Race to my MVP list

1) Statistics
2) Team’s winning percentages
3) Players ability to improve teammates
4) Lack of teammate support (this means points will be taken away from those “superstars” who are loaded with teammates. Those players have others that may possibly be the best players on the team themselves. I will subtract those points from their win percentages).


The league and the so-called “experts” have completely forgotten the importance of having a great supporting cast to WIN GAMEs. Look at the last 3 MVPs that were handed out. For example, Steve Nash has a rotation of 2 to 8 that would have started and starred in any other team. Dirk Nowitzki has the likes of Josh Howard, Devin Harris, Jerry Stackhouse, and Jason Terry. Why Dirk and Nash the MOST VALUABLE AWARD, when for Many games, they aren’t even the most valuable player to their teams? The league might as well hand over the MVP award to the GMs for assembling a great team. Why penalize the MVP-caliber players for their GM's inability to assemble a great team? "Experts" should only penalize these superstars only when they have great supporting casts but still can't get the wins.

With these 4 categories in mind. Here is my top 10 list, in order, for MVP. I will do one every month.

1) LeBron James (He has single-handedly won 6 of his team's 6 wins thus far. Can we say the same for any other player in the league. Look at his statistics and his improved all-defensive team level defense. He also has the most sorry supporting casts.)

2) Dwight Howard (This guy is dominating any PF and Center that is thrown at him this season, I can't imagine his team playing well without his monstrous presence. He is offially the most dominant big man downlow. Sorry, Yao)

3) Kevin Garnett (His team only lost once this year, but we cannot take credit away from Ray Allen and Paul Pierce for carrying the load too.)

4) Kobe Bryant (He hasn't played particulary well this season, but his above average statistics and defense keeps him up here.)

5) Carlos Boozer (This guy is also chewing up opposing PFs)

6) Yao Ming (Yao Ming has an unstoppable outside shot and is the second most dangerous center. Tracy McGrady is taking too many shots and taking away some of the MVP shinetime)

7) Steve Nash (this guy can close his eyes, spin in circles, and can randomly throw the ball anywhere and there will be someone in Phoenix who can make the shot or three pointer. We are talking about a team with Barbosa as the 6th man, who was able to drop 38 something points in the world games. I want to see where this team ends up when Marion is no longer with the team.

8) Allen Iverson (Yes, Iverson has been the best player in Denver. Not Carmelo. In any case, he is lucky to be on this list because he is playing with the defensive player of the year, Marcus Camby, and the beast, Kenyon Martin. That J.R. smith guy is not a bad bench player to throw the ball too either)

9) Tracy McGrady (Tmac would have been higher if he didn't get injured. His team plays very well when he is playing well)

10) Chris Paul (he's getting guys open shots everywhere. His team is starting to show wear and tear. Having David West, Peja, and Chandler to finish off your passes helps too)

Almost on the list. Dirk Nowitzki, Carmelo Anthony, Josh Howard, Emeka Okafor, Manu Ginobili, Tony Parker, Tim Duncan (third best player on his team this year), Michael Redd, Jason Kidd, Shawn Marion, Deron Williams, Paul Pierce, and Rashard Lewis.

LeBron, a Defensive Beast?

I have never doubted LeBron James as being the toughest player to guard in the NBA. Not even for a second. This is why!

29.2 points per game, 7.8 rebounds, & 8.0 assists - The man doesn't need to take 30 shots a game to tear apart your defense. He is geting 8 assists per game with teamates that can barely catch without getting hit in the chest. Additionally, he is shooting almost .38% from behind the arc (an improvement carried over since his dominating summer play). The guy leads the league in scoring while manages to grab 8 boards and spit out 8 dimes on a nightly basis. Sickening isn't it?

Utah's coach, Jerry Sloan said: "That man is the toughest to guard, he does whatever it is he wants and we always have to throw 3 to 4 guys at him."

However, it isn't even his offensive game that drives me nuts. He is also averaging 1.8 steals and 1.7 blocks. Not only that, it appears nearly impossible to take him on in a one on one unless you are Carmelo Anthony or Kobe Bryant (but he can easily do the same to them, if not worse). In his first two seasons, you could easily see defenders taking it to LeBron. Last season, he showed us that he took a long stride with his lateral movement and rarely did he let people take it to him. This season however, he is playing some amazing help defense, blocking shots from behind in EVERY game in addition to his impeccable ability to steal the ball.

According to the Cleveland Plain Dealer, LeBron James made it a personal goal to be on the All-NBA Defensive First Team. How does he find the time for this???

Cavaliers' coach, Mike Brown said: "LeBron wants to make a name for himself on that end of the floor because he knows defense wins championships. He leads by example and that can become contagious. LeBron's trying to definitely step up and get it done for us on defense."

One example was when he made a clutch defensive play (half block half steal) against the dominating former Cavaliers, Carlos Boozer, with 12 seconds left to seal the win. Watch video.

"I call those winning plays," said Brown, about James' blocked shots during fast breaks. "More importantly, he's busting his butt to catch people from behind to block those shots. Running people down on fast breaks, catching up and blocking their shot is a momentum changer. It's a winning play at a crucial time."

"Hopefully, we'll start to recognize he's a pretty good defender," Brown said. "As far as making the All- Defensive Team, he's not that far but my opinion doesn't count."

Watch videos of his block party against the Warriors!

Going at this rate, not only will he make the All-Defensive Team, he might even win the defensive player of the year award. And with that on his resume, the LeBron haters can finally stop giving themselves excuses for not recognizing him as the best player in the game today.