By Brendan Lowe

Everyone has an opinion on who should be this season’s MVP. The difference between theirs – Jason Kidd – and mine – Tracy McGrady – is that T-Mac truly deserves the award, whereas Kidd, or any other player on InsideHoops.com’s MVP Watch List, does not.

Tracy McGrady - 25.6 ppg, 7.8 rpg, 5.3 apg, .448 FG% - Tracy leads the team in scoring, rebounding and minutes played while ranking second in steals and assists. Since Dec. 28, Orlando has been the best of the East, going 27-16. Not coincidentally, fifteen of T-Mac’s 20 double-doubles this season have come since the start of January. While the weak role players he takes the court with shoot inconsistently from behind the arc, Tracy has been a force game in and game out. Without Grant Hill, the 22 year-old has shouldered the responsibilities of a franchise and led Orlando to the playoffs. Plus, he generates more points for his team than Kidd.

Shaquille O'Neal - 26.7 ppg, 10.8 rpg, 2.16 bpg, .576 FG% - To be valuable, one must partake in games during the regular season. While no one should contest Shaq’s mature decision to heal his big toe and wrist, his absence should take him out of MVP contention. He will play in 68 games or less and with his scoring and rebounding numbers down from last year, Shaq shouldn’t get the MVP, just a band-aid.

Tim Duncan - 25.5 ppg, 12.8 rpg 3.7 apg, 2.42 bpg – Perhaps the only player besides T-Mac possibly deserving of the award, TD has been unbelievable this year. With career highs in points, rebounds, assists, and minutes per contest, Duncan has been the catalyst for San Antonio. Night in and night out he battles the best power forwards and still manages to put up great numbers. His passing allows teammates better scoring opportunities.

Jason Kidd - 14.8 ppg, 7.2 rpg, 10.1 apg, .389 FG% - The popular choice for MVP. While he is undeniably the best point in the game, Kidd is not the player most valuable to his team. Last season, Kerry Kittles didn’t play one game and Keith Van Horn played less than 50. Todd McCollough was on Philadelphia and Richard Jefferson attended class at U. of Arizona. This year, those four have all played large parts in New Jersey’s success. Sure, Kidd is great a great player, but he is not the most valuable.

Kobe Bryant - 25.9 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, .474 FG% - Plain and simple, Kobe will never win the MVP award with Shaquille O’Neal on his team. Not even at the All-Star game (Kobe won All-Star MVP while Shaq sat the game out.). While Kobe is arguably one of the top 5 players in the game, it’s impossible for him to win MVP when he plays with the most dominating player in the league.

Kevin Garnett - 21.3 ppg, 12.2 rpg, 5.3 apg, 1.66 bpg – He’s no longer the kid yet still KG gets no respect from the hoopheads. Arguably the best all-around player in the game, KG will never win the MVP until the T-Wolves escape the first round of the playoffs. The buzz is that he has shown more leadership this year by taking the last shot, being more assertive, and acting as the core of the team. But until he plays in the second round, KG won’t be viewed as a viable candidate for MVP.

Dirk Nowitzki - 23.8 ppg, 10.2 rpg, .476 FG% - While Dirk is undeniably a great player, his team is loaded with quality talent. Nellie could put Raef LaFrentz, Michael Finley, Steve Nash, and Nick Van Exel on the floor and win most games. The Mavs don’t have internal issues so Dirk isn’t even seen as a leader. So even though he’s one of the best in the West, Dirk won’t win MVP.

Others: Michael Jordan – MJ would have been my choice if his knee hadn’t acted its’ age and the Wizards had made the playoffs. No playoffs and too many games missed leaves Jordan trophyless.

Paul Pierce – He is a great individual player. However if you substituted Kobe (who puts up about the same numbers) for Pierce, the Celtics would be the same team. Speaking of Kobe, Pierce shares the same problem as KB8 since he has Antoine Walker on his team.

Antoine Walker – Employee #8 has a host of foothills to climb over before he could win the MVP. The first one is his public persona. ‘Toine has been criticized by the media as being selfish and cocky. He’ll need a personality adjustment (see Allen Iverson in 2000-01) to win MVP. Plus, he’s with Pierce.

Gary Payton – Yes, his team has improved. Yes, he has made the attitude adjustment necessary to garner the media attention needed to win the award. GP will get some votes and they will be deserved. His lingering poor reputation, however, as well as the career years of Brent Berry and Rashard Lewis, will prevent GP from taking the MVP trophy home.

Ben Wallace- Just wanted to throw this out here. Big Ben leads the league in rebounds and blocks. Detroit is a terrible rebounding team – the worst in the NBA. Imagine how horrid they’d be without Wallace’s 12.9 boards per. The Pistons are first in the league in blocked shots. Without Wallace’s 3.5 blocks a game, Detroit would be last. He turns the ball over less than once a game. He is in the Top 16 in 16 categories. Without Ben Wallace, the Pistons would be terrible inside. He is very valuable and very unheralded.

Brendan Lowe - www.progressiverevelations.com/lowe.html -
Dukecrazy1@comcast.net