NBA MVP…Flip a coin, a five-sided one.
Posted by Dan on April 13, 2008
The Boston Celtics have improved more than any team in NBA history over the course of one season and many wonder how they did it. Well, to me, it’s obvious. Kevin Garnett is quite possibly the best all around player in the NBA and has brought that team a unity that is second to none. His ability to teach and mentor several young players has been proven as the Celtics are the best all-around NBA team right now.
The Lakers have perhaps the most well-known player in the NBA, Kobe Bryant. Not much needs to be said about him other than he can single handedly beat almost every team in the NBA. On any given night, he could score 70 points while shutting down the other team’s best offensive threat. He is the favorite right now to win the MVP award this year.
New Orleans is definitely a fan-favorite team this season as they kept up their success from last season to become one of the best teams in the NBA. Chris Paul is the engine that makes that team go. Without him, the Hornets would be somewhere between 12th and 14th in the West. I don’t mean to discount the play of key role players like David West and Tyson Chandler, but Chris Paul makes those guys so much better. They get open shots and easy dunks all game long because of the superiority of Paul’s point guard skills.
Houston has been the most interesting story thus far. They now hold the second longest win streak in NBA history…and got to that point without their best player. When Yao went out, nearly everyone wrote off the Rockets’ playoff chances. Well, Tracy McGrady had a different thought in mind as he put all those young role players on his back and has taken them to the top of the Western Conference. He showed a consistency and confidence that most players never possess. His versatility on the offensive end always means they have a shot to win big games.
The Pistons have been one of the best teams for the past several years. Chauncey Billups is without doubt the most important player on that team. He has tremendous offensive skills as no other point guard in the leage can stop him. He also possesses the toughness and defensive determination with which the Pistons team has won an NBA championsip.
My pick: Chris Paul. He has been the best player in the NBA throughout the entire season and makes his somewhat average supporting cast and weak bench the best team in the Western Conference. While Kobe and KG have incredible teams, they have other help on a nightly basis. Paul has to show up in all-star form on every night in order for his team to win…and he has done that.
