I've seen a lot of people name dropping Chauncey Billups. I don't see it. The Pistons are a great team. To me, when I think of Most Valuable, I think of someone whom mades the team not just better but successful. For example, if Chauncey wasn't on Detroit, I still think they'd make the playoffs. I can't say the same about the Lakers if they didn't have Kobe, the Cavs if they didn't have LeBron or the Spurs if they didn't have Duncan.

 

Steve Nash has been acknowledged several times too, and it's deserved with him having career numbers and Phoenix having a great season even without Amare.

 

Still, that being said, I think this year it has to go to either Kobe Bryant, whom is taking a TERRIBLE team, seemingly, into the Playoffs, or LeBron James, whom is pretty much on the same page as Kobe. It's not official but it looks like the Lakers are there. I think Kobe should get it just because of the number of forty point nights he's had plus his eighty-one point exhibition. That's ridiculous. It's almost like people have forgot that it happened!

 

Dwayne Wade's name has come up but he's had a lot of help from Shaq and 'Zo. Both of whom have missed multiple games, so there is still a lot of merit to Wade's season.

 

Still, I think it's either Kobe or LeBron and I'd vote for Kobe. I don't want to go an look up all the numbers and compare them and everything but from the games I've watched this year on TNT, ESPN & NBA TV, Kobe has always been brilliant.

Bernie Bickerstaff said it best about the Pistons, when he said "some teams have a go-to-guy...they have a go-to team." I don't think you can credit one guy on that team with their success.

 

I'd give the award to either Nash or Wade.

MVP arguments will always have the same criteria arguments.

 

Best player in the league for the season vs. player who is most important to his particular teams success.

 

For me, its' a tossup between Kobe and Steve Nash. Both men are the best players on their teams. Both of their teams would be lottery bound without them. The same could be said for LeBron, but I think LeBron is on the verge of MVP-dom starting next year.

 

It's tough. I have biases. I can't stand Kobe because he's a Laker. However, I acknowledge he's the best 2 guard in the game right now. (although LeBron is right there on his tails) I have nothing against Nash except that mop he calls hair.

 

I really don't know now, but IMO you can't go wrong picking either guy.

I think it shows that the league, at least at the top, is really healthy. When Paul Pierce is leading his team in damn near EVERY category and doesn't even get mentioned, it shows that there's a lot of talent playing really well.

 

Kobe Bryant is the best player on the Lakers. They wouldn't make the playoffs without him.

 

LeBron James is the best player on the Cavs. They wouldn't make the playoffs without him. He's starting to show that he can be a clutch player.

 

Tim Duncan in the best player on the Spurs. They might make the playoffs without him, thanks the Manu and Parker.

 

Steve Nash is the man that holds the Suns together, however I think it's debatable if he's the best player on the team. He certainly makes the team better but Amare, when he's healthy, is dominant. Certainly this year Nash is the best player on the team and the reason for their success. As mentioned before, he's having a record season and since he won the MVP last year without the numbers he has this year, and last year he had Amare, I think that says a lot.

 

Dwayne Wade is certainly not the best player on the Heat. He's younger and healthier than Shaq but it's still all about O'Neal in my eyes. Wade also gets help from people like Gary Payton, Jason Williams, Antoine Walker & Alonzo Mourning, amongst others. I don't, personally, think he's in the running.

 

I love the NBA. I've been watching it since the late 80's and got to see a lot of the all-time greats like Jordan, Bird, Johnson, Stockton, Malone, Olajuwon, Barkley & Robinson play. I like talking about it and I think it's in a healthy state right now. People like to knock the league but I think Stern has done a good job. I think, if I were to complain about anything, it'd be the choice of games that gets televised. I really enjoy the TNT studios team of Kenny Smith, Charles Barkley & Ernie Johnson. I think the inclusion of Magic and Miller every now and then is meh. I dislike the majority of the commentators that actually call the games. I hate Bill Walton on ESPN. I hate listening to Stephen A. Smith talk like he knows what he's talking about. Scottie Pippen is about as easy to understand as Michael Irvin for Shannon Sharpe for the NFL.

 

I kinda went off on a tangent there. Anything, I think it's Kobe or James but if Nash got it, I wouldn't complain. I just don't want to hear people talk about Tony Parker, Dwayne Wade or Chauncey Billups anymore like they should win it. It's making me mad.

 

OH, another I thing I don't like. When it's a double-header night and the first game sucks. I don't want to stay up until 2am to watch the second game end. I HATE how all the NBA games are at night. Especially the playoffs during weekdays. That's just silly. I like the Sunday day games on NBC.

I would argue that it should always be the best player on the best team. I think we have found a tendency to just give it to a guy based on his stats and not for how much he improves his team. Kobe may be making the playoffs this year, with Phil in the driver's seat, but we saw what kind of success he has without Phil last year with essentially the same team.... none.

 

I think what Nash has done this year has been amazing. When Amare went down, I was right there with everyone else saying that Pheonix would be a bottom feeder playoff team. There run has been amazing. Still, they aren't the best team. The same could be said for LeBron's Cavs. LeBron has impressed me more than Kobe because of how much worse I think the Cavs are than the current Lakers minus thier superstars.

 

Since the Spurs and the Pistons are the 2 best teams, maybe it should be a guy from one of those squads but Tim Duncan has been plagued by injuries and has had a sub-par year. Tony Parker has been the bets Spur so far but he disappears for games at a time and it may bite the Spurs in the playoffs.

 

Ignoring stats, I know Billups could get the nod, and I would be happy with that, but Ben Wallace deserves just as much consideration since I believe he is really what makes that team a threat. Ignore the stats, look t the stats of the guy Ben defends. His team feeds off of that and use him as a safety net more than any other team. Without Ben, the Pistons may make the playofs, but they would be similar to those Grant Hill failures of the 1990s.

 

A dark horse in my mind is Dirk Nowitzki. In 2 years, he lost his 2 amigos and has become the undispituted leader of that team. Jason Terry is nice but he is no Jason Kidd. Add the fact that Dirk is playing defense for the first time in his career and he is another deserving candidate.

 

I think people should be more critical of who they give the MVP to. For the most part, the NBA MVP has gone to the most deserving candidate with a few noticable clunkers. I don't think it should be an awars hadned out to just anybody because "Another player already got it. It's so-and-so's turn."

 

The reality is that for the last eight years or so, only 2 players (Shaq and Duncan) have truly dominated the league and produced the hardware to be considered every year. Everyone else should be analyzed and scrutinized to the nth degree!

I'll go with Nash because he's been the glue that kept the Suns together with Amare out all but 3 games this year.

 

 

 

Detroit is good enough that they *should* have the MVP, but it's hard to pick any of their starters for various reasons.

 

Example- Ben Wallace is a fucking MADMAN on the boards, with upwards of 25 rebounds in multiple games, but he doesn't score worth a crap.

The Most Valuable Player award, to me, should go to the best player on the best team, but it's got to be the one player on the team that you can look at and say "he's the one who makes them the best." You can't do that on the Pistons.

 

A little off the subject, but last year, the right man won the MVP. The Suns were the best team in the league in the regular season. If it's anyone other than Shaq in that scenario, no one whines about it, and you get the usual "he plays in the East" excuse. It's a total double standard. In 2004, the Pacers had the best record in the league, but no MVP or even first team All-NBA for Jermaine O'Neal. Nobody seemed to have a problem breaking out the "he played in the East" excuse that year, when it wasn't Shaq or one of the league's other cash cows.

 

In college, you have the tournament's Most Outstanding Player award, which goes to the best (most outstanding) player in the tournament. You can give that award to Kobe, but he's not, to me, in the MVP running. He doesn't make his teammates better, and while they wouldn't make the playoffs without him, they're still struggling to get in with him.

 

And yes, this takes Wade out of the running, as well, because while the team effort of the Heat does parallel Nash and the Suns, somewhat, the difference is that Wade didn't make any of those players better. Payton is a has-been, and Walker has had a relatively quiet year, but they're still established vets. You couldn't have picked Boris Diaw, or James Jones, or Raja Bell out of a lineup before this season, unless you followed the teams they were on. So, I was wrong.

 

I'm kind of in-between on LeBron...I'm not going to lump him in with Kobe or Wade, but I just don't think his team's good enough to warrant serious consideration. Very similar to Kevin Garnett in '03...there was a big uproar over him not winning it, but I still think Duncan was the right choice.

 

So yeah, my vote goes to Steve Nash.

It's sad and I feel bad about forgetting about Elton Brand.

EB had a better year than the previous losing seasons and he's in the conversation. I don't think he should get it, but he's in the conversation.

 

This year is a 2 guards year. Just look at your top scorers - Kobe, AI, LeBron, Arenas, and Wade. I don't think a PF or C is in the top 8-10.

Kobe Bryant is my MVP. He has proved that he's the best player in the league and has taken a team to the playoffs that should be where Minnesota is. Teams like Golden State, Utah, Minnesota are much more talented than the Lakers yet Kobe still has them there.

 

I've seen a lot of people name dropping Chauncey Billups. I don't see it. The Pistons are a great team. To me, when I think of Most Valuable, I think of someone whom mades the team not just better but successful. For example, if Chauncey wasn't on Detroit, I still think they'd make the playoffs.

The thing that goes against Chauncey is that everyone on his team has upped their game this season and Ben Wallace has been just as good as Billups has this season. He's not my MVP.

 

Dwayne Wade's name has come up but he's had a lot of help from Shaq and 'Zo. Both of whom have missed multiple games, so there is still a lot of merit to Wade's season.

Wade has been far more valuble than Shaq this season. If Shaq doesn't produce in the post season like everyone is saying he's saving himself for, then I 100% think that Wade is the Heat's best player. Wade has been clutch this season and if it wern't for him the Heat wouldn't be the second best team in the east.

 

Kobe may be making the playoffs this year, with Phil in the driver's seat, but we saw what kind of success he has without Phil last year with essentially the same team.... none.

The Lakers have changed quite a bit. Last year Kobe was the ball handler and main scorer where as now he just has to concentrate on scoring and Odom is the ball handler. Plus they actually have some sort of post defence in Brown, and Parker is a solid all round offensive player and not one dimensional like Chucky Atkins.

It's sad and I feel bad about forgetting about Elton Brand.

Cassell to me has been just as important to the team as Brand. I'd choose Carmelo Anthony higher than Brand, and I'd choose Anthony alot higher than everyone else. Melo has been the only consistent scoring option on his team when important people like Camby and Martin have been injured, Lenard gets benched and Boykins gets injured.

Because this is also an NBA Playoff thread, time for some shit talking!

 

 

I'm a Kings fan. Barring a miracle upset by the Hornets over the Lakers in LA, the Kings are on a collision course with the defending NBA champion SA Spurs.

 

 

This of course means I have to give goodhelmet as much shit as possible Kidding aside, I think the Kings are as dangerous an 8th seed as has been seen in years. Thing is, SA still won over 60 games this year despite being hobbled by injuries all year to various people. Of course, I'd love for the Kings to pull off an upset. I am a realist though and chances are the best I can hope for is a thrilling 6-7 game series.

 

Good luck, goodhelmet and Spurs. You will need it.

EYs, we will need a little bit of luck... against Detroit on their home floor. HEll, Denver took us to 6 games in the 1st round last year so there is no reason the Kings can't do the same.

It's sad and I feel bad about forgetting about Elton Brand.

Cassell to me has been just as important to the team as Brand. I'd choose Carmelo Anthony higher than Brand, and I'd choose Anthony alot higher than everyone else. Melo has been the only consistent scoring option on his team when important people like Camby and Martin have been injured, Lenard gets benched and Boykins gets injured.

See, I think Carmelo had an amazing second half of the season (much like Ron Artest) however he is out of the picture because his first half wasn't as good.

 

Kobe, LeBron & Brand, for example, have all been good all season. Nash too.

Here are the matchups

 

East

1. Detroit

8. Milwaukee

 

4. Cleveland

5. Washington

 

3. New Jersey

6. Indiana

 

2. Miami

7. Chicago

 

 

West

1. San Antonio

8. Sacramento

 

4. Dallas

5. Memphis

 

6. LA Clippers

3. Denver

 

2. Phoenix

7. LA Lakers

 

Pistons in 5

Wizards in 6

Nets in 7

Heat in 5

 

Spurs in 7

Mavs in 5

Clippers in 6

Suns in 6

I can't pick the games. I've never been good at that. However, I'll pick whom I think will win each match-up:

 

WEST

 

(1) San Antonio

(8) Sacramento

 

Sac has stepped it up in the second half of the season and they have good defense. However, I can't see S.A. breaking down in the first round.

 

(4) Dallas

(5) Memphis

 

Dallas is good and hungry. Memphis isn't bad but they're too inexperienced.

 

(3) Denver

(6) L.A. Clippers

 

The Clippers are playing great and Denver doesn't impress me much. I'm going with the Clippers in my first upset.

 

(2) Phoenix

(7) L.A. Lakers

 

...and here's my second upset. Longshot? We'll see.

 

EAST

 

(1) Detroit

(8) Milwaukee

 

Detroit. No contest.

 

(4) Cleveland

(5) Washington

 

I think this is the toughest match-up to call in the first round. At least it is to me. I know LeBron really wanted to make it to the playoffs and he's playing great. I'm just afraid the rest of his team will let him down. Arenas, on the other hand, I feel has more help. I'm going with Washington.

 

(3) New Jersey

(6) Indiana

 

New Jersey. Indiana is the most boring team in the playoffs...and I live in Indiana. That's not to say that they don't have talent, I just don't enjoy watching their games.

 

(2) Miami

(7) Chicago

 

Miami will win but I don't think it'll be a sweep. Chicago has some good, young talent and they all hustle and work hard.

 

ROUND TWO

 

(1) San Antonio

(4) Dallas

 

I don't really understand how Dallas can have the second best record in the conference and be a fourth seed. Oh well. I think they can beat S.A. and depending on how long the Kings take S.A. I think it's more than possible. I'm actually picking Dallas.

 

(6) L.A. Clippers

(7) L.A. Lakers

 

Well, Kobe is more talented than damn near anyone else in the league and I think he can carry this team like Iverson did for Philly a few years ago. I'm going with Phil Jackson, Kobe Bryant and the rest of the Lakers.

 

(1) Detroit

(5) Washington

 

Detroit, in a rout.

 

(3) New Jersey

(2) Miami

 

If this happens, it should be a great series. Granted Shaq could run rampart pretty much unopposed but he's been doing that for years anyway, only now his health isn't what it used to be. I don't think New Jersey can outrun the Heat. I don't even think they can outshoot the Heat. Actually, I don't think they can beat the Heat. Not in a seven game series.

 

ROUND THREE

 

(4) Dallas

(7) L.A. Lakers

 

I think this is where the "miracle season" comes to an end for Kobe. Dirk is going to be pissed that he won't win the MVP too. Probably to Kobe winning it, so I expect Dirk to shoot lights out.

 

(1) Detroit

(2) Miami

 

Miami will be plagued with injuries (i.e. Shaq & 'Zo) and Detroit is the better team. I mean, they're an actual five man team. The whole team is good. It's not like when Jordan took some scruds like Armstrong and Kukoc and made them households names.

 

FINALS

(4) Dallas

(1) Detroit

 

Dallas ain't that good.

 

NBA Champions: Detroit Pistons.

All the home teams have one Game 1 so far, except for the Nets.

You guys are completely under-estimating the Spurs. I like it.

You guys are completely under-estimating the Spurs. I like it.

I honestly just don't see them having "it" this year... but, hey, we'll see.

Well, they're not going to have many more issues with the Kings since Artest is now suspended for game 2 for elbowing Ginobili in the grill.

Yeah, who does Artest think he is, Bruce Bowen?

Yeah, who does Artest think he is, Bruce Bowen?

*giggles*

 

Nice one.

Udonis Haslem got suspended, too.

Great play by Wade there, pushing those two guys to the ground and getting the offensive board!

You guys are completely under-estimating the Spurs. I like it.

I honestly just don't see them having "it" this year... but, hey, we'll see.

Nope, they only had thier best regular season record ever... with a banged up Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili and Nick Van Exel this year. They also all seem to be healthy at just the right time, something you couldn't say at any point this year. Well, Duncan is still hurt but that isn't going to get any better until the off-season.