This isn't who do you think will win, this is who you would vote for.

(Take being a Pistons fan out of the equation, and try to be objective.)

Billups. Best player on the best team.

I said Kobe, though now my stomach hurts.

my vote is for Dirk. If you take him off the Mavs, they are a lotto team. I suppose you could say the same for Lebron or Kobe, but their teams are also not a #1/2 seed in the playoffs either. I look at MVP as the most important to his team. The player that is most responsible for his team winning. I pick Dirk (though I could vote Lebron or Kobe too). As much as I like Billups, he has too much help (like Wade, Marion and Nash). Melo would be close, but Camby did a lot for them early too.

I was a Nash guy at the AS break, but I think I'm switching over to Dirk.

As I mentioned in the PHX v. Dallas thread, I just don't think he has as much help as most of the other guys in the running.

They'd be garbage without him.

Their starting lineup would probably include two of these three guys (Mbenga, Diop or Dampier). Garbage.

where's brand?

i voted kobe.

mavs are playoffs without dirk.

I added Brand, my bad.

my vote is for Dirk. If you take him off the Mavs, they are a lotto team. I suppose you could say the same for Lebron or Kobe, but their teams are also not a #1/2 seed in the playoffs either. I look at MVP as the most important to his team. The player that is most responsible for his team winning. I pick Dirk (though I could vote Lebron or Kobe too). As much as I like Billups, he has too much help (like Wade, Marion and Nash). Melo would be close, but Camby did a lot for them early too.

I seriously doubt the Mavs would be a lotto team without Dirk. Well maybe thats aruable but look at it this way, are you saying that if you took Dirk off the Mavs, LeBron off Cleveland and Kobe off the lakers, the Mavs would be the worst of those 3? You've seen the Lakers roster I take it.

I must admit. Brand should get more votes. but i'd go with billups, dirk, nash, parker, or bron.

LOL@Gutz.

It's one vote, yet you are splitting it 5-6 ways?

That was the whole point of this, pick one.

Yes, it's a difficult choice.

Brand should be on the list, yes.

And I think the Mavs miss the playoffs without Dirk. They would be a bunch of swingman with no bigs at all. basically Atlanta with a little more talent.

I seriously doubt the Mavs would be a lotto team without Dirk. Well maybe thats aruable but look at it this way, are you saying that if you took Dirk off the Mavs, LeBron off Cleveland and Kobe off the lakers, the Mavs would be the worst of those 3? You've seen the Lakers roster I take it.

no, you are right. the mavs minus Dirk are better than the Lakers or Cavs minus their star. But I factored W-L into it some, which is why I say Dirk. Yes, Kobe and Lebron do a little more for their team, but that's also a product of a crappy team. Put Kobe or Lebron on the Mavs and their numbers are not as rediculous. Yes, Kobe's numbers are amazing, but for all that they barely made the playoffs. Lebron has more of a case because they are at least a high seed.

Here are the results of the poll we did at the All Star break...


Who is the frontrunner for MVP at the break?

Billups
15% [ 4 ]
Bryant
38% [ 10 ]
Nash
23% [ 6 ]
Brand
7% [ 2 ]
Nowitzki
7% [ 2 ]
Duncan
0% [ 0 ]
LeBron
7% [ 2 ]
Iverson
0% [ 0 ]
Wade
0% [ 0 ]
somebody else
0% [ 0 ]

Total Votes : 26

LOL@Gutz.

It's one vote, yet you are splitting it 5-6 ways?

That was the whole point of this, pick one.

Yes, it's a difficult choice.
I picked billups numbnuts. total favortism. And I wouldnt wanna have any other pg alive running our team. [smilie=angel.gif]

my vote is for Dirk. If you take him off the Mavs, they are a lotto team. I suppose you could say the same for Lebron or Kobe, but their teams are also not a #1/2 seed in the playoffs either. I look at MVP as the most important to his team. The player that is most responsible for his team winning. I pick Dirk (though I could vote Lebron or Kobe too). As much as I like Billups, he has too much help (like Wade, Marion and Nash). Melo would be close, but Camby did a lot for them early too.

I seriously doubt the Mavs would be a lotto team without Dirk. Well maybe thats aruable but look at it this way, are you saying that if you took Dirk off the Mavs, LeBron off Cleveland and Kobe off the lakers, the Mavs would be the worst of those 3? You've seen the Lakers roster I take it.
the cavs would be worse than the lakers. Lamart odom >>>flip murray and damon jones combined.

Kobe by far.

Kobe by far.

Whoever wins it shouldn't be "by far".

Everyone agrees that this is one of the closest MVP races in recent memory.

LOL@Hollinger


Aaron (West Laf, IN): Alright, JH...let's hear you're latest MVP talk. Any changes? Simmons says Bryant (and Billups is #8 on his list?!)..but Stein says Bryant can't win it because he does silly things like elbowing M.Miller and costing his team 3 games. give us your status...

John Hollinger: (3:11 PM ET ) I put Bryant a distant fourth. My top three guys are LeBron, Dirk and Wade. A month ago Wade looked like a home run to me, but he struggled down the stretch while LeBron and Dirk dialed it up. Choosing between LeBron and Dirk, I have to go with LeBron just because he's played so many more minutes -- basically, he's providing the same production for a greater duration.

Andy (Ventura, CA): Kobe a distant fourth? This is what people get from listening to a stat man. There are intangibles that make someone great. You constantly prove your lack of credibility because numbers ignore those things. Man should not have gone to the moon because of the money (a tangible), but the intangibles like the boost in national pride outweigh those things.

John Hollinger: (3:33 PM ET ) Ah, the first NASA analogy of the day. Kobe is fourth on my list BECAUSE of the intangibles. None of his teammates like him and he helped get the team's best player traded. Shouldn't that be part of the equation?

my vote is for Dirk. If you take him off the Mavs, they are a lotto team. I suppose you could say the same for Lebron or Kobe, but their teams are also not a #1/2 seed in the playoffs either. I look at MVP as the most important to his team. The player that is most responsible for his team winning. I pick Dirk (though I could vote Lebron or Kobe too). As much as I like Billups, he has too much help (like Wade, Marion and Nash). Melo would be close, but Camby did a lot for them early too.

I seriously doubt the Mavs would be a lotto team without Dirk. Well maybe thats aruable but look at it this way, are you saying that if you took Dirk off the Mavs, LeBron off Cleveland and Kobe off the lakers, the Mavs would be the worst of those 3? You've seen the Lakers roster I take it.
the cavs would be worse than the lakers. Lamart odom >>>flip murray and damon jones combined.

Actually, the Cavs would be A LOT better with Kobe and Bron out of the equation.

The Lakers bright spots: Smush, Odom, Kwame
The Cavs bright spots: Z, Donyell, Donkey, Hughes, Flip, Gooden, Varejao

And I vote Kobe.

*puts on his Pistons goggles*

I changed my mind. I vote for CBill1.

82

my vote is for Dirk. If you take him off the Mavs, they are a lotto team. I suppose you could say the same for Lebron or Kobe, but their teams are also not a #1/2 seed in the playoffs either. I look at MVP as the most important to his team. The player that is most responsible for his team winning. I pick Dirk (though I could vote Lebron or Kobe too). As much as I like Billups, he has too much help (like Wade, Marion and Nash). Melo would be close, but Camby did a lot for them early too.

I seriously doubt the Mavs would be a lotto team without Dirk. Well maybe thats aruable but look at it this way, are you saying that if you took Dirk off the Mavs, LeBron off Cleveland and Kobe off the lakers, the Mavs would be the worst of those 3? You've seen the Lakers roster I take it.
the cavs would be worse than the lakers. Lamart odom >>>flip murray and damon jones combined.

Actually, the Cavs would be A LOT better with Kobe and Bron out of the equation.

The Lakers bright spots: Smush, Odom, Kwame
The Cavs bright spots: Z, Donyell, Donkey, Hughes, Flip, Gooden, Varejao
you're kidding right? Bron involves his teammates. kobe tells to get the fuck out of the way. Bron encourages his teammates for next game if they miss the last shot. kobe tells them to give it to him next time.

You got kobe juice in your eyes if you believe the cavs would be better with bryant.

And hughes dont count being that he's been injured most of the year and hasnt even gotten into the mix completely still. Not to mention the odds of signing hughes, marshall, and big z being less likely with kobe making 10 million more per year.

82
1 game.

you're kidding right? Bron involves his teammates. kobe tells to get the fuck out of the way.


Ah yes. I can always count on Gutz to make shit up. [smilie=2thumbsup.g:

Kobe does not involve his teammates? Bullshit. 85% of that team is complete slop and you know it. I wouldn't trade Mo Evans or Pussfino for any of their bench perimeter players.


Kobe does not involve the rest of his team, yet Smush Parker is averaging career highs in EVERYTHING and has lasted a whole season for the 1st time in his career. Kobe does not involve his teammates, yet Odom has averaged career highs in points, FG%, rebounds, and assists since joining the Lakers. Kobe does not involve his teammates, yet Mihm and Brown have played better since joining the Lakers. So Kobe doesn't involve his teammates, even though every other player on the team has experienced a great deal of success since joining the Lakers? That makes a lot of sense. LOL!


Bron encourages his teammates for next game if they miss the last shot. kobe tells them to give it to him next time.


Do you have any kind of proof that either of those are fact? An audio sample, some video, maybe even a link to a story?

No?

Typical Gutz post.


You got kobe juice in your eyes if you believe the cavs would be better with bryant.

So now I do sexual favors for Kobe since I always argue in his favor(and I can also back my arguments, unlike you)? Yeah, whatever.

Not only do you label and insult people, make up all your arguments, but you also can't read. I never said Kobe would be better than LeBron on the Cavs or the opposite(The Cavs would be better with Kobe, though). What I did say was that the Cavs squad is A LOT better than the Lakers without their two respective players. The Cavs still compete for a playoff spot without LeBron, the Lakers would be in the Rudy Gay sweepstakes without Kobe.



And hughes dont count being that he's been injured most of the year and hasnt even gotten into the mix completely still. Not to mention the odds of signing hughes, marshall, and big z being less likely with kobe making 10 million more per year.

Because Kobe is the only one on the Lakers making big figures, right? COUGHODODOMKWAMECOUGH

But really, that has nothing to do with the value of a player. The Cavs were just fortunate enough that LeBron is still in his rookie contract.

And didn't you list.......

*takes a sip of water*

........Tony Parker.............as an MVP candidate?

*spits water onto computer screen*

AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

DISCUSSION OVER

82
1 game.
Goose egg the 81 point game and he still leads the league in scoring, and he's playing on a team with only one other good player (who's definitely a second banana and not a team leader) and a whole lot of non-starters for any other team.

(no, I dunno why I keep on saying 82)

I can't stand Kobe, but I can't deny his talent.

IMO, the MVP is the player who has the biggest impact on his team's success (which needs to be substantial, not a #7 or #8 seed). That's why I went with [smilie=bigshot.gif] . He runs the offense, defends, takes over games when needed, hits more clutch shots than anyone, and led our team to the most wins in franchise history and the best record in the NBA. 'nuff said.

i hate when people have to make convoluted arguments and make shit up to make a case for their guy.

obviously, i'd love chauncy to get it. but no way in hell is he the mvp over lebron or kobe. hell of a year? yes. it should be honor enough that hes in the running (and might go as high as 3rd).

it should be either kobe or lebron. and the edge goes to kobe in my book because he showed lebron up in their game I saw, plays defense, and is more apt at carrying his team.

people WAY over analyse the mvp. which is why shaq only got 1. jordan only had a few. why kobe still doesnt have one.

just give it to the best player every year.

you're kidding right? Bron involves his teammates. kobe tells to get the fuck out of the way.


Ah yes. I can always count on Gutz to make shit up. [smilie=2thumbsup.g:

Kobe does not involve his teammates? Bullshit. 85% of that team is complete slop and you know it. I wouldn't trade Mo Evans or Pussfino for any of their bench perimeter players.


Kobe does not involve the rest of his team, yet Smush Parker is averaging career highs in EVERYTHING and has lasted a whole season for the 1st time in his career. Kobe does not involve his teammates, yet Odom has averaged career highs in points, FG%, rebounds, and assists since joining the Lakers. Kobe does not involve his teammates, yet Mihm and Brown have played better since joining the Lakers. So Kobe doesn't involve his teammates, even though every other player on the team has experienced a great deal of success since joining the Lakers? That makes a lot of sense. LOL!


Bron encourages his teammates for next game if they miss the last shot. kobe tells them to give it to him next time.


Do you have any kind of proof that either of those are fact? An audio sample, some video, maybe even a link to a story?

No?

Typical Gutz post.


You got kobe juice in your eyes if you believe the cavs would be better with bryant.

So now I do sexual favors for Kobe since I always argue in his favor(and I can also back my arguments, unlike you)? Yeah, whatever.

Not only do you label and insult people, make up all your arguments, but you also can't read. I never said Kobe would be better than LeBron on the Cavs or the opposite(The Cavs would be better with Kobe, though). What I did say was that the Cavs squad is A LOT better than the Lakers without their two respective players. The Cavs still compete for a playoff spot without LeBron, the Lakers would be in the Rudy Gay sweepstakes without Kobe.



And hughes dont count being that he's been injured most of the year and hasnt even gotten into the mix completely still. Not to mention the odds of signing hughes, marshall, and big z being less likely with kobe making 10 million more per year.

Because Kobe is the only one on the Lakers making big figures, right? COUGHODODOMKWAMECOUGH

But really, that has nothing to do with the value of a player. The Cavs were just fortunate enough that LeBron is still in his rookie contract.

And didn't you list.......

*takes a sip of water*

........Tony Parker.............as an MVP candidate?

*spits water onto computer screen*

AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

DISCUSSION OVER



Ah yes. I can always count on Gutz to make shit up. [smilie=2thumbsup.g:

Kobe does not involve his teammates? Bullshit. 85% of that team is complete slop and you know it. I wouldn't trade Mo Evans or Pussfino for any of their bench perimeter players.
weird i would apply the make believe life to yourself. the asskissing ooops i mean kicking nerd. [smilie=angel.gif]

You played this card already. the "well the whole laker team is slop" . now its "well ummm 85 percent of it is". hmmm you backtracking on Odom?. [smilie=antlers.gif]

are you comparing benches or teams? and if we are comparing benches neither teams bench has done anything. Theres no fiction to kobe's lack of involving his teammates. Maybe you are too busy watching highlights to pay attention. But he is not involving his teammates shooting as many shots a game as he is. What Billups does is involving your teammates, same for lebron. Its also funny that lebron averaged more assists a game last year with even less options to go to on the cavs. But we'll touch more on kobe's team skills in a minute.



Do you have any kind of proof that either of those are fact? An audio sample, some video, maybe even a link to a story?

No?

Typical Gutz post.
Sure. If you got footage of the Lakers kings game that went to OT. I dont keep audio files of the games. not that they would help. When Kobe Shot his team out of it because he was mad Odom didnt give him the ball on the final shot. He does that quite often. much like redd.

Hmmm you have an audio file of a player talking about kobe making him better? [smilie=applause.gi: you might be owning yourself if you dont.

but heres a mentality of the two from the horses mouth.

To all the positions, I just bring the determination to win. Me being an unselfish player, I think that can carry on to my teammates. When you have one of the best players on the court being unselfish, I think that transfers to the other players.
LeBron James


“Ask me to play. I'll play.
Ask me to shoot. I'll shoot.
Ask me to pass. I'll pass.
Ask me to steal, block out, sacrifice, lead, dominate.
ANYTHING.

But it's not what you ask of me.
It's what I ask of myself.”


“I was able to attack at times, draw the defense in and kick it out -- sometimes we made the shots, sometimes we didn't. We try to do the exact same things they try to do, only they do it about five times better right now.”


“We shot terrible tonight. It's not like we didn't have good shots. We had great looks ... You have to give it to them. They made us look bad.”
Kobe:

I'll do whatever it takes to win games, whether it's sitting on a bench waving a towel, handing a cup of water to a teammate, or hitting the game-winning shot.
Kobe Bryant
I like how he left out passing.


“I was so frustrated by the loss the other night I was going to will us to victory.”
Will meaning shoot maybe?. [smilie=angel.gif]


“I was so frustrated with our last loss I said I'll fix it. Tonight I just wanted to attack and send a message. The reason I scored 62 points was because I wanted to win so bad. I just felt that I could continually attack these guys. It's a great feeling that I could do it here in front of our fans and give them an early Christmas present.”
yea, the words of a guy who involves his teammates.

to each his own with their take on that.




So now I do sexual favors for Kobe since I always argue in his favor(and I can also back my arguments, unlike you)? Yeah, whatever.

Not only do you label and insult people, make up all your arguments, but you also can't read. I never said Kobe would be better than LeBron on the Cavs or the opposite(The Cavs would be better with Kobe, though). What I did say was that the Cavs squad is A LOT better than the Lakers without their two respective players. The Cavs still compete for a playoff spot without LeBron, the Lakers would be in the Rudy Gay sweepstakes without Kobe.
[smilie=applause.gi: this is my favorite. so the cavs would be better with kobe but he's not better. how could anyone misinterpret that.?~LMAO~. it all makes since now in bizarro world. the cavs competing for the playoffs w/o lebron? yea in what dream? w/o him they woulda fell harder than philly in their annual midseason stretch run falloff. Their coach isnt even that good to coach them into anything better than shadow boxing for the #1 pick. but you know what, fuck if they are better or not. kobe still doesnt get his teammates involved. aint his style. if it was he would atleast set up Lamar odom for scores, which he does not. Lamar odom is out there having to get his own. same for everyone else. As far as smush, mihm, and brown go, yea with more minutes you get more points. but they are still scoring at about the same pace. Thus not being made better by anything Kobe is doing. Nice try though demanding this proof. [smilie=angel.gif]



So now I do sexual favors for Kobe since I always argue in his favor(and I can also back my arguments, unlike you)? Yeah, whatever.
Well you didnt here. Unlike me though you can front like you do.


Because Kobe is the only one on the Lakers making big figures, right? COUGHODODOMKWAMECOUGH

But really, that has nothing to do with the value of a player. The Cavs were just fortunate enough that LeBron is still in his rookie contract.

And didn't you list.......

*takes a sip of water*

........Tony Parker.............as an MVP candidate?

*spits water onto computer screen*

AAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

DISCUSSION OVER
Kwame makes 7 million. You lost me there, your cough was supposed to be your back up?. The only guys making 10+ million are kobe and odom. You add 10million to the cavs overall salary for the bron kobe exchange. their salary is higher than the lakers and they have a much smaller media market. I guess thats why you are making excuses about lebron being a rookie. yea and if he wasnt a rookie he'd have as much as if ot more than kobe and they might not sign either hughes or resigned big z.

ok now that i've become bored with you and your blind kobe love, lets talk about Tony Parker. Most consistant player on the spurs shooting 54 percent from the field maximizing his shots. Leading the NBA in points in the Paint as a PG which is unheard of. I think he deserves some votes. You seem to think he's a joke for his efforts on the season. thats on you. But i said before my choice is Billups.

Last and probaly least. You wasted that water on the screen. odds are some of it bounced back in your face to reflect my feelings on you copping a pussy fit over being called a kobe lover. when you havent been the most known for courteousness poster on here at all. The hypocrisy of the Arch Bishop GWOW. It knows no end. [smilie=arrgh.jpg] [smilie=arnold.gif]

ps. now its over.

i hate when people have to make convoluted arguments and make shit up to make a case for their guy
kinda like arch swearing kobe made his teammates better. [smilie=angel.gif]

Why not Billups? though i dont think he'll win it or has a chance of doing so. Nothing wrong with voting for him i think. I do have an odd feeling it'll go to dirk or the kobmeister. Either way its meaningless. I just want to see another title. MVP's are meaningless.

Actually, the Cavs would be A LOT better with Kobe and Bron out of the equation.

The Lakers bright spots: Smush, Odom, Kwame
The Cavs bright spots: Z, Donyell, Donkey, Hughes, Flip, Gooden, Varejao
you're kidding right? Bron involves his teammates. kobe tells to get the fuck out of the way. Bron encourages his teammates for next game if they miss the last shot. kobe tells them to give it to him next time.

You got kobe juice in your eyes if you believe the cavs would be better with bryant.


Did you read what he said? He said the Cavs have a better team without Bron than the Lakers have without Kobe. He is %100 right. And I still think the Cavs he mentioned are better than Howard, Terry, Daniels, Stack and Dampier because the Cavs would actually have 3 decent big men and the mavs would have a lot less open looks with no big man.

Why is Lebron even being mentioned in the MVP talk?

What has he done that's any different from what Carmelo, Parker and Arenas did? It's not like his team overachieved and made the playoffs when they weren't supposed to. And outside of Hughes, they were relatively healthy all season.

I think 31 PPG, 7 RPG and 7 APG have something to do with that. Without looking, can you name a player since MJ to do that? I'm going to look myself.

Kobe had 28, 6 and 6 last year.

in 1989 MJ had 33, 8 and 8...but never had 7 RPG or APG after.

In Tmac's best year, he didn't even come close.

KG had 23, 13 and 5 a couple years ago, and many seasons like that.

I can't believe this.

Am I the only one to vote for Elton Brand???????

Best stats of his career. Strong leader. The long-doormat Clippers post the best record in franchise history. The dude is incredible.

My second choice was Nash. 50 wins despite no Amare, the most dominant player in the league.

LBJ has no defense, but his all-around offense has him at third.

http://www.usatoday.com/sports/columnist/oconnor/2006-04-17-billups-for-MVP_x.htm


Catalytic conversion of 'MVP' steers debate to Billups

http://images.usatoday.com/_common/_images/ribbons/sports_ribbons/inside/keeping_score_oconnor.jpg

Updated 4/17/2006 9:08 PM ET

Chauncey Billups was traded three times before his 24th birthday, and dumped twice more before his 26th. He was once moved in a deal that brought back Zeljko Rebraca, a fact that would normally earn Billups a lifetime ban from any MVP debate at your sports bar of choice.

He has never scored 81 points in a game. He has never plucked a quarter from the top of a backboard. He has never been within a million miles of any Next Jordan conversation.

"People told me I was a bust," Billups said by phone. "They told me I'd end up in the CBA or overseas."

But if you're looking for reasons to ignore the Detroit Pistons' point guard in the wildest MVP race yet, you've turned to the wrong page. Billups isn't just the best player on the best team. He's the guard who's done more winning with his Pistons than Isiah Thomas and Joe Dumars did with theirs.

Measured against the star power of Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, Steve Nash, Dirk Nowitzki and Dwyane Wade, Billups remains the most deserving MVP candidate. Punish him for leading a talent-heavy team that broke the franchise record of 63 victories? That's a fool's logic. Nash was throwing the ball to Amare Stoudemire, Shawn Marion and Joe Johnson last year, and nobody held that against him.

"Steve changed the face of the award with how he won it," Billups said. "If you look at it in those terms, I think I'm more deserving than anyone. I'm not the best player in the league, but I'm the catalyst on the best team in the league."

Nash is a visionary who did more with less this season, but I can't give two consecutive MVPs to a guy who couldn't cover me in the open floor. Nash and Billups matched up twice, with the Pistons winning twice and their playmaker doubling Nash's point total, 62 to 31, while nearly matching his assist total.

Game, set, David Stern handshake to Mr. Billups.

"I love Steve Nash and everything he's about," Billups said. "But I wanted to show people they're not just saying my name because we've got a good record."

Billups is a terrific three-point shooter, free-throw shooter, and end-game shooter, a holy trinity covering for his venial field-goal percentage sins. Billups is a strong defender, passer and ballhandler. He has the best assist-to-turnover ratio in the NBA.

More than anything, Billups is the antidote to Stephon Marbury, the anti-Starbury, a winner with or without Larry Brown. Now he surveys the pathetic Knicks, ravaged by the turf war fought between an ailing Brown and a wailing Marbury, and recalls the requisite compromises in the making of a champ.

"I was willing to sacrifice," Billups said. "Larry was a legendary coach, and I hadn't won anything yet. So I said, 'I'll listen to him. Give him 100% and see if it works out.' We had some tough times, some meetings in his office where we aired out our feelings. But it never got personal, and I learned a lot from Larry."

He learned precious little from Rick Pitino, who traded the third overall pick 15 minutes into his rookie season in Boston, if only to punish him for the vile lottery luck that cost Pitino Tim Duncan. Toronto, Denver, Orlando and Minnesota stamped Billups a journeyman, this before a player he'd idolized, Dumars, saw the promise within.

"I saw a guy who persevered when many would've crumbled," Dumars said. "Chauncey never blamed anyone else for his situation, and I loved his disposition, the fact he never brought attention to himself."

Dumars admitted that looking at this free agent was like looking at a mirror. Finally, Billups found someone who had the same belief in his game that he did.

Billups was the MVP of the 2004 Finals, and was nearly MVP of the 2005 Finals.

"The ultimate team player," said Dumars. "Chauncey represents everything David Stern wants in this league."

Chauncey is the NBA's Tom Brady, and his team is more than two touchdowns ahead of LeBron James's in the standings. Bryant? Sorry, but there's no such thing as a league MVP on a seventh seed.

Billups has added about two points and three assists to his averages from the past two seasons, and he's landed Detroit among the league leaders in win differential from 2004-05 — a nearly impossible position for a two-time Finalist to be in.

"From where I've been," Billups said, "this is surreal."

He constantly hears from fans of his former teams, telling him they wish they had a do-over. Billups appreciates the sentiment. He appreciates his hard road to glory, one that will let him savor the trophy more than any big name on the MVP board.

http://img105.imageshack.us/img105/8828/nbagkobelebron4128wl.jpg

I have a theory. A lot of media have been saying they are going to vote for him and this seems to be building some steam. Dee Brown, Bill Walton, and some others on ESPN. Has anyone else been hearing all the talk of Billups

I honestly don't think you can single Billups out for MVP of the entire league.

That means you are putting his contributions on this team above everyone else here.

Is he more valuable than Ben? Maybe, maybe not.

That's one of the reasons why I hated the Nash pick last year so much. By giving him the award it means that his contributions are more valuable than Amare's and Marion's.

Maybe he was more valuable, but let's not act like he was playing with a bunch of scrubs.

Kobe? Other than Odom no one on that team has ever done shit! The fact they made the playoffs just makes his scoring outburst more impressive.

Lebron, Brand, Dirk, Wade, Shaq and Melo all have better supporting casts too.

my vote is for Dirk. If you take him off the Mavs, they are a lotto team. I suppose you could say the same for Lebron or Kobe, but their teams are also not a #1/2 seed in the playoffs either. I look at MVP as the most important to his team. The player that is most responsible for his team winning. I pick Dirk (though I could vote Lebron or Kobe too). As much as I like Billups, he has too much help (like Wade, Marion and Nash). Melo would be close, but Camby did a lot for them early too.

They might might be lotto without him, but don't get it twisted, they'd still win over 40 games, they'd probably just likely fall short to a team like the kings for the final 8th spot. Without Dirk in the East, they're the 5th or 6th seed.

Since my genitalia isn't one of the options, I'll roll with 'Bron.