Top 5 NBA MVP Candidates
December 23, 2009
Eric Felkey has been taking a look at early NBA MVP candidates and I feel like it’s a good representation for how the season has been going to this point. Even though the NBA season is about a third of the way through, most of the early season predictions are holding form. The LA Lakers and Boston Celtics are pacing themselves out in front of the pack as the two best teams, and there are only four teams in the East even worth a mention.
The most interesting race of sorts is that for MVP, which has five legitimate contenders. Let’s take a look at each:
5. Dirk Nowitzki – 26.1 pts (6), 8.1 reb, 2.7 ast, 1.4 blk (T-20), 37.6 mins (13), 47.6 FG percentage, 88.4 FT percent (8), 207 FTA (7), 191 defensive reb (9) Dallas quietly has the second best record in the West and boasts win over the Lakers and Cavs. Dirk is the face of the team and can still dominate in crunch time. The Mavs have gone under the radar so far this year and so has Dirk, but that will change if things hold form.
4. Kobe Bryant – 28.9 pts (2), 5.6 reb, 4.2 ast, 2.1 stl (3), 37.4 mins (18), 48.6 FG percentage (career-high), 84.0 FT percent, 188 FTA (10) He’s not worried about his stats anymore, or how others view his game, or his place in history. I think the best way to justify this is his field goal percentage from the past two years (46.7 percent last year, career-high 48.6 percent this year). He’s no longer taking any shot he wants, or playing a one-on-one game with the likes of LeBron, Wade, Durant, etc. What’s going to hurt Kobe (only in the MVP race) is the fact that the Lakers are so stacked from top to bottom. If you switched Kobe with LeBron, Wade, or ‘Melo, the Lakers are still a 60-65 win team and probably the favorites to win the title.
3. LeBron James – Stats: 28.8 pts (3), 8.0 ast (6—career-high), 7.0 reb, 1.3 stl, 38.0 mins (11), 50.1 FG percent (career-high), 37.0 three-pt percentage (career-high), 78.4 FT percentage (career-high), 252 FTA (T-4) He’s impossible to match up against, a prolific scorer, a phenomenal passer, and a tenacious defender. However, the Cavs seem like they have taken a step back this season. Maybe that’s just more of an indication on how dominant they were a year ago, but still I think it hurts his chances.
2. Steve Nash – 18.1 pts, 11.4 ast (1), 3.0 reb, 53.2 FG percentage (19—career-high), 94.3 FT percentage (1—career-high), 44.3 three-pt percentage (10)The fact that the Suns are 18-10 is testament to Nash’s leadership and playmaking ability. I’m confident that if you take Nash off this team and replaced him with Kobe, LeBron, Dirk, Wade, or anyone else, this team wouldn’t be as good. Nash makes the Suns. His problem though is a glaring defensive weakness.
1. Carmelo Anthony – 30.5 pts (1—career-high), 6.1 reb, 3.1 ast, 1.2 stl, 47.9 FG percentage, 87.6 FT percentage (12—career-high), 279 FGM (1), 233 FTM (1), 266 FTA (3) Carmelo’s stats are pretty much no different than what’s he averaged throughout his career (other than an increase in points and free throw attempts). He no longer takes as many bad shots, or loses his temper, or gets repeatedly exploited on the defensive end. And he’s the leader now. This is his team. He’s shown incredible maturity and a mental understanding of the game.
Those are Felkey’s top five with a little preview of what he had to say about each. If you want to read more then check out his full article.
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