Wow Dave Cowens was screwed out of the MVP in 76 by Kareem

[Smoke117]

I can't believe they awarded Kareem the MVP in 76 when the Lakers were 40-42 and didn't even make the playoffs. Dave Cowens clearly should have been the MVP that year. Was he as dominate as Kareem? No, but there are a lot of players who dominate on losing teams but don't receive the MVP. Either way it was probably Cowens best season and he actually led the Celtics to 54-28 record and then eventual champions. Dave Cowens is easily the most underrated Center there has been. Nobody talks about him.

[L.Kizzle]

I can't believe they awarded Kareem the MVP in 76 when the Lakers were 40-42 and didn't even make the playoffs. Dave Cowens clearly should have been the MVP that year. Was he as dominate as Kareem? No, but there are a lot of players who dominate on losing teams but don't receive the MVP. Either way it was probably Cowens best season and he actually led the Celtics to 54-28 record and then eventual champions. Dave Cowens is easily the most underrated Center there has been. Nobody talks about him.

The players voted for the MVP back then, so blame the players not the media.

[jlip]

Cowens actually finished 3rd behind McAdoo.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/..._1976.html#mvp

[Psileas]

Cowens actually finished 3rd behind McAdoo.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/..._1976.html#mvp

Not only did he finish 3rd, but it was a very close race. A few second thoughts could have given him the 1st place. He wasn't convincingly dominant though to make a stronger case and, like already mentioned, players were voting back then, making results more biased (come on, Jamaal Wilkes and Jim Chones getting 1st place votes... ). Kareem was individually easily the best player in the game and McAdoo a probable 2nd (with Dr.J in the ABA).

[TylerOO]

No one cares about NBA pre 1980

[Psileas]

No one cares about NBA pre 1980

Good to learn your name.

[Pushxx]

Havlicek and Cowens are two of the most underrated players of all-time.

[Whoah10115]

Good to learn your name.

Oh shit

[SilkkTheShocker]

Havlicek and Cowens are two of the most underrated players of all-time.

Says the Boston homer.

Stfu

[allball]

Doesn't matter because the best player in the world in 76 was Julius Erving.

[allball]

Havlicek and Cowens are two of the most underrated players of all-time.

What about Jo Jo White? He was arguably as important to that 76 team as either of them were and he lead them in scoring in the playoffs.

[Pushxx]

Says the Boston homer.

Stfu

Yes. They can only be underrated if I'm not a homer. You figured it out.

What about Jo Jo White? He was arguably as important to that 76 team as either of them were and he lead them in scoring in the playoffs.

Also an underrated player, but not an all-time great like Hondo and Big Red who had farther reaching impacts and accomplishments.

All three get forgotten too often, though.

[dunksby]

Doesn't matter because the best player in the world in 76 was Julius Erving.

[fpliii]

Doesn't matter because the best player in the world in 76 was Julius Erving.

This very well might be true...

[ShaqAttack3234]

Eh, Cowens got the '73 MVP that should have gone to Kareem. McAdoo was the best choice, imo. Kareem was most likely the best player, but I'm not entirely comfortable with a player getting MVP on a 40-42 team, no matter how bad the team is. Regardless, they should have made the playoffs, the only reason they didn't was an idiotic format. The 38-44 Bucks and 36-46 Pistons got to play in the playoffs, but the Lakers didn't.