The Great Debate - The Race to the NBA MVP's

[my_forehand]

Who do you think is most deserving of the coveted NBA MVP?

http://www.nba.com/features/player_rankings.html

The Great Debate is between The Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant, or the so-called "King" James.

Both have never won it; Kobe's been in the NBA for 12 seasons, LeBron for 4 seasons.

"For the past three seasons, the MVP trophy did not go to the best player in the league. Team success and getting teammates involved played a big part in the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki winning the honor last year and the Suns' Steve Nash earning the nod the two seasons before that."

Kobe's been the best individual offensive player during the time.

Now, he's showing he can be the best individual defensive player:

"Thanks to Bryant, who has regained his status as one of the best individual defenders in the league, the Lakers have won 11 of 12 and are leading the West in victories."



Will post a poll with the Top 10 contenders soon.

Your thoughts?

 

[my_forehand]

[March 4, 2008 -- For the past three seasons, the MVP trophy did not go to the best player in the league. Team success and getting teammates involved played a big part in the Mavericks' Dirk Nowitzki winning the honor last year and the Suns' Steve Nash earning the nod the two seasons before that.]

With the Lakers' Kobe Bryant and the Cavaliers' LeBron James on top of the Race to the MVP list, it appears that won't be the case this season. Here is a quick look at some of Bryant and James' on-the-court accomplishments with the help of numbers.

24.9 Bryant's career scoring average through 844 games.

27.2 James’ career scoring average through 370 games.

38,387 Career points by NBA all-time leading scorer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

13 At his current pace, how many more seasons it will take for James to pass Abdul-Jabbar.

20,989 Career points scored by Bryant (25th all time).

12 Seasons Bryant, who has won two scoring titles, has been in the league.

0 Number of scoring titles for James.

2.1 Points per game lead James (30.3) has over Bryant (28.2) in the current race for the league scoring crown.

10,000 James recently became the youngest player to score 10,000 career points (23 years, 59 days). Bryant was the old record holder (24 years, 194 days).

1988 Before James accomplished the feat last month, that was the last year a player (Lakers’ Magic Johnson) posted triple-doubles on consecutive days twice in the same season.

2 The number of consecutive times James has been named Eastern Conference Player of the Month. Bryant was chosen as the Western Conference Player of the Month for February.

13 The amount of wins the Lakers had in 15 games in February.

12 The amount of wins the Lakers have since acquiring Pau Gasol 14 games ago.

52 Points scored by Bryant, including 30 in the fourth quarter and overtime, in the Lakers’ 108-104 win against the Mavericks on Sunday.

22 Amount of 50-point games in Bryant’s career.

42 The Lakers victory total this season (42-18)), equaling the amount of wins they posted all of last season.

34 The Cavaliers victory total this season (34-26).

3 NBA championship rings owned by Bryant.

1 Eastern Conference title owned by James.

0 Combined times Bryant and James have been named league MVP, although that number will change for one of those players in a couple of months

 

[tricky]

As much as I am a Kobe fan, if the reg season ended now, Chris Paul deserves to win the MVP.

20-10
Best road record in the West
3rd best record in the West

No doubt, CP3 is the MVP.

LBJ shouldn't even be considered because of his team record. The Cavs record would be good for 10th place in the West, and this is against the Eastern conference. I'd put KG as MVP of the East, because they have the best record in the NBA.

 

[my_forehand]

Chris Paul? New Orleans? Why?

 

[tricky]

If you go by team record and contributions and surrounding talent, then CP3 wins. But he doesn't get the same visibility because he plays in NO. ESPN is making the MVP race between Kobe and Lebron. Their dream finals isn't Lakers/Celts, it's Kobe vs. Lebron 7 games.

 

[my_forehand]

Team record, their 3rd in the West, currently. Surrounding talent, I'd have to agree.

 

[hollywood9826]

I would vote for CP3 as well. What he has done with that bunch hes got is awesome. I discount Lebron a tad becasue he plays against weaker comp. I believe Kobe will it just becasue its kobe and he is sick this year.

NBA wants lakers Celtics finals, but they may end up with Spurs Pistons

 

[Moose Malloy]

I'm surprised KG isn't getting more notice for this award, some of the 'most improved team/best record league' type teams in the past have gotten MVP's(Nash's 1st year with Suns, Barkley's 1st year with Suns)

Celtics will likely have the best record in the league, & they are one of the most improved teams in NBA history.

last year the Celtics were 24-58, the 2nd worst team in the league.

And he's a former winner, they seem to like to give multiple MVPs to the same players over the years.

 

[Muse]

I'm surprised KG isn't getting more notice for this award, some of the 'most improved team/best record league' type teams in the past have gotten MVP's(Nash's 1st year with Suns, Barkley's 1st year with Suns)

Celtics will likely have the best record in the league, & they are one of the most improved teams in NBA history.

last year the Celtics were 24-58, the 2nd worst team in the league.

And he's a former winner, they seem to like to give multiple MVPs to the same players over the years.

KG's not gonna get any of the recognition anymore because his team had the gall to post a good record while he was out with injury... *rolleyes*

My votes on LBJ. He's getting it done with a LOT less talent on his team than Kobe. Pau and Odom are quality players and starters are on pretty much any team. The Cavs? please. No one on that team scares you except for LBJ and they're still good.

 

[boojay]

I'm not a big fan of James, but if it's a race between these two, it would be Lebron, hands down--shouldn't even be an argument. Lebron wins in every single statistical category not to mention his team would be worse than Miami without him than the Lakers would be without Bryant.