Each week I'll look at the players who would have the best shot at the league MVP award if the season ended today. Why? Because we're bound to disagree and fight each other with chain whips ... 1. Steve Nash, PG, Suns: The Suns beat the Mavs, again. Steve Nash did exactly what makes him a viable MVP candidate, Dirk didn't. Somehow, though, this makes Nash seem less convincing, too. He didn't really prove himself, he just didn't hurt himself--unlike last time these two met, when Mr. Two-Time went above and beyond our expectations. Shouldn't that be part of what makes an MVP: the ability to surprise even his biggest supporters?
2. Dirk Nowitzki, PF, Mavericks: I wish I could demote him, I really do. Nash at least has an excuse for not taking over on Sunday, since anything dominant that team does counts as him taking over. Unfortunately, no one else is pushing hard enough to unseat that "best player on best team" logic. I also will only ever say this once: point guards and traditional post players can hide behind the team, freak scorers like Dirk can't.
3. LeBron James, SF, Cavaliers: Ladies and gentlemen, your Eastern Conference Player of the Month. This humble horse from out of Cleve-town averaged 30.3 points, 6.7 rebounds, and 7 assists, leading the Cavs to an 11-5 record. He stepped up immensely in getting a win against the Pistons. And unlike the front runners, whose teams are stacked, or Kobe, whose team is lousy with him, he's a unquestioned alpha dawg whose squad responds to his magnificent example. I wonder if a whole season of this would be enough to leapfrog Nash or Dirk. Oh well. He'll get his three MVP's before it's all over.
4. Kobe Bryant, SG, Los Angeles Lakers: This guy scored a lot for a team that had problems doing much of anything. He tried not scoring a lot in the beginning of the season and the results were mixed. When he did his thing, his team went on a winning streak. He also got that Player of the Month award. He might be the greatest scorer in the history of the league but I still think he is a selfish ass who doesn't know what it takes to win.
5. Tim Duncan, PF, San Antonio Spurs: What the heck, why not. Best player on third-best team. Duncan didn't even average his customary 20 and 10 on the month, but the Spurs climbed in the standings and finished with a six-game win streak. Bryant has to shoot for his gang to succeed; with Duncan, it seems to work in the opposite direction.
On the cusp: Chris Bosh, Jason Kidd, Carlos Boozer
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