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| | Monday, March 6 | |||||
Anyway, we gave you our 10 candidates to be the MVP and you chimed in. Here is the poll and some of the better comments below.
Garnett should be MVP. He means more to his team than any other player in the league, in fact he IS the team. The Wolves' success is on the shoulders of Garnett, and with no one else on the team to draw double teams, he is the center of opposing teams' defense. The Wolves are one of the worst three-point shooting teams in the league, which allows other teams to double and triple team Garnett every time he touches the ball. Yet Garnett still gets his shots to fall. He also is the defensive leader of the team. He plays at a higher energy level than the rest of the league. If personality counted for anything, Garnett would be MVP hands down.
I think Gary Payton should be the MVP for the pure reason that every night -- win or lose -- he comes out with a winner's
mentality. He plays practically the entire game and the team feeds off him. Unlike Shaq, Payton does not have a Kobe to help
him when he has an off-day. He is the only true All-Star on his team.
Shaq has been DOMINATING! He has stepped up his game this year. He now plays both ends of the court and is doing the things everyone expected him to do when he came to the Lakers. Not only is he scoring, but he's rebounding much better, blocking shots (challenging everyone who attempts to come down the middle) and even gets plenty of assists. Oh yeah, did I mention the Lakers have the BEST record in the league? Who would have thought that at the beginning of the season? Shaq has one weakness and everyone knows what that is, but his free throw shooting is improving. He's working hard to improve that part of his game because he cares about winning. The MVP is his hands down!
Looking at stats, team contribution, and consistency throughout the season thus far, I would choose Alonzo
Mourning. All of the candidates listed would be great
MVPs, but Mourning stands out the most. All season he
has been the driving force behind the Miami Heat. He is in the top 10 in at least three or more categories.
To be MVP you need that extra something to your team and the
league. Shaq is in L.A. surrounded by a team of superstars.
Anyone on that team could be a MVP candidate just because
they are a Laker. The Heat are on top in the Atlantic, the
toughest division in the NBA in my opinion. And Zo has carried
the Heat on his shoulders.
Shaq is unquestionably the most dominating force in the NBA and his stats prove it. Shaq has used his quickness to blow by all other centers in the league. Shaq is also the most feared defensive big man in the game, swatting 3.4 bpg and averaging 14.2 rpg. Shaq is the leader of the best team in the NBA, and it would be a travesty if he does not win MVP this season.
I would vote for Allen Iverson as the MVP of the season so far. First of all, no one in the league can guard him, and he is the only person averaging over 30 points a game. For being only 6 feet tall and leading the league in scoring, that says something about his skills. He has a tendency to take bad shots, but he constantly faces double- and triple-teams from opponents. He has guided the 76ers into the top of the playoff race, and look for him to make some noise when the postseason rolls around. With the addition of Toni Kukoc, and the weak Eastern Conference, the 76ers are going to surprise a lot of people following the lead of Iverson.
Is there really any serious debate about it? The only remaining question is who will finish second to Shaq in the MVP ballot. Shaq's numbers are superior to KG, Duncan, Webber or Zo. He averages more points and rebounds per game than they do and leads the league in field goal percentage. Of the other favorites only Zo averages more blocks and only Webber averages more assists. And more importantly his team is neck in neck with Portland for the best record in the NBA. It is not even close. His horrific free throw percentage hasn't hurt the Lakers much ... so far. And the MVP is a regular season award. So far he has been the most dominant player this season.
Without Gary Payton, the Sonics would have won 20 games to this point at best. Gary has the largest impact of any of the players mentioned for MVP, but he plays out West and not for the Lakers so I don't anticipate him receiving the award.
Shaq's gotta be the MVP. He leads his team in every big man category. Without him, the Lakers
aren't anywhere near the team they are with him, and if you put him
on any other team in the league they would become playoff threats
just from his presence.
Shaq is either first or second in the league in scoring, rebounding, field-goal percentage, blocked shots, and double-doubles. He's also among the leaders in minutes played and is averaging nearly four assists, best among all centers. As I write, the Lakers are tied with the Blazers for best record, largely due to O'Neal's team play at both ends of the floor. To vote anyone else MVP is to manifest blind partisanship or a personal dislike of the man.
Not to deny any of the respect and praise that these 10 guys deserve, but where is Vince Carter? The man has been virtually unstoppable since the All-Star break. He's single-handedly carrying his team to victories. Please reconsider your denial of the most valuable player in basketball, Vince Carter, on to your panel.
Shaq may be the most dominating center in the game, but KG is easily the most dominant player in the league. He has the total package. He can shoot, pass, defend, block and dunk with authority. Not only that, how do you defend a seven-foot forward who can shoot the three consistently and has a sweet fade-away jumper? Kevin has my vote for MVP.
No. 3 is Gary Payton, who is having an Oscar Robertson-like season. Seattle is out of the playoffs without him. Same goes for Minnesota's Kevin Garnett at No. 2, who does everything for his team, with a smile. But No. 1 has to be Shaquille O'Neal, whose numbers dwarf guys like Duncan, Webber, Mourning and Malone -- high praise indeed. Plus, L.A. has the best record in the league. Can't wait for Shaq's "MVP Rap" to come out in the offseason.
I am a die-hard Blazer fan, and I went to the game with my son against the Lakers. He had his face paint and we were sporting red shirts. I just couldn't believe how good Shaquille O'Neal was. He was hitting his free throws like a guard. He dominated our centers in the second half. Like I said earlier I'm a Blazer fanatic but I'm also not blind. Give this man his props.
Here is a little quiz: What are the Sixers with Iverson ... an Eastern Conference contender. What are they without him ... the Mavs. Case closed. Now we all know who the ANSWER for the MVP is.
No contest. Shaq will win his first MVP this season. Not convinced, ask the stars themselves like Duncan and Garnett. They too will agree that Shaq's the best and most dominating player in the game today. Part of Shaq's MVP season is Phil Jackson's influence in his game and Shaq's hard work and intense focus in his game.
| ALSO SEE NBA Decision 2000: Defenders | |||||
