martes, abril 08, 2008

Race to the MVP - The Top 10

1. Chris Paul, New Orleans | Team Record: 50-22
PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
21.5 3.9 11.4 2.7 0.0 .494 .841
  • Last Week's Rank - 2
    See above. Or, if you need more justification, let's just say Chris Paul has been lights out under pressure in a playoff race this season. So far, no player in the NBA has handled it better. Oh, and he was Western Conference Player of the Month for March.

  • 2. Kevin Garnett, Boston | Team Record: 58-15
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    18.9 9.4 3.5 1.4 1.2 .537 .797
  • Last Week's Rank - 4
    The Celtics went 13-3 in March and the Kid helped make it happen. Yeah, yeah, I know he missed nine games earlier in the season and the Celts were 7-2 without him, but where would this franchise be without Kevin Garnett? Instead of having 58 wins, being six games up on the Pistons for the East's top seed and the best defensive team in the L, they'd be hangin' out 'round the four or five seed, that's where.

  • 3. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers | Team Record: 50-24
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    28.6 6.3 5.4 1.9 0.5 .458 .839
  • Last Week's Rank - 1
    I know the Kobe cultists will fill the e-mail box, but if you lose at home to Charlotte and Memphis in the same week, you're MVP candidacy will take a serious hit below the belt, even if you drop 53 against the Grizz. If the Lakers win those two games, they're up one game on the Hornets instead of one game behind. NBA.com's Dave McMenamin, our No. 1 Kobe fan, noted how KB24 showed versatility with 13 assists in the Lakers win over the Wizards on Sunday. Duly noted.

  • 4. LeBron James, Cleveland | Team Record: 41-33
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    30.4 8.1 7.3 1.8 1.0 .484 .717
  • Last Week's Rank - 3
    LeBron may be having one of the greatest statistical seasons ever. Too bad his Cavs only have 41 wins (compared to Paul's 50, KG's 58 and Kobe's 50) and are 4-6 in their last 10. It'll take continued excellence by LeBron and one hell of a season-ending run by the Cavs for Mr. James vault his way back into the top three of the MVP chase.

  • 5. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix | Team Record: 50-24
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    25.1 9.3 1.4 0.8 2.2 .586 .802
  • Last Week's Rank - 11
    Hi. You may not think I'm an MVP candidate, but I've been playing some of the best ball of my career lately. You know I've averaged 29.3 points and 9.8 boards for the past two months? Did you see the 41 I dropped on Denver on March 31? You heard about the 38-point, 13-rebound, four-block performance which included a perfect 20-for-20 from the line against Houston on March 22. You're a basketball fan, right? So you know this already. If you don't, then it's time to open your eyes. Either that, or look into the Bright Side of the Sun to understand.

  • 6. Tim Duncan, San Antonio | Team Record: 51-23
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    19.6 11.5 3.0 0.7 1.9 .499 .737
  • Last Week's Rank - 10
    Man, does this guy ever lose it? He's been consistently good since he entered the league, and while the numbers won't wow you, the winning does. With a seven-game win streak, the Spurs have inched their way within the top of the Western Conference rankings. We've asked this around the office, and we haven't been able to figure it out: what makes TD so good? He doesn't jump out of the gym, he doesn't run the like the wind and he doesn't appear to be a strongman? Consensus: we think it's between his ears. What's your take?

  • 7. Dwight Howard, Orlando | Team Record: 47-27
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    21.2 14.4 1.3 0.9 2.3 .597 .595
  • Last Week's Rank - 6
    An early-season front-runner for the MVP, Superman isn't flying as high in the rankings any longer. Uneven games (three points and 14 boards in a loss to Washington) and the emergence of Most Improved Player candidate Hedo Turkoglu have slowed Howard's candidacy.

  • 8. Paul Pierce, Boston | Team Record: 58-15
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    20.0 5.3 4.7 1.3 0.5 .460 .843
  • Last Week's Rank - 7
    Had two 27-point performances sandwiched in between a 12-point tally in a loss to Philly and 10-point ho-hum game in a laugher against the Heat. So, an up-and-down week for The Truth. Truth is, his 27-point, six-board, nine-dime game in a 112-92 thrashing of Paul's Hornets was one for the ages. That, and he only needs 117 points to pass Bob Cousy for fifth all-time on the Celtics list.

  • 9. Deron Williams, Utah | Team Record: 49-26
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    19.3 3.0 10.5 1.1 0.3 .512 .799
  • Last Week's Rank - 8
    Deron averaged as many assists in March (13.3) as Paul did, but five fewer points per game (19.6 to Paul's 24.4). He has been under double-digits in assists in only five games these past two months and his 12-point, 16-dime, no turnover performance against the Wizards on March is the fifth time this season he's had double-digit assists without committing a turnover. Stellar.

  • 10. Steve Nash, Phoenix | Team Record: 50-24
    PPG RPG APG SPG BPG FG% FT%
    17.5 3.4 11.1 0.6 0.1 .514 .897
  • Last Week's Rank - 9
    "Hey, Rob, I'm putting up more points per game this season than I did in my first MVP season and more assists per game than my second MVP season. I'm shooting nearly .500 (.484 to be exact) from three. MVP one + MVP two = MVP three. Right?" Nice try, Steve. We still have much love for you, though.
  • On the Outside Looking In (averages - last week's rank)
    11. Allen Iverson (DEN): 26.5 PPG, 2.9 RPG, 7.2 APG - (15)
    12. Tracy McGrady (HOU): 21.6 PPG, 5.2 RPG, 5.8 APG - (5)
    13. Antawn Jamison (WAS): 21.5 PPG, 10.2 RPG, 1.5 APG - (13)
    14. Baron Davis (GSW): 22.2 PPG, 4.7 RPG, 7.7 APG - (14)
    15. Chauncey Billups (DET): 17.6 PPG, 2.8 RPG, 7.1 APG - (16)
    16. Carlos Boozer (UTA): 21.8 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 2.8 APG - (17)
    17. Carmelo Anthony (DEN): 25.5 PPG, 7.4 RPG, 3.5 APG - (18)
    18. Hedo Turkoglu (ORL): 19.5 PPG, 5.9 RPG, 4.8 APG - (19)
    19. Manu Ginobili (SAN): 20.1 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 4.6 APG - (20)
    20. Chris Bosh (TOR): 22.5 PPG, 8.8 RPG, 2.5 APG - (NR)
  • Dropped out: Dirk Nowitzki


  • Running the Floor

    Johnson
    If Chris Paul does win MVP this season, he'll become the fifth point guard in NBA history to claim the award.

    Bob Cousy was the first in 1956-57 and Steve Nash the most recent in 2005-06. Nash has won two (2004-05 and 05-06), but Magic Johnson has the most with three (1986-87, 1988-89, 1989-90). Oscar Robertson was the other point guard to take home MVP honors in 1963-64.

    Oh, if you want to quibble, we could consider Allen Iverson a point guard (or 1.5). He won the MVP in 2000-01.

    6 comentarios:

    Blogger Juanejo ha dicho...

    garnett se llevara el premio al jugador defensivo, lo de camby esta bien, pero si estas en el equipo mas ofensivo de la liga...chungalí.
    paul mvp! aunque tenga partidos ruinosos como el de anoche ante utah.

    12:26 p. m.  
    Blogger Wilt ha dicho...

    Hoy he estado vienod el LAkers King bajado de internet y la TV americana da como favoritos a Kobe y a ZP3 (jejej) pero bueno, ya veremos.

    4:36 p. m.  
    Blogger Juanejo ha dicho...

    curioso, de los 20 que pones, hay muchos nombres que ni siquiera fueron al all star....y otros que fueron que no estan, con lo que se confirma qeu en el all star estaban los que eran pero no eran todos los que estaban (o algo asina=

    7:10 p. m.  
    Blogger True Wolf ha dicho...

    Siento decir que a día de hoy mi MVP es CP3, y ya hace 2 o 3 semanas que es así. A ver si el Lakers-Hornets me hace cambiar de opinión, ojalá, yo lo quiero para Bryant.

    10:37 p. m.  
    Blogger Wilt ha dicho...

    Eso es por lo que he apostado en siemprebasket true.

    11:13 p. m.  
    Blogger JR Sanchis ha dicho...

    No se lo darán a Chris Paul porque todavía nadie alcanza a ver lo que ha echo este chico con los Hornetts. Vale que West y Pedja no se han lesionado este año pero la temporada del de Wake Forest es para enmarcar. Si llegasen lejos en playoffs...

    11:02 p. m.  

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