Being MVP Ain't Easy

by Jeff Clark on Mar 3, 2008 5:16 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

I was all set to write an article about how KG has slipped in the MVP race and how hard it is for players to actually win the MVP award with all that can happen in a season. But it looks like Peter May beat me to the punch. Some out-takes:

We've been hearing it now for a while. Somehow, Kevin Garnett no longer is a consensus choice for Most Valuable Player because he (a) had the temerity to suffer a serious injury for the first time in his career and (b) his team had the temerity to win seven of the nine games he missed.
If you want to give the MVP to the guy with the best numbers on a pretty good team, then Garnett is not your guy. If you want to give it to the best player on the best team, to an individual who has transformed a franchise and brought the word "defense" into the daily discourse without the need for a laugh track, then he still has to warrant serious consideration.

I suppose all that matters is who hoists the Finals trophy at the end of the year (right Dirk?), but it would be nice if KG won back the support of the voters by showing just how "valuable" he is to this team by leading them down the stretch. Then again, KG already has one MVP trophy. I'm sure his eyes are on the trophy he doesn't have yet.

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As much as I love KG, he shouldn’t be considered for the MVP. He sacrificed his game for this team, and what that means is that he sacrifices his chances to win MVP… he’s not putting up the numbers, and shouldn’t be rewarded the MVP for it. That’s what a sacrifice is; the reward should be winning the championship.

by BudweiserCeltic on Mar 3, 2008 6:55 AM EST reply actions

Do the Celtics have a first round pick this year?

by richardlight86 on Mar 3, 2008 8:08 AM EST reply actions

yes, they do, but it is going to be one of the last ones in the first round

by Jeff Clark on Mar 3, 2008 8:13 AM EST reply actions

I don’t think KG cares about winning the MVP award this season. I think his focus this season and the next couple of seasons is to win a chip. So if KG doesn’t care about why should we?

by CT34 on Mar 3, 2008 8:48 AM EST reply actions

P.S. I much rather have KG win NBA Finals MPV.

by CT34 on Mar 3, 2008 8:50 AM EST reply actions

I think Sam Cassell should win it….he is friends with KG after all

by Master Po on Mar 3, 2008 9:24 AM EST reply actions

Thank you Jeff I have trying to get an answer to that. So they have an opportunity to add pieces to this team over the course of the next few years, correct?

by richardlight86 on Mar 3, 2008 9:29 AM EST reply actions

Right now there are two viable MVP candidates: KG and Kobe. That could change between now and the end of the season, but I doubt it.

by Brickowski on Mar 3, 2008 10:11 AM EST reply actions

no mvp for kg – lebron or kobe it is and let them duke it out. we have serious business to attend to, ie getting ready for the playoffs, keeping fit, and incorporating 2 new guys. enough.

by nazzbo on Mar 3, 2008 10:18 AM EST reply actions

LeBron has a strong case too – and Chris Paul will get some attention but not enough to win it

by Jeff Clark on Mar 3, 2008 10:19 AM EST reply actions

Even I have to say he’s just not the MVP right now. I can say this, because being true to myself, it it was KG putting up ungodly numbers on a decent team, while LeBron/Kobe were putting up very good numbers on a very good team, I’d be saying “they don’t have the stats to win.”

However, if not for the injury I think he’d still be the big favorite. I saw only about 5 highlights from last night, but it was enough for KG to display several of his “one of’s”…

One of the best outlet passers I’ve ever seen.
One of the best interior passing big men I’ve ever seen.
One of the best defenders I’ve ever seen.
One of the best inside or outside offense skill sets I’ve ever seen.
And…. one of the best air drummers I’ve ever seen… ;D

by Big Ticket on Mar 3, 2008 12:27 PM EST reply actions

Lebron deserves serious consideration.

The problem I have with the MVP award is that every year, I feel there is not a single player who definitely deserves it over others. Sure, there are the consensus top choices. But if you are SERIOUSLY talking about the most valuable player (something that can’t be quantified empirically), you would have to make an argument for a lot of players around the league.

Let’s face it. A lot of teams would be nowhere without their respective superstars.

Where would Cleveland be without Lebron?
Phoenix without Nash?
New Orleans without Paul?
Orlando without Howard?

We could reasonably argue that ALL of these teams would be severely struggling without these players. But can we argue that Kobe is more valuable to his team than, let’s say, KG? Or Lebron? Or Chris Paul? Or even Chauncey Billups or Tim Duncan?

The fact is that NONE of these teams have a serious chance to win in a championship series without their superstar. So in a sense, it’s just too difficult to judge which player is more “valuable” than the other. They are all indispensable to their teams.

by green tea on Mar 3, 2008 1:19 PM EST reply actions

winning a championship and winning an MVP are not mutually exclusive.

kobe, and lebron, are getting all the headlines now because of their new teammates and improved overall play. that’s how the NBA works, it’s a what have u gone for me lately league. kobe is just the MVP-candidate du jour.

the last 1/4 of the season will determine who wins it. and, i think it’s realistic to expaect KG play at a level that could win him BOTH awards.

by icandunk on Mar 3, 2008 1:20 PM EST reply actions