DunkinDerozan Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 http://www.chicagotribune.com/media/photo/2011-05/61376018.jpg With the NBA season just over 3 weeks in, it seems a bit early to start talking about the yearly award watch. The compressed schedule however, has made it so that some teams have played 15+ games, which with only a 66 game season, is nearly ¼ the way through the season. I’d say thats enough games to start looking at the top candiates for the MVP award of 2011/2012. 5. Kevin LoveLove is putting up outstanding numbers this year. He’s got career highs in PPG, STL, BLK and ORPG. He’s 5th in the league in PPG has truely been the whole Timberwolves team. No one on Minnesota has over 13 PPG other then him, His 25.6 is 5th in the NBA. Beasley has not carried his load offensively which has forced Love to pick up the slack. Not to mention Williams and Randolph each having under 8 PPG. The only reason I can’t give Love a higher spot on the list is because the team has a so-so record of 6-8. 4. Lebron JamesI know i’m probably going to get some grief for this, but I don’t feel right placing Lebron any higher on the list. Even though he is 2nd in the league in PPG and 9th in the league in APG I don’t see him being a true MVP. Maybe the “NBA’s best player ” or something like that. But when I think of a true MVP I think of it as where would this team be without this player. He's shown that he can carry a team year in and year out in Cleveland, but he hasn't had to carry the stacked Heat nearly as much. Miami wouldn’t exactly be in a bad position without him. Having a top three SG and a top five PF isn’t exactly the recipe for failure. Bosh alone has shown he can be clutch and win games without Lebron or Wade this year. Not to mention with a player of Lebron's caliber, i’d think they would be sitting with a better position than 6th in the Eastern Conference. 3. Derrick RoseThe defending MVP has not shown quite the same dominance this year scoring wise as he did last season. His PPG has gone down from 25.0 PPG to 20.8 PPG. On the other hand though, his APG is up from 7.7 APG to 8.7 APG. But the real reason i’ve still kept him in the top three is the fact that other then Luol Deng, he doesn’t have anyone around him who can consistently put the ball in the basket. You could argue about Boozer, but I haven’t seen enough consistently out of him so far. Rose has carried his team to tops in the Eastern Conference with a record of 13-3. 2. Kevin DurantKevin Durant has had to create some more of his own shots this year compared to last year. Westbrook, his star PG has had a bit more of a selfishness in his game this year, and his assist numbers have shown that. Durant’s numbers have not suffered this year though, and he has still consistently been the top scoring threat in the NBA. His PPG have only slightly declined, his assist numbers are up, his shooting % is up and his 3PT % is up as well. He has for the most part carried his team to their 12-3 record. 1. Kobe BryantThis one was really a no-brainer. He’s got a league leading 30.8 PPG that also includes a streak of four straight 40 point games (which was all in only 5 nights) and a streak of three 30 point games. Not to mention he’s got 5.5 APG which is nearly an assist more per game then his career average. His 5.7 RPG is also nearly half a rebound more then his career average. That may not seem like a lot, but at 33 years of age, he’s showing no signs of slowing down. Plus with Andrew Bynum missing the first 4 games of the season and Derek Fisher declining, he has all but carried this team to their 10-5 record. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 The thing about LeBron is Wade has been hurt the entire season (well, besides the first 2 games). He's won all the games without Wade, while putting up by far the best stats in the league, and continuing to play stellar defense. Even though he's got more help than in Cleveland, he still does every bit as much as he did a few years ago. The only difference is when he has an off-game, Miami is better equipped to win than Cleveland was. Rose is too high IMO. He hasn't played up to his standards this season, and I believe his team won 2 of 3 without him (with the PG's for the Bulls going nuts in the 2 wins, IIRC). Rose is a huge part of the team's success, but ultimately that success is built on the team's defense and depth. Don't have a problem with Kobe/Durant being the top 2 at this point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Makaveli Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 The thing about LeBron is Wade has been hurt the entire season (well, besides the first 2 games). He's won all the games without Wade, while putting up by far the best stats in the league, and continuing to play stellar defense. Even though he's got more help than in Cleveland, he still does every bit as much as he did a few years ago. The only difference is when he has an off-game, Miami is better equipped to win than Cleveland was. Rose is too high IMO. He hasn't played up to his standards this season, and I believe his team won 2 of 3 without him (with the PG's for the Bulls going nuts in the 2 wins, IIRC). Rose is a huge part of the team's success, but ultimately that success is built on the team's defense and depth. Don't have a problem with Kobe/Durant being the top 2 at this point.Wade was the guy who hit the game winners for Miami in the first couple of games. Without him, Miami's record would be horrible. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nitro Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Wade was the guy who hit the game winners for Miami in the first couple of games. Without him, Miami's record would be horrible. Wade got a wide open alley oop off an inbounds play, the other one was legit. Regardless, I believe Miami is now 4-0 without Wade, and 5-4 I believe with him. And this is coming from a guy whose favorite player is Wade. Since he got hurt, he's played like shit overall, and the Heat have played better after that first week without Wade as opposed to with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Owner Real Deal Posted January 19, 2012 Owner Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Kobe and Durant make sense as the top two, but I have to move LeBron to #3, ahead of Rose. And, instead of Love (because the Wolves have a losing record, and he doesn't play defense), I have to add Howard to the list, at #5. My gripe with Rose is that the Bulls are the best defensive team in the league, and a great deal of that is due to his teammates and coach. LeBron can't sneak into that top two because, quite frankly, he hits the same wall Kobe and Shaq did, back when they were together. I can't give an MVP to a guy with another superstar teammate + an all-star (who is playing very well, by the way). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Flash Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 I'd have CP3 on the list ahead of Love but that's JMO. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JYD Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 No Shumpert? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Warren2ThaG Posted January 19, 2012 Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 No Shumpert? hes a [expletive] 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkinDerozan Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 LeBron can't sneak into that top two because, quite frankly, he hits the same wall Kobe and Shaq did, back when they were together. I can't give an MVP to a guy with another superstar teammate + an all-star (who is playing very well, by the way). That's the only reason I put Rose ahead of Lebron. I just don't think a guy can be named an MVP when the team wouldn't be that bad without him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DunkinDerozan Posted January 19, 2012 Author Report Share Posted January 19, 2012 Thanks for the comments so far everyone. All constrictive criticism is appreciated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.