The consensus is in: Chris Paul is the MVP
Nevermind who should win the NBA MVP. That debate has been beaten to death by writers and league pundits for the past month.
I’m going to tell you who will win the MVP, because the competition is all but wrapped up by now.
Barring a major collapse in its next five games, New Orleans will finish the season with at worst 57 wins. That will be enough to keep the Hornets in first place in the West and thrust Chris Paul into superduperstar status after he wins his first MVP.
Yes, Kobe Bryant is the most skilled player in the NBA. And yes, LeBron James averages a god-like 30, 8, and 7. (These are popular arguments, as I will note later).
But Paul is going to win the award, and I’ll tell you why.
Every year around the last three weeks of the season, the MVP debate comes to a full rolling boil. Unless someone has insurmountable numbers (Shaq’s 29 points, 14 rebounds a game in 2000) there are usually two or three candidates who receive the bulk of the attention. Last season and the season before that, it was Dirk Nowitzki, Steve Nash and LeBron James who were the “finalists.”
This year the top three are Paul, Kobe and Kevin Garnett. LeBron was in the mix until he got nicked up this week and missed a few games.
So with the last fifth of the season still looming on the schedule, three candidates usually emerge. Fans start the MVP chants in their respective arenas. Broadcasters and radio personalities begin referring to the finalists as MVP candidate (fill in name). And everyone gets excited about an award that no one can ever really figure out. (Is it for the best player? The most valuable player? The best player on the best team?)
Then something peculiar happens around the final week of the season (right now).
Everyone who has been arguing and fussing for two weeks about who should or shouldn’t be the MVP suddenly comes to an agreement. One candidate is universally selected and the debate unofficially ends.
This season (about a week ago), you started hearing things like, “Well, Kobe Bryant is probably the best NBA player, and Kevin Garnett was the main reason the Celtics made such a big turnaround…but I’ve got to give it to Chris Paul.”
Then you hear the reason for Chris Paul winning it that everyone collectively adopts. That sounds a little bit like this: “Because the Hornets are playing great basketball and if they finish first in the Western Conference, I don’t see how you don’t give it to Paul.”
Almost every announcer, columnist and radio host that covers the NBA will make that exact same argument over the next week. Once this happens, the race is over.
Seeing as I have listened to ESPN radio for an hour today and heard that argument at least three times, I’d say we’ve hit the breaking point.
Chris Paul will win the MVP. The Hornets could finish second in the Western Conference and he’d still win the MVP. Too many voters have already made up their minds. Like I said earlier, the only way he doesn’t win it is if the Hornets lose four of their last five games.
Seeing as the Hornets haven’t lost more than three games in a row all season, I’d say it’s a pretty safe bet. So congratulations CP3 on your first NBA MVP.
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8 Responses to “The consensus is in: Chris Paul is the MVP”
April 9th, 2008 at 9:37 pm
what consensus? lols.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:09 am
Very scientific.
April 10th, 2008 at 12:38 am
Very well-written piece, James, and I think you’ve found a new fan in me. Sure, I’m a LeBron honk, as I should be, but what CP3 has done with the Hornets is amazing. People want to look at LeBron’s impact on that Cavaliers’ franchise as a whole, as they should, but Paul’s achievements in that matter are just as impressive considering what the Hornets franchise went through. He captured the hearts of OKC fans, and now has thrusted the team into being a powerhouse for years to come.
I definitely agree that Paul now deserves it more than LeBron, but the one argument you can make is for Kobe. KB has waited too long for this award, and now is his time. Paul is only in his third year, and although you can never deny his accomplishments, you still can’t deny Kobe his first MVP with his great numbers and the Lakers’ remarkable turnaround season. Paul may be more deserving, but Kobe has paid his dues.
April 10th, 2008 at 2:15 am
uh for you idiots who commented who “agrees” with the writer that cp3 deserves the mvp, you have a reading comprehension level of a pre schooler. the writer isn’t endorsing cp3 as mvp, he’s only saying that he will win the mvp, and that the reason is bogus and biased. as great as cp3 season is, it’s still nothing compared to how kobe led a depleted and injured (again) laker team to pretty much the same record as the hornets. being number 1 in the west is meaningless this season when a mere 1 or 2 games separate the top 3 or 4 teams.
April 10th, 2008 at 10:56 am
I am of the opinion that it’s a travesty Kobe Bryant hasn’t won an MVP yet. He’s been the best player in the NBA for several years. That should earn you hardware no matter what.
But for whatever reason, Kobe hasn’t won an MVP and I don’t think you can give it to him just because he’s never had one. And you can’t give it to him on stats alone either. If the award was numbers driven, LeBron would have to win. He’s got the better stats
If you want to tell me Kobe is the MVP because he’s gritted through a pinky injury for the last month and still has the Lakers in contention, I’ll buy that.
But to say he should win it because he hasn’t won it isn’t fair. It’s not a lifetime achievment award.
But thanks for your comments Amar, I’m a fan of Cavalier Attitude as well.
April 10th, 2008 at 9:43 pm
Truth is…people will always find an excuse - another great player having a great season, an indiscretion on Kobe’s part, Kobe’s perceived arrogance, etc.- to deny Kobe his due. Any other player with Kobe’s combination of basketball savvy, will to win and tangible accomplishments would have won the MVP award hands down.
A survey among his peers shows Kobe as the one player they fear most. Obviously, that does not count. Media personalities, including the inane ones - get to vote - that’s the whole tragedy.
April 10th, 2008 at 11:45 pm
HAHA. Kobe will not win the MVP. Neither will Chris paul. Great players, but Lebron is easily the MOST IMPORTANT player on his team.
Face the facts. Without Gasol, the Lakers were going nowhere. Kobe cannot carry a team. His legacy will be a player who was selfish (c’mon, if you score 81 points, you’re not looking to pass first. The sports writers were laughing at the hubris of that game behind the scenes. When Kobe retires, the writers will write how they really feel about his game.
April 11th, 2008 at 1:05 am
Another apologist…
Being MVP ( not MIP) is about being valuable to a team and that team being able to climb unexpected heights.. Lebron should have been MVP in 2007 based on the argument but Nowitski won anyway.
Why should Lebron win now with a 4th seeding in the B-conference of the NBA.
Face the fact … the Lakers were doing OK until Bynum fell to injuries… in a year or two Lebron will try to eclipse Kobe’s 81 and he will have a legacy of a selfish player…..haha…
Scoring 81 is saying that I can pretty much score at will if that is all I wanted to do…. by the way Kobe plays defense…too..
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