2008-09 Awards Preview: MVP
Hopefully the writers don't get all sentimental this year and give the MVP to someone who they feel got screwed. But what do you expect when you let people vote for a League-wide award who don't even watch teams besides their own play? Ok, so before I lapse into another "I'll never respect the NBA award process as long as Chuck 'No, seriously, I really thought Andrea Bargnani was better than Brandon Roy and I'm not just saying that because I announce for the Raptors and only watched Roy play twice last year... but seriously, you can get a good feel for a guy by looking at box scores and watching Sportscenter' Swirsky is voting" rant, let me present to you my 2008-09 MVP contenders and pretenders.
The Pretenders
LeBron James – LeBron is the only player in the League who could conceivably average a triple double. That said, no one has won the MVP award with less than 54 team wins in the past ten years (when I stopped counting) and the Cavs don’t look strong enough to do that. If they do win 55+ though, Bron should win the award. (As an aside, I doubt he will do it but if he does average that triple-dub he really should win the MVP.)
Yao Ming/Tracy McGrady – The West is still stacked but if the Rockets make a run, one of these guys should get consideration. Unfortunately, they will always split votes which makes it tough for them to win it.
The Contenders
Kobe Bryant – The Lakers look primed for a championship run and Kobe is their undisputed leader. Kobe’s chances to repeat as MVP might rest with Andrew Bynum. If Bynum figures out how to get his points in the triangle while contributing the rebounding and interior defense that Phil Jackson is looking for then the Lake Show has a chance to win 60+ games and Kobe will get his second Maurice Podoloff trophy.
Chris Paul – Allow me to get my biases out of the way – Chris Paul is the most exciting player to watch in the League and he’s part of a three-way discussion (with Bron and the Mamba) for the best player in the NBA. He should have won the MVP last season and he should probably win it this season if his team performs (and I see no reason why they shouldn’t). Chris Paul is the revolution, the truth, and the standard by which all PGs will be measured over the next decade.
The Pretenders
LeBron James – LeBron is the only player in the League who could conceivably average a triple double. That said, no one has won the MVP award with less than 54 team wins in the past ten years (when I stopped counting) and the Cavs don’t look strong enough to do that. If they do win 55+ though, Bron should win the award. (As an aside, I doubt he will do it but if he does average that triple-dub he really should win the MVP.)
Yao Ming/Tracy McGrady – The West is still stacked but if the Rockets make a run, one of these guys should get consideration. Unfortunately, they will always split votes which makes it tough for them to win it.
The Contenders
Kobe Bryant – The Lakers look primed for a championship run and Kobe is their undisputed leader. Kobe’s chances to repeat as MVP might rest with Andrew Bynum. If Bynum figures out how to get his points in the triangle while contributing the rebounding and interior defense that Phil Jackson is looking for then the Lake Show has a chance to win 60+ games and Kobe will get his second Maurice Podoloff trophy.
Chris Paul – Allow me to get my biases out of the way – Chris Paul is the most exciting player to watch in the League and he’s part of a three-way discussion (with Bron and the Mamba) for the best player in the NBA. He should have won the MVP last season and he should probably win it this season if his team performs (and I see no reason why they shouldn’t). Chris Paul is the revolution, the truth, and the standard by which all PGs will be measured over the next decade.
Labels: chris paul, kobe bryant, lebron james, mvp, tracy mcgrady, yao ming
posted by Gen at
9:41 AM
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