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Top Three NBA MVP Candidates 2007-08
There is a little more than a month left in the NBA regular season, but the MVP Candidates for the 2007-2008 campaign are already shaping up. Right now it is more than likely a two-man race with a few other players on the outside looking in. It’s become more of a cliche than anything, but you do have to remember that the player selected for the MVP is not necessarily the best player in the NBA, but the player that is the most valuable to his team throughout the season. Now, many times those two distinctions can be the same players, but as we’ve seen in the past with Steve Nash, it is not always the case. That’s not a knock on Nash by any means, but to say he’s a better overall player than Kobe or LeBron I think would be a mistake, however, in his role he was certainly deserving of the MVP awards he has won.
#1 - LeBron James - Cleveland Cavs
Let’s face it, the Cavs would not be a playoff team without LeBron, in fact, they may end up missing the playoffs this year if they aren’t careful. If Cleveland does make it to the playoffs I think you have to consider James as the top pick for the MVP award. He’s leading the league in scoring with 30.8 points per game, but he also has more assists per game (7.5) than any of the other top 10 scorers in the league. He also holds the edge on the majority of the top scorers in rebounds with 8 boards per game. Only Amare Stoudemire, Dirk Nowitzki, and Chris Bosh have more rebounds per game than LeBron with significantly less points and significantly more height on their side.  LeBron is the complete package.  He’s everything he was billed to more. He’s all of 23 years old, but this year he stands to win his first of what I believe will be many MVP awards.
#2 - Kobe Bryant - L.A. Lakers
Can you believe the Kobe has never won an MVP award? He’s one of the premiere scorers in the league, 2nd only to LeBron, but his team is on a tear (currently tied for the best record in the West with San Antonio), and he does a lot of the things that Lebron does well, though James still holds a small statistical edge in most categories. Kobe’s talent has never been questioned, but his ability to carry a team without the help of Shaq has been in question since the big fella left. This is Kobe’s first legitimate chance to prove he’s the new leader of this team and that, with a little help, he can lead the Lakers back to the promise land.  I would be happy with Kobe as the MVP this season.  LeBron clearly has better stats, but Kobe is on a much better team and that could ultimately be the deciding factor for MVP voters.
#3 - Â Allen Iverson - Denver Nuggets
The third spot on this list was a tough one to pick. There are plenty of deserving candidates, but I went with the players I felt most improves the players around him, and that player is Allen Iverson. Not only is he 3rd on the scoring list with 26.8 points per game, but he dishes out 7.3 assists, plus draws a lot of fouls and shoots over 80% from the free throw line. The Nuggets should make the playoffs and that’s what gives Iverson the edge over a guy like Dwyane Wade, who has similar stats. Amare Stoudemire and Dirk Nowitzki could also be considered, but they aren’t having the kind of stand out seasons that you expect from an MVP. The other player that could have been listed in front of Iverson is his teammate, Carmelo Anthony, but I truly believe his success is fueled by Iverson’s play. Anthony has always had great talent, but since Iverson has come to Denver he has really flourished. Iverson has taken plenty of knocks throughout his career for being a selfish player, but the statistics tell a different story. Here is a guy who is barely 6 feet tall who grinds it out every game and finds ways to get his teammates the ball while still putting up the impressive scoring numbers. In my book , that’s enough justification for his spot on this list.
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April 27th, 2008 at 6:00 am
Lebron James should win MVP because he is a better player.