KG is getting all the pub, but...

Dwight Howard has to be the guy right now.

Flying under the radar while routinely putting up 34 & 17 and leading your team to and 11-3 start, is crazy.

Who else?

SICK. (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/gamelog;_ylt=AhHZC9IlZbrQ72GUenTcaNCkvLYF)

damn, reading the title of the thread, Dwight Howard was the first to come to mind.

SICK. (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3818/gamelog;_ylt=AhHZC9IlZbrQ72GUenTcaNCkvLYF)

Look at that FG% jump from a stellar 53% to a digusting 60%.

Look at his FG% for the past 4 games, the lowest is 71%

My preseason choice was changed from LeBron to Carmelo, but it looks like Dwight right now. Dwight, LeBron, Chris Paul, KG, and of COURSE Stephon Marbury are my candidates.

Dwight Howard has to be the guy right now.


I think he needs to get his assists up. Clearly the absence of Darko is hurting him in that category.

IF the award was based off courage, this shit goes to Dwyane Wade today IMO.

Maybe they need to add a new award?

"The DWADE Badge of Courage" has a beautiful ring to it.

THAT'S DWADE!

IF the award was based off courage, this shit goes to Dwyane Wade today IMO.

Aren't the refs emphasizing offensive fouls when the shooter jumps into the defender now? I turned on the game for 1 minute last night and clearly saw Wade jump at about a 45 degree angle into a defender and of course he got free throws out of it.

I think it would be the DWade Manlove Courage Award. To qualify you must have the courage to love, and be loved in a sensual way with the refs to get calls in your favor.

Dwyane Wade winning the MVP would leave the world a better place than he found it.

Re: MVP

Stucky.



You'll see.

Caron Butler?

I wouldn't say MVP for him, but I'd definitely give him some major all-star props if he keeps playing like he is. He's become dominant with Daniels at PG instead of Gilbert "ME" Arenas.

I know Boozer has been sick for my fantasy team, but he has more help than Dwight does.

25 PPG, 12 RPG, 57% fg's, 2.7 APG, .73 BPG

That's pretty solid and deserves to put him in the conversation.

We'll see if he keeps up those numbers though. Its still early. Just like how they already have All-Star voting out there. Only because of the corporate name on it, of course. Absolutely ridiculous!

I'm about to make your day...









Garnett leading early MVP field

http://us.i1.yimg.com/us.yimg.com/i/us/sp/cn/headshots/smith_hdsht.jpg
By Kenny Smith, Yahoo! Sports
December 3, 2007

The NBA season is a month old and there are a few subjects I’m already tired of discussing.

First, no more Kobe Bryant trade talk. I really doubt the Los Angeles Lakers’ Mitch Kupchak wants to be remembered as the GM who traded Shaquille O’Neal and Kobe.

Second, can we put a hold on the New York Knicks’ soap opera. There’s always drama on a last-place team, but do we need to talk about it this much.. I doubt it.

Lastly, the Big Three is for real in Boston. Stop waiting for their demise.

So this week I’m focusing on the top individuals in the early going who have separated themselves from the pack as MVP candidates. And, yes, they are listed in order of preference.

1. Kevin Garnett: He, along with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, have transformed the Celtics into America’s team. But, more than any other player, Garnett has given the Celtics his identity.

2. Dwight Howard: He has put the Orlando Magic on his young shoulders. The league’s best center once again resides in south Florida.

3a. LeBron James: He is the 2007 version of Oscar Robertson. Want to know what the Cavaliers would be like without him? Go back and watch their 70-point performance against Boston on Sunday.

3b. Deron Williams: Surprise. Some people think his teammate, Carlos Boozer, leads the way for Utah. Williams, however, is the engine that makes the team go. He’s the reincarnation of Jason Kidd, only with a jump shot.

5. Steve Nash: As each year goes by, he seems to only be getting better.

6. Tim Duncan: His stats might not scream “MVP” but the San Antonio Spurs’ record does. Any person who watches the Spurs realizes Manu Ginobili and Tony Parker live off the Big Fundamental.

7. Tony Parker: Just because you’re living off someone doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t also pay your own rent. Parker is making his own money. After winning the NBA Finals MVP award, he’s having his best individual season.

8. Kobe Bryant: The Lakers are striking range of becoming an elite team. All that might separate them is a five-game winning streak. Kobe is responsible for putting them there.


Kenny Smith is the NBA analyst for Yahoo! Sports. Check out "The Jet" at http://kennythejet.com and "Inside the NBA" on Thursdays on TNT. Send Kenny a question or comment for potential use in a future column or webcast.

Soooo many things wrong with this, which is exactly what makes it soooo right.

So it's confirmed: the award IS based off the team's record, not the fact they're valuable to the team. Thanks for clearing it up, Kenny.

Thanks for clearing it up, Kenny.
This is the greatest quote ever and could be used every time he writes an article.

EDIT: Is Kenny taking age into account in this list? Because I don't know if you guys know this, but LeBron James is only 22 years old.

I'll take Chris Paul over Deron Williams 10 out of 10 times.

I'd take Flip Murray over both of them.

Is Kenny taking age into account in this list? Because I don't know if you guys know this, but LeBron James is only 22 years old.
I call BULLSHIT! There is NO way that man is only 22 years of age.

You would think that I would eventually get tired of it but somehow, it just keeps getting funnier.

Chris Paul is 22.

Who wins a Finals first?

That's a tough one. LeBron may have had his best shot last year, then again he is just 22. (Although, in this argument so is Paul so that doesn't help.)

Brandon Roy?

Roy's 23. :)

How old is Lebron again?

My Early MVP Candidate is definitely either Shawne Williams or Keyon Dooling...

Nazr Mohammed

Chris Paul has to be getting some serious consideration.

his numbers are fucking sick as well askobe bryant

KEYON DOOLING

could chauncey slowly be getting recognition? the team or his numbers aren't as good as 2 years ago but he's leading this team to a +60 season

I wish he'd get recognition, but with Kobe leading the Lakers to where they are now, Dwight having a monster year in Orlando, and LeBron leading the league in scoring (it's a given Cleveland won't end up where they are now) he's being lost in the shuffle.

I'll tell ya this though: if Garnett is going to get serious MVP consideration, then why not Chauncey? I love KG but if you're going to make a case for Garnett being MVP of the league again, with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce...then why not Smooth?

Especially since, apparently, the only thing that puts Boston over us (to guys like Dan Le Batard) is the fact they have the three best players?

If Garnett gets it, it will be because he is the central reason that the Celtics have gone from the lottery to elite, all while sacrificing a lot of personal statistics.

And the market he's now playing in and the franchise that he plays for certainly won't hurt him.

If Chauncey comes through big tonight vs the Celtics or if he pulls off some clutch shit he's gonna get recognition fsho

I have no problem with KG being MVP. Just if he's going to get serious consideration, I think Chauncey should get at least some recognition.

I just think that the Pistons as a unit are having a tremendous year and there may not be one guy you could point out as a possible MVP.

I just think that the Pistons as a unit are having a tremendous year and there may not be one guy you could point out as a possible MVP.

That's it, right there

Maybe Stuckey, tho

Also, marketing has (unfortunately) a lot to do with who is MVP and who is not. It's kind've like the BCS, where it's more about who travels better, the ratings, and all that shit.

Who can you market Chauncey Billups to?



Only flaw: who can you market TIM DUNCAN to?

You can market Tim Duncan to anyone who seriously appreciates the game of basketball. He's one of those guys that (excuse the expression) plays the right way. He's a classy guy, although he has complained to refs a bit more in the last few years, and he does the little things as well as the big things. He plays team ball but he comes up big when his team needs him to. I think he's one of the best players in the league, year in and year out. The sad thing is that all those qualities are hard to market to America because America just loves seeing the flashy plays.

Sadly Zekyl, the majority of the NBA's fanbase doesn't include people who appreciate "real" basketball. They like the offensive oriented game, with the high flying Phoenix Suns and the Golden States. A defensive oriented team like SA are "boring" and a guy like Tim Duncan doesn't appeal to many people very much. Just my opinion.

Also, Duncan is a very good player. I just don't like him. Never have.

I think KG should get it. What's impressive about the Celts is their interior defense - he anchors that.

Per Charles Barkley,
"The MVP should go to the best player on the team that has the most wins."



Thus, KG should be the favorite


Given, Barkley's theory, I wonder why Chauncey wasn't the MVP in '05-06???

Because Steve Nash is white. And the NBA is racist.

[/Dan Le Batard]

Shirt unbuttoned to expose fat, hairy chest.

[/Dan Le Batard]

BAM!