Who is the NBA MVP – The Top 10 rankings for 2010/2011 season.

At the forefront of everyone’s minds now is the eminent announcement of the NBA MVP. There have been many candidates, and this year seems to be one of those years where it is difficult to pin-point a definite MVP.


Great to see a (white) man dominate
the NBA like Love did this year.

 
To decide an MVP, we must first define it. MVP stands for ‘Most Valuable Player’. We define valuable, as precious, respected, appreciated, and of course, valued. We must be impartial when deciding this race and not look at history (in Kobe’s 1 MVP over his career or Lebron’s reigning 2 time MVP hold). In saying this, this is my personal MVP wish list, not the actual votes I think will happen come decision time. So enough rambling, let us look at this year’s MVP votes.


Here is a look at some honourable mentions for the 2010/2011 NBA season,


Kevin Love (pictured above right) – broke Moses Malone’s record of consecutive double doubles and I’d hate to think what the Timberwolves record would have been without him.

Doug Collins – although not a player – his work as coach of the 76ers to get them into the playoffs after many writers (including the sports guy http://sports.espn.go.com/espnradio/story?id=5722920) wrote the Sixers off, is astounding.

Deron Williams – It’s not his fault he got traded to the Nets. If he had stayed in Utah – we’d be talking about the best PG in the game, instead we’re talking about billboards and Jay-Z.

Tim Duncan – When will Duncan and the Spurs finally give up their mantle as team of the decade? Well it could be about 3 minutes away as Memphis could knock the number one Spurs out of the Playoffs.


Their expressions sum up the
result of the trade so far.



Amare Stoudemire (pictured left) – This guy would’ve made my top 10 list if Carmelo hadn’t come along. He was the leading MVP candidate after two months. His team got blown up and the offence got ripped apart. I hope Carmelo is sending Amare a massive Christmas present for stuffing up his season.

Chris Paul – An up and down season marred by injury – he’ll be back next year.

Rajon Rondo – Narrowly misses out on my top 10 list. Great season overall but had a terrible March/April where he cost his team the top seed in the NBA.


Number 10: Manu Ginobili (San Antonio Spurs)

The best player this year on the team with the league’s second best record. Was huge in crunch time and without Ginobili – the Spurs would be sitting in the 7/8 spot entering this year’s playoffs.

Number 9: Paul Pierce (Boston Celtics)

Pierce just gets this position over Rondo due to his consistency level throughout the season. Played in 80 games averaging 18ppg, 5 boards, 3 dimes, and 1 steal. Impressive stats for someone in their 13th season. Will be the key to the Celtics run towards the Finals.

Number 8: Dwayne Wade (pictured below right) (Miami Heat)




Two MVP's on one team. Does it win
you MVP's? Ask Scottie Pippen.
Does it win you Championships?
Ask Scottie Pippen.

  It is hard to argue against having Wade in this list. Although not the best player on his team, he is the heart of this team. His numbers alone are enough to get him onto this list (25ppg, 6 boards, 5 dimes and 1.5 steals) not including his big game play. On a side note – he will be the 2011 NBA Finals MVP.

Number 7: Lebron James (pictured right) (Miami Heat)

Although the best player in the game – the two time defending MVP champion with the Cleveland Cavaliers, this is an MVP vote, and I would argue the Heat would still be a decent team without Lebron (about level with the Knicks). His stats this year should stick him higher in this race, but deflecting to a team with two other very good players, means Lebron will have to have a ridiculous year to win MVP again.

Number 6: Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)

If this were a lifetime achievement award – Kobe would win. However it is not. Kobe was again very good this year, but not the most valuable. I would argue that Andrew Bynum was almost as valuable as Kobe, as when Bynum came back, the Lakers went on a surge after the All Star break. Good season, but not MVP calibre.

Number 5: Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls)

Although Derrick Rose will in all probability, be given the MVP this year, he does not deserve it. Let us take Derrick Rose off the Bulls. How valuable is he? You still have Carlos Boozer, Loul Deng, Joakim Noah, Taj Gibson, Keith Bogans, C.J. Watson, and Kyle Korver. This team would still be good for 45 wins in the East (oh yeah, and the real MVP of the Bulls – Brian Scalabrine). The reason the Bulls got the top seed in the NBA was not because of Rose, but because of their defence. Rose is arguably the worst defensive player in the starting 5. Coach Tom Thibodeau is the Bulls' MVP this year.

Number 4: Lamarcus Aldridge (pictured below) (Portland Trailblazers)



Aldridge checking around the corner
to see if he will ever get someone close
to as good as Dwight next to him. Would
Mr Greg Oden please stand up?

 This guy has taken his game from a poor man’s Chris Bosh, to Chris Bosh being a homeless Lamarcus Aldridge. What a season. Without Brandon Roy for the majority, Aldridge improved in minutes per game, points, rebounds, blocks, free throw percentage, steals, and committed less fouls than the previous year. That is what a leader is all about. Without Aldridge this year, the Blazers would have been lucky to win 30 games.

Number 3: Kevin Durant (Oklahoma Thunder)

Led the NBA in scoring, led the Thunder to 55 wins, bought the Thunder Kendrick Perkins (without Durant, he wouldn’t have come), will lead the Thunder to the NBA Finals (okay that hasn’t happened yet but it will), and maybe most importantly for the Thunder, helped Russell Westbrook become a superstar. Durant’s case for MVP is similar to Iverson’s in 2001 when he won - I’m the man, I’ll score you points and I’ll win you games. He hit numerous game winners, and is so vital to the Thunder. Unfortunately, not as vital as the top two MVP vote getters.

Number 2: Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)

Dirk is so valuable to the Mavericks. Without him this season, the Mavericks went 2-7. With him they went 55-18. That would give them the equal best record with the Bulls at 62-20 with Nowitzki in the line-up. Nowitzki’s supporting group though, is abysmal compared to Rose’s – Caron Butler (their second best scorer), missed half the season with injury, Jason Kidd is ageing (although still pretty good), and Shaun Marion helps you out a little bit everywhere. Dirk is the man though. His fadeaway’s are unguardable, he is money from the free throw line, and he comes from the same line of ancestry as ‘the Hoff’ (okay that last past isn’t true, but just imagine it is – that would be cool).

Number 1: The NBA MVP: Dwight Howard (pictured below right) (Orlando Magic)


Superman (Dwight Howard) in full flight.

The Most Valuable Player in the NBA this season. Howard averaged 23 ppg, 14 rebounds, 2.4 blocks, 1.5 steals, and 59 percent from the field. Great numbers. All near career best (except for blocks). How much help did Dwight have? Okay, he had an owner who bought in Gilbert Arenas. Should I say more? They sold and bought Hedo Turkoglu in the space of three years. They did bring in Jason Richardson which bought another poor defensive player to add to Howard’s woes (at least J-Rich can shoot it), and then there is Jameer Nelson. Someone with a bit of game. Here is where Dwight Howard becomes the MVP. Replace Howard with whoever you want. Nowitzki? 40 wins. Kobe? 40 wins. Lebron? 45 wins. Durant? 35 wins. Duncan? 45 wins. Dwight Howard? 52 wins. Dwight Howard with a supporting cast? 65 wins. Howard is so indispensible to the Magic that it can’t be described adequately. If he wasn’t there, that team would be lucky to win 30 games. Dwight Howard – please learn to shoot free throws though.