http://www.outquib.com/debates/view/nba-mvp Who's your pick for this year's MVP thus far? There are a lot of contenders from Kobe to Chris Paul, even Dwight Howard! Wide-Open this year. en-us Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:16:02 GMT http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.outquib.com/debates/posts/view/667
So if it's a toss-up, does the vote swing in favor of the guy who has utterly blown our minds for the past couple of seasons, or the feel-good story of the blossoming young superstar? Both lures. I wouldn't be able to choose easily. Usually, people debate over how MVPs should be chosen. Best player on one of the best teams? Flat-out greatest single-season performance? But usually, it ends up a mix of both. A helluva great season helping along a great team. I think that's fair. And in this case, both do what they do.

But Kobe is just too darn good in literally every single way. Best defender in the NBA? Probably. Best offensive explosion in the NBA? Yes. Smartest player in the NBA? Yes. And some say these absolutes should not necessarily be factors. They are secondary to their single-season performance. But when the call is this close, these things have to come into the picture. Kobe is simply a stunner in every way, and that element has to count for something. He's just too unbelievable. Right now, since New Orleans is outperforming LAL, I throw it up in the air. But I see them becoming even, and the Hornets possibly even falling a bit below LA. So by the end of the season, Kobe.

The thing is, the MVP Award isn't generally given out to players on teams below the 5th or 6th seed in a conference. But this year, if this keeps going, is it really that egregious to give Kobe or Paul the award if their team ends up fifth? No, especially since the gap between fifth and first is hovering around 3 games. I'd even consider eighth place. And considering the Lakers squeaked into the playoffs at borderline .500 last year and Kobe was still in MVP murmurs, I say Paul and Kobe have legitimate shots if their teams make the playoffs and the West dogfight stays this nasty and thrilling...no matter where they end up on the list of 8. I just think the make-or-break will be that one team ends up a few seeds higher than the other. I think the Lakers are that higher-ranked team.

And since I'm a Rockets fan and we're closing in fast on the heart of the West, I'll say this.
We're the 10th seed in the West, but...
6 games out of the first seed.
5.5 away from being first in a division that is led by the Hornets and also includes Dallas and San Antonio.
4 games out of the 4th seed.
3 games behind the Spurs.

That's when you know things are weird. I'm not saying we'll necessarily catch the first seed or anything. I'm just pointing out that first place and tenth place in the west are separated by 6 games. That says something about the west. By the way we're clicking, I see us landing a sixth seed ahead of Denver and Portland.

Anyways, my point was...I'll throw in the big fella Yao Ming into the talks to get about one vote. :)

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Reply to post ]]> Tue, 29 Jan 2008 10:35:02 GMT http://www.outquib.com/debates/posts/view/631 http://www.outquib.com/debates/posts/view/626
Who would have thought that the New Orleans Hornets have a 32-12 record (as of 29 Jan).

It's pretty much him, David West, and Tyson Chandler out there, but there's no doubt he makes his team better. To go into San Antonio and dominate that team in their home stadium is something even our Phoenix Suns have trouble with. Hornets have Defense and a solid Offensive game.

Byron Scott is a great coach, and I'm still wondering why he was fired from New Jersey.

CP3 for MVP no doubt.

Reply to post ]]> Tue, 29 Jan 2008 01:23:02 GMT http://www.outquib.com/debates/posts/view/626