Finals MVP

[OmarSekou]

The Pats being introduced as a team is a defining characteristic that exemplifies their system. This year the culture within the Celts has changed now that KG, Ray, and Pierce are all here. Even in the finals they have stepped up for each other and if the Celts win I think a case could be made for any of them. If the Celts (or Lakers) win should there be more than 1 MVP?

[crownsy]

like to see (depending on close out game) pierce and allen share it, but considering T mobile's little star of the game thing has gone to paul twice already, and you know there going to bring that up, im going with pierce.

plus, as much as i love ray (and i do, huge man crush on him, eddie, KG, and pose) paul deserves an honor this year, and KG already got DPY.

assuming (knock on a redwood) things go the way their going...give it to the captain, he's earned it.

[Redz]

I guess it depends a bit on what happens the rest of the series still.  Right now I see KG lagging behind Pierce and Ray Allen.

[Edgar]

baby steps

[crownsy]

baby steps

word edgar, im confident, but lets not bust out the duck boats yet.

as posey reportedly yelled in the locker room when guys started getting to joyous last night

"you ain't won <mod> yet..."

[PRIDE]

The Truth. Pierce deserves it. He's played great.

[Big Ticket]

If KG has a big game (like 30 points on 12-18 shooting, 14 boards, and dominates on defense again) in the series clincher, it's going to be a very interesting decision.

I'm not going to anoint a Finals MVP now, wouldn't be fitting with my "Trying not to think it's over" thread, but at this moment, IF the trophy goes to a Celtic, it is between Ray and Pierce.

[dooyork]

If you would have asked me who should be the MVP of the ALCS in 2004 when the Yankees were up 3-0, it would have been a tough call.  A-Rod finally looked like he was clicking as a Yankee after a subpar regular season, Jeter was reliable as always, and Sheffield had some big numbers.  Matsui had 5 runs in game 3.  As good as the offense was though, defense wins in all sports, and Mariano was shutting the Red Sox down, so I guess I'd have to go with Mariano for the MVP of that series.  Bring him in, and the game's over! 

Since defense is the key in basketball too, I'll have to say the MVP of this year's NBA finals is probably Pierce, for locking down Kobe in game 4 as well as getting going on offense.

[Edgar]

baby steps

word edgar, im confident, but lets not bust out the duck boats yet.

as posey reportedly yelled in the locker room when guys started getting to joyous last night

"you ain't won <mod> yet..."

exactly c
oh well to be honest theyre eastern conference champs
but thats not what we all want right now 

[Bahku]

I think this kinda goes under the "counting your chickens before ..." category, and though I'm not a true fatalist, I always figure, why tempt it? So I think I'll wait just a bit longer, (though the choice seems obvious for me ... unless something drastic happens).

[Fan from VT]

Can we please change the thread so it ends with "so far?"

Anyway, that's what's so great about the team this year. How do you really pick an MVP from the following three players?

Pts    Rbs  Ast   Stl  Bks  To   FG%  3p%   FT%
19.0   4.5    5.0    1.0   .5   3.8   .453  .467  .808
20.0   6.0    2.8    1.3   .8   2.0   .521  .480  .818
17.5  12.5   3.5    1.3  1.3   3.0   .382  ----  .857

KG's line is obvious. He gets low marks for his shooting percentage, but his rebounding is great and his defense has been simply phenomenal. He definitely gets some demerits for the perception that he lacks late game heroics, but frankly he made some big late hoops in game 4 and his late defense has been superb.

between the other two? The top line is Pierce. Very good all-round numbers across the board. Gets major points for being very clutch with his game 1 heroics, his scoring in game 2, and his scoring and amazing second half defense in game 4. Has to be docked some for simply not showing in game 3.

The middle line is Ray. Incredible shooting, and he's really risen his rebounding as well as playing solid D all series. Gets major points for being the only celtic to show up for all four games, as well has his two beautiful late hoops in game 4. however, he loses some in terms of an MVP for not having any truly heroic outbursts on par with games 1 and 2 for pierce, as well as for not assuming as much of a leadership role as PP and KG.

[Bahku]

If it's meant as "so far", there's no question it's Paul. He's the one who has turned each series around and carried the team on his back when things were looking down. He was responsible for last night's amazing comeback, as it was he who insisted on guarding Kobe in the second half, and he who gave the team the needed spark to change the momentum.

He's the one who has been the leader and the play-maker throughout the season, and he's the one the rest of the team looks to for inspiration and aggressiveness, even KG, (who has said so many times). Paul is the heart of this team, and there's no one other player who has done more in these playoffs to provide what was needed for winning each series.

There could be only one MVP right now, (and I doubt it will change), and it's the guy who the rest of the team would vote for: Paul Pierce.