Does The NBA Know What A MVP Is?

Boy times have changed. I remember Charles Barkley hoisting his NBA trophy above his head, and there being little to any argument about his deserving of the NBA's most coveted individual award, the Most Valuable Player. Outstanding numbers, outstanding season outstanding player, those were the good ole days. It appears now, in 2007, the letters NBA no longer represent National Basketball Association. No I'm afraid NBA currently stands for Nice Boys Appreciated, because that is all the last three NBA MVP's have in common, (2005, 2006 Steve Nash 2007 Dirk Nowitzki) they are nice guys.

Beginning with the Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash, I consider him the Steve Spurrier Florida Gators of the 90's. The comparison is in the numbers, Steve Nash's statistics are a definite result of the free wheeling system of the Phoenix Suns. Anyone who has ever watched the Suns play, and is familiar with organized basketball, realizes there is very little method to their madness. They are the Golden state Warriors with Amare Stoudamire manning the middle. It is smoke and mirrors to believe Steve Nash is the phenomenal point guard every sportscaster and idiot with a Most Valuable Player vote, believes him to be. He is a good guard, but so is Tony Parker (see Suns vs. Spurs for proof). This is very similar to the old ball coach's Florida Gator teams, who would rack up 50, 60, 70 points against Vanderbilt and other sub par SEC competition. Next up, a clobbering by the Nebraska Cornhuskers in the Fiesta bowl. Similar to the Suns failure to get through for an NBA championship. They would prefer to look good and loose, than play ugly and win. Still not convinced? I challenge anyone to name a superstar player from one of Steve Spurrier's Florida Gator teams, who went on to be a star in the NFL? How is Heisman Trophy winner Danny Weurfel these days?

Not to pound on Steve Nash, but after looking at the highway robbery that took place for last years Most Valuable Player, (When Lebron James nearly averaged a triple double for the season, and Kobe Bryant proved to be one of the greatest scorers we have ever witnessed), I was completely dumbfounded to hear that the top two finalist for MVP in 2007, were Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash again? What?

If the numbers don't lie, then explain this :

Player A - 24.6ppg 8.9RPG 3.4APG

Player B - 22.4ppg 12.8RPG 4.1APG

Player C - 27.3ppg 6.7RPG 6.0APG

Player D - 18.6ppg 3.5RPG 11.6APG

Player E - 31.6ppg 5.7RPG 5.4APG

and the winner is.....

Player A? With Player D in a close second, and Player B not receiving a vote. Players C and E, better luck next year. This is not to knock the numbers that Dirk put up, but to not be in the top 5 in any statistical category and win the Most Valuable Player award for the league is ridiculous. Player D a.k.a Steve Nash should not even be in consideration, look at the numbers.

Taking into consideration team records for the sake of argument, Player B a.k.a Kevin Garnett and Player E a.k.a Kobe Bryant can sit out the voting as well. However, should they not be considered MVP candidates for simply putting up astronomical numbers for an 82 game season with the collection of numbskulls they are forced to play with? Can you imagine being Kevin Garnet who has consistently put up MVP numbers throughout the last 5 years, with different coaches, different teammates, making the playoffs one year, missing them the next? We should hold that against him as an MVP candidate?

In closing I would like to say congratulations to Dirk Nowitzki. Likewise, to his former teammate Steve Nash, this is a congratulations not for the ultimate prize in basketball, The Larry O'Brien Trophy, but for being average players marketed as the best players at their positions, and using that marketing to win MVP awards. Hold on to those trophies gentlemen, because the other won is a lot tougher to win.