MVP RACE 르브론 다시 1위등극!!!

[르브론제임스 23]

 르브론이 다시 1위로 등극했네요. 전반기에는 르브론이 거의 1위를 했었는데 후반기와서 코비와 번갈아 1위를

 하는거 같네요. 이거 정말 흥미진진해 지네요.

 그래도 제 개인적인 생각은 르브론의 판정승 같네요. 물론 앞으로 르브론이 못할수도 있겠지만

 지금까지 봐서는 르브론이 mvp탈거 같은 가능성이 70%정도는 되는거 같네요.

 앞으로 두 선수의 경쟁 볼만할거 같습니다.

Gary Dineen, Stephen Dunn, Fernando Medina & Rocky Widner/NBAE via Getty Images

There's plenty to admire about each MVP contender

By Rob Peterson, NBA.com
Posted Mar 6 2009 3:05PM

Well, that didn't last long.

After a week out of the top spot, LeBron James has retaken the No. 1 position in the Race to the MVP. It's almost as if LeBron left his seat just before the end of the third quarter to get some food before the concession stand closed, only to return to his seat to find it occupied by Kobe Bryant.

How awkward.

And it may get even more uncomfortable to move these two back and forth as the season heads toward the April 15 finish line. But as we noted in last week's column, that's how close the race has become between LeBron and Kobe. Also, if you read the R2MVP Daily, where we talk about individual performances, you'll have noticed we've come to realize that Dwyane Wade is playing some of the best basketball of his career, and thus some of the best basketball in the NBA right now.

Should he move into the top two at some point? How would that upset the natural order we've carved out for ourselves below?

As with everything in the Race to the MVP, a player's beauty is in the eye of the smitten fan. For some, LeBron is the NBA's future. For others, Kobe is the epitome of passion and grace, and as a player, has no flaw. Then there are those who see Wade as a great story, a player who has returned from injuries stronger and more determined.

Or as some of our more dedicated fans e-mail: "Why can't you appreciate LeBron's or Kobe's or Dwyane's attributes? Why don't you like him?"

I'd like to think it's always been about performance when I rank the players. Of course, there is something in each of the players in the top 10 that draws out the fan in me.

How can one not be amazed by LeBron's rush to the rim late in the fourth quarter against the Heat? He threw it down so hard that veteran reporters who have covered James for nearly a decade say that's the hardest they've ever seen him dunk.

How can one not be amazed by Kobe's pursuit of perfection and the level of dedication he demands from his teammates? And in that pursuit, how his teammates raise their game to meet his? You may not like his personality -- and some don't -- but you must respect his will to win.

You also must respect that Kobe's game may be the most complete of any player in the top 10. He can go left, he can go right, he can post up, he can shoot the fadeaway, he can shoot the three. He can score in traffic, he can handle in traffic, he's an excellent passer, he's an above average rebounder, he's a sick defender and he's growing into a leader. His desire to do everything -- because he can do everything -- used to be his fatal flaw. As a 13-year vet, has he learned that he doesn't need to do it all?

How can one not be amazed by Wade's ability to take a beating and yet still manage to carry a team on his back? Or that, at 27, he's improved his defense so much that he's now considered elite?

How can one not be amazed by Dwight Howard's strength or Chris Paul's speed and court vision? Or by Tim Duncan's consistency, Chauncey Billups' steady leadership, Brandon Roy's bright future or Yao Ming's soft touch?

As impossible as it may seem, we see the best in these guys and the best of these players because they are the best. So, is there any hate or dislike?

There's no room. Not with all the excellence to appreciate.

E-mail us your thoughts at RacetotheMVP@gmail.com.

Line of the Week: Dwyane Wade, Feb. 28: 46 points, 10 assists, eight boards, four steals and three blocks vs. New York in a 120-115 win.

Wade scored 24 of his 46 points in the fourth quarter as the Heat stormed back from a 17-point defecit.

Rise of the week: Deron Williams (back into the top 10)
Drop of the week: Dirk Nowitzki (out of the top 10)

RACE TO THE MVP :: TALE OF THE TAPE

28.5	PPG	28.1
7.4	RPG	5.5
7.0	APG	4.9
1.7	SPG	1.3
1.2	BPG	0.4
.492	FG%	.474
.772	FT%	.868

LeBron James Cleveland Cavaliers :: Team Record: 48-12

Last Week's Rank - 2 Thanks to an incredible week for him and the Cavs (4-0 after a horrible loss in Houston on Feb. 26), LeBron returns to the top spot. The night after his 21-point, one-board, assist-less atrocity, it seemed as if something within James clicked. Statistically, his 30-point, 14-board, four-assist night in the Cavs' 97-86 win over the Spurs in San Antonio wasn't his gaudiest line of the season. But the aggression and efficiency with which he channeled that determination seemed to be a turning point in the season for him, and possibly the Cavs. How does one bounce back from a horrible defeat? Do everything you can to make sure something like that never happens again. Save for the narrow 88-87 win over the Hawks in Atlanta on March 1, it appears LeBron and the Cavs could get on a roll.

Kobe Bryant L.A. Lakers :: Team Record: 49-12

Last Week's Rank - 1 It was a rough week for Kobe Bryant and the Lakers. Sure, they pummeled the Grizzlies on Tuesday, but prior to that easy win in L.A., they had dropped a game to the Nuggets, then another one to the Suns. It was only the third time all season the Lakers had dropped back-to-back games. Kobe did his best to prevent that second loss, going off for 49 points on 18-of-38 shooting. Bryant and Pau Gasol have done their part to keep the Lakers chugging along with an NBA-best 49-12 record, but it seems as if the rest of the Lakers have hit a wall. The three days between the Memphis win and Friday's game against a struggling Timberwolves crew should do the Lakers and Bryant some good. And hey, every time I drop someone in the rankings, they go off. Lakers fans, you can thank me if Kobe goes for 50 on Friday.

James Duel With Wade, Heat Watch highlights from the memorable MVP duel between LeBron James and Dwyane Wade on March 2.

Kobe's 49 Not Enough Kobe Bryant poured in 49 points, but it wasn't enough as the Suns claimed a 118-111 win on March 1.

Race to the MVP - The Others

3. Dwyane Wade, Miami Heat | Team Record: 32-28

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
29.3	5.0	7.5	2.2	1.4	.489	.764

Last Week's Rank - 4
Sadly, I didn't have the guts to vault Wade over Kobe into the No. 2 spot. Wade is becoming a more proficient distributor as he set his career high in assists with 16 on Feb. 24. Eight days later, he matched that career high against Phoenix. Playing the Suns will boost the assist totals. Also, he's becoming one of the best -- if not the best -- shot-blocking guards in NBA history. Though, D-Wade, we do ask you to lower your turnovers. Thanks.

4. Dwight Howard, Orlando Magic | Team Record: 44-16

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
20.9	14.0	1.2	1.0	2.9	.571	.599

Last Week's Rank - 3
To pull out an old relationship line: It's not you, Dwight, it's me. I'm the one who pushed D-Wade past you in the Race to the MVP. I know you didn't do anything to deserve Wade going all Nate Robinson on you in the standings. Wade is just playing that well. But keep doing what you're doing, especially on the defensive end. That Defensive Player of the Year award is there for the taking.

5. Chris Paul, New Orleans Hornets | Team Record: 38-22

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
21.4	5.3	11.1	2.7	0.2	.494	.852

Last Week's Rank - 5
It's nice for Paul to have a healthy, happy Tyson Chandler back in the fold. The rangy 7-footer helps make some of Paul's assists -- the ones of the alley-oop variety -- look easy. Of course, Paul has a lot to do with it: weaving his way through traffic, dekeing defenders and then throwing a perfect pass to a place where only Chandler can get it. Paul has 56 dimes in the last four games, including a 20-assist game against Milwaukee on Feb. 27.

6. Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs | Team Record: 40-20

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
20.5	10.7	3.8	0.6	1.8	.513	.699

Last Week's Rank - 6
It was a gruesome week for Duncan and the Spurs. TD wasn't around last Friday to prevent LeBron's bounce-back game, and in the three games he did play this week, Duncan was only 20-of-47 from the field. Though you really can't blame the Spurs for going 1-2 in those games. All three were on the road. Since Jan. 16, the Spurs have played six home games ... and 17 on the road.

7. Chauncey Billups, Denver Nuggets | Team Record: 40-22

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
18.6	2.7	6.1	1.4	0.2	.422	.908

Last Week's Rank - 7
Billups and the Nuggets had an emotional week. First, Carmelo Anthony was suspended for the game in which Billups returned to Detroit. And then in Detroit, Billups received a rousing ovation from the Pistons faithful, scored a season-high 34 points ... and lost. The Nuggets bounced back well on Thursday with a win against division rival Portland.

8. Brandon Roy, Portland Trail Blazers | Team Record: 38-23

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
22.7	4.7	5.1	1.1	0.3	.482	.819

Last Week's Rank - 8
The Trail Blazers snapped an eight-game losing streak to the Pacers on Wednesday thanks to Roy, who hit two game-winning freebies with 1.7 seconds remaining. Beating Indiana sapped Roy and the Blazers the next night in the Mile High Denver environment. Portland's youngsters eventually will learn to manage both ends of back-to-backs such as these.

9. Yao Ming, Houston Rockets | Team Record: 39-23

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
19.8	9.5	1.7	0.4	1.8	.546	.871

Last Week's Rank - 9
Yao has been getting it done on the defensive end (15 blocks in the last four games) and at the stripe (a perfect 19-for-19), but it was a blah week for the Rockets, who lost in Chicago and in Utah. It doesn't get any easier for Yao or the Rockets as they host the resurgent Shaquille O'Neal and the Suns on Friday night.

10. Deron Williams, Utah Jazz | Team Record: 34-23

PPG	RPG	APG	SPG	BPG	FG%	FT%
18.7	2.7	10.6	1.0	0.2	.468	.834

Last Week's Rank -- 10
This spot is hot in two ways: One, fans love to comment on guys moving into and out of the top 10; and two, there are a lot of players on the fringes of the race who deserve recognition. This week's No. 10: Deron Williams, who coincidentally, was our first No. 10 this season. He's had double-digit assists in 17 of his last 20 games, including 20 against the Warriors on March 3. Oh, and the Jazz have won nine straight.

Outside Looking In (OLI)
11. Pau Gasol
12. Dirk Nowitzki
13. Kevin Garnett
14. Devin Harris
15. Paul Pierce
16. Ray Allen
17. Tony Parker
18. Carmelo Anthony
19. Shaquille O'Neal
20. Joe Johnson

[For!Wade]

웨이드 3위되다..두둥

[르브론제임스 23]

팀성적이 받쳐주지않는한 스탯이 아무리 뛰어나도 2위까지밖에 못할거 같네요.

[Gold&Purple]

05-06 코비도 4위에 그쳤으니 웨이드가 2위라도 해낸다면 박수를 보내주고 싶네요.

[Allen]

미칠듯한 포스로 20연승 보여주면 또 모르죠.

[Unlucky MDE]

이전시즌 히트.. 최악의 성적이었죠.. 이건 엄청난 성과죠. 너무 실력이 뛰어난 선수지만 작년과 비교한다면 거의 MIP급..

[왔섬]

역시 팀성적이 모든것을 결정 하는군요 레이커스 2패하니 바로 2위로 밀려난 코비 또 르브론도 마찬가지였구요.

[카멜로 앤쏘희]

멜로 뭐하니..ㅠㅠ동기들은 저렇게 잘하고 있는데..ㅠㅠ

[kobe[호수]]

젊은이들 사이에서 나름 늙은 코병장 ㅎㅎ

[No[24]Mr81]

오늘 경기 재미있겠는데요 ㅎㅎ

[[CLE]hellboy]

업치락 뒤치락하네요... mvp...

[#20. Gary Payton☆]

와데랑 코베 득점이 마니 올랏군요.. 오호라.. 엠비피 만큼 득점왕도 재밋겟네요

[씹@@@]

폴.......은 5위군요!!!!!!!!!!!! 볼링이나 치지... pba 투어..ㅋㅋㅋ

[허지말어]

와 흥미진진

[GrantHiII33]

올시즌 클블이 이런승률로 마무리하면 당연 르브론이지 않을까요? 스텟이 정말 괴물인데다가 팀성적은 리그1,2위 각종 스텟 분석통계자료사이트나(http://www.82games.com/index.htm) 느바닷컴사이트에서 개인기록 분석해논거 봐도 거의 여러분야에서 압도적으로 1위를 달리고 있습니다. 한선수가 코트에있고 없고를 측정한 자료가있는데 경쟁자가 없을정도로 대단하더군요..리그최고의 원맨팀이라고 하는 마이애미의 웨이드하고도 차이가 꾀 있었던것으로 기억하고요..근데 팀은 1위,2위라니 할말 없지 않나요? 제 개인적 생각입니다만 올시즌부터 시작해서 예전 조던이나 샤크처럼 절대군주에 이미지로 앞으로 몇년간 제임스가 있을것 같네요.

[허지말어]

코비가 받아도 상관없을거 같고.... 르브론이 받아도 코비팬이지만 당연한 거라고도 생각됩니다. 결론은 모른다

[GrantHiII33]

불스의 2번의 쓰리핏당시 조던이 절대군주..레이커스 3연패할때는 샤크가 절대군주였죠..샤크는 그리고 루키때부터 그포스가 남달랐습니다.샤크는 절대군주까지는 아니여도 그래도 그당시 리그최고 아니였습니까? 3연패당시 코비도 그당시 포스도 쩔었지만 성장시기였고요.제임스에게도 그런시기가 곧 올것이라 그것입니다.제 생각에는 그게 올해부터가 아닐까 늦어도 내년이나..팀성적 동급인데 개인스텟 지존이면 르브론이 유력하다 생각드네요.물론 시즌 끝날때 까지 클블이 이성적을 유지해야겠죠?

[키드가 되고싶어요~~^^;;]

코비는 백투백을 도전하는 입장이기 때문에 일단 전체 1위는 필수적인 요소가 아닌가 싶습니다 거기에 캐브스가 레이커스와 얼마나 차이가 나느냐가 중요할거 같네요 큰 경기차이로 벌어지지 않는다면 여간해선 브롱이쪽이 타지 않을까 싶네요 이미 지난시즌 서부 1위였던 코비가 팀을 리그전체 1위로 이끈 임팩트보단 동부지구 4위였던 캐브스가 전체 1위를 다툴정도의 모습을 보인 임팩트가 더 크게 작용할거 같습니다 물론 그러려면 설령 레이커스에게 뒤지더라도 최대한 적은 경기차이여야겠죠

[도마사]

사진에서 웨이드의 간지가 많이 사라졌네요. 우승당시 얼굴만으로도 포쓰가 쩔었었는데..

[꼼냥꿍]

지금도 멋있음!

[VV웨이드최고]

턱이 왜이렇게 커진건지 원......좀 많이 옆으로 자랏다고나할까요...05 06 그모습 정말 완전 대박이었는데요 살짝아쉽네요 그래도 웨이드니무 ㅓㅋㅋㅋㅋ

[LAL 부활한다]

오 코비평득 많이 올라갔네요 어느새 28.1

[NBA on ESPN]

지금처럼 레이커스와 비슷한 승률로 시즌이 마무리 된다면.. 아무래도 원맨팀 에이스인 르브론이 받을 가능성이 높겠죠. 더욱이 코비가 지난시즌 이미 받았다는 점도 기자단 투표에는 어느정도 작용할 가능성이 있습니다.

[허지말어]

누차 말씀드리지만 르브론의 엠비피 가능성에 반문을 다는것이 아니라 클블은 원맨팀이 아닙니다... 최근 모윌과 바레장의 활약이 있을텐데요..... 르브론만 잘하는것이 아니라 르브론이 매우 잘하는것입니다

[키드가 되고싶어요~~^^;;]

원맨팀의 정의는 개개인에 따라 틀리기 때문에 맞다, 아니다는 불필요한 논쟁이라고 봅니다 한 선수에게 꼭 맞춰진 팀을 원맨팀이라고 보는 견해도 있고, 그정도의 조직력을 갖춘 팀이면 원맨팀이 아니라는 견해도 있으니까요

[Contradanza]

모윌과 바레장 정도가 있다고 원맨팀이 아니라고 하면 리그에 원맨팀은 존재하지 않습니다. 리그의 어떤 에이스도 르브론보다 나은 조력자를 가지고 있다고 봅니다. 원맨팀논쟁보면 확실히 원맨팀의 정의가 사람마다 다른게 문제인거 같네요.

[Pieceof]

오늘 경기로 인해 48-13 / 50-12 가 되었죠.... 아직 모른다고 생각합니다

[르브론제임스 23]

이제 49-13/50-12 반게임차네요. 리그1위 누가 할수 있을런지..ㅎㅎ