Since I clearly haven't had much of worth to say lately, I'll share some less important thoughts. I recently had an email conversation with my friend Nick about who should win the NBA MVP award this year. I don't expect many of you to care about this, but for those of you who do, enjoy! (And tell me if I'm wrong!) In response to my question about who would win, he made some good points. Here's what he said:

This is the craziest year for MVP discussion. Kobe should win it because he hasn't yet. Lebron should win it because of the best individual season (Kobe fans normally argue this for Kobe, but Lebron's 30 pts, 8 rbs, 7 asts, 2 stls and a block per game is impossible to beat). Chris Paul should win it because when he elevated his game he brought the Hornets with him. KG should win it because his presence on the Celtics created the biggest single season turnaround for a franchise in NBA history. I don't know who should win. I think my ballot would be...

1. KG
2. Lebron
3. Kobe
4. Chris Paul

But it is a pretty competitive year for MVP's. Luckily next year will be easier, because Lebron will win his first of 10 consecutive MVP awards!

And here was my (ridiculously long) response:

About the MVP race, I feel you that it is definitely closer than ever. The past few years have brought out all the problems involved in an important award without established criteria. Here are my thoughts on your thoughts. Naturally, I’m going to defend a higher place for Kobe :), but let’s start from the top of your list.

KG: I hear what you’re saying about KG, but three factors put him in third place for me: (1) he has a less overall impressive stat line than the others; (2) more importantly, he has two other established superstars, which normally works against contenders in this race; (3) the last point especially becomes important given that when KG has been injured (which hasn’t been much), the Celtics didn’t exactly fall apart. In fact, they didn’t really lose a step. The other three teams (Lakers, Hornets, Cavs) would have crumbled without their stars.

Lebron: I have no problem with Lebron, but let me modify the typical “Kobe fan” argument. There’s no doubting that Lebron James has the most impressive stat line, or that he will win more MVPs than anybody in history, or that he’s a bigger, stronger version of Kobe and probably even Michael. BUT, if an impressive stat line on a mediocre team wins you the MVP, then to me there is no doubt that Kobe should’ve won it last year, and perhaps the last two years. But if those years teach us anything about this award, it is that your team needs to be at or near the top for you to be a viable contender. (I think this changes the award from something other than what the initials “MVP” represent, but it is what it is, I guess.)

Chris Paul and Kobe:
I would have no problem with CP winning the award (though, as a fan of Kobe, I obviously want him to get it this year, since I think that CP and LJ will be duking it out for the award for the next decade). However, there are two reasons I would still give the nod to Kobe. First and foremost, the race for the West. The race for the number one seed in arguably the toughest conference in NBA history (perhaps a bit overstated, but not much) came down to these two guys and their two teams. What’s more, this race featured a head-to-head matchup between them toward the very end of the season. And Kobe’s Lakers won (on both accounts). Because I think these two guys are both so deserving of the award, I think this factor gives Kobe the nod.

Second, and less important but still worthy of mention, Kobe has carried his team through more adversity, by which I mean injuries. Of course, on the other hand, CP has done what he’s done with less overall talent. I think these two factors basically cancel each other out, which is why I put so much weight on who won the top seed. (And I suppose the whole “lifetime achievement” should count for something, speaking from a history of the game perspective – it would be a shame for someone so good never to win the award, and Paul will certainly have many chances in the future. But I don’t like it as an argument, simply because I don’t think it’s necessary.)

Honestly, and this may come as little surprise, I think Kobe hasn’t gotten enough credit as a leader this year. I fully admit that he was a horrible leader in the past, but I really think he’s stepped it up this year. They lost their second-best player for over half the season, and then adjusted to a new second-best player midway through. (The Kidd-Dallas fiasco has taught us that adding a superstar can be as complicated as it is helpful, and the Lakers accomplished this seamlessly.) Kobe should get some (not all!) credit for this. Moreover, one of the primary factors in the MVP race has been who “makes the other players better.” I think this is very valid, but we need to allow for this to happen in different ways (or point guards will always have the upper hand in these debates). Kobe has always said, “I lead by example.” I always thought this was a copout, and it might still be (I’m certainly aware of my lack of objectivity here!), but the one thing that no one can deny is that Kobe is one of the hardest workers in the game. And if you look at some of the guys around him – especially Jordan Farmar and Andrew Bynum – it seems clear that this commitment to working hard and improving your game has rubbed off. In short, his whole “leading by example” sounds less and less like an excuse, and more like what might actually be taking place (finally).

All that said, I think my ballot would be:

1. Kobe
2. CP3
3. KG
4. Lebron

No matter who wins this year, I think next year we’ll be talking about the same four guys, as well as Dwight Howard. (The only reason we’ll be talking about Kobe is because the Lakers will run away with the West!) But we shall soon find out, and I’ll be happy whoever it is!

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