This Season's MVP?

[nickagneta]

Drucci makes a ton of good points and if the award was only for the Player of the Year, I'd give it to Wade. But given the fact that his team is only 5 games over .500 and might not even get home court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, the rightful choice should be LeBron.


LeBron continues to put up huge numbers, win games late, and has the least amount of talent surrounding him than any of the other MVP type players on teams that will be winning 60+ games this year. The LeBron reign over the MVP award will begin this year and probably go on for a least a decade.

[Drucci]

Drucci makes a ton of good points and if the award was only for the Player of the Year, I'd give it to Wade. But given the fact that his team is only 5 games over .500 and might not even get home court advantage in the opening round of the playoffs, the rightful choice should be LeBron.


LeBron continues to put up huge numbers, win games late, and has the least amount of talent surrounding him than any of the other MVP type players on teams that will be winning 60+ games this year. The LeBron reign over the MVP award will begin this year and probably go on for a least a decade.

You are right, it seems that the LeBron's reign over the MVP award will begin this year. The media really love LeBron and now that Kobe has won the trophy, they should be giving it to James but I'm still convinced that Kobe will win it a second time, because his team seems better than last year and also because he is still showing how great he his individually speaking, like he did at the MSG recently.

Moreover, I think the age factor is important in the voters' mind, we've seen it last year (the "Kobe has never won the MVP award, CP3 and LeBron deserve it too but they are young, they will have plenty of time to win it in the years to come while Kobe is 30 years old" speech, and I did agree with that) and it may be a huge factor this year too. We'll see!

But the thing that bothers me with LeBron this season in the MVP race is that it's not his improvement that has boosted the Cavaliers. Sure, his stats are huge, almost a triple double by game. But it isn't so much different from last year... I mean, it's true that his better shooting percentage and his better defense are new assets that have helped the Cavs to become one on the 3 top team of the NBA.

But it's obvious that it's Mo Williams' arrival which has made the Cavs better. You add a point guard who averages 17 ppg and 5 (or more) assists per game, who can shoot the three and drive to the lane easily to a team which relies entirely on LeBron... and here is the result! But you're right, between the MVP candidates with 60+ wins this season, he will be the one surrounded by the less valuable teammates, and that's an important point.

I'm not saying that LeBron does not deserve to be one of the contender for the award. Of course he deserves it, but I think that the Mo Williams effect is not enough taken in consideration in the Cavs' improvement. That's why Wade (off the race for the voters because of his team record), Kobe or CP3 deserve it more that LeBron, in my opinion.

[markketch]

What about the Pau Gasol factor for the Lakers? You kindly neglected to mention the impact he has had on that team.

[Drucci]

What about the Pau Gasol factor for the Lakers? You kindly neglected to mention the impact he has had on that team.

Well, I thought about it while writing my post, but I preferred not to mention it because I think the case was a little bit different. Last year, LeBron was out of the race because of his team's record. It was between Kobe and Chris Paul and I remember there was a game at the end of the season between their two teams that did made the difference for the first place in the WCF. So it made a huge difference for the MVP race too, because the journalists were talking about the final record of the teams as the difference maker for the award. Pau Gasol wasn't part of the equation for them, as Mo Williams isn't this year. The Lakers finally won the game and, thanks to this win (and the followings) kept their number one spot in the West... and Kobe got the MVP award.

But the Gasol's case is different because Mo Williams has joined the Cavs this summer and he has helped them to win since day one while Gasol arrived in L.A in February, for the last 3 months of the season. Before his arrival, the Lakers were doing pretty well, mostly because of Kobe's performances, and they were in the top 5 of the very competitive (and blah blah blah...) Western Conference if I'm not mistaken. Moreover, the media kept talking about how the Lakers had improved, especially Bynum and the benchers, thanks to Kobe's help, and all this stuff before Gasol signed with the Lakers. Sure, the team's record  was much better after February than before, but the Lakers' results were, to the whole league's surprise, pretty good before Gasol joined them.

For me, Kobe deserved to win the MVP last year more than LeBron does this year, even if the Gasol's arrival has helped him. But it's not the topic of this thread, I just wanted to explain why I didn't mention Gasol when I mentioned the fact that the Mo Williams' effect was not mentioned this year.

[LB3533]

If voting ended today, I am voting Lebron.

If Wade can get the Heat homecourt...I am voting Wade.

[TrueGreen]

I think you need to add a name to the list:  Paul Pierce. That's who I would vote for. The other three are individualists. Pierce is the only true TEAM player on that list. I know people go alot for stats and athleticism, but THE TRUTH is my MVP if you really look at what he has done for his team this year. As great as KG is we can get by a bit without him. I don't think we can win a game without PP.

[cordobes]

Last year, LeBron was out of the race because of his team's record.

And why is Wade still in the race this season?

But it's obvious that it's Mo Williams' arrival which has made the Cavs better

Not only, but it's part of it. But why should that hurt LeBron chances?

I mean, you're basically saying that LBJ either:
- has poor teammates, therefore doesn't get the MVP award because the record of his team isn't good enough
- has better teammates and doesn't deserve the MPV award because the record of his team improved due to the fact that his GM got him some help.

That's nonsensical. What has the guy to do to win the MVP? Have a 82-0 season leading a roster of D-League call-ups?

LeBron was the best player last season. He's been the best player this season. I can understand why he didn't win the award last season - for the reason you singled out: his team wasn't good enough. If that obstacle is removed I can't see a reason why he shouldn't win it this season. Especially for a player whose team is not really that good - it would be the supreme irony.

[cordobes]

Otherwise, LeBron and Kobe are owed a few trophies. 

I don't know about that. When I read that I had a picture of Tim Duncan's "I can't believe that call" face. He'd have more than two in my opinion if you're just going by individual production. KG might have more than one himself.

Heh, you're most probably right. I just meant one would be forced to review some past MVP awards if the importance of team record is suddenly regarded as unimportant.

[Drucci]

Last year, LeBron was out of the race because of his team's record.

And why is Wade still in the race this season?

He's not : like LeBron last year he will probably end third or fourth in the race after the votes are made, and you'll keep hearing his name before it's all finished but his team's record already prevents him from being the MVP. Last year we kept hearing till the end that the race was between Kobe, CP3 and LeBron but we knew that LeBron had no chances against them. I've said it before :

That's why Wade (off the race for the voters because of his team record), Kobe or CP3 deserve it more that LeBron, in my opinion.

But it's obvious that it's Mo Williams' arrival which has made the Cavs better

Not only, but it's part of it. But why should that hurt LeBron chances?

I mean, you're basically saying that LBJ either:
- has poor teammates, therefore doesn't get the MVP award because the record of his team isn't good enough
- has better teammates and doesn't deserve the MPV award because the record of his team improved due to the fact that his GM got him some help.

That's nonsensical. What has the guy to do to win the MVP? Have a 82-0 season leading a roster of D-League call-ups?

I didn't say that LeBron doesn't deserve the award! Here is my exact quote :

I'm not saying that LeBron does not deserve to be one of the contender for the award. Of course he deserves it, but I think that the Mo Williams effect is not enough taken in consideration in the Cavs' improvement. That's why Wade (off the race for the voters because of his team record), Kobe or CP3 deserve it more that LeBron, in my opinion.

LeBron clearly deserves to be MVP this season but for me Wade and Kobe deserve it more. Last year, as you pointed it, LeBron had relatively poor teammates and his team record prevented him for being MVP. This year, the odds are clearly in his favour and the journalists will probably vote for him. I just deplore that everybody is claiming how much LeBron's improvement have helped the Cavs this season while overshadowing too much Mo's influence.

I think that I haven't distinguished well my opinion from my prediction about the MVP award in my posts, which may explain this confusion.

In my opinion, Wade is the MVP.

But I predict that the media will vote for Kobe, though it will be real close with LeBron. Wade is off the race, unless the journalists change their criteria to earn the MVP award, which is unlikely.

[cordobes]

Thanks for the clarification and sorry for the misunderstandings. I disagree that Wade is having a better season than LeBron even not factoring team records, but I reckon it's arguable.

Anyway, who should have won the MVP last season? LeBron, right?

[PJ Martinez]

I like Wade a lot more than LeBron, and both are having historically good seasons (so is Chris Paul -- again). But LeBron has been at least very slightly better -- is there a compelling argument otherwise? Plus, his team has the best record in the conference, and he has a very middling supporting cast.

Sure, Mo Williams is a nice player, but he was the second or even third-best guy on a Bucks team that won 26 games last year. 26. Mo's been a little better this year, but he's still just a good, above-average player -- we're not talking about Scottie Pippen here.

I know the Cavs are the enemy, and Wade absolutely belongs in this discussion (so does Chris Paul). But the notion that the league is "handing" this trophy to James is absurd. He's taking it.

PS. Have three players ever had simultaneous seasons as good as Paul, James, and Wade this year? They've got to be up there, right?

PPS. LeBron or Paul should have won last year, in my opinion -- though Kobe was not a horrendous choice, as much as I dislike the guy. Giving Kobe a second in a row, though, when the first was already sort of a lifetime achievement award, would be a real mistake.

[Fafnir]

PS. Have three players ever had simultaneous seasons as good as Paul, James, and Wade this year? They've got to be up there, right?

2001-2002 season. Tim Duncan, Jason Kidd, and Shaq is the first that comes to my mind. I'm sure there have been other seasons with a trio of career years.

Kidd's stats aren't as crazy as CP3's but the way he destroyed teams on the break is hard to over-emphasize. Plus he could guard positions 1 through 3. (See PP in ECF)

[vegas scott]

Toughest question out there.  However CP3 is on pace to have one of the 30 greatest stastical seasons in the history of the NBA (http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/per_season.html), and he isn't in the poll?  I'm not saying you take Kobe out, but just make it a 4 player poll.  CP3 belongs in that class, his numbers back it up.  And if we're talking value to one's team, well he's got a pretty good case in that argument as well.

However, this is a 2 man race.  Everyone knows that.  Wade and Lebron are virutally mirroring each other statisically.  Lebron will win mainly because he's probably deserved this award for the last 3 years, and because of his team's record.

[moiso]

I like Wade a lot more than LeBron, and both are having historically good seasons (so is Chris Paul -- again). But LeBron has been at least very slightly better -- is there a compelling argument otherwise? Plus, his team has the best record in the conference, and he has a very middling supporting cast.

Sure, Mo Williams is a nice player, but he was the second or even third-best guy on a Bucks team that won 26 games last year. 26. Mo's been a little better this year, but he's still just a good, above-average player -- we're not talking about Scottie Pippen here.

I know the Cavs are the enemy, and Wade absolutely belongs in this discussion (so does Chris Paul). But the notion that the league is "handing" this trophy to James is absurd. He's taking it.

PS. Have three players ever had simultaneous seasons as good as Paul, James, and Wade this year? They've got to be up there, right?

PPS. LeBron or Paul should have won last year, in my opinion -- though Kobe was not a horrendous choice, as much as I dislike the guy. Giving Kobe a second in a row, though, when the first was already sort of a lifetime achievement award, would be a real mistake.

I think Mo Williams is better than you are giving him credit for.  And yes, he was the 2nd or 3rd best guy on a horrible Bucks team but this is a young guy we're talking about.  He has improved every year.

[moiso]

I'd vote for Lebron, but wow, Wade is playing at an amazing level.  If the heat were a bit better I might give Wade my vote.