Comments on: NBA MVP: LeBron being denied unanimous win means it's time for a change

By: Kareem

Kareem — Wed, 12 May 2010 14:13:02 +0000

I hope Cavs doesn’t make it to the final this year to prove the point. He’s not the best and he doesn’t really deserved MVP. I think Durant is way better (people keep forgetting that he’s just 21 years of age). People are blinded by media hype. He’s not the best. If you don’t believe me, watch the playoff. Boston going to win against them. But Lakers going to win it again. I guess Kobe still better than him and not many people want to acknowledge that (that’s why he only have one MVP title). Shame on those voters/judges.

By: danman

danman — Tue, 04 May 2010 12:12:44 +0000

This is a pretty ridiculous article. What would “change” to the voting procedure accomplish? Lebron won the vote 116-6. You don’t get a bigger trophy for winning unanimously.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Tue, 04 May 2010 10:29:04 +0000

Most Valuable Player has become the equivalent of “Best Offensive Player.” Which James certainly is.
But let’s not pretend for a second that your claim that the gap between James’ defense and Howard’s is closer than the gap between James’ offense and Howard’s.
Orlando is the best defensive team in the league, and the reason for that is squarely on Howard. People like to talk about Barnes and Pietrus, and Van Gundy’s defensive schemes (all of whom are factors), but those are all minor factors at best compared to Howard’s defense. One player literally takes a team from being mediocre at best defensively to the best defensive team in the league.
James, on the other hand, relies on picking off weak side blocks for his “defensive dominance.” Not that he isn’t defensively skilled, but Dwyane Wade does the exact same thing on a regular basis, as do a number of good shooting guards / small forwards.
The bottom line is that MVP is given to the best offensive player, not the best player over all. If it wasn’t, you might see more first place votes for the player who lead the league in blocks, rebounds, and field goal percentage over this season. Take a quick look at the list of players who have led the league blocks and rebounds twice – it is basically a who’s who of the best basketball players of all time.
Now consider the fact that Howard is the ONLY PLAYER TO EVER DO THAT IN TWO CONSECUTIVE SEASONS, and that he will likely be doing it for the rest of his career. Howard also led the league in field goal percentage this season. To put it quite bluntly, James is NOT one of the best defensive players of all time, and Howard is. Don’t try to pretend like James and Howard closer in defensive skill than in offensive skill, because Howard outclasses James on the defensive side of the ball AT LEAST as much as James outclasses Howard on offense. Trying to claim that James is in the same league defensively as Chamberlain, Russell, or Olajuwoan is ridiculous – but Howard most definitely is, and the only people who think otherwise are people who do not look at the statistics that clearly show that he is because “their eyes tell them who is the best.”
Look, James is incredible offensively, don’t get me wrong. But if we are going to just hand the MVP award to the best offensive player every year and assume Dwight Howard shouldn’t get it because “he deserves DPOY instead” then lets just acknowledge that the MVP award is not based on defensive skill. Perhaps we should change the name to “Offensive Player of the Year,” because that is what it really is.

By: CaptFamous

CaptFamous — Mon, 03 May 2010 17:37:05 +0000

DMAC – You list a bunch of players there: Which one would you vote for? Most voters likely had a list of reasonable candidates like that, and then they picked one. That is what the All-NBA team is for. There is only one MVP.

By: Jesse

Jesse — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:38:44 +0000

Yes, MVP voting needs some tweaking. Politicans’ voting records are public so they can be held accountable. Why shouldn’t someone who gave Stephen Jackson a vote have to explain himself?

By: hemlock09

hemlock09 — Mon, 03 May 2010 10:50:22 +0000

what solves all of this is accountability. i dont have a problem with someone voting for someone other than lbj, but they should have to state why publicly. id definitely take the responsibility of voting if it meant i had to defend my pick publicly. i think anybody not willing to do that shouldnt get a vote.
also, i think there should be a test. if you dont know what per or adj plus minus is, you shouldnt be allowed to vote. statistics have proven that what you view with the naked eye, especially when you mostly watch just one team, can be misleading. if you can’t back up nebulous, subjective claims with some kind of authority, you’re no longer part of the conversation. there’s too many experts now to assume just because someone’s a beat writer they’re good at evaluating basketball value. that’s been proven categorically false by all the bad player/gms who are horrible at talent evaluation.

By: Alex

Alex — Mon, 03 May 2010 08:37:08 +0000

The real issue is that some people voted LeBron third. If you honestly thought Durant or Howard or Kobe was a better MVP this season, ok – you’re wrong, but it’s possible to make an argument maybe. There is just no argument whatsoever that two players had better seasons than LeBron this year. None whatsoever. If Shaq didn’t win unanimously, then clearly LeBron won’t in an era with Howard/Durant/Kobe unless he averages a triple double or something.
But really, whoever voted two players ahead of LeBron needs to not have a vote. There’s no excuse for that.

By: JA

JA — Mon, 03 May 2010 08:14:23 +0000

There were a ton of great stories in the NBA this year, and a ton of great players. But unlike most years, the discussion for MVP started and stopped with LBJ. Howard, while good still isn’t great. He does not domminate a game like LBJ. Quite honestly, I don’t think he should have won Defensive player of the Year either. First off he plays center on a team that has only one rebounder, so of course he is going to get a ton of boards, the system he plays in is designed for that. Take him out of the line-up for a month and watch Gortat swallow 12 boards a game. That is how the system is designed in Orlando. How many great centers are there in the East? Shaq used to be…anyone else? So he hardly has to defend a person straight up night in and night out, and can roam the lane and alter shots and block them. To me that is simple. Switch Camby and Howard. I bet Camby has more blocks and more boards in that system then Howard does. DPOY should go to a wing play most years. Look at Pierce for instance…he has to try and stop james one night, Joe Johnson the next, then drop Kobe in his lap, vince carter in two nights…that is playing defense. Guys like Pierce, James, Kobe, Wade and others play a ton more defense than Howard. James is and should be MVP. Next year will be difficult especially with the improvement in Durrant and OKC…but if James goes out and averages the same numbers or slightly better he will win three.

By: DMAC

DMAC — Mon, 03 May 2010 07:51:05 +0000

Lebron won the award, but I don’t see why he should have won it unanimously. There are simply too many great players. I’m actually surprised he received so many votes. Kobe certainly deserves consideration, but so do many others. Nash in Phoenix, Williams in Utah, Carmelo in Denver, Durant in Oklahoma, Howard in Orlando, Wade in Miami. All of these players and several more should receive at least some consideration, and if anything this article should be focusing on how amazing it is that James won in a landslide…116 out of 123 votes is pretty darn amazing. Congrats to James, but I also tip my cap to about a dozen others who rightfully should have received at least some consideration and a vote or two for MVP.

By: LaHug

LaHug — Mon, 03 May 2010 06:25:58 +0000

I’m a Lakers fan and I honestly believe that Kobe Bryant is the best player in the world. BUT, he did not have a better season than LeBron. I disagree with you, Gordon. The MVP has nothing to do with the post-season; it’s an award for the best player of the regular season. LeBron’s Cavs had the best record, LeBron had amazing stats, LeBron had an amazing offensive season and LeBron, although overrated on the defensive end, had a great defensive season as well. Kobe may have been (emphasis on “may”) the best player if he didn’t have so many injuries, but that’s how the season panned out and LeBron had an injury free, amazing season. That’s what happened and that’s why he deserved the award.
In terms of the blog, I disagree that LeBron should get a unanimous first vote. Sure, he was clearly the best, but voters have a right to vote how they want to. As long as the best wins in the end, all is good.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:39:08 +0000

What conviction of truth? That in itself is subjective. So there should be plenty of posts/arguments on Howard not even getting on 2 dpoy voting ballot slips?
Voting is opinionated. That much is certain. Just because King James is the King does not mean everyone ought to bow, pay homage. Look at Shaq, he missed by one but he is still the MVP.
Legacy for James is two-peat straight MVPs, now he’s got to get the rings to back them up. Moot point if he doesnt bring the Cavs to the title.

By: Mega

Mega — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:33:34 +0000

Gordon – obviously a Lakers fan – LeBron dominated last year, and won the regular season MVP for being the best player during the regular season.
Did you know that in the finals they award a finals MVP? I believe that Kobe won that last season, and if his Lakers were to win again this year, I’d suggest he’d win it again.
You are a moronic fool my man, and really need to think about what you’re writing before you type it. I’m an Aussie, and still know more about your game than you do – get a clue buddy.

By: Gordon

Gordon — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:16:54 +0000

Regardless of who gets the MVP – I think you should wait until the end of the entire season to award it. James got it last year and didn’t even make the finals. Duh! If he is so great then why didn’t his team get the ring. If you wait until the final game is played, the final score tallied and then the selection – you will get it right. As far as last year – the MVP Trophy was misplaced. No doubt that James was amazing but not the best – he didn’t reach the final and get the ring. Until that happens Kobe Bryant is still the pick and will continue to be as long as they hold the trophy at the end. As far a Dwight Howard is concerned. Not a close second even. He plays half the game on the bench in foul trouble. How can you be valuable if you are warming the bench. Now that doesn’t compute. Still MVP – Kobe Bryant.

By: Anonymous

Anonymous — Sun, 02 May 2010 23:09:49 +0000

Someone disagrees with you?
Then, I guess it’s time to make long-winded blog posts decreeing that the system must be changed so that everyone shares your opinion in the future.