| 15 March 2010
The Bloguin NBA bloggers got together to vote for the NBA MVP and ROY thus far this season. You can see the results and rankings now at NBA Base Line. When you go there, you get a glimpse into some of my own personal rankings, but if you want the complete list...here it is. It's a little different from the Network-wide results, but I don't have any major issues with how the rest of the network voted. Check it out:
Blog: Da Bulls' Eye
Name: Dave P.
MVP:
1. LeBron James. When you ride a player to the point where you have the luxury to actually sit him by choice because of how far he's taken you in the season, and then promptly lose the 1st game he sits...I think we have a winner. The best team in the league is nothing without arguably the best player in the league.
2. Kobe Bryant. Best player of the last decade, and his surreal clutch shooting this season garners him at least a couple MVP votes. One of the greatest clutch players of all time, and definitely the best player in the clutch all season.
3. Carmelo Anthony. Third in the league in scoring and leading the Denver Nuggets to a championship caliber regular season. They sit only 3 games back of the mighty Lakers and a Lakers-Nuggets conference finals seems like it is meant to be. This is where Carmelo will be able to prove he is an MVP type player going up against a past MVP and one of the all time greats.
4. Dwight Howard. Single-handedly turns a solid offensive team into a defensive powerhouse. Makes this team a title contender and can give you a 20-20 game any given night...and would if they had a better coach.
5. Kevin Durant. 2nd in the league in scoring and only .2 points per game behind King James. Plus, leading a re-energized OKC to their first playoff appearance in how many years? Plus he's also averaging nearly 8 rebounds a game. And imagine this guy on a big market team. He would already be a mega-star. I'm actually starting to convince myself that he should be higher, but he's a young man and his time will come.
6. Dirk Nowitzki. I dislike him as a player, and think he's incredibly soft, but you have to recognize his incredibly consistent elite production level and the fact that this team would be absolutely no where without him. Although I do chalk up a lot of their recent improvement to the addition of Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood. Recent winning streak almost put him in the top 5, but not quite.
7. Joe Johnson. The Hawks look legit and they have a clutch player and a true go-to guy in Joe Johnson. He manages to put them on his back in late game situations and they have come out on top more often than not this season. The Hawks have their first chance in years to make some serious noise in the playoffs, and it's mostly due to their best player, Joe.
8. Deron Williams. Third in the league in assists and a prolific scorer with unbelievable athletic ability. Sees the court like few can, and in my opinion, he's the best point guard in the league right now. His combination of size, quickness, and strength essentially makes him unstoppable and he's a nightmare when he's guarding you. And that's the reason the Jazz currently sit in the 4-seed on 2 games back of the 3-seed.
9. Zach Randolph. Single-handedly turned this team into a playoff contender. They currently are on the outside looking in, but without him, they would be a doormat even with all the young talent on that team.
10. Dwyane Wade. Virtually no real talent surrounding him, unless you consider a severely washed up Jermaine O'Neal and not-so-high-on-life Michael Beasley talent. Yet, he always manages to put this team on his back and make them a perennial playoff contender. And let's not forget he's 5th in the league in scoring, and a very good defender and a great passer. One of the top 5 players in the league. This garners him a top 10 consideration.
ROY:
1. Tyreke Evans. Been consistent all year, leads all rookies in scoring with over 20 a game, and can play both point guard and 2-guard. He's got it locked.
2. Stephen Curry. Prolific scorer and made a late run, but Evans has been on all year. Regardless, Curry is a beast.
3. Brandon Jennings. Running the show in Scott Skiles's offense ain't easy. But he's helping this team to what's going to be their first playoff appearance in a little while, and they look dangerous. He hasn't been on the way he was early in the season, but he's shown enough flashes throughout the year (see 55 point performance, averaging 15 points per game) to earn a few votes.
4. Taj Gibson. He's been incredibly consistent all year in the starting PF role. Leads all rookies in rebounds and double-doubles. Knows how to play weak-side defense and is wise beyond his years when it comes to rotating when help is needed. He's also underrated in the post. A big reason why the Bulls were the hottest team in the league right before the All-Star break and why they surged into the 6-seed at that point.
5. Omri Casspi. Very good shooter and versatile big man. He's also been pretty consistent all season and a nice surprise for the Kings. His production has fallen of late due to him wearing down and not being used to the length of the NBA season. But he's one of the best contributors among rookies on the offensive end of the floor, and he's done it for most of the year, unlike some of the other rookies who are just starting to come on late.
That's all I got.
