The Case for Garnett as MVP II
They say it comes down to Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul, LeBron James, Tim Duncan and the Celtics’ own Kevin Garnett as the leading candidates for the NBA’s 2007-08 MVP.
I say follow Paul Pierce’s recommendation and support Garnett as the one that truly deserves the MVP this year. As you probably have read by now, Pierce said,
“You have to understand where I came from a year ago, and to be on pace to win as many games as we are, I wouldn’t have believed it. The whole face of Celtics nation turned around when the trade happened with this guy. Everybody talks about the MVP, and they talk about numbers, but this guy has changed the whole culture around here, and I think that says a lot. The mentality, from a day-to-day aspect, everything is changed from a year ago.”
Kenny “the Jet” Smith said that if the MVP was issued at mid-season, then Garnett would have been the leading candidate, and that he’s still definitely in the mix with Paul, James and Bryant as leading MVP candidates. The knock is that Garnett’s not been playing tons of minutes in the 2nd half as the Celtics coast to the No. 1 seed. Additionally, the Celtics continued to win in Garnett’s absence during his injury, as was discussed two months ago here at Celtics17.
And there are others willing to go out on a limb for KG. Mike Fine had this fine quote from Jim O’Brien:
“I don’t think I can remember a player coming into a franchise like Garnett has and completely and single-handedly changed the culture of the organization, and I think he’s done that. So there might be people on the court that are better statistically than Kevin Garnett. I think if you’re talking most valuable, I can’t imagine anybody any more valuable to their team than Garnett is.”
I love statistics, and O’Brien brings up a point where Garnett’s numbers are down from years past, but KG still kicks butt and hangs with the best of the best stats-wise. For instance, KG is 2nd in Net Production/Roland Rating, behind LeBron (see www.82games.com) and 5th in Hollinger’s PER. That means all things are pretty much equal in my book, so you have to then look at what the team has accomplished with the MVP candidate. Remember, great players on poor teams don’t even make the All-Star team, so it follows that the MVP really should be on a league’s best team, unless there are extenuating circumstances (and Paul may be one).
But please, no sympathy votes for Bryant this year even though Kobe Bryant is happy to be a Laker and a leading MVP candidate
Barf.
I can’t believe that sentiment for Kobe as MVP may be rising. What do Derek Fisher and Rafer Alson know anyhow? And Shaq has chimed in for Kobe, even putting his Suns teammate Amare Stoudemire ahead of the Celtics’ Kevin Garnett . . . because KG doesn’t play defense?
Barf Again.
This is getting ridiculous. Note that in March 26th Celtics-Suns game, played immediately after Shaq made his comments, the Celtics won handily against the surging Suns. As Chris Sheridan noted, who gave support to KG in his article “The Case for Garnett as MVP”, ergo this blog being titled part deux,
“the game was broken open in the third quarter . . . when Garnett began aggressively denying Amare Stoudemire the ball and held him to a scoreless third quarter in which Stoudemire committed four turnovers as Boston broke the game open.”
Amare, meet KG, your MVP.
NOTE: The Celtics were the first team to clinch playoff spot in the March 5th win against Detroit, and they’ve gone 15-4 since then. They currently have the NBA’s best record, currently 7 games ahead of the West-leading Hornets and 7 games ahead of the 2nd team in the west (Detroit). At 62-16 and with four games left, the C’s are on track to win 65 games this year.
And of course Doc Rivers concurred that KG was the MVP for the league-leading Celtics. Why? Rivers said, “Just point-blank, our record. I always thought that’s what you go on. That’s all you have to say: Just look at our record.”
However, Rivers seems resigned to the fact that Bryant will get it. “Kobe probably should have won it several times and hasn’t,” Rivers said. “It might be his time.”
All I can say is “Doc, Doc, Doc . . . ”
Our Boston Celtics have made the Best of the West look like patsies this year, including the Lakers. Consider that the Celtics have gone a league-best 25-5 against the Western Conference teams. With the notable 3-game Texas sweep the Celtics accomplished last month, they actually have a better record against the Western Conference (83%) than against the Eastern Conference (77%).
The Celtics have the largest turnaround in wins-losses in NBA history. They are at +38 games now - surpassing the +36 game swing of the 97-98 Spurs reloaded with Duncan.
The Celtics have accomplished more than anyone could have dreamed this season, and it is Garnett that has been credited the most for this team’s achievement. Regardless of the playoffs (they don’t figure in the voting), that spells MVP for the regular season.
And let’s not forget about KG’s defense that none of the other MVP candidates can hold a candle to. As Hollinger points out today in his article that names Garnett to his all-defense 1st team, at same time promoting him as the MVP:
In other words, the [Celtics] entire jump from 18th in defensive efficiency a year ago to third all-time this season can pretty much be laid at the feet of Garnett. His intensity on the court is palpable, but perhaps even more important is how he has affected Pierce and the bench guys. I’m not sure whether that translates to MVP — not when Chris Paul is saving basketball in New Orleans — but if he doesn’t win the defensive player of the year award, there needs to be an investigation, because he’s been absolutely spectacular.
Chris Paul is great - he’s a PG that is just dominating the competition. But the Hornets are not setting team records like the Celtics. The Cavaliers just aren’t good enough to put James in the argument as being MVP. You know how I feel about Bryant as MVP as long as KG is a candidate.
Remember - “Ubuntu”, the African word that Garnett embraced with Doc, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, James Posey and the entire tream in the new Celtic Pride culture of defense. Garnett said “I can’t be as good as I am unless I help the next person.”
However, if the sportscaster and writers that vote for the NBA’s MVP want to continue feeding the fire that burns in Garnett. Go ahead - snub KG . . . and put the odds of the Celtics exceeding what they accomplished this year as 2:1.
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21 Responses to “The Case for Garnett as MVP II”
April 11th, 2008 at 12:22 am
breaking news.. nba…. i love this game motto has been changed…… i love my own…..
April 11th, 2008 at 12:25 am
hey bob… lets base it technically not of our feelings towards the players.. dont get influenced with your feelings.. trust me it aint gonna help u decide who the real mvp is… lets give it to those who deserves best…
good luck for ur thinking…
April 11th, 2008 at 12:29 am
if you put KG, PP, and RA on the minnesota Twolves.. that team could be strong contender… looking back on how his previous team performed last few seasons, you cant see that KG cant carry his team…. but now with his elite team mates thats what makes him better…
April 11th, 2008 at 12:44 am
KG even demanded for trade coz he knows he cant win with his talent alone…. performance wise? ill give it to KB24 or CP3.. not LBJ or KG… but they’re for runner ups… Many think the same here in the Philippines….
April 11th, 2008 at 4:09 am
If KG were playing in the western conference for nearly 40 minutes a game, for the whole season he would be a real contender, but as it stands he cant compete with Chris Paul and Kobe.
And if you want to talk about changing a culture, both of the other guys did that too. “My name is Kobe Bryant and I am here to win a championship.” That basically sums up the Lakers season right there, they are hungry. And Paul too has single-handedly turned a fringe playoff team into a competitor. And neither of these guys sat out a large portion of games like KG.
basically you are just a fanboy.
April 11th, 2008 at 6:13 am
Well this is a Celtics17 after all. . . .
The arguments are compelling that this year, Garnett stands toe to toe with the competition based on individual achievement, when defense is considered.
Add to the fact that Garnett has made the Celtics better than the Laker, Hornets and Cavs. . . . well it’s a done deal.
KG = MVP
April 11th, 2008 at 9:05 am
[…] Celtics The case for KG as MVP […]
April 11th, 2008 at 9:09 am
[…] Aboard the Pacer wagon for the final East spot LOY’s Place Random Thoughts 4/11 Celtics 17 The case for KG as MVP ESPN Don’t count out the Pacers just yet Who brought the D this season? Sports Blog Tim […]
April 11th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Fanboy he may be, but I think there is a solid case for Kevin Garnett as MVP. As Pierce said, his arrival changed the entire environment around the franchise. They became an intense, defensive oriented teamthat believed they could win, none of which was there with Doc Rivers and his squad last year.
I don’t know that he will win; the Kobe and Paul momentum is likely too great. But Kevin Garnett, like every other player on the list of potential MVP’s, needs quality players around him to win. Don’t tell me Chris Paul doesn’t have them; David West, Peja, and Tyson Chandler fit that bill. Kobe does have Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol. The MVP candidate with the least amount of help? LeBron James. And his momentum has stalled as the Cavaliers have gone nowhere after their big trade.
April 11th, 2008 at 9:58 am
KG is so good he doesn’t even have to be on the court. Just by practicing with KG since the summer his teammates have become KG clones - they play D as if they’re all one man. He has set the example for the entire league that passing and defense opens up scoring for anybody on your team - a concept coaches try to teach, but players never buy into. The only knock on KG is that he has more turnovers than CP3. Paul may have saved the Hornets, but KG has boosted the NBA globally with the hopes of a Celtics-Lakers reunion.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:51 pm
[…] - Sports Illustrated - Honestly, he was way overexposed and this is probably a good thing. - Celtics 17 - One writer can’t believe Kevin Garnett is being overlooked in the MVP race. - Upside and […]
April 11th, 2008 at 2:24 pm
When did KG demand a trade, Mike. When you get your facts straight come back..nobody could win anything with the talent that was surrounding KG before anyone with NBa knowledge can figure that out.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
Nora pls… that was actually I was saying… that fanboy has been saying that he turn things around in Boston where in fact he wasnt able to turn things around when he was still at Twolves… consider this…
he might be a good addition to the celts but he is not the reason alone that the team is doing good..
and for the trade thing? he demanded trade at the minnesota twolves because he feels he cant win a ring there… the only way he could win is by being in a team that has lot of talents…. dont argue.. its the boston celtics…
April 11th, 2008 at 10:36 pm
We should all listen to Mike (I wanna be like Mike!) since Mike knows basketball. KG did have help in Minneapolis. When he had Gugliotta & Marbury they were one 3pt shooter away from the Conference finals. When he had Sam & Spree they were 2 injuries (Cassell & Sczerbiak) away from the Finals (Hudson was awsome vs. the Lakers in the Conference finals) - let’s not forget that to win it all takes alot of luck too. KG has talent, sure - but so what? Phoenix, Dallas, New Orleans, L.A., & Detroit are also LOADED. Basically, Mike is saying that Ray and Paul are better than anyone else in the league. Why aren’t THEY the MVPs then?
April 12th, 2008 at 8:54 am
I love KG, and I wouldn’t be surprised if he won MVP, but to me its Paul Pierce. I may have said this in earlier comments, but as Tommy said in weeks before, Pierce changed hi whole game for the Celtics sake. He is still a prolific scorer, but mow can rebound and can dish out some assists too. He won’t win, but he should.
April 12th, 2008 at 9:34 am
OK my original post said “We should all listen to MIke since Mike speaks from the basketball mecca that is the Philippines” but some site editor changed my post… The Philippines was among the world’s first basketball-playing nations, and Filipinos are some of the world’s most avid followers of the sport. The Philippines is the home of the world’s second oldest (and Asia’s first) professional basketball league (PBA) - but NEVER did I imply that “Mike knows basketball” - I agree with Nora… KG & McHale rejected trade after trade. The final deal between the Celtics and Wolves just made SENSE for all involved. McHale is a KG fan too, and would love to see the Ticket win one for his Celtics - and why not get some cap space for the Wolves in the process?
- Make sure you check your facts - EDITOR - before you make knee-jerk revisions to someone’s post. People value their free speach as well as integrity and context. Have the courage to leave THIS post alone and accept your mistake.
April 12th, 2008 at 12:19 pm
I interpreted your post differently as if you were mocking Mike because of his stated location, especially the last sentence of your post (which I don’t remember exactly what it said now).
However, I now recognize that you were only respecting Mike’s opinion a bit more because he was from the Philippines.
I apologize to both Mike and Minnesnowta Ticket for my mistake. Again, I just misinterpreted where you were going with your Philippine reference Minnesnowta Ticket.
April 12th, 2008 at 2:46 pm
An editor with integrity - I WAS disagreeing with mike, and with a little sarcasm saying that being from the Philippines does not necessarily give him ethos, and maybe he should ask other Filippinos regarding KG’s history. The problem with posting (for me) is trying to keep it brief enough so that readers don’t just skip over it.
I hear what you’re saying, Celtics fanatic - I couldn’t STAND Pierce before. He has indeed changed his game to what a ball player SHOULD be - then again so has Kobe. WOO! This season is exciting!
April 14th, 2008 at 10:06 am
Mike -
You don’t really have your facts straight. KG never demanded a trade. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Minny wanted to trade him while he was still in his prime. KG was quite opposed to the idea of leaving Minny, which is partly why he vetoed the trade to Boston (as well as some of the others) initially.
After the Celtics aquired Ray Allen, it had been several weeks, and KG was reported to have been a little stunned and hurt that the Wolves tried to trade him. Obviously, by this time, the Celtics became a more intriguing destination, so he went back and said he was open to the idea of moving to Boston if the discussions continued.
April 16th, 2008 at 1:53 am
[…] MVN […]
April 16th, 2008 at 6:56 am
Great, he’s “the best of 3 players.” Though my reports say he may not even be the best of the 3.
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