Comments on: CP3 not MVP? Think Again.

By: Caleb

Caleb — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 19:43:38 +0000

Unfortunately the reason CP3 is not in the conversation IS because of the Hornets record. Sure, the Hornets are still on pace to win 50 or more games… but its all about expectations. The Hornets were expected to challenge the Lakers for the 1 seed or at the very least have the 2 seed all locked up by now. Obviously, that hasn’t happened. The Hornets are seen as underacheiving and for whatever reason people don’t want to include Paul in the conversation because of that. It doesn’t make sense to me.. but that’s how it is.

By: mW

mW — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 03:07:46 +0000

No arguments on the MVP vs. Rings argument. Winning is what matters. But that said, you can’t have a serious MVP conversation without mentioning CP3.

By: Didier

Didier — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:22:34 +0000

sus me “their’”

By: Didier

Didier — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 21:22:06 +0000

I Guarantee You That if you ask Charles Barkley or Allen Iverson to trade there MVP award for a championship.. THEY’LL SAY YES IN A HEARTBEAT

By: YoungFella

YoungFella — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 06:13:01 +0000

Real nice work – Obviously CP3 is as important to the Hornets as any player in the league.

Personally I don’t really give a crap about the MVP award though. I just want the Hornets to get the 3rd seed and reach the WCF. That’s what will probably have to happen to allow CP3 to get true MVP consideration next season anyhow. It’s kind of like with the NFL – can you name who the MVP was this past season? Seriously – I’m a die hard NFL fan and I think it was Peyton Manning, but I’m not 100% sure. It really matters a lot less than who gets to the Super Bowl.

I love the post though just for the substantive information. CP3 is da man.

By: mW

mW — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:58:50 +0000

Wow. Strong reactions. I think the MVP award does have value, but one of the big problems with it in the NBA is that there are the concomitant effects of “career earnings” and “hot now”; that is, you have to 1) “put in your time” to become eligible (why CP lost last year), and 2) if you’re in the right system, at the right time, with the right media coverage, you win (a la Steve Nash both times).

That said, I’m surprised atthehive has no love for Kobe. I do think Kobe is one of the best players in the game, certainly better than Lebron, who I feel is an overrated dunk machine. Wade, since the Olympics, has been on a complete tear, wanting to prove to the world that he can recover from his injuries and be better than ever, lots of respect there.

I have no problem with Duncan or D-Howard being in the conversation, but I feel like they fall behind CP, Wade, Kobe, and Lebron. If Kobe beat CP last year because of his team’s better record, I expect Kobe to beat out Lebron this year. And if Lebron does beat Kobe, I expect Kobe to take it out on Lebron in a 5-1 or 4-0 Finals rout. Wade, I would love, actually. Because with both Wade and Kobe having MVPs and Rings, that leaves both contests down to CP and Lebron as the guys who haven’t joined the club. I’d be down for that media coverage.

By: atthehive

atthehive — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 01:16:45 +0000

Great post, you nailed pretty much everything.

All in all, the MVP is a bogus award. Steve Nash winning one, let alone two, is absolute garbage. It’s a bunch of guys trying to convince people that their extremely subjective criteria are actually highly objective. That’s why you’ll often see the same writer slamming “stat geek stats” and then turning around and talking about how awesome Kobe’s 10 40 point games are in the same article.

The other part is that it creates a vicious cycle. Once people get a set impression of a player- say Kobe- in their minds, they won’t let it go. Even if Kobe goes 12-35 with 6 turnovers, they’ll choose to remember the 30 point night on the basis that he’s a “closer” or that he “knows how to win.”

The MVP has no value to me, but my order right now is 1. LeBron, 2. Paul, 3. Wade. LBJ has been the best offensive player and very good according to all defensive metrics. Wade has been more efficient than Paul offensively, but defensive metrics suggest that he’s been below average on defense. Paul, on the other hand, has a strong case for one of the top 3 defensive PG’s in the game.

Kobe doesn’t crack my top 5. Not only are D-Howard and Duncan’s offensive efficiencies very comparable or better, they blow his overrated defense out of the water.

By: $nave

$nave — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 23:49:14 +0000

So when the talk of MVP started with Kobe and Viscount (for you, mW), I thought it was only about players on division leader/conference leader teams. Now the talking heads are bringing up Wade’s name, which throws out the whole best team concept, but a great player on a playoff team. So WHY NOT CHRIS PAUL? You want highlights, big stats, a player that the team would be absolutely lost without? I doubt you can leave CP3 out of the conversation without completely being a total “I hate the Hornets and their fans” douche.

By: Michael

Michael — Sun, 15 Mar 2009 20:13:59 +0000

It’s simple, the dumber and more point obsessed fans get, the more angry letters the wimps who write those articles are gonna get, and the more they are gonna want to feel loved by putting up whoever gets the most love mail. It’s that clear, just reading some of the arguments makes me laugh so hard honestly I was unaware of how stupid people can be. If only there was a set distinguishing rule for MVP(and on that topic for sixth man too all this putting starters on the bench for the first three minutes then they play the whole game is ridiculous) but that is just my opinion, basically as long as Lebron has sprite, Wade has T-Mobile, and Bryant has helpless girls in hotel rooms….oh wait nevermind, as long as those are around Paul will not have a chance, sad to say he’ll continue to be screwed over.