On The Sidelines 4.15.08: Kobe, Paul and the MVP, Melo arrested, Award Predictions, and more
Posted by Porfirio Diaz on 04.15.2008
This week marks the final week of the NBA regular season. There are still many questions that need to be answered. Should Kobe win the MVP award over Chris Paul? Carmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with DUI. Is he really ready to lead his team into the playoffs? E-mails exchanged between Sonics owners while David Stern smiles politely. Plus my award predictions, all on the second installment of On The Sidelines.
Welcome to the second installment of On The Sidelines. Just celebrated my 25th birthday on Saturday and usually like to compare my age with athletics jersey numbers. So I go from such greats that wear number 24 (Kobe Bryant, Tony Perez, Willie Mays, Manny Ramirez, Grady Sizemore, and Jeff Gordon in car form) to those who wear number 25 (Barry Bonds, Mark McGwire, Jason Giambi, Reggie Bush, Jim Thome, Andruw Jones, and Derrek Lee). So great, I leave such a great collection of athletics to a group that contains the three major faces of the steroid era. No offense to the rest of the group (especially to Jim Thome), but Bonds, McGwire, and Giambi just stick out like a sore, steroid infested thumb here. If there was a steroids version of Mount Rushmore, those three would be up there with Roger Clemens, although with Bonds, they would probably need to save two head spaces for him. I guess that officially puts me into the Age of Steroids. Yip-yee. Yes, I know I'm probably the only one that cares, but still.
Anyway, we are now into the last week of the NBA season and there are still things that need to be settled.
Inside The Lines
Does Kobe really deserve the MVP award over Chris Paul?
Kobe Bryant and the Lakers came out as the best team after the weekend, with victories over both fellow MVP candidate Chris Paul and the Hornets on Friday, and Tim Duncan and the defending championship Spurs on Sunday. The victories guided the Lakers to not only the Pacific Division title and the best chance to win the number 1 seed for the first time since 2000, but also guided Kobe on top of many voters list of MVP nominations lists. Kobe had 29 points, 10 rebounds and eight assists on Friday and 20 points, five rebounds and five assists on Sunday.
Most people believed that Kobe was favored to win the MVP award when he was victorious over Chris Paul on Friday. The victory on Sunday against the Spurs was considered the clincher. With the Lakers now sitting on top of the West, it seems most than likely Kobe will win the award. But first off, the game versus the Hornets was too close to call for Kobe to be automatically awarded the MVP, though he did win. Second, who's to say that one of the criterias to win MVP was to also win the #1 seed? Should being in a particular conference makes one lose votes? Does the award go to the best player in the NBA or to the player that's most valuable to their team? How much of the player's stats are counted for? Are personal bias and politics among voters involved?
All of these questions have been implanted into people's mind for a long time now, with no clear cut answer, despite the fact that these questions are asked every year around this time. So let me present to you with something. Here is a list of the previous MVPs from the last 10 years, along with the runner ups and their respective statistics. Let's us compare those stats with Kobe's and Paul's stats for this season.
Here are a couple of observations according to the list:
- No MVP winner had a team that finished below 2nd in playoff standings.
- With the exception of Steve Nash, all MVPs scored over 20 points per game. Out of all the MVP winners, Steve Nash is the only one who averaged over 10 assists a game.
- 8 of the previous 10 MVPs won the award while playing in the Western Conference.
- Out of the 10 years, arguably 4 of them consist of the runner up having a better statistical season over the winner (Nash-James, Nash-Shaq, Duncan-Garnett, Jordan-Malone)
- LeBron James has the highest scoring average out of all the MVP winners with 31.4 points per game, yet did not win the award.
- 3 out of the 10 runner ups had a higher playoff seeding (in both West and East) than the winners. (2005-2006, 2001-2002, 1998-1999)
- The 2005-2006 season is the only season where a #1 playoff seeded team did not have a player that came in first or second of the MVP ballet.
Keep in mind that there are also things that cannot be listed on any list: leadership, toughness, how good or bad their teammates are, coming through in the clutch, and so on. Stats only account to half of a vote, while the stuff above counts for the other half.
So what does all this mean? That sometimes, the criteria for winning the MVP award changes every year. Kobe could win the award based on his team record and position in the standings, but it's no guaranteed that he will win. It's just too close to call.
There is no definite solution; just whoever the voters think deserves the award the most for the year, but sometimes that's not the case. I know people get upset when the person who rightfully deserves the award doesn't win it. Remember when Duncan won it over Jason Kidd, when Kidd led the bottom feeders known as the Nets to the best record in their NBA history (52-30)? Or the next year with Duncan won it over Kevin Garnett? Or when Nash won it, period? Sometimes the best player wins it, and sometimes the most deserving player wins it. However, this is no right or wrong answer. It's all subjective, obviously.
Also, one of the factors that will favor Kobe is that he hasn't won a MVP award yet in his nine year career, while Chris Paul has many more years to win the MVP. Voters will be influenced by that kind of argument, with the fact that Kobe should have won it last year or the year before that and we owe it to him by giving him the award this year. I hate that argument. It should just go to the most deserving, most valuable player of that particular season. No factoring in history, no factoring in the future, just the present. Paul took a team that many though would barely make the playoffs, and made the players around him be that much better. Compare Paul this season and either of Nash's two MVP seasons. Paul beats Nash outright in both those years, and yet he isn't going to win the award because Kobe hasn't gotten one yet? He made David West into an All-Star for goodness sakes. When was the last time Kobe made someone else into an All-Star? He also didn't complain to management or throw his teammates under the bus. I say Paul should get the MVP award.
But then, that's just my own personal bias. *wink*
Melo arrested and charged on suspicion of driving under the influence
Denver Nuggets star Carmelo Anthony was arrested and charged with driving under the influence early Monday. Police said that Anthony was pulled over for weaving and not dimming his lights. After failing a series of sobriety tests, Anthony was arrested and charged with DUI. This came hours after Anthony had the worst game of the season, which he was held to 11 points on 3 -14 shooting against the Houston Rockets.
Good thing that the Suns eliminated the Warriors from postseason contention on Monday. I would have been on another long winded rant, this time about how Melo is poisoning the team's position to make the playoffs. Either way, there is no excuse for Melo to be in a position where he could have not only hurt himself, but also hurt his team. I'm not going to tell him how he can live his life, but the decisions that athletics make are sometimes baffling. I don't see why Melo couldn't have gotten a friend to drive for him. He's a big star with lots of cash, and couldn't get anyone to drive him home? Maybe Melo should have gotten the friend that left marijuana in his backpack and told Melo to hold it. You know, to return the favor.
I know that Anthony had a bad game against the Rockets. Doesn't mean you can get hammered and drive on the road drunk. How this will affect himself, the team, and their playoff position is still left to be seen. If I was George Karl, I would probably fine and suspense him for the final game of the season. But should I suspense my best player when there is still a chance that my team can get the 7th seed? Tough choice. After all, it matters who the Nuggets want to get beaten by, the Lakers or the Hornets. Gamblers need their playoff gambling fixing. In all serious, this happened before the team clinched a playoff spot, so it shows how mature Anthony really is. You don't see Chris Paul, the most valuable player this season I might add (I hope), doing this. He's supposed to be leading his team into the postseason, he's suppose to be improving his defense. But I guess that's just asking too much of the guy.
I know I'm being hard on him and I don't have a problem with him, but sometimes guys like Melo just don't get it. Also I think I lied when I said I wasn't going to on a rant, but I did. Oh well. Plus, just look at that mugshot!
Despite e-mails, Stern backs up Bennett
Despite the release of e-mails between SuperSonics owner Clay Bennett and ownership partners Aubrey McClendon and Tom Ward about moving the team to Oklahoma City, NBA commissioner David Stern was still convinced of Bennett's good effort to keep the team in Seattle. "I haven't studied them but my sense of it was that Clay, as the managing partner and the driving force of the group, was operating in good faith under the agreement that had been made with [previous owner] Howard Schultz," Stern said on a conference call Monday (source: Associated Press). The e-mails were exchanged in April 2007 in which the owners discussed whether the Sonics could be relocated before finishing the Sonics' lease to KeyArena in 2010. A June trail is scheduled concerning the matter to enforce the lease through its current deal.
Way to defend that Seattle situation Stern. True leadership there. I wonder if Bennett has anything on Stern that Stern doesn't want getting public.
Actually, it's pretty simple really. It's all business. All long as Bennett legally bought the team from Starbucks chairman and CEO Howard Schultz, Stern is going to be fine with it. Never mind the fact that the Sonics have a rich history there and is a very profitable market. Meanwhile, Sonicsfan is helpless to do anything about it as they watch the team that they supported for over 42 years just leave and maybe sooner rather than later. I also agree to what Sports Guy, Bill Simmons, said in his MVP breakdown article. He said that losing a potential superstar like Durant hurts as much as losing their team. The fans tried not to care about the team for that didn't want to get too attached once the Sonics leave, but Durant's personality and connectivity with the city made it too hard.
Pretty much everyone is at fault here. If Schultz wasn't such a gullible owner, the team probably would have stayed. I mean, when you sell a franchise to someone that's from Oklahoma City and that everything in his life is in that city, could it be that just maybe he plans to move the team as well? Bennett is at fault for promising to do everything in his power to keep the team in Seattle when he had no intentions of doing so. David Stern is at fault for allowing all this to happen and not even fighting for a city that has benefited him over the years.
Keep in mind that my team, Sacramento Kings, is also in a situation where they may also be relocated, either to Anaheim or Las Vegas. So it's a good chance Sonicsfan and Kingsfan may get together for an angst party in a few years. But there is good news. Schultz is planning on fighting the current owners and their e-mail affairs in court for a breach in contract and demanding to get the Sonics back. He said the current owners broke the condition to make a good effort to keep the Sonics in Seattle, which he might have a case for. But really, I feel that it's a little too late. Things are too far into development that David Stern, mighty leader that he is, isn't going allow this to happen. As Bill Simmons said, "Keep your head up, Seattle. Life ain't fair."
Award Predictions
MVP:
Who will win: Kobe Bryant
My pick: Chris Paul
I already expressed my feelings on this, yet even after that, I don't have a problem with Kobe winning MVP. He's having the best year of his career, and is fighting a finger injury so he can lead his team to a title. For all of his faults, Kobe is still the best player right now. I still would vote for Paul though.
Coach of the Year:
Who will win: Byron Scott
My pick: Byron Scott
Once an assistant coach for the Kings, Scott has led the Nets to the Finals, and now has an opportunity to do it with the Hornets. This is his best coaching year ever and should get the award. It came down to two coaches really, Scott and Rick Adelman. Adelman coached a team that had a 22 game winning streak, a couple without their best player Yao Ming. But in the end, I'm going to give it to Scott.
Rookie of the Year:
Who will win: Kevin Durant
My pick: Al Horford
Like the MVP pick, no problem here on who wins it but I think that Horford had the better year, is a double double player and has his team into the playoffs. Durant is a good player and might evolve into a great player, but he just shot the ball poorly. However, he has to take a lot of shots since he is the focus on a bad team. Still, my pick is Horford, with Luis Scola as my sleeper pick.
Defensive Player of the Year:
Who will win: Kevin Garnett
My pick: Dwight Howard
Garnett is a good defender, but is he is really a better defender than Dwight Howard this season? It might be because the Celtics are the number 1 defensive team in the league, but for an individual award, it should go to Howard.
Sixth Man of the Year:
Who will win: Manu Ginobili
My pick: Manu Ginobili
I love Ginobili, but I feel that he's misleading as a sixth man. He comes off the bench but gets starter minutes, as well as Jose Calderon, my other possible pick. It's nothing new though, so I won't complain too much about it. Ginobili will probably get it, and I think that's the right choice.
Most Improved Player:
Who will win: Hedo Turkoglu
My pick: Rudy Gay
So does this award go to a good player turn great player? A good bench player turn good starter? I think it's pretty much a noticeable improvement over previous seasons. In that case, should Rudy Gay get the award then? Hedo had an awesome, borderline All-Star season, but he's previous year isn't much noticeable as Gay's year was.
Out of Bounds
- Brett Favre. Ric Flair. Now add another one to the retirement list for this year. Don Geronimo, legendary radio DJ, officially retired last Friday on the very last Don and Mike Show. I listened to their radio show for 8 years and it is was consistently funny every time. However, Don's former wife, Frida, tragic passing kept eating him up inside and decided to step down for a while until he can get his life back together. Here's a link that contains podcasts of the show's greatest moments, which also includes the very last show. Sure, Don can be a total jerk and whatnot, but that's just part of his attraction. At least his former partner, Mike O'Meara, can continue on with the funny on his new show, the cleverly named Mike O'Meara Show. Two shows in and so far, not bad, though it takes some getting used to. Anyway, good luck to Don. It's been a great run.
- Beasley enters the NBA draft. Color me shocked. Is it just me or is Beasley no longer the surefire #1 pick ever since Derrick Rose exploded during the tournament?
- Even though the Giants might be the worst team in baseball, at least that don't have the worst record in baseball…yet. But that's something.
- How about that story where a construction worker buried a David Ortiz Red Sox jersey underneath the new Yankee Stadium? Hilarious. Not to the baseball gods apparently, for they are putting Ortiz in a bit of a slump. 3-for-43 for the season so far as of Sunday.
Final Seconds
New Orleans @ Dallas (Wed 7:00ET/4:00PT) – ESPN
This might be a potential first round matchup and what an exciting one at that. Jason Kidd couldn't contain Chris Paul in Kidd's first game as a Maverick. Has he figured it out this time? Both Dallas and New Orleans has been in a slump for the past couple of days, so both teams will be at full strength. Plus, this game will not only decide who will go into the playoffs on a high note, but might also decide the final playoff matchups. It doesn't get much bigger than that.
Well, Kobe's going to win the MVP. Even many of the Paul supporters that I've seen have been making the argument that "whoever has the best record in the West should win the MVP" because it looked like the Hornets would have the best record for awhile. It kind of reminds me of Obama's "Whoever has the most pledged delegates should get the nomination" argument. I'm not saying that's a bad argument for a close race, but the Lakers and Hornet just played a game that basically had the top seed in the West on the line. And not only did the Lakers win, but Kobe had a near triple double with a 28-10-8. Paulhad a good game with a 15-6-17, but Kobe was better, and his team won and got the top seed. And his team has had much more health problems than the Hornets did.
Anyway, the argument Diaz made that Paul's performance this year is better than either of Nash's years is just a dumb argument. You can't do MVP criteria like that. You just have to look at the candidates THIS year (and admittedly, Kobe is benefiting from the fact that he's never won an MVP). Sure, Paul has been better this year than Nash was in either of his two MVP years. You know who else was better? Shaq and LeBron in the years that Nash won. Nash is the worst MVP in the history of the NBA, and without question, he's the worst multiple MVP in the history of the league. It's a pretty low bar for Paul to clear. Nash didn't deserve either of those MVPs, so I'm failing to see how being better than Nash is a compelling case for Paul to win over Kobe.
Let's be honest. If these two teams meet in the playoffs, who would you rather have shooting a potential game-winning shot? Which team would be more likely to win? Paul's been great, and the Hornets are really good, but give me Kobe and the Lakers.
Kobe's going to win the MVP, and he should.
Posted By: John (Guest) on April 16, 2008 at 03:48 AM
I like how Diaz says that history has nothing to do with this award and hates that argument that Kobe will get it because he earned it in the past. Yet, he compares Paul to Nash's past stats and also states that the 4 runner ups from the past 10 years had better stats than the winner. If you are a point guard, your job is to make your teammates better. Understand the game before you write about it.
Posted By: Youareming (Guest) on April 16, 2008 at 04:01 AM
Schultz just wants to get out of being a villian in Seattle along with Stern and Bennett.
Posted By: nick (Guest) on April 16, 2008 at 09:15 AM
Since when is the MVP a lifetime achievement award? Chris Paul is wrapping up the best all around season by a point guard in... well... forever. The award should be his.
Posted By: Joel (Guest) on April 16, 2008 at 10:47 AM
so......
the lakers would still be the number one seed without kobe? i think ...your an idiot
Posted By: Guest#2994 (Guest) on April 16, 2008 at 03:42 PM
Hey Youareming, you are a stupidazz. Chris Paul is a point guard and he did made the Hornets better, who would thought they are # 2 seed. Thanks to Pau for making the Lakers #1 seed.
Posted By: lilobastard (Guest) on April 16, 2008 at 03:48 PM
