2006 - Nash - #4 overall, #3 in the West
2005 - Nash - #1
2004 - KG - #1
2003 - Duncan - #1 (tie)
2002 - Duncan - #2 overall (tie), #2 in the West (tie)
2001 - Iverson - #2 overall (tie), #1 in the East
2000 - Shaq - #1
1999 - Malone - #1 (50 game season)

So, ignoring team ranknig ties, over the past decade at least, the best player on the best team wins 60% of the time. You also apparently have to be in the top 4. So, if the top 4 teams had an equal chance to have their best player win the award, each top player would have a 25% chance. But, it turns out, that bumps up to 60% for the top team.

Looking at it another way, the best player on the best team is 6xs more likely to win the award than is the best player on team #3 or team #4. He is 3xs more likely to win it than the best player on team #2.

So, being the best player on the best team is certainly no magic wand, though it does help.
DJ ICE COLD Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:35 pm

eddie -
“The Cavaliers have Mo Williams, Zydrunas Ilgauskas and a trio of solid veterans that could have them competing for a sixth, seventh or eight seed in the East.”

You have got to be kidding me. Without Lebron the cavs would be just as bad as any other team in the east. Mo and Zyrundas are not star players by any means. Mo comes close, but he is more of a franchise role player. On the other hand you have Devin Harris and Vince Carter, two legitimate stars, fighting for an eighth seed, yet you think somehow the King-less Cavs could snag the 6th? ludicrous.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:42 pm

@Eddie - You’re right. No matter what I think he’s MVP. LOL

Do you think, right now, that LeBron is a better SF than Larry Bird? Better than Julius Erving? If so, does that make him, already, at age 24, the best SF of all-time? If not, what will make him the best SF of all-time? One ring? Two?

I think best SGs of all-time are MJ, then Kobe, then Jerry West, then DWade.

Did you hear the guys on TNT the other week? They were saying that if LeBron was on the Showtime Lakers, that he would average more assists that Magic Johnson.
kingsblade Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:46 pm

Noah,

take another look at your list though, and you you’ll see that the worst team on there had the fourth best record in the league.

In other words, you don’t need to finish first, but you’d better be damn good.
mike Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:48 pm

surprised eddie didn’t mention: shaq or nash as MVP candidates. he’s
always riding the suns nuts.
frank B Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 3:56 pm

Eddie,

Lakers fans don’t have issues. You have issues with Lakers fans. There are a lot of Lakers fans because of the long history of success of the franchise and the style of basketball that is identified with the Lakers. It doesn’t hurt to be the prominent pro team in the huge Southern California market either.

MVP awards are a joke. Kobe Bryant has been the best player in the league since 2004 when Shaq started to go down a little bit. Reasonable people could make an argument for Lebron being the best player as well for the last three years or so, at least statistically. During this period, both players received one MVP between them. Nonsense.

Come on Eddie, I know your trying to stir up some controversy with this article but there is no way that Dwane Wade is as good a player as either Lebron or Kobe. I don’t have all the facts in front of me, but has Dwayne Wade ever come close to leading the league in scoring before this year? Has he developed a jumpshot all of sudden? Is being the leading scorer really that important?

Sure, Dwayne is having a hot streak. If that was all it took to win the award, Kobe would have about 5 by now. Hell, every year he has a month or so when he averages 35 or 40 points and all anyone can write is that he is a selfish ballhog.

For you to claim that Steve Nash was solely responsible for turning around the Suns and therefore deserved those two MVP awards is just silly. What about D’Antoni, Stoudamire, Marion, Bell, and Johnson? Stoudamire, Marion, and Johnson are all-stars for crying out loud!

Steve Nash can’t cover his shadow. You and I both know it. He is pretty good on offense but how does playing half the floor earn an MVP?

I’ll tell you how. The MVP doesn’t go to the best player. It goes to the sportwriter’s favorite players. Sportwriters like Steve Nash and don’t particularly care for Kobe for a variety of reasons, most of which have nothing to do with putting the ball into the hoop.

For this reason, it seems a foregone conclusion that Lebron is going to get it.
YeLLz Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 4:01 pm

for the record… saying that a player deserves MVP does not mean that another doesn’t… it is a VERY good point that Eddie is making & Wade is playing just as unbelievably as Bron & “Black Momba” (LMAO!!!)

name one player on the Heat minus Beasley that should be a double digit scorer or even an offensive option for that matter… i’ll wait…
Wade is doing on both ends just like them… he may not be lockdown D but i know i’ve seen him put on clutch-game-winning-defense D in at least 6 times this season at THE MOST IMPORTANT TIMES. How in the hell can any of you say that he CAN’T win MVP this year?!?!?

in closing… i once again say… saying that Wade deserves MVP, DOES NOT MEAN THAT KOBE, LEBRON OR OTHERS ARE NOT MVP WORTHY OR EVEN THAT THEY ARE NOT AS GOOD AS HIM BECAUSE WE ALL KNOW THE HEIRARCHY THIS YEAR… it just has to pay off for the players & the fans & the effort & THE COLLECTIVE… its not JUST stats…. its not JUST team wins… its not JUST having a weak supporting cast… its the “whole”

the voters OBVIOUSLY take a lot of things into account that most fans biasedly overlook when they choose the MVP, otherwise the same 2 or 3 people would just dominate & rotate the MVP every year… Jordan wouldve won it EVERY SINGLE year he played minus his first & last 2 seasons, Kobe would win every year for you Laker lovers & Lebron will EVERY year from here on out… come on man… get your bias’ out of the way & give people their due

if Wade keeps up… my call is co-MVP… if Wade doesnt… still co-MVP’s… this has been one of the best seasons that THREE superstars have truly been extraordinary & unbelievable & im appreciative of the dispaly that they all have put on! (Chris Paul & Dwight included… and i’m sure all of you would understand why Howard or Paul wouldn’t & havent won MVP being that they will in the future or others are having great seasons… so that’s what Eddie is saying
jeff Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 4:22 pm

Everyone wants to change the arguement , first its the best player on the best team-then it’s the player who does the most for his team-next it is the person who leads in scoring.All of these Lebron has done before he came into the league, the Cavs won a total of 17 games. Lebron was and is the MVP FOR THE LAST 3 YEARS. I hope they give it to him this year because he has earned it
Gabe Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 4:32 pm

completely disagree! if this is the case then lebron should have been mvp for the last few years in a row, wade now is lebron a few years ago where lebron would carry the cavs to the playoffs and win the 4th or 5th seed, if this is your reasoning on why wade should win then lebron should have for probably the last 3 years
rollinfatty Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 4:38 pm

Eddie, I don’t see how you don’t understand what everyone is saying. I agree that if it was a different world and that the mvp hadn’t been voted the way it has been for so long then wade should win the mvp. But then lebron should have won it last year and a number of people over dirk and kobe over nash. But it is given to a great player on a great team. By those credentials you have to go with lebron then Kobe and then maybe even paul and howard over wade. Maybe. I mean, what happens when you take howard out of orlando. A team built to benefit from a dominant center being double teamed and draining threes. You take him out it has a devastating impact on the team. And I don’t know if the lakers are really are a playoff team in the west without kobe? It’s kind of a ridiculous statement. In the West? You’re saying that gasol and odom and bynum for 46 games? Kind of an insult to the mavs or to the suns who especially right now are killing it. I love d wade so much and he would be my choice. I understand where you’re coming it’s just that we are wrong because that’s not how it works and we should not change it just because it is dwyane wade and we all love him so…
Stuckey Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 5:22 pm

Great point Chris.

Kobe did the same thing two seasons ago with better numbers than D Wade and he was not even considered.

Kobe had a team starting Luke Walton, Kwame Brown, and Smush Parker and he pushes a LOADED Phoenix team to seven games.

Kobe was not even considered that year. Steve Nash won. That was Kobe hating at its finenst. Steve Nash has no defensive game.

How can a player who is a defensive liability to his team win MVP?

Isn’t that half a ballers game?

Anyways, being MVP is like being the Prom Queen. Its a popularity contest, and with a DWade commercial on every second of the day he probably should win.
Stuckey Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 5:43 pm

Miami won the championship with their defense.

Wade was flashy for sure, but it was the solid defense that came Posey, Alonzo Mourning, Haslem, Payton, Shaq, et al. that won it.

Remember, that was a cream puff Mavericks team that fell apart. The Heat only outscored the Mavericks by six points in six games. Wade got a lot of credit because of some crazy shots he made, but they won it on defense, an area Wade has not had much history of doing well.

You can’t say Wade has done more with less because he hasn’t. He has a team with alot of youth and they are barely over .500 in a very thin Eastern Conference.

If he was in the Western Conference with Kobe he would not even be in the Playoffs with their record.

Put Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, and Luke Walton with Kobe on a team and he’ll push the number one seed to seven games.
JH2385 Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 5:46 pm

C’mon Eddie Johnson. Dwyane Wade is amazing and deserves credit for what he’s doing this year. But anyone who thinks he should get MVP this year MUST also feel that Lebron James should have won at least 2 MVPs already. If this is the case, then that person just has a different view of what MVP means.

The fact is Lebron did what Wade is doing this year each of the last three years, except he did it better (got his team to 50 wins and or the 4th seed or better and avg. 31ppg one year). James never had much help, everyone always said he needed more help. The Cavs added 1 impact player this offseason and now the Cavs are on top of the league. Wade is/was still playing w/ Jermaine O’Neal & Shawn Marion last time I checked. Lebrons stats are still crazy and he’s doing it in less minutes this yr which means he’s more efficient than ever before, which is scary. In years past LBJ’s MVP credintials were knocked only for not having enough team wins. This year the Cavs got the best record in the league and on pace for 60 plus wins.

If LeBron James can’t win MVP this year, what does he have to do to win it???
kingsblade Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 6:06 pm

Frank B,

1. Eddie clearly stated that both LeBron and Kobe are better players, so what is your point? The award is not for the best player over the past 5 years, it is for the player who is most important to his team this year.

2. “What about D’Antoni, Stoudamire, Marion, Bell, and Johnson? Stoudamire, Marion, and Johnson are all-stars for crying out loud!”

D’Antoni had failed miserable as an NBA coach prior to Nash. Marion had one all-star appearance without Nash. Bell? Who the hell ever considered Bell an all-star?

In fact, except for Johnson, none of these guys were considered anywhere near as good as they are now until they got to play with Nash. How many guys have to have had career years with him before people start to recognize that maybe he was at least partially responsible.
eddie Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 6:15 pm

mike Said,
March 18, 2009 @ 3:48 pm

surprised eddie didn’t mention: shaq or nash as MVP candidates. he’s
always riding the suns nuts.

Mike i do believe Shaq should get some votes lol
So I says, I Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 6:43 pm

I agree with Eddie. Laker fans are morons. Everyone knows that people from the west coast don’t really understand basketball. Sure, there are some notable exceptions, but they are a rarity. For the most part your average west coaster shows up in the middle of the second quarter, stuffs his face with garbage, only knows how that something meaningful happens when the ball goes in the basket and then leaves early to beat traffic.
Topics about Games » Archive » MVP race not a two-man show Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 7:50 pm

[...] Sloth created an interesting post today on MVP race not a two-man showHere’s a short outline…most vocal critics, but his dedication this year in getting his body in great physical shape to play 82 games has paid dividends that we all… [...]
Surya Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 8:12 pm

Eddie, 100% agree with you.

You get it and ESPN doesn’t (yet). It is definitely now a 3 man race and Wade should win it for sure.
J Munoz Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 8:30 pm

Fine, maybe it was a bit harsh to say that someone should get your job Eddie. My point was just fairly simple, I really don’t believe that you have any respect for Lebron this season.

Carrying the team to be competitive is something he has done for the past 4 years (arguably since he started his career), and something Kobe has done since Shaq left. However, the latter only got an MVP vote when his record got better.

Wade is not doing anything new this season. You may think that there are a lot of Kobe and Lebron fans out there, but in reality there are more Wade fans.

When Lebron was doing what Wade is doing this season, he barely got MVP consideration. Now all you sports writers are so willing to give it to Wade. Where’s the consistency? It’s annoying

It’s ridiculous to fault one’s MVP chances because his teammates got better.
Maque Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:24 pm

Maybe you should look at miami’s lineup and compare it to cavs. I think Wade’s team have good players like o’neal, beasley, cook, magloire, head and etc. Look at the game Heat vs Celtics without Wade, then you tell me about Wade’s teammates. Aren’t they good?
Kobe or Lebron for MVP Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 9:53 pm

Eddie, I must say i cant agree with you on having Wade win the mvp. Its a two man race between Lebron and Kobe, which i beleive Lebron will more then likely win because he is just playing that incredible this season. Sure Kobe’s minutes have been limited and no doubt hes the best in the clutch, but lebron has led a team with less talent to the top seed in the nba as of right now. Also, i dont think the laker team without kobe is a playoff team as the 6th or 7th seed, more then likely they are an 8th seed or lotter bound. Sure, gasol is good, odom is up and down, and bynum is injury prone it seems like. If a team of nowitzke kidd and howard with terry are an 8th seed i dont see that laker team without kobe being much better or even at that level with no real superstar in clutch time. By the way if Kobe wasnt mvp a few years ago then their is no way that Wade can win it. He still has J.O. who is a solid defender and can have some good nights and before that it was marion with the number 2 pick in the draft in beasley. A few years back Kobe had smush as his starting point, along with kwame as the center with odom as his only real help who played quite inconsistent. Nash may have made a 28 win team into a 62 win team but had u put Kobe with a whole lot of 3 point shooters as well as Marion and Stoudemire im sure it would not have played out all that differently. Bottom line if Kobe was not mvp then Wade cannot be mvp now.
eddie Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 10:20 pm

J Munoz Said,
March 18, 2009 @ 8:30 pm

Fine, maybe it was a bit harsh to say that someone should get your job Eddie. My point was just fairly simple, I really don’t believe that you have any respect for Lebron this season.

Carrying the team to be competitive is something he has done for the past 4 years (arguably since he started his career), and something Kobe has done since Shaq left. However, the latter only got an MVP vote when his record got better.

Wade is not doing anything new this season. You may think that there are a lot of Kobe and Lebron fans out there, but in reality there are more Wade fans.

When Lebron was doing what Wade is doing this season, he barely got MVP consideration. Now all you sports writers are so willing to give it to Wade. Where’s the consistency? It’s annoying

It’s ridiculous to fault one’s MVP chances because his teammates got better.

i have pumped Lebron up all year. have you read my articles?
Jim Jones Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:34 pm

Eddie needs to be fired. U suck and your biased. Every couple of weeks its a new b.s. story. Go somewhere man. Get some new writers hoopshype, unless eddie is like skip bayless and plays the antagonist to get people to respond, because he sounds so stupid, then it is working.
Jim Jones Said,

March 18, 2009 @ 11:41 pm

Ok not fired but definitely biased
sid Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 2:13 am

LEBRON JAMES IS THE MVP!!!!!! Kobe is a whining bitch making fun of his teammates when their not winning and wade is either hurt or doesn’t give a shit sometimes but lebron has always been consistent and constant and when his team isn’t good enough he’ll politely say “i think we might be 2 or 3 pieces away from being a good team.” while kobe will trash bynum and vujajcic and demand a trade until the management pulls off lucky some would say controversial move in getting gasol and for the love of God dwayne wade wasn’t that good for the past couple of years and now all of a sudden he’s elevated his game to lebron and kobes level he’s better than them i think not he’s playing on a crappy team in comparison to the cavs and lakers and if you gave him the mvp this year then lebron should of gotten it the past 3 years without question this is how it goes lebron will win it with kobe being a very close second and either dwight howard or dwayne wade or even chris paul for third place PERIOD now everyone else shut the fuck up good night and good luck
dave42 Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 6:58 am

all i am going to say is that by these standards you hold for Wade, LeBron James should have one at least two MVPs at this point. Come on man. How good do you really think that Cavaliers squad is without him? I will literally think it is DISGUSTING to fathom Wade getting an MVP before LeBron James at this point. His numbers aren’t as good, LeBron has ALWAYS made average teams amazing. He took a terrible team to the FINALS. Everyone knows that should’ve been MVP by definition. Come on man. Really. It is the most embarrassing double standards i’ve seen from a man I called a real writer. It’s just NORMAL for LeBron to do these things, but now Wade KIND of does them and he’s MVP? Are you kidding me? How many Cleveland casts did LeBron have that were just as bad as Wades this year? And what were those teams records with LeBron? About the same as what Wade is doing this year, right? Come on. He is doing NOTHING LeBron hasn’t done before, and he ISN’T as good as LeBron now. I am not trying to knock Wade, but it is embarrassing that he is being made to look like an MVP over Kobe and LeBron like this. It’s disgusting man. I don’t mean to knock Wade, he is a great player. But there is just no fair way of declaring him MVP. It would be a sham. I am embarrassed for you for saying this Eddie. I honestly thought better. LeBron has 2-3 MVPs already by those standards.
thedeeofdees Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 8:50 am

Lebron or Wade should win it.
Kobe has such a deep team and has to hog the ball, so are you kiddin me?
Lebron is not the best player in this leauge, he has no championships!
No i do not hate on Lebron i am stating strickly facts.
Best Top three players in the league:
#1: Kobe (3 time champion, 2008 season mvp, olympic gold medalist)
#2: Wade (2006 finals mvp, nba championship, 2nd best player in the leauge, led team usa in the 2008 olympics, olypmic gold medalist)
#3: Lebron (olympic gold medalist, no rings as yet!, overhyped until he gets a damn championship)

Wade for MVP!
Slim Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 10:30 am

Wade is flashy

Lebron is a superb talent

But Kobe is the MVP this year

That’s my two-cents. You may proceed with your selective stat displays, biased opinions, and insulting of some of the finest atheletes in the world.
TT Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 10:39 am

There are no valuable players on .500 teams.
KB4MVP Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 12:38 pm

if you take Kobe off the Lakers, you get Memphis 2 years ago when Pau was leading the team. yes, the same team that got around 20 wins.
so obviously, you guys are on crack if you think Lebronze or Waste should get it, just wake up, the only number that matters is wins against the other 2 teams with the best records. Kobe is 4-0 against cleveland and boston. not to mention Kobe injured his finger in the first game against Cleve and was sick in the 2nd game against them, their second game didnt even have Bynum! christmas day the lakers won that game with a healthy team, and their second game against boston they didnt have Bynum and still won because of Kobe’s 4th quarter heroics (making the 3 3s late in the game to go into OT)
is it a coincidence that Lebron had 2 of his worst games this year against the Lakers, or did Kobe shut him down? is it luck that Kobe made that high-arching fade-away against Lebron to put that game away?

you people frustrate me

KOBE GETS MVP!
KB4MVP Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 12:40 pm

one more thing.
Wade isn’t making his teammates better
he’s getting the numbers, his teammates are not
markied Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 1:17 pm

i honestly dont know what the hatred is for wade possibly getting the MVP. People are talkin about the lakers and the cavs as having the best records. Its simply because they have the best teams. Put Lebron on the heat before the JO trade and the record stays the same in miami, put Kobe on the heat also, the record stays the same. Put wade on either cleveland or LA and their record stays the same. Its ridiculous to think that the player on the best team should win MVP. All three are as equal as you get, the NBA has never been in better hands where there have been such a strong three player argument. Yet as of THIS year, looking at a heat team with two rookies playing heavy minutes and a mediocre bench, seeing what Wade has done form last year to this year has been to me far more remarkable then Kobe or Lebron. Yes lebron is putting up crazy numbers, but so is wade. To avg more steals and BLOCKS especially, than supposedly the two best perimeter defenders to me shows a lack of respect for what he is doing. Before the season, the media projected the heat at number 9-12 in the east, missing the playoffs. The lakers and cavs are only doing what was expected and yes lead by the other two great ones of the league, but give wade his due respect for what he turned the heat into.
scott Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 2:38 pm

This is NOT complicated.

-Lebron right now has Wade’s best argument trumped–the most dominant and impressive statistical season (see something like Hollinger’s data, where Lebron edges Wade).

-Lebron also has Kobe’s best argument trumped–being the best player on the best team (Cleveland is ahead of the Lakers by a game and has played extra road games).

As Lebron is the most dominant player on the most dominant team, this is the EASIEST MVP decision at the top in quite some time, it will be in the neighborhood of Kevin Garnett getting 120 of 123 first-place votes in 04 and Oneal 120 of 121 in 00. There could be a few of dissenters for Wade in acknowledging his remarkable play, and perhaps even 1 or 2 for Kobe (those trying to make up for former votes they feel he was jobbed), but it will not be a contest, more than 90% 1st place votes will go with James if history is any indication.

Now you could make a case in any order among Wade, Kobe, Howard & Paul for the runner up spot (my order would be that). Now if we want to argue who is #2 MVP candidate between Kobe and Wade there is a legitimate debate there, but nobody pays attention to MVP runner up spot anyway. Or how about who of Kobe, Wade and Paul gets put on the 2nd team all NBA? (right now I have Paul, but not fixed on it pending the final 15 or so games)
YeLLz Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 3:27 pm

REBOUNDS
Player G GS MPG FG% 3p% FT% OFF DEF TOT APG SPG BPG TO PF PPG
Dwyane Wade 66 66 38.6 .493 .308 .767 1.20 4.00 5.10 7.6 2.26 1.41 3.55 2.20 29.9
Jermaine O’Neal 15 15 31.7 .491 .000 .827 2.30 3.40 5.70 2.3 .53 2.13 2.13 3.10 14.2
Jermaine O’Neal (TOT) 56 49 30.2 .478 .000 .814 1.90 4.80 6.70 1.8 .46 2.04 2.21 3.10 13.7
Michael Beasley 66 15 24.3 .461 .393 .784 1.30 3.80 5.10 .9 .48 .47 1.61 2.30 13.4
Udonis Haslem 66 66 34.5 .510 .000 .745 2.40 6.00 8.30 1.2 .61 .35 1.11 2.70 10.6
Mario Chalmers 67 67 31.8 .423 .356 .768 .40 2.20 2.60 4.7 1.96 .09 2.01 3.10 10.2
Daequan Cook 61 2 25.7 .379 .397 .880 .20 2.40 2.60 1.1 .57 .13 .59 1.90 10.0
Jamario Moon 15 10 28.7 .476 .409 .833 .50 4.70 5.30 1.2 .60 .60 .47 1.90 8.2
Jamario Moon (TOT) 69 49 26.2 .474 .364 .845 .80 3.90 4.80 1.3 1.07 .77 .55 1.60 7.5
Chris Quinn 55 0 15.4 .405 .398 .896 .10 1.10 1.20 2.0 .40 .04 .45 1.30 5.5
Luther Head 3 0 20.3 .500 .400 .500 .00 2.30 2.30 1.7 .67 .00 .00 2.70 4.7
Luther Head (TOT) 25 4 15.3 .396 .372 .800 .10 1.20 1.40 1.6 .32 .04 .64 .90 4.8
Mark Blount 18 0 10.7 .386 .400 .615 .50 1.30 1.80 .2 .06 .39 .56 .90 3.9
James Jones 25 1 13.2 .359 .283 .765 .30 .90 1.20 .4 .32 .24 .24 1.20 3.3
Yakhouba Diawara 53 15 12.9 .345 .328 .526 .40 .90 1.30 .4 .17 .11 .26 1.10 3.3
Jamaal Magloire 40 9 11.4 .444 .000 .474 1.10 2.40 3.50 .3 .15 .50 .53 2.10 2.3
Shaun Livingston 4 0 10.3 .375 .000 .750 .00 .50 .50 1.0 .50 .00 .75 1.00 2.3
Joel Anthony 59 28 16.2 .459 .000 .690 1.40 1.70 3.10 .4 .32 1.41 .63 2.20 2.2
Dorell Wright 3 0 6.0 .500 .000 .500 .00 .70 .70 .0 .33 .00 .33 1.00 1.7
frank Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 3:29 pm

eddie,

i wholeheartedly disagree with you. And you kinda shot yourself in the foot with your own argument:

“That has happened before. Charles Barkley and Karl Malone won the award during the Michael Jordan era. Allen Iverson, Kevin Garnett, Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki have been MVPs this decade – basically dominated by Kobe, Shaquille O’Neal and Tim Duncan.”

if memory serves me right, every player you mentioned that won the mvp over the best player in the league, in fact led their team to the best record in the league, or were at least in the top 3. this eliminates wade completely from contention for the mvp, although i know he is having a stellar season without a supporting cast.

couldn’t one easily make the argument that lebron and kobe would be putting up similar numbers if put on the heat?

couldn’t one also make anargument that wade wouldn’t have to put up those type of numbers on either the lakers or cavs?

winning is everything. you can’t have a .500 team and expect to win an mvp.

the comparison to past mvp winners, arguing why wade should win the mvp actually supports the argument for another player you mentioned.

first off, let me say, i am NOT a lakers fan… but kobe bryant is still the best player in the league— in every aspect of the game.

having said that… lebron will win the mvp.

if anyone wants to tell me the cavs have a better roster than the lakers, i wanna smoke what they’re smoking. he is doing more with less, and improving on parts of his game we questioned.

i’m not here to tell you lebron won’t be the best player in the league. and as blasphemous as this may sound, we will most definitely start the argument of “lebron or mj” if he just keeps doing what he’s doing.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 4:13 pm

How is Kobe “still the best player in the league”? That doesn’t make sense.

You just wrote how LeBron is “doing more with less.” And, he has better stats. So… I don’t get it.

How could you think LeBron should win MVP, he’s got a better record and stats, and still think Kobe Bryant is a better player? Duh…

frank - you just shot yourself in the foot.
scott Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 4:25 pm

Frank, I think you have some solid points. You also have mixed ones, for instance one would think if Wade had better teammates his points would go down but his assists, shooting% and efficiency (scoring, A/TO) would go up. In fact it is quite remarkable Wade is tops in APG among non-PGs and has above a 2 A/TO considering the offensive burden he has on his team. Those figures should only be enhanced with better teammates (with Kobe or even Lebron’s surrounding cast).

But the baffling point is this “kobe bryant is still the best player in the league— in every aspect of the game.” How can one possibly say that “in very aspect” when both Wade and Lebron generally beat him (if not kill him) in assists, A/TOs, shooting percentage, fouls drawn, boards, blocks, steals, etc. In fact the only minor edge Kobe has is 3PT% and the only somewhat bigger edge is FT%. Surely that isn’t enough to compensate all the others ways those two impact the team game of basketball.

Here is a cite with relatively unbiased compilations of players total basketball impact. http://www.82games.com/0809/ROLRTG8.HTM
The ranking below is also the same order as Hollinger’s.
#1 CLE James +24.7
#2 MIA Wade +19.7
#3 NOH Paul +19.0
#4 LAL Bryant +14.0
#5 ORL Howard +12.4

Now granted stats are just a tool and can be misused. But in this case it just further confirms the overwhelming case for Lebron James–the most individually dominant player in the league who also happens to be the unquestioned leader on the best team in the league.
Sstuckey Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 5:05 pm

Here is something no one is talking about:

The Western Conference is alot more competitive,

The Lakers are facing teams with higher winning percentile than the Cavs and Heat.

If the Heat were in the Western Conference, would you consider Wade an MVP when his team can’t even get into the playoffs?

Seriously, what has Wade done, his team is a 1 1/2 games ahead of a mediocore 76er’s team and a very old worn down Piston team. The rest of the league under them is below average. Give me a break.

I know the NBA loves to sell Wade, but he has alot more to prove than getting his team past .500.

Lebron and Kobe are legit.
kingsblade Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 6:21 pm

Kobe or Lebron for MVP Said:

“Nash may have made a 28 win team into a 62 win team but had u put Kobe with a whole lot of 3 point shooters as well as Marion and Stoudemire im sure it would not have played out all that differently.”

Ridiculous
eddie Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 6:24 pm

Kobe is the most solid all-around basketball player on Earth

Lebron is the most physically dominant basketball player at his size i have seen since George McGinnis.

Wade Is this years MVP Because he is leading a lottery team to the playoffs and he has elevated his game the best after the All - Star break.

I don’t want to hear all these sob stories about Kobe and Lebron should have won a few over the last few years. i can make that argument for
Jordan, Magic, Shaq, Malone, Paul, Isiah Thomas, Clyde Drexler, David Robinson, George Gervin, Alex English, Dominique Wilkins, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing, Gary Payton, etc…etc…etc…

it is what it is-and MVP is meant for the player that is impactful.

Yes Lebron is extremely impactful–i will go on record and say it again, he will win at least 5 MVPS and become probably the best ever

Kobe is the most commited basketball player i have ever seen. i wonder what more Jordan would have done if basketball was the only thing in his life like Kobe—–

but the bottom line is Wade will get plenty of votes for elevating a lottery team to the playoffs—

if you ask me who deserves it —–i would say Lebron, but i try to project what i think will happen and if Wade continues this run—watch out
Michael Bennett Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 6:49 pm

Eddie - The only shot DWade has at winning MVP is if they win every single game for the rest of the season, giving the Heat 51 wins. And, in that stretch, he’d have to average over 40 ppg. That will not happen with 9 out of 15 games on the road and huge games against tough teams like Orlando, Dallas, New Orleans, Boston and Atlanta.

DWade just sat against Boston. That’s not good for his MVP argument.

And, LeBron just took over against Conference rival Orlando Magic and hit a huge 3 to go up with 47 seconds left in the game. Plus, he had 43 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists to finish in a WIN to give the Cavs the best record in the league.

Also, DWade had an 18 point, 4 rebound, 3 assist performance in a loss to Philadelphia on Monday. You can’t do that in the stretch and win MVP.

It’s just not logical, Eddie.
Mike Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 9:12 pm

What has D Wade really done?

The Eastern conference is very thin. All he has done is helped his team get 1 1/2 games over a mediocore 76er team and a couple of games over an old worn down Piston team. The rest of the conference is below average.

I ain’t that impressed.

If the Heat were in the Western Conference they would be out of the playoffs. How could you argue Wade was an MVP if his team can’t even make it to the Playoffs out west. Ridiculous.
Mike Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 9:15 pm

One thing Kobe has got over Lebron and Wade is that the Lakers games are against teams with a higher winning percentage on average. The West is alot deeper than the East.

Kobe for MVP. Kobe already did what Wade is doing, with better stats.

Lebron is close.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 19, 2009 @ 11:35 pm

Mike - Did you know that LeBron and the Cavs are 23-4 against the West?

You can now insert your foot into your mouth.
Jimmy Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 9:07 am

What about Joe Johnson? Look at what the Hawks are doing.
Mike Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 9:09 am

Michael,

That still does not change the FACT that the Lakers opponents have a higher winning percentage than the Heat and the Cavs.

Plus they have a 2-0 record against the Cavs.

You may now insert your foot into your mouth.
PB Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 9:43 am

Wade is playin amazing ball rite now styl….n Lebron 2……buh its all bout KObe….hes doin da same thing he did last year if not better…n last year he got da mvp so y shouldnt he get it again..buh u cant go wrong wit any of da 3
scott Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 10:35 am

Eddie, it is great you exchange with us–and thanks for the great memories in the Rockets and Suns uniforms (my two fav teams).

Last I checked, 3 of the 4 best teams this year were in the East. Right now the East has more great teams and mediocre teams, the West more good teams and cruddy teams. Injuries to key players in the West really have equalized things. In fact right now the cumulative win % of Cleveland opponents is .500, for the Lakers, .499 (Miami’s is .511 BTW). But I hate to introduce facts against a well known bias–who do I think I am, Barack.

I will reiterate something Wade has done neither Lebron nor Kobe has ever done. Carry his team to a championship (at ay high level of basketball) and win a playoff MVP (mind you the Kobe could not get that done Shaq’s last two years with the Lakers with a much superior Shaq than the one Wade got to play with). While Wade’s MVP playoff run should not count into this years MVP race–and this race is 99% Lebrons–anyone not impressed with Wade as a basketball player (consider his playoff level of basketball, play last summer, play this year) has incredible blinders on.
David Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 10:59 am

An awful lot of banter for the regular season, which, other than getting into the playoffs and seeding, means relatively little. I’m not great with stats, but I do remember that 2 years ago, the Cavs swept the Spurs in the regular season. Then the Spurs swept the Cavs in the Finals. I know that these are not the same 2 teams, however, it just shows that the regular season is somewhat of a tune up for the 2nd one.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 11:17 am

But that’s what we’re arguing here… REGULAR SEASON MVP.
David Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 11:21 am

Point taken…but if memory serves, isn’t the reg MVP voted on BEFORE the season ends, like 10 - 12 games out? If so, then teams jockeying for position really don’t know exactly where they are (obviously they know if they would have a winning percentage at that point)…
I also remember when David Robinson won the (reg season) MVP, and got his butt kicked by Hakeem in the play offs.
Sean banks Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 4:57 pm

First off let me start off by saying I am a wade fan,and I think he is mvp! Now I must say i am so tired of hearing about lebron playing with more inferior players than kobe. Last i checked the lakers and cavs had two all stars. Mo is capable of dropping forty whenever lebron isn’t concerned with stat padding. Lebron plays with one of the best if not the best supporting cast in the league. Their defense and rebounding make it possible for lebron to shine,and I am sorry but weak side blocks are not good defense for a small forward! Lebron is burned so much when playing straight up that it is not even funny. His defense is nowhere near wade’s ,and especially nowhere near kobe’s. The cavs shooters are better than any shooters on the lakers and heat. Wade’s numbers are better than lebrons. The only reason lebron’s numbers are better than kobe’s is beacuse he plays in a diffrent system,and usually plays more minutes. A 6′9 forward getting a mere two more rebounds than a 6′6 guard is not that impressive. Did anyone not see the laker cavs game in los angeles? Kobe shut lebron down by himself! Plus if lebron were the engine,then why were the cavs struggling without big z? Lebron looks great against weak teams,and since there will always be more weak teams than great teams his stats will look pretty to people who don’t know the game! I just can’t wait to see the excuses and bs pouring out of lebron fan boys mouths when he is once again exposed in the postseason…Give wade lebron or kobe’s supporting and they are locks for the ring!!!!!
So I says, I Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 8:50 pm

Eddie said: “Kobe is the most commited basketball player i have ever seen. i wonder what more Jordan would have done if basketball was the only thing in his life like Kobe—–”

You know, I wonder the same thing about you Eddie. How great a columnist you would be if the only thing in your life was writing in a blog on hoopshype like Michael Bennett.
jg2gbaby Said,

March 20, 2009 @ 8:53 pm

way to stir up some reaction eddie LOL!!
Flash Said,

March 21, 2009 @ 5:39 am

how about a tri-MVP award or is it tri-co-mvp
Marco Said,

March 21, 2009 @ 8:28 am

1). LeBron

2). Kobe

3). D-Wade.

No doubt Miami would not make the playoffs w/out Wade but the Cavs would barley sneak in w.out LeBron. Z. is not the player he used to be. Mo Williams could not carry a team by himself. Who else on the Cavs is a major factor? Delonte? Wally? Big Ben?

Wade has put up some great numbers all season and really turned it up over the last month. LeBron has put up just as many gaudy numbers over the last month (including 4 trip dubs over his last 7 games) and Kobe is well, Kobe. Apples and oranges indeed and Eddie makes a good argument but in the end it’s LBJ, Kobe, then D-Wade. one final note. Gasol was the lone star for the Griz for a few years and didn’t do squat for them (getting to the playoffs). I’m not a Laker or Kobe fan but in that system with Kobe he is much more effective. Put him back with Rudy Gay and co. and it’s back to the basement.
Marco Said,

March 21, 2009 @ 8:39 am

Cut/Pasted From your rankings in Feb where you had LBJ as #1 and Kobe as #2. D-Wade came in 7th. What has changed since then with D-Wade? Yes, he has taken his game up considerably but so has LBJ (4 trip dubs in his last 7 games). I especially like the line about LBJ being compared to Hakeem with regard to carrying a team. Isn’t that a big part of being the MVP? Eddie, are you now saying that in the last month D-Wade has made up for the entire season and has surpassed not only LBJ this season but also Hakeem’s acheivemnts in 94 and 95?

1. LeBron James

He continues to hold on to the No. 1 spot because he is doing the best job of carrying a team since Hakeem Olajuwon carried the Rockets to back-to-back championships. Also, his follow up to Kobe scoring 61 against the Knicks was downright ridiculous. Scoring 50-plus is one thing, but getting a (quasi) triple-double to boot was the icing on the cake that has kept LB on top. I watched that game and he could have easily gotten 60 if he wanted to. Love the blog and keep on keeping on Eddie. Your blog on Plax and guns is still one of the best I have read in a long, long time.
RP Said,

March 21, 2009 @ 2:32 pm

Mike,

The Cavs and Lakers have PRECISELY the same strength of schedule, at .499 each.
frank Said,

March 21, 2009 @ 5:45 pm

michael bennet-

get a job
Michael Bennett Said,

March 21, 2009 @ 7:22 pm

frank-

Get it right next time.
CMac Said,

March 22, 2009 @ 12:55 am

The argument about where LeBron, Kobe, and Wade’s teams would be without them should be thrown right out. In LeBron and Kobe’s case they would go from a 1 or 2 seed to playoff teams in the 6-8 range. At the same time Wade’s team would go from a 6-8 seed to out of the playoffs. In Wade’s case how far out of the playoffs they are shouldn’t matter. Just because a team has more talent shouldn’t discredit the talent of LeBron and Kobe. All teams would be worse without their star player. The what if’s are pure speculation. Who’s to say the Heat couldn’t also sneak into the playoffs. In that case with all teams without their star players and all teams in the 6-8 range of playoff seeds how can you compare. Using speculation of what would happen with teams is terrible reasoning because we can’t possible predict those outcomes.
keith Said,

March 22, 2009 @ 3:38 pm

Lebron is the best played in the nba. he could win defensive played of the year, and the only reason he isn’t leading the nba in scoring is because the cavs blew out so many teams that he didn’t play many minutes. for all you wade lovers out there, here is an interesting stat. Lebron has scored more points in the fourth qaurter then anyone else, and hasn’t even playd in at least ten of those fourth quarters do to blow outs.
It isn’t even a discussion anymore. heads up Lebron outplayed Wade. What else do you need? Take lbj off the cavs and they win 40 instead of 65. Z missed a ton of games, delonte, Ben wallace, and none of you fools mention that.

Oh well, when your heat get bounced in th4 first round, and the cave are playing the lakers in the finals… what else is there to say?

I think Kobe deserves it more then Wade. They lost all those games last yar cuz wade threw in the towel. You will never see a leron or a Kobe team wim less then twenty games.

argument over.
Roz Said,

March 22, 2009 @ 5:07 pm

Eddie, I think you are a horrible writer. I can’t believe that people actually waste their time listening to you. Majority of the comments that you make, are so left field. You are such a band wagon writer. You, Steward Scott, Jaelyn Rose & Mark Jackson, should be banned, from ever reporting anything regarding sports. And regardless if he is liked or not, Charles Barkley speaks the truth. And he’s not always on one athletes jock. I know like a whole lot of other people know, Kobe Bryant deserves, and should be the MVP. Dwayne Wade has not done anything compared to what Kobe has done. When Dwayne reaches 81 points, then maybe you can talk. Kobe is the best player on the courts today. And I hope that no one will listen to your nonsense, that Dwayne Wade should get MVP. He’s good, but not great. Kobe is greatness!!!!
CB Said,

March 22, 2009 @ 7:43 pm

I agree with Eddie absolutely Wade has a terrible team playing good, LeBron and Kobe have players around them that could make the playoffs without them. Hell just think if Wade could replace Kobe on the Lakers, the Lakers would be unstoppable as Wade knows how to pass and not force up 3’s when they arent falling. WADE IS SCORING MORE AND SHOOTING A BETTER FG PERCENTAGE AND PLAYING ON A TEAM WITH A BUNCH OF HAS BEENS AND ROOKIES NOT ALL STARS LIKE PAU GASOL, LAMAR ODOM, ANDRUW BYNUM (given that Odom and Bynum are capable all stars) and Bron playing with Mo, and the likes of Delonte West and Z and solid bench players
LYXO Said,

March 23, 2009 @ 4:12 pm

Eddie,

You have been lambasted enough today, so I won’t argue with your logic of the article. It’s a different way of looking at things so it’s fine.

All 3 - LeBron, Kobe, and Wade are all worthy of the MVP trophy. At this point, their talent level is so high and equal as a whole, that they’re basically interchangeable. We have to look at what they did this season with what they had, and what success they were able to make out of it.

I do believe that LeBron will win the MVP. Cavs are one of the top 3 teams and will continue be at the end of the season. His statistics and improvements on defense trump Kobe this season, and he’s had reduced minutes this year. Kobe got it last year, there wasn’t a jump for him this year. LeBron was in the running, his team had a huge jump this year, so he will win it.

But I actually wouldn’t mind LeBron losing. Really. If he did, he’d be very angry. And we all know what happens when LeBron gets angry.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 23, 2009 @ 6:25 pm

Roz - I don’t know if you’re serious or not, but you might be the world’s biggest idiot.

Here’s the official 1-10 MVPs of the NBA:

1) LeBron James
2) Kobe Bryant
3) Dwyane Wade
4) Dwight Howard
5) Chris Paul
6) Brandon Roy
7) Ray Allen/Paul Pierce (interchangeable)
Tim Duncan/Tony Parker (interchangeable)
9) Chauncey Billups
10) Deron Williams

…with Joe Johnson close behind.

LeBron James WILL win MVP. And, he deserves it. Stop saying that any of these three guys could win. LeBron should win. As a consolation prize, Dwyane Wade should be the Defensive Player of the Year.
Mo Said,

March 23, 2009 @ 8:35 pm

Paul shouldn’t be left out of the MVP conversation. Not as much as he’s been left out anyway. People are totally choosing to ignore him this season. He’s at his career high in a few stats. Imagine if his team were healthy this season. Even with all the injuries they are only 4 games off of last seasons win totals through games played. He’s even better this season which is why they haven’t dropped completely off the face of the earth.
Mo Said,

March 23, 2009 @ 8:36 pm

Oh and for the record, I know Paul won’t win it but don’t totally disregard the guy. I think Lebron will get it but CP3 has been totally ignored.
LB Said,

March 23, 2009 @ 10:42 pm

1) Lebron (great stats and team success)
2) Wade (Great stats but team hasn’t been strong enough even though it isn’t his fault)
3) Kobe (Good Stats and team success)

Wade is having the best year on both ends of the floor. He is beating them both in Scoring, shooting percentage, assists, and steals.

Lebron is a monster with stats and team success. He plays very good defense every night.

Kobe has declined some. He doesn’t drive as much. Doesn’t play defense on a consistent basis. Still a killer.

Most important stat on Kobe is: He shoots a lower percentage from the field than the team. So the team shoots better from the field without him. So he should pass the ball more.

Wade and Lebron shoot better than the team they are on.
Fred Towes Said,

March 24, 2009 @ 10:31 am

Michael Bennet,

To address your early question re: historic troikas, I would say that it’s been 20 years since three players of this pedigree have vied for MVP primacy: I’m recalling 1986-90, those halcyon days of Earvin Johnson, Larry Bird & a young Michael Jordan. Back then, the most explosive scorer & electric performer in the league — Dominque Wilkins — warranted nothing in the way of Most Valuable consideration in light of the icons beaming brilliance in SoCal, Chi-, & Bean-town.

Peace,
MT
vecchsta Said,

March 24, 2009 @ 1:01 pm

I agree with you Eddie. There are two players that deserve MVP more then Lebron and Kobe. First Dwade, he is doing amazing things with the very limited talent level of his team. Wade goes out and takes control of a game all by himself, on both ends of the floor. His supporting cast is the worst of any of the teams in the playoff picture right now. I am sick of people giving me Jermaine O’Neal, can someone tell me the last time this player has done anything significant at all. His cast is very flat and carries very little to no depth. Their intensity level is atrocious at times, Beasley always looks dazed and confused on the court. Lebron and Kobe’s cast is immensly better then that of Dwade’s. At this point i would also put Chris Paul ahead of Lebron and Kobe. I am very disappointed in basketball due to the lack of acknowledgment of Paul. Paul has had a better year then last year, don’t forget Paul was second last year. His team has also been hit with injuries left and right. But still Paul holds his team in the standings. His supporting cast is also not nearly as good as it was last season, Chandler has gone soft. David West is averaging 20 but lets see West do that without Paul setting him up with such high frequency. The Hornets depth can also be questioned at times and sometimes when Paul is benched the team seems completely lost on the floor. There are many times where i have seen Kobe or Lebron benched and their teams still role along. Paul has to play almost all 48 mins in order to get his team a win, Wade has the same story. Paul and Wade have the lesser teams and they are playing at a jaw dropping level. These two men are far more VALUEABLE TO THEIR TEAMS. This isn’t a 2 or 3 man MVP race, this is a 4 man MVP race and the two getting the most credit are the lesser candidates.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 24, 2009 @ 2:15 pm

I love you, John Hollinger.

http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=PERDiem-090324

Thank you very much.
vecchsta Said,

March 24, 2009 @ 2:55 pm

Bennett my god you are always about numbers all the time. Your like one of those sports nerds who carries around stat books and takes pride in knowing statistics from like 1890. It shouldn’t be all about stats. This proves that Lebron can put up numbers but it doesn’t prove he is MVP. There are several unwritten or intangible qualities that should come into winning an MVP award. Sadly that is not the case today. Whichever player is on the team with the best record or who leads the league in statistical categories seems to be the only thing that matters in the MVP vote. Lol thats how Nowitzki magically won it. That article proves nothing, i could care less about Hollinger’s opinion. Its sad you always have to rely on stats and others to make your point. Like always you prove nothing.
Roz Said,

March 25, 2009 @ 11:41 pm

Michael Bennettt, the name calling was quite uncalled for. And everyone has their own opinions about who they think should be this years MVP. And you and I disagree on who that person should be. And regardless if Kobe get’s it or not, he will ALWAYS be my MVP.

And besides, the comment was not meant for you in the first place!
Scott D. Said,

March 26, 2009 @ 6:30 pm

Guys,

First of all let’s DEFINE “MVP” and what it really means, THEN let’s see which one of these 3 players most closely fits the mold!

MVP: the best performing player on a specific team, in an entire league, or for a series of contests.

Look at the stats! Who is currently the best performer and has had to strongest impact on their team?

This should be easy.
NYCBlazers Fan Said,

March 27, 2009 @ 9:48 am

Eddie - I understand what you’re saying, but I think you’re not remembering history. You can say why you think Steve Nash and Nowitzki won the MVP, but what the VOTERS said in those years is that even though everyone knows neither of those guys was the best player, they led their teams to fantastic records, whereas Kobe, LBJ and others were better players in those years with much, much better stats, but didn’t lead their team to league-best contending records. Those two MVPs, to me, changed the discourse on MVP voting - meaning the voters loudly and clearly stated that an MVP has to lead their team to a NBA-best contending record to be considered as the league MVP. There is no other way to justify Steve Nash getting the MVP when he averaged 18 and 11 or something like that, so his stats clearly didn’t deserve it and no one said he was the best player in the league - his team won over 60 games, and that’s why he won the MVP. So, for Wade to now be considered the MVP goes against the way voters said they did and should vote for MVPs. Kobe as MVP last year was an easy choice, as he had league-best contending stats on a league-best contending team - a no-brainer. And, this year seems the same as LBJ and Kobe both have league-best contending stats on league-best contending teams, whereas Wade has league-best contending stats on a mediocre team only in playoff contention because they play in the east. Look back at the rosters of the Lakers and Cavs from the years Nash and Nowitzki won their MVPs - I think it’s difficult to argue that they had good teams back then yet they also led their teams to the playoffs (just like Wade this year).

I came to this site just to read the Phoenix perspective on last night’s game, as a Blazers fan living in New York. But, I couldn’t resist participating in this blog. Thanks for the opportunity!
Ghana Boi Said,

March 27, 2009 @ 11:53 am

KOBE BRYANT!!!
Slim Said,

March 27, 2009 @ 1:34 pm

I think Kobe didn’t and won’t get votes because of his off court issues in Colorado, his low rating on the “media friendliness” meter, and past contract issues with the Lakers.
Michael Bennett Said,

March 27, 2009 @ 2:58 pm

Kobe deserved MVP last year. Not any other year before, though. The Cs won nine more games than the Lakers, but not one player’s stats stood out like Kobe’s.

LeBron deserves it this year, even if the Lakers win a couple more games than the Cavs. His stats are out of this world, and his play has been spectacular, night in and night out.

Eddie - You must come on here and admit that DWade will NOT win MVP this year. He’s fantastic. His team… not so much. But, his stats aren’t that much better than Kobe’s and they’re not better than LeBron’s.
John Said,

March 27, 2009 @ 3:33 pm

LOL. Wade has the Heat at 38-34; Lebron has the Cav’s at 58-14. Are u kidding me? Don’t give Wade brownie points because he was beat down…cat still has Haslem, Moon, O’Neal, etc. Besides Mo, who does LB have? Give Wade comeback POY (-:

*Sick of the Kobe talk. Dude gets to play with the greatest center ever, and now he’s running down the court with Odom & Gasol, both of whom would start for either Cleveland or Miami, and both all-star caliber.
CFatz Said,

March 28, 2009 @ 10:03 am

Eddie,
they’re doing it again. and a little earlier than usual this time.

Kevin Garnett is faking an injury (a la Paul Pierce) to get sympathy for the playoffs.

I’m sure you have a comment.

CF
SAntosh Said,

March 28, 2009 @ 1:03 pm

First off… Every1 that says wade should b MVP r freaking on crack. Wade is really good, but far from a MVP. Kobe’s avg was 35, 31 ppg the 2 yrs Steve Nash won the MVP. Kobe scored 81 & 50+ in 6 straight games. Where is the JUSTICE?? Let’s talk about wades weak supporting cast… Haslem, J’Oniel, 3pt shooting champ D.cook , beasley… As compRed to whAt Kobe had in Smush Parker, kwane brown, chris mhim, rookie sasha vujacic & always injured odom??? & despite that Kobe took the lakers to # 8 in the WEST & gave phx who was #1 a 7 game series… Where is the justice???? Wade had a weak supporting cast last season & his team was LAST INTHE EASTERN CONF. This yr in the watered down EAST wade & the heat r 38-34. With that will get wAde a nice #10 in the west… TAKE THat. Yah I want my MVP who wouldn’t even make the damn plAyoffs in competive division. Wade is over hyped… Besides celtics & cavs who else in the east??? Where as in the west all 9 teams r better than the heat… WADE FOR MVP??? Think again.
Mackray Bland Said,

March 29, 2009 @ 9:38 am

Do you think Lebron wants to face Wade in the playoffs or any top seed in the east. Dont think so. Wade is the mvp because he’s not only been on a tear lately he’s been on a tear for the whole year. And if you watch him actually he does play like mj. Cloest thing to him more like mj than lebron and kobe. He came in underrated to a big market city and he’s being killing it every since. Let me tell yall something who one the title first hakeem or mj. And who won a title first wade or lebron. He already got one and he’s not done.
sports junkie Said,

March 29, 2009 @ 9:38 pm

This 2008-2009 NBA Season There have been only two legitimate MVP candidates, LeBron James and Kobe Bryant. This season both players have been playing at the highest level of there careers. There haven’t been any other players who have meant more to their teams success this season than these two players.

After watching this Summer Olympics I sat wondering what this season’s MVP race would look like. I anticipated Lebron, Kobe , Wade among others candidates. I honestly felt after Mr. Wade’s Olympic performances that his team would get back in the playoff fold this season. His scoring and statistical accomplishments didn’t surprise me at all. He’s played well all year and his team will make this year’s playoffs. I just cant say he’s the MVP this season.

Lebron and Kobe have gone back and forth this season with great games, win streaks and accomplishments, but only one can have this years MVP trophy.

I choose Kobe Bryant.

Many will disagree but the truth lies within.

As of today March 24, 2009 Kobe Bryant is averaging 27.7 points 5.4 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game with a current team record of 55-14, compared to Lebron James is averaging 28.6 points 7.6 rebounds and 7.3 assist per game and a team record of 57-13.

Its a very close debate as to who should be the MVP this season. After weighing out team records and statistics I’ve chosen to go deeper in why Kobe Deserves to be this season’s MVP.

The overall stats are almost identical as well as their teams records, but here’s what separates the two candidates and what draws me to my vote.

In Head to Head games played this season Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers won BOTH meetings. As of today no other NBA team has beating The Cavaliers twice this season. In The LA Lakers first win against The Cleveland Cavaliers they won by a total of 17 points. In this game Lebron scored 23 points 9 rebounds and 4 assist. Kobe on the other hand had a 20 point 6 rebounds and a season high 12 assists.

In the second match up this season, The Lakers once again Beat the Cavs. Not only do they give them there second lost to a single team in this season, this time they also snap a 23 game home win streak . In this game Kobe Bryant out plays Lebron again and also with flu like symptoms. So Kobe Flu and all beats Lebron again and in his own building by 10 points, giving them there only loss this season. Still til this day the Cavs haven’t loss again at home.

SOME SAY IT PURE LUCK, SOME SAY IT JUST KOBE’S WILL TO BE THE BEST AND WIN.

The Boston Celtics are last years World Champions as well as both teams success measuring stick. At this present time both Kobe and Lebron have played them Twice. Lebron is 1-2 against them where as Kobe stands 2-0 against the world champs.

Lebron has beaten the Celtics in Clevland and Loss to them in Boston. In there last meeting When Lebron played the Celtics In Boston the Celtics best player Kevin Garnett was out due to a injury giving Cleveland a advantage and they still lost.

Kobe on the other hand won on Christmas Day against the Celtics at the Staples Center snapping a 19 game winning streak and than in Boston in there second Meeting again Snapping a 12 game win streak in which ALL Celtic stars played in both games.

SOME SAY IT PURE LUCK, SOME SAY IT JUST KOBE’S WILL TO BE THE BEST AND WIN.

Lebron averages 27 points 6 rebounds and 5.3 assist versus the Celtics compared to Kobe’s 26.5 points 9.5 rebounds and 5.0 assists.

Again you can say the stats are too close to give to one person so we have to go to the Facts.

Kobe snaps both Celtics 19 and 12 game winning streaks
Kobe Snaps Cavaliers 23 game Home win streak
Kobe wins in Boston, Which Lebron has yet to do this season
Kobe wins in Boston without Starter Andrew Bynum
Kobe out plays his opponents when it matters most (Lebron, Pierce, Allen, Garnett)
Kobe Bryant has led his team to wins over the Celtics and Cavs twice this season and gaining home-court advantage in the playoffs just in case scenarios if there is a tie in their record.

Why is Kobe the MVP again? Here’s why because he’s been a MVP in the most important games of the season. Kobe Bryant is Never out of the killer instinct, Lebrons instinct is a light switch. Kobe even takes all star games seriously. The man came out at All-Star weekend playing as if the LA Lakers were playing the Eastern Conference All-Stars. Kobe Bryant was MVP of the 2009 NBA All-Star Game Scoring 27 points 4 assists 4 steals and 4 rebounds.

To prove a point Kobe Bryant has been the MVP of the All-Star game 2 out of the last 3 years. He sat out last years because of a injury, which leave us to the theory that if he had played he just might have been MVP of that game and the west may have pulled out the victory.

Ira Newbell who played with both Lebron and Kobe says when asked who is better: “You know what? Kobe’s better, and if you ask LeBron, he’ll tell you Kobe’s better ”. Newbell also cited Bryant’s “tenacity for the game” and his defense as superior areas when compared to James.

Here’s another Fact Lebron James has led his team to 57 wins and 13 losses. 34 of those wins come in the sub par east along with 9 losses. His record versus teams in the west is pretty strong with 23 wins and 4 losses. 2 of those losses coming from the hands of Kobe Bryant ans his LA Lakers. When you look at the standings in the eastern conference that only 2 other teams besides the Cavs have a record over .600.

Kobe on the other hand plays in a rugged Western conference and hold a 9 game lead in first place over the Houston Rockets. In the west all 8 teams fighting for a playoff spot have a winning percentage over .600.

Kobe’s Lakers have a 55-14 record and have won 18 games and lost 7 to the Eastern Conference and own a Record best 37-7 versus the teams in the Western Conference. Kobe’s record is overall against better and more Respectable teams in Western Conference and proves that if the LA Lakers were to play in the East that they may have only lost 5 or 6 games all year.

The Dallas Mavericks are the 8 seed right now in the west and have a better record than the 8 seeded Chicago bulls by almost 10 games. If the Mavericks played in the east they would be the 4Th seed in the East to where the Chicago Bulls wouldn’t even make the playoffs!!!!!

Clearly there is a huge disparity in the conference and is another reason why Kobe gets the vote for MVP. Yes we cant fault Lebron for playing in a Sub-par East but we have to consider the wins.

What I’m Simply saying is that the conference disparity is going to have to be the deciding factor in who gets the MVP.

This means comparing Kobe’s 55 wins to Lebron’s 57 is not right nor is it fair. If the Lakers had to play Chicago, Philly, New York, Washington and a struggling Detroit 4 times a year they’d certainly have significantly more than 55 wins so far this season. Being said if the Cavaliers played The Lakers, Spurs, Utah, Dallas and New Orleans 4 times a year instead of twice would probably have them somewhere in the middle of the conference and not at the top of the Conference at 57 wins?

One thing is clear, They have both given us another regular season MVP race to remember but in the end we have to weigh out all aspect, reasons and come to one conclusion and that’s who should really get this trophy. Kobe Bryant may have arguably been the MVP the last 4 years but that’s another debate.

What the World needs to see is that Kobe is putting up comparable numbers to LeBron James while leading his team to the best record in the league, in a tougher conference while playing better in the most important games of the season. To me, that means the reigning MVP deserves to repeat.

Posted by Sports Junky at 12:22 PM 0 comments
Labels: An The 2009 NBA MVP is…………
scott Said,

March 30, 2009 @ 2:54 pm

MVP is a this years regular season award. Playing poorly in a loss to middle of the pack team (ATL) counts just as much as playing well in a victory over an elite (Celts).

Lebron’s stats are way better than Kobe’s (got to look at PER, on court/off, get the big picture), and his team is two games better. Its OVER folks.

The only debate is for 2nd place in the MVP voting and the 1st team ALL-NBA team (who of Kobe, Wade & Paul gets left out).

The only people saying Kobe is better than Lebron are those lazy analysts/players who are really influenced by career accomplishments and not focused on what the players are doing NOW for their teams. Like those dumbasses who voted for Karl Malone when Tim Duncan (99 I think) had better stats & a better team, and where Duncan proved he was the superior player by earning ring #1 while Malone faded in the playoffs once again.
indian 1 Said,

March 30, 2009 @ 3:58 pm

Lets get this right.When Lebron came into the league his team won 17 games. He was not considered for the MVP BECAUSE how bad his team was. After his team inproved, he led the league in scoring,he still didn’t get the MVP. Now he has the best team record wise, and still people are trying to put DWade, and Kobe over Him.

It seems that when it comes to Lebron, there is a jelousy, among some in the media about this great young player. Lebron has been the best player and MVP FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS. Clearly he has earned this award-and not to give it to him, with the season he and his team have had, is a dis-service to the NBA.
Ron Artest Said,

April 3, 2009 @ 9:17 pm

Lebron should get the mvp because he is the best player on the best team,but any idiot screaming stats needs their head examined. Seriously,have any of you idiots ever wondered why the greats don’t use stats? Unless guys play the exact same amount of minutes,run the exact system,and plays the exact position then you really can’t compare. Another thing people need to realize is lebron does inflate his stats alot against weaker teams. When he plays against a good team he usually folds like he is doing tonight against orlando!

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HoopsHype.com NBA Blogs - Eddie Johnson

MVP race not a two-man show

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