no... Nash doesnt play defense. They were also 29-53 without Marbury after the trade, without Amare because of injury and without Richardson because he was a Clipper.

Nash has been a great player for the Suns, but he's not even the best player on that team.

I think it should be either Wade or Shaq but I think in my voters' minds it's between Shaq and Nash. Nash will probably get it because his dominance is newer and he's much shorter. (People love the story when a small guy can get the award like when Iverson did.) Lebron's and Iverson's teams are not nearly good enough to get the award.

The Heat win without Shaq

I highly doubt that lineup would win anything for an extended period without Shaq. That lineup without Shaq is severly inferior to the lineup they had that barely finished at .500 in the weaker east last year

[Edited by - Bonn1997 on 04/19/2005 09:26:21]

Posted by Bonn1997:

Lebron's and Iverson's teams are not nearly good enough to get the award.

I will never understand this reasoning. People seem to think that the MVP must be some Jesus figure who gets his team 50+ wins singlehandedly. They forget about the quality of teammates and coaches. Garnett won the MVP last year. Is it really Garnett's fault that the Wolves fell from grace? If not, how come we're not hearing his name mentioned at all? "Because an MVP wouldn't let his team do that poorly"? BS! One ball player can only do so much. Put any MVP guy on a CBA roster, throw 'em into the NBA, and that team is not going to win 50. If the guy is out of MVP consideration because of it, then you're not just judging him, you're judging his team as well. It just doesn't make sense to judge an individual player by a team stat-- e.g., an MVP by wins. It's kind of like saying, "we were going to invite Fred Hoiberg to the 3 point shoot out, until we saw his team only shoots 30% on 3s" or something equally ridiculous.

Nalods prediction:

1. Shaq: He also gets the "In your face" factor for Kobe.

2. Nash: Win with him, lose without. He does not make the team, he makes it better. No 1. record in the tough west.

3. Iverson: I would have had Lebron here, but Alan Carried the team on his back. Again. Maybe Timmy should be here?

4.Lebron: Lebron is the future king. He will get hype votes, and some sympathy ones too.

5. Timmy: No slant againt him putting him at no. 5. I could easily put him at no. 3 or 4. He is behind Shaq and Nash this year in terms of importance of his team. The spurs are better this year than in the past and no doubt he is the center of it all, but they are better balanced.

6. Garnett: Good stats, bad team. This is what happens when you add one part Spree, one part Sam I am. Poor Sam could never get his contract right.

7: Kidd/Carter: These guys play the last third of the season has been incredible, just sick! Can't say I like these guys personality, but on the court, this year, they were awsome!

8: Dirk. Really does not matter does it.

9: Heinrich: Best turnaround story. Started season 0-9, finsished with nice record. He is the point, he is the QB, and he gets some sloppy considerate votes.

10: Kurt Thomas: Guy is 6th in rebounds, shoots well, good %, etc, and is highly underrated by fans. We all know what he does not do, but we overlook what he does. he has been a rock for us, and gets some insignificant votes to show some apprciation from this fan.

19: Step On Marbury: Played every minute of every game and if left to his own device would get every assist and every point! His stats were great, he played every game, all for naught, but he still put in the time! Also I am throwing some love his way.

263: Jamal Crawful: I threw a vote his way to point out he needs to keep working hard to undo the typical Knick rep of overpaid and underachieving. To his credit, he gets votes ahead of Glen Rice, Bigg Poop Robinson. But not spree!

Posted by fishmike:

Lebron and Iverson. I dont see any one player in the league that does more for their team.

The Heat win without Shaq and Wade is insane. Pho has too much depth.

Bron and AI are the two that really carry their teams every night.

Iverson's last 9 games (April)
35points,5rebs,10assists,3steals while every win or loss has playoff implication

I still think shaq has the bigger impact, he made a average team in miami a championship contender,a legit one... If there had to be someone else besides shaq, then I could not be mad with either, Bron or AI...

Shaq & Nash are probably the two that will be 1 & 2.

Wade has been awesome, but you've got to credit shaq with giving him confidence to go out and play- just like MJ made players better on his team with his inspiring play.

Same for Nash- trade Nash for the self-proclaimed best pg (Marbs-mouth), and I don't think they win nearly as many games.

Posted by tomverve:

Posted by Bonn1997:

Lebron's and Iverson's teams are not nearly good enough to get the award.

I will never understand this reasoning. People seem to think that the MVP must be some Jesus figure who gets his team 50+ wins singlehandedly. They forget about the quality of teammates and coaches. Garnett won the MVP last year. Is it really Garnett's fault that the Wolves fell from grace? If not, how come we're not hearing his name mentioned at all? "Because an MVP wouldn't let his team do that poorly"? BS! One ball player can only do so much. Put any MVP guy on a CBA roster, throw 'em into the NBA, and that team is not going to win 50. If the guy is out of MVP consideration because of it, then you're not just judging him, you're judging his team as well. It just doesn't make sense to judge an individual player by a team stat-- e.g., an MVP by wins. It's kind of like saying, "we were going to invite Fred Hoiberg to the 3 point shoot out, until we saw his team only shoots 30% on 3s" or something equally ridiculous.

I'm just against giving MVPs to players on bad teams like the Cavs. If the team misses the playoffs with Lebron, then how much worse would they have been without him? I guess you could say they would have missed the playoffs by even more without him. That's not exactly a splendid endorsement of his MVP candidacy. No one is saying that how the team does should be the SOLE factor in determining the MVP. Otherwise, I would have said Nash and Amare and Marion (the three top players on the top team) are the candidates. All I'm saying is you cannot ignore how the team does.

Posted by gunsnewing:

I think its safe to say Tim Duncan is the most valuable player in the league. Shaq is right there with him though

Maybe, but the Spurs without him are so much better than the Heat without Shaq. The Spurs without him would probably win 45 in the west. If Duncan hadn't missed so many games, he'd be a strong candidate.

are you sure? I think Miami wins more without Shaq because Wade is better than anyone on the Spurs minus Duncan. Spurs get blown out without Duncan. but you're problably right they still have parker and ginobili and a great coach. I guess I would give it to Shaq since he's played more games and had such a huge impact in Miami. I won't give it to Nash when Amare is the best player on the team but still not better than Shaq & Duncan.