The Killer Crossover 02.14.08: Vote 1: LBJ for MVP

Posted by Todd Spehr on 02.14.2008

A recent gauge on this year's MVP was taken and oddly enough, Lebron James wasn't the top vote-getter. 411's Todd Spehr jumps the gun on MVP chatter and makes the case for James, having perhaps his finest year yet.

Although this statement won't make much dint on the Richter scale, nor is it hardly what one would call "going out on a limb", plus it might be a couple of months too early, it doesn't mean it's not true: LeBron James is the 2008 NBA MVP so far. By a lot.

Putting up gaudy statistics on a so-so team doesn't guarantee you MVP-love, just ask Kobe. So it's not LeBron's numbers – 30.1 points, 7.9 boards, 7.2 assists - that seal it, although they sure don't hurt. Nor is it the fact this his crummy supporting cast resembles a poorly constructed expansion team without him. But rather, it's his continual growth into the player we want him to be, coupled with the fact that he is simply without peer when it comes to doing everything on a basketball court that makes him MVP.

Just how has he grown?

Before explaining, I must point out that for a good portion of his early-career, James had a grating tendency to settle for jumpers in late-game situations (obvious exception being Game 5 of the '07 ECF at Detroit). Having said that, Exhibit A in the growth of LBJ occurred during Cleveland's return date in San Antonio last month. On the Cavs final possession he split a double-team (something he struggled to do in last year's Finals), literally burrowed through the Spurs trapping defense – the one that makes you feel like they have eight guys out there instead of five – and got into the paint before muscling up a tough two. Cavs win.

To draw another line on the wall of the James Growth Chart, I look at his fourth-quarter duel with Kobe in LA later that month. Sure, James busted the Lakers for 41, including 14 in the fourth - blah, blah, blah - but it was his defense on Bryant in the final stages that preserved a big road win and also earned a brownie point with an attached note saying ‘That's exactly what Mike woulda done.' This wasn't an aberration, no, far from it, James' intensity at both ends of the floor all year long has stood out; no longer does he just rely on being LeBron on the ugly end.

To complete the triangle, the third and final installment came just three nights later in Portland. Down double-digits with just over three minutes to go, James nailed three straight treys to pull the Cavs close. On the final possession, with Cleveland down one, James effortlessly waltzed into the paint and glided over three Blazers for the easy score. Cavs by one. By the way, he guarded Brandon Roy for the final six minutes and held him to one field-goal (which actually came on a switch) and his offensive outburst was mostly directed at a heckling fan that just couldn't leave well enough alone. So not only did he rip the Blazers on offense, shut down their All-Star on defense, but he also found motivation in the most unlikely of places.

You see, James is entering into another realm this year, which is crazy considering what he has already done in his still-young career. He always had the talent, he always had the numbers to go with it, but now he's raising that, playing all-out every night, motivating himself and (prepare)… is still getting better as a player despite the limitless expectations of fans, teammates, coaches and fantasy-heads. My buddy Matt even called his recent play Bird-esque… now that is something.

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"I know I got no chance if Kobe Bryant has never won it."- James.

Funnily enough, having said all that, having digested his individual numbers, having looked at Cleveland's record without him (0-6), having witnessed that seven-game stretch in November where he went 37.6/9.3/10, and having watched him carry that supporting cast, James still isn't the logical choice for MVP. It's true. As a matter of fact, Cavs beat-writer Brian Windhorst even recently attempted to gauge James' chances by surveying roughly one-third of media members who potentially will vote for the MVP. The result? LeBron recorded a measly four votes, trailing Kevin Garnett and Chris Paul. Sure, the season is just past its midway point, but how can this be?

Well, for starters, James plays on an average team. At least average in terms of what they have done this year – 29-22, fourth in the East, and roughly a 47-win pace. What does that mean? Well, the unwritten rule for the MVP is that you can't win the thing if your team wins under 50 games. At least that's how the unwritten rule reads – does that make sense? – in recent NBA history (the last 25 years). This means voters hesitate to vote for someone like James who carries with him his team's less-than-stellar record.

(To bring up an entirely different issue, a player vote may solve this - although I'm fairly certain that Damon Jones would vote for himself. But seriously, having the players decide on the best was the protocol until 1980, and it does carry a certain authenticity to it. That's the reason Kareem (on a bad Lakers team) won it in '76. It's also the reason Bill Russell won it in '62 despite "50-a-night" Chamberlain and "Chalk-up-another-triple-dip" Robertson breathing rarified air. The downside is that grudges can also interfere (although in today's setting it would seem unlikely), which is why Rick Barry didn't win it in '75. Then again, Barry was perhaps the most despised player in league history. There's also a fairly good chance Nash may never have won one and Kobe may have several if a player vote still existed. Once again, another story. The point also remains, regardless of whether it was a media or player vote, there is floors in the system, most notably related to criteria of just what exactly makes an MVP.)

The media takes maybe a dash too much value on a team's record – yes, you read that right – in voting. Sure, Garnett has helped invigorate the C's, but is he really the Most Valuable Player? Many pointed to Phoenix's record without Nash in '05 and '06 when coming to his defense, but look at Boston without KG this year, they've actually beaten Dallas and San Antonio in the last fortnight without him. Weird, huh? Not to take anything from KG, mind you, the guy's a stud. Then there's Kobe. Not the statistical behemoth compared to years gone by, he's instead formed into something else: Good team player who's actually willing to defer on occasion (see Bynum, Andrew). It's not his best year numbers-wise, but he's certainly no less of a player. Don't forget this year's media darling, Chris Paul, who is playing the PG position about as well as it has ever been played for someone his age, not to mention his Hornets are winning. But honestly, has he done anything this year that LeBron hasn't?

I mean, how much better can James get? He's at career-highs in FG%, steals, blocks, rebounds and assists - the last stat carrying additional weight considering he doesn't have a primary second scorer, meaning a primary assist source. Not to sound idiotic, but his passing is sometimes the most entertaining thing about him. He's not unlike Pete Maravich in that regard. You could be obsessed with Pistol's scoring numbers but there was a real joy about watching him distributing the ball. I see that in James. You could make the case that, based on who is viewed as the MVP favorites as of today (KG, Kobe, Paul) that LBJ's season may have been slightly – and I emphasize "slightly" – underrated. Yes, a guy putting up 30/8/7 may be overlooked. How? Because his team was slow out of the gate and it's another ho-hum wild-stat-year from James.

And so the second half becomes interesting. Can he possibly elevate his game – and Cleveland's – even higher? I tell you, 50 wins should get him more consideration, and increases (as slight as they may be) in his per-game averages help his cause as well. Look, in the grand scheme of things, the season is still getting underway (we're not even at the ASG yet), but with all things considered, James has been the best player so far this year. Hands down. It's just that not everyone sees it yet. And whether or not it equates into his first MVP remains to be seen.

He's at least got one very early vote.

You can read Todd Spehr's NBA column every Wednesday at 411mania.com. For more NBA talk, check out his blog