Hoops

NBA-MVP top 5

I agree with DB5 and Billo and respectfully disagree Big Marty.

Marty your criteria is as follows:

A) The best player on their team.
B) Their play that season has resulted in their being a better team in the W/L column.

For LeBron

A) Check

I don't think the criteria for B is dead on. I think it should be more along the lines of 'the effect they have on the W/L column.

For LeBron, Miami are certainly not anywhere near their current record with out him. Take him out of their side and they are not defending champions and are not favourites to win it this year. This highlights LeBron's MVP worthiness.

B) = significant impact on W?L column

I would also add for final criteria.

C) Their on-court statistical performance across the season. Just another factor that should receive (some) attention. = Outstanding statistical output.

Simply cannot penalise a guy for being his same old self when his same old self is, just casually, the best player on the planet.

Jordan deserved more! Voters gave it to Barkley and Malone because MJ was winning it every year and they didn't want it to get boring. At least he tore both of them a new one in the finals for winning the MVP instead of him (bit like Dream on Robinson that year).

If Lebron got it last year and performs the same, unless someone is having a better year, Lebron gets it. Much like Nash with his back to back.

Billo, I'm not saying that Lebron's contributions are invalid at all. As I agreed to earlier with Spursfan, Lebron is statistically the best player in the league; and I'm not questioning that.

As I said before, IMO I think the MVP should be awarded to players who are both:

A) The best player on their team.
B) Their play that season has resulted in their being a better team in the W/L column.

If for example, John Wall had taken the Wizards from nothingness and at least got them over .500 by a fair margin on his own back; I'd consider him an MVP candidate. Even if the Wizards then dipped out in the 1st Round, so be it; but it would still be a fair case.

In the arguement about Lebron, I'm saying that the team is on par with where they were last season.

Lebron is statistically on par with the past few seasons. If Lebron ends up leading the Heat to a 72-10 style record (ala Jordan) and doesn't do anything else statistically, then I'll be the first one to say 'MVP'.

But if he's done nothing of note beyond his MVP season last year, I don't see the point of giving him an award for being 'his average self'.

In regards to the Championship comment, logic dictates:

Great W/L Record + Title = Great Season
Same W/L Record as last season + No Title = Not as good as last season.

As for your Jordan comment, you're right.

Jordan probably didn't deserve 'some' of his MVP awards; however several of them came off of season's where he was the DPOY, and won back-to-back-to-back and record setting W/L seasons. He didn't necessarily have to be statistically the best to warrant the award.

I suppose I treat the MVP title like the Most Improved Title; you rarely see players get the MIP twice, unless there's some real good (or odd) reason. I don't believe an MVP should be awarded to the same guy again if they haven't improved themselves or their team further (and yes, that goes to all MVP's from any team in history).

That's just my opinion.

LeBron
Paul
Duncan
Durant
Melo

1. Paul
2. Anthony
3. Harden
4. James
5. Durrant
6. Duncan
7. Kobe
8. David Lee
9. Cousins
10. Love

That my top 10

I'm not saying he's a chance, but he should definitely be considered.

David Lee, great season so far. So consistent. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/david_lee/

You can't be MVP on a non contender seriously. If Harden is MVP then the Rockets should be challenging surely?

James is playing at about the same level as last year when he won MVP. Unless someone plays at a higher level, surely James gets it again (and I hate the guy).

Kobe v Harden is a case of been there done that.
Kobe has consistently gotten the Lakers in the playoffs (with help).
Harden and the Rockets won't win over 45 games which is their current pace.
The wheels will come off at some stage.

Spursfan, I completely agree with you that Lebron is arguably the best statistically in the league.

IMO I think the MVP should be awarded to players who are the best player on their team who have made the greatest impact to said team.

Miami is exactly the same as they were last year, their record isn't going to change much, and if they don't win a title this year, then they're essentially going backwards.

Guys like Paul, Harden, Melo have had blatant impacts on their team and their impact shows in the W/L column.

Would this ever translate into the real world? of course not; but that's just my take on why I'd move Lebron down.

Why not foxhat? The Rockets beat the Lakers only a few weeks ago.

The Lakers are still struggling big time and the Rockets are rolling right now.

Also Harden is most definately top 5. The Rockets are the youngest team in the league and he is leading them to the playoffs in the West. McHale should be in the convo for coach of the year as well.

No way Rockets will win Wednesday. I'm not a Lakers fan but just you watch.

Kobe in the Top 5 makes no sense to me IMO:

Kobe: 30.8ppg, 15-17 record
Harden: 26.4, 20-14 record

As Ingles said, if Harden is playing for a 'worse team' (on paper) and has a better winning record doing the SAME role that Kobe does for the Lakers, it would make sense that Harden is above him, but he isn't. Especially with the line-up of the Lakers.

Frankly putting Kobe into the Top 10 right now isn't worthwhile since his gameplay isn't actually effecting the team.

I would also move CP3 above Lebron right now. Lebron is a great player, but he has been stagnant for the past few seasons as far as his development goes and statistically his changes have been minimal.

I don't think anyone would take Harden over any of my top 5 at this stage of the season, and as for Duncan who is having a steller year he is playing with a seriously deep team. He nor Parker are carrying them at all.
Ps. Kobe is lucky to make this list with his current standings.

Lakers have the best winning percentage after the Suns lost to the Clippers

But without BYnum....that could be short lived..lol

Atleast it gives all Lakers fans out there some hope