Top 5 MVP Candidates in the NBA.
December 17th 2006 03:27
We’ve pretty much gone through a quarter of the NBA season now so why not take the opportunity to make wild MVP predictions at this early stage. Hey, if
NBALOUD is wrong than there’ll be evidence for all you astute readers of this space out there to criticise and throw rotten cyber tomatoes at this writer at a later date.
Of course NBALOUD is a fearless space without fear and prejudice so this list will be numerically ranked.
5. Dwight Howard (17.5 points per game, 12.6 rebounds per game, 1.8 blocks per game)
The young Orlando pivot has quietly become a dominant force and along with Grant Hill have revived the Magic’s fortunes in the terrible Eastern Conference.
Howard is a beast and is still very raw in some aspects of the game. Just wait till he gets a real handle of how to play NBA basketball and you’ll see a real talent emerge. Dwight is already one of the top big men in the league and is the best in the East this season by a country mile (sorry, Shaq).
4. Carmelo Anthony (31.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 assists per game)
Arguably the most electric pure scorer in the league has been overshadowed by Bron-Bron and Dwayne Wade somewhat but don’t overlook ‘Melo.
Anthony makes the game look easy and has matured both on and off the court. Early on in his NBA career ‘Melo would make bad shots and try to force the game, now the man waits for the game to come to him and plays with the flow.
A match-up nightmare for opposing teams Anthony has started to carve up the league this season as evidenced by his averages in all categories. He is involved in every facet of the game and is fulfilling the great promise that surrounded him when entering the league.
3. Carlos Boozer (22.6 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
The Booze as well as Howard are the two most surprising names thrown up in MVP discussions, but why not? Carlos has been nothing short of spectacular this season breaking out in a big way.
As of writing this entry The Booze has better averages than players by the names of Duncan, Garnett and Brand. Not too shabby, eh?
Carlos is the most dependable presence in the league and has been leading his Utah team to the best record in the NBA.
Hard to believe that a few seasons ago The Booze was about as popular as syphilis, but he has now become the feel good story of this season.
2. Yao Ming (25.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.0 bpg)
Remember when Yao first came into the league and Charles Barkley stated that if the big man from China scored 19 points he’d kiss someone’s ass? Well, what we would give now to hear Sir Charles thoughts on Ming ever garnering MVP love! You’d imagine his response would be along the lines of: “Well, if Yao ever becomes MVP than I’ll give up food for the rest of my life and fornicate with the 18th hole at Augusta during the final round of the Masters!”
Forget the dynamic duo in Houston because their successes this season has been due to the beast from the far east. Yao has come into his own and what’s changed this season? Well, Yao has dropped the nice boy act and gotten nasty – barking for the ball and at fellow teammates, while not taking any rubbish from the opposition.
The litmus test for Yao will be if he can carry his team all the way to the playoffs without his Robin, because T-Mac is out indefinitely due to injury. Ouch!
1. Steve Nash (20.2 ppg, 11.7 apg)
Once upon a time Steve Nash was just considered a flashy, albeit, good player and point guard. He was never discussed as a top talent, let alone one of the best proponents of the
art of passing the ball. Well, he was a prolific passer and got props for that but he was just considered another good player in the league.
When the Phoenix Suns poached Stevie Wonder away from the Mavs and offered the then 29 year old a six year, $65 million contract the whole world thought they were bonkers.
Mark Cuban the owner of the Mavs rather sagely at the time let the formerly floppy haired Canadian go because here was a guy that plays a position where the players deteriorate physically rather quickly from the age of 30 and Nash was approaching 30.
Uh, two MVP awards later the little white guy from the north is playing better ball than ever and a third straight MVP title isn’t far fetched. No, one and NBALOUD means no one would have predicted Nash would blow up with such style.
The man is a marvel and would be MVP if the award was given out today.
Shout it out loud because Carlos is a MVP candidate. (Photo by Andrew D. Bernstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
Of course NBALOUD is a fearless space without fear and prejudice so this list will be numerically ranked.
5. Dwight Howard (17.5 points per game, 12.6 rebounds per game, 1.8 blocks per game)
The young Orlando pivot has quietly become a dominant force and along with Grant Hill have revived the Magic’s fortunes in the terrible Eastern Conference.
Howard is a beast and is still very raw in some aspects of the game. Just wait till he gets a real handle of how to play NBA basketball and you’ll see a real talent emerge. Dwight is already one of the top big men in the league and is the best in the East this season by a country mile (sorry, Shaq).
4. Carmelo Anthony (31.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 4.1 assists per game)
Arguably the most electric pure scorer in the league has been overshadowed by Bron-Bron and Dwayne Wade somewhat but don’t overlook ‘Melo.
Anthony makes the game look easy and has matured both on and off the court. Early on in his NBA career ‘Melo would make bad shots and try to force the game, now the man waits for the game to come to him and plays with the flow.
A match-up nightmare for opposing teams Anthony has started to carve up the league this season as evidenced by his averages in all categories. He is involved in every facet of the game and is fulfilling the great promise that surrounded him when entering the league.
3. Carlos Boozer (22.6 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 0.5 bpg)
The Booze as well as Howard are the two most surprising names thrown up in MVP discussions, but why not? Carlos has been nothing short of spectacular this season breaking out in a big way.
As of writing this entry The Booze has better averages than players by the names of Duncan, Garnett and Brand. Not too shabby, eh?
Carlos is the most dependable presence in the league and has been leading his Utah team to the best record in the NBA.
Hard to believe that a few seasons ago The Booze was about as popular as syphilis, but he has now become the feel good story of this season.
2. Yao Ming (25.5 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.0 bpg)
Remember when Yao first came into the league and Charles Barkley stated that if the big man from China scored 19 points he’d kiss someone’s ass? Well, what we would give now to hear Sir Charles thoughts on Ming ever garnering MVP love! You’d imagine his response would be along the lines of: “Well, if Yao ever becomes MVP than I’ll give up food for the rest of my life and fornicate with the 18th hole at Augusta during the final round of the Masters!”
Forget the dynamic duo in Houston because their successes this season has been due to the beast from the far east. Yao has come into his own and what’s changed this season? Well, Yao has dropped the nice boy act and gotten nasty – barking for the ball and at fellow teammates, while not taking any rubbish from the opposition.
The litmus test for Yao will be if he can carry his team all the way to the playoffs without his Robin, because T-Mac is out indefinitely due to injury. Ouch!
1. Steve Nash (20.2 ppg, 11.7 apg)
Once upon a time Steve Nash was just considered a flashy, albeit, good player and point guard. He was never discussed as a top talent, let alone one of the best proponents of the
Steve Nash a three time MVP? Perhaps. (Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images)
When the Phoenix Suns poached Stevie Wonder away from the Mavs and offered the then 29 year old a six year, $65 million contract the whole world thought they were bonkers.
Mark Cuban the owner of the Mavs rather sagely at the time let the formerly floppy haired Canadian go because here was a guy that plays a position where the players deteriorate physically rather quickly from the age of 30 and Nash was approaching 30.
Uh, two MVP awards later the little white guy from the north is playing better ball than ever and a third straight MVP title isn’t far fetched. No, one and NBALOUD means no one would have predicted Nash would blow up with such style.
The man is a marvel and would be MVP if the award was given out today.
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