With less than a quarter of the NBA season left, it's time to get serious about the awards voting. Some are easier than others.
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| Kobe and LeBron have treated fans to quite a show this year. (Stephen Dunn / Getty Images) |
We won't get into those yet because, well, they won't require the hemming and hawing that voting for the Most Valuable Player Award generally does. Sometimes, it's obvious, most of the time, it's not — and that comes from more than 20 years of experience.
This year is no different. Voting for five is no problem because there are five great candidates. Moving from East to West, it doesn't take a rocket scientist to come up with Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Chris Paul and Kobe Bryant. Some people can even make a case for others. Manu Ginobili comes to mind as a sleeper for the top five, and the same may go for Tracy McGrady if the Rockets continue on their amazing pace ... but don't count on either one to jump into the fray.
Now that we've settled on a quintet, let's break them down.
Garnett has already won the award (2003) in the middle of a historic run of six consecutive seasons of at least 20 points, 10 rebounds and 5 assists. This is different, because this is about leadership and presence that has changed the persona of the Celtics. However, they did very well when he was injured before the All-Star break. His stats — 18.8 points, 9.8 rebounds and 3.5 assists — are modest by his standards, and more reflective of involving his teammates while doing what it takes to have the best record in the league.
The Magic would be nowhere without Howard, who leads the team in scoring, rebounding and blocks — all career-highs — and tops the league in rebounding. He has become the most dominant center in the game, averaging 21.8 points, 14.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. The frightening thing is he just turned 23 and is getting bigger and better.
That takes us to James, whose is leading the NBA in scoring at 30.8 points to go with 8.1 rebounds and 7.4 assists — the latter two career-highs. The combination of stats makes him worthy of comparison to the greatest player in history, also at the ripe age of 23. Remember, too, he has missed six games plus was injured early and did not return in a blowout loss to Detroit; the Cavs were 0-7 in those games. He also leads the league in fourth-quarter scoring and the Cavs lead the league with 15 wins when trailing going into the fourth quarter. Paul has exploded this season with career-bests in all the vital categories (including shooting percentages) with 21.3 points, 11.0 assists and 2.7 steals. He leads the league in steals and is second in assists, and has controlled the tempo in virtually every game they've played. Conversely, when he suffered through ankle problems last season, the Hornets did not make the playoffs. They've been near the top of the West since November.
And that brings us to Bryant, who has led the Lakers to the No. 1 seed in the West, which is rather stunning when you consider he wanted out of the organization almost up until opening night. But he stayed focused, the team started well and then the Lakers stole Pau Gasol in February to start a 15-3 run. In fact, it's even tempting to make Grizzlies owner Michael Heisley and general manager Chris Wallace the co-MVPs for handing the Lakers a potential title on a silver platter.
Nonetheless, the story is Bryant, who despite a torn ligament in his right pinky that will require surgery is averaging 28.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 5.1 assists and 2.0 steals — right on his career marks.
With about 20 games left, things won't change much for the leading candidates, short of injury. And upon further review, the Celtics' 7-2 mark without Garnett hurts him more than the others. As for Howard, the fact that the Magic probably can't be serious contenders in the East may take him out of the MVP picture, too.
Paul and the Hornets are in a very similar situation, although New Orleans is a better team overall. That pushes Paul to third.
And that leaves us where we figured to be anyway — the impossible decision between Bryant and James. Bryant is a newer, bigger model of Michael Jordan, and James is a newer, bigger version of Bryant. Bryant is a better pure shooter and defender, but James is a more natural passer, much stronger and a better rebounder. James taking the Cavs to the Finals last year doesn't factor into this season, though that 0-7 mark when he's out is like a neon light.
But the Lakers are nowhere without Bryant either. It's almost as if his conniption fit over the summer slapped sense into him, and he's showing leadership like never before. He's not only playing through the hand injury, but playing so well that the injury is scarcely remembered anymore.
Because of the transition he's made and where the Lakers are today, he's earned his first MVP. James will have his day soon enough; and he might win the award anyway.
But from our vantage point, that leaves us with this:
1. Kobe Bryant
2. LeBron James
3. Chris Paul
4. Kevin Garnett
5. Dwight Howard
