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CAMPUS NEWS:
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SENIOR:
     SILVERMAN

SPORTS:
     MVP'S
     PLAYOFFS

PROFS:
      ALLEN

A&E:
      REEL BIG FISH
     BSA

BLOGS:
     SCOTT
    


PAST ISSUES

Dwyane Wade (Miami Heat)

Pros: One of the top young phenoms of the league and scores around 27.4 ppg, and when active, is a force to be reckoned with.

Cons: He has only played 51-52 games this season and the Heat surprisingly played decently and were in the top 4 in the Eastern Conference while he was injured.

Analysis: Dwayne Wade is an astounding player, and when he's healthy, he can be the most unstoppable player out there on the court. But a dislocated shoulder and other injuries hit Wade and he missed over 25% of the season. While he would be a good pick because he is valuable to his team, the amount of games he's played in will keep him away from the trophy.

Josh Howard (Dallas Mavericks)

Pros: The 2nd best player on the Mavericks is the second leading scorer (18.9 ppg) and has some solid underrated defense at his disposal.

Cons: He is overshadowed by some of the league's top players and lacks the identity of a superstar even though he plays like one.

Analysis: I only heard about how talented Josh Howard was by his play last year, especially in the playoffs that led the Mavs to the finals. This season he's gotten better with his scoring and is an impressive player to coach. But there are most fans out there (other than in Dallas) who have yet to really know his name. And besides, his teammate Dirk is the superstar of the team. Howard fits into the classic role of second banana. A solid player for years to come, but will fall short because of the lack of identity. But respect J. Howard because he's an MVP candidate (no, not the J. Howard who plays for the Houston Rockets, though there is an interesting candidate for that
team. . .)!

Gilbert Arenas (Washington Wizards)

Pros: The top player on the Wizards who is the 3rd leading scorer in the league (28.4 ppg) and is a profound leader for a team that has potential for the future.

Cons: The team he plays for is only a little above average and he missed the last several games due to a knee tear (ouch!).

Analysis: By far the emotional MVP pick. No one has had to go through as much "under-appreciation" than Gilbert Arenas(which I can relate to). With Washington, he has had so many excellent games and has come alive with his scoring and become a leader. He would most certainly be in the top 5, perhaps even the top 3 if he hadn't had missed the last several games this year. And he does have a little extra help with teammates like Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler.

Chris Bosh (Toronto Raptors)

Pros: What an excellent all-around player that is a leader for the Raptors and finally getting them back into the playoffs for the first time since VC was around.

Cons: As good as he plays, his stats do not compare to other NBA superstars who are in the running for this award.

Analysis: I like how this guy plays! He IS pretty much the team right there (not to hold anything against T.J. Ford and the young Raptors) and has the staying power to help the Raptors become an excellent team in the future. He does average a doubl- double (22.6 ppg and 10.8 rpg) every game and is leading the Raptors to the postseason, but his stats are what will hold him back from touching the MVP trophy. If it were not for that, then things might be different.

Tim Duncan (San Antonio Spurs)

Pros: Always a solid player who has averaged a a double-double throughout his whole career and is consistent.

Cons: His stats have not been the same as in past years.

Analysis: The two-time MVP award winner has had some great moments in his career and in my opinion is a face of the NBA (even though he does not say much at all). He has some decent stats this year (20.0 ppg and 11.9 rpg), but this is a Tim Duncan who is slightly past his prime. If the Spurs were in the elite of the NBA's best and Duncan had 5 more points added to his average, then he could be a serious contender. But Duncan is showing signs of his age and is on the way downtown. A player that you have to respect no matter what, but he's not a front runner.

Tracy McGrady (Houston Rockets)

Pros: He's healthy for the most part! McGrady is the virtual leader of the Houston Rockets this year and is hoping to win his first playoff series.

Cons: As good as he makes the Rockets, there are a few other candidates ahead of him. And, there is still the chance of injury.

Analysis: Tracy McGrady has always been an unusual player in my eyes. There are times when the guy can be run down on hard luck and then there are times that he dazzles us with amazing statistics. He is essentially the ultimate mixed bag player. And that's why I like him! Enough to win the MVP award? Probably not. The Rockets have a great record because of him, but in the end, there are a few players in the league that are ahead of him with superstar talent and he does have to worry about that back setting in. If the few other candidates were out of the race, then McGrady would be a shoe-in.

LeBron James (Cleveland Cavaliers)

Pros: One of the best scorers in the league and has turned around the Cavs and made them one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference.

Cons: I still think he's slightly overrated and he has some proving to do.

Analysis: King James is a superstar pure and simple. With the Cavaliers, he helps lead this team to greatness by being able to score a lot and even put up the occasional triple-double. But in the end, I still think he's not quite there as an MVP candidate and still thinks of himself as the "Next One", which I'm sure a lot of you know. He gets a little too cocky sometimes, and although he is starting to get an identity for himself, it will be at least a couple of years before he has a really good shot at the MVP award.

Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers)

Pros: The best scorer in the league whose hands are on fire when it comes to dropping baskets and has enough 50 point games to boot.

Cons: He really is the only electrifying player on a fair team. . . and then there's his attitude.

Analysis: The best scorer in the NBA right now. He can down more points per game (31.5) than Shaq has played minutes per game this season (28.4. Sorry Shaq, I still respect you more than Kobe and you still have a better career than he does). But despite how I feel about Kobe, I cannot deny that this guy is an excellent scorer who lights up the scoreboard. He would be a front runner if he were a nicer guy and he had more help from teammates (you can do better than Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown). Kobe can play and embody an MVP, but he's NOT the MVP.

Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks)

Pros: Is an impressive player who is the leader of the Mavericks and is one of the best players in the league. Solid no matter what.

Cons: Has the stats and potential for MVP, but. . .

Analysis: Dirk is one of the best players in the league right now. He has the ability to shoot any kind of shot (24.6 ppg) and be devastating no matter how he is. He is also an unselfish player who believes in the Mavericks and has some heart to his playing. Although I am not the biggest fan of the Mavericks, Nowitzki is a player that I like to watch. He also puts some confidence in players on his team like Josh Howard, Jason Terry and has transformed Jerry Stackhouse (surprisingly!). He should win the MVP this year. . .

HOWEVER. . .

     Although Dirk and the rest of the Mavericks will be celebrating an NBA championship this year. . . I do not believe that he is the one who should win the MVP. The MVP award goes to. . .

Steve Nash (Phoenix Suns)

Pros: One of the best, most well-rounded players out there on the court. Enough said.

Cons: If he doesn't play, his team struggles.

Analysis: Steve Nash is one of the best players playing in the league right now. It was tough to choose between Nash and Nowitzki because both are deserving of the MVP award (can we have a tie?). But Nash means more to his team than Nowitzki does (by just a tad). Without Nowitzki, the Mavs would struggle but they would finish with a decent record. Without Nash, the Suns would probably be a mediocre team. That says a lot right there. I'm picking Nash as the MVP not because he's won the award twice in a row already and has the chance to win it three times in a row (the last time we saw that was from a "legend"), but because he makes everyone around him better. He makes Shawn Marion, Amare Stoudamire, Leandro Barbosa and Raja Bell better. He averages 18.6 ppg, but the biggest stat that shows why he deserves the award are the 11.6 assists he dishes out per game. That I believe is a better statistic than the number of points or rebounds. He's an unselfish player who makes sure that no one is left out. And that is what makes an MVP.