LeBron James - Already the MVP

[Latrinsorm]

Since Mo Williams has been out (11 games), LeBron James is averaging 33.8 points, 7.3 rebounds, 11.2 assists, 1.9 steals, and 0.9 blocks, and the Cavs have won every game, including games against the Lakers, Magic, and two against the Heat. His season is on track for 675 assists, 61 more than any non-guard has recorded in NBA history. He's leading the league in scoring and is sixth in assists. The Cavs have the best record while platooning at center.

Who could doubt?

[kookiegod]

I'm not even a basketball fan and those stats are amazing. Must give him credit where it is due.

[Celephais]

Not a (pro) basketball fan either, seeing stats like that just makes me think they need to do something to fix the game, basketball needs to evolve with the athletes in the sport. I don't know what it would take, but push the 3 point line out, raise the basket, put a sixth man in there, I don't know...

[Drew]

Not a (pro) basketball fan either, seeing stats like that just makes me think they need to do something to fix the game, basketball needs to evolve with the athletes in the sport. I don't know what it would take, but push the 3 point line out, raise the basket, put a sixth man in there, I don't know...



Then you only have 5 good players (kobe, lebron, d wade, a couple others) and a shit load of average players. You can't balance for the 99.99% percentile.

[Rimalon]

Having LeBron in fantasy basketball also makes your team unbeatable. Pretty literally.

Bill Simmons mentioned it in his Book of Basketball, but there honestly needs to be a "LeBron Tax" instituted in fantasy leagues to even the playing field.

I play in a deep 16-team league, and LBJ's averages in all 8 standard categories are so just abnormal for his position... it's ridiculous.

If he doesn't win the MVP every year for the next 5-6 years, who does?

Kobe, Duncan, KG, Dirk and Nash are all past their primes... Dwight Howard sucks too much to win it...

Only person who I can see having a shot is Durant... if he continues to improve... and OKC becomes one of the top teams in the West? Good luck with that!

Wade might have a shot with a monster season, as well, but he'd have to get off the god-awful Heat (and likely will!)

It's LeBron's to lose for probably the next decade? Right?

[Drew]

Wade was MVP last year. Should have been. Anyway LeBron is coming to the Heat next year, it's gonna be fantastic.

[Sean of the Thread]

I vote for Jackie Moon.

[Stretch]

If Gilbert's contract gets voided, Crittenton has my vote.

[Endaar]

Look out for my boy CB4. Having a monster season of his own, and the sky's the limit for him. Let's hope he resigns! :-)

[Ker_Thwap]

A HGH test would solve LeBron.

[RichardCranium]

Chris Paul when he makes it to a decent team.

[Keller]

A HGH test would solve LeBron.

Lebron was a man among boys in HS.

This is not a case of a skinny athletic kid getting muscles, it's a thick freakish athlete getting muscles.

If Lebron is on HGH, then I sincerely believe any athlete could be.

Edited to add:

http://www.gifbin.com/bin/052009/1242032359_haters-gonna-hate.gif (http://www.gifbin.com/982918)

[Latrinsorm]

Chris Paul is the literal most valuable player, obviously. He makes or assists over 50% of the Hornets' baskets every year, something nobody's done besides Stockton (twice) and Tiny Archibald (once), he's the best 6' and under rebounder ever, etc. Pure point guards have it tough when it comes to MVP anyway, and his team looks dreadful for the conceivable future.

Dwyane Wade definitely should have been second last year. LeBron's team had the best record in the NBA and he led the Cavs in points, rebounds, assists, steals, and blocks. That shouldn't even be possible. Dwyane Wade certainly had a better overall year (a 6'4" guy with more blocks than LeBron?!??), it just wasn't in the cards.

Chris Bosh is a 20/10 guy who doesn't play great defense or block a lot of shots. I don't see how he can ever be in serious MVP contention.

I'm not sure Durant is ever going to be a good passing forward, but if he starts knocking out 40 PPG and DPOY seasons it probably won't matter.
Anyway LeBron is coming to the Heat next year, it's gonna be fantastic.They should make them play with 4 guys if that happens, it would still be ridiculously unfair and I will be furiously jealous of you for getting to watch every game.

[Drew]

Dwyane Wade certainly had a better overall year (a 6'4" guy with more blocks than LeBron?!??)

BTW, I'm like 6'3 & 1/2" and I say I'm 6'4". I've stood next to Wade, he's no where near 6'4. Maybe 6'2.

[DoctorUnne]

LeBron is the best right now but Durant could be as good in a few years. He shoots way better than LeBron. And he's carrying his team just like LeBron is. Plus he has Dhalsim arms.

[Latrinsorm]

With his 8 assists today, LeBron has 616 for the season, 2 more than John Havlicek had in 1972, more than any forward or center in NBA history. He's one of 13 players this year averaging at least 1 steal and 1 block per game, and is going to finish first or second in scoring.

Bill Simmons brought up an interesting point on his podcast the other day - LeBron is clearly the MVP, but will he be the (first ever in the NBA) unanimous MVP? The closest calls in the past were:

2000, Shaquille O'Neal, 29.7 points (led league) 13.6 rebounds 3.0 blocks, 67-15 record...

120 of 121 votes, the other going to Allen Iverson... in one of his worst years(?)... who finished 7th in overall voting(???).

2004, Kevin Garnett, 24.2 points 13.9 rebounds (led league) 5.0 assists 1.5 steals 2.2 blocks, 58-24 record (best in the West)...

120 of 123 votes, two going to Jermaine O'Neal (ouch) and one going to Peja Stojakovic (ouch).

I'm excited for one schmuck giving Deron Williams a #1 vote and ruining human civilization forever.

[nub]

Wade was MVP last year. Should have been. Anyway LeBron is coming to the Heat next year, it's gonna be fantastic.

So i'm pretty late at seeing this but, this isn't serious right?

[Drew]

IT IS SRS BZNS

[nub]

IT IS SRS BZNS

I don't follow basketball, so I really wouldn't know if this would be real or not. But since I also live near the MIA it just got my attention.

[RSR]

Not to diss on Lebron, but you keep quoting these statistics about his assist total for the season being the most ever for a non-guard. While his assist total is impressive, give credit where credit is due. The most dominant man to ever play the game: Wilt Chamberlain.

Chamberlain made history by becoming the first and only center in NBA history to finish the season as the leader in assists, his 702 beating runner-up, Hall-of-Fame point guard Lenny Wilkens' total by 23

-Richard.

[Latrinsorm]

Ha, I had forgotten all about that! For shame.

He's still a bum, though, for never passing in the other 12 years he played. Paul Arizin rolls out of the bed in the morning ready to shoot, pitch it over!

[AestheticLife]

Not to diss on Lebron, but you keep quoting these statistics about his assist total for the season being the most ever for a non-guard. While his assist total is impressive, give credit where credit is due. The most dominant man to ever play the game: Wilt Chamberlain.

Chamberlain made history by becoming the first and only center in NBA history to finish the season as the leader in assists, his 702 beating runner-up, Hall-of-Fame point guard Lenny Wilkens' total by 23

-Richard.

You -do- realize that Wilt went out and played against maybe six truly elite players in his time, right? He wasn't backing down Bill Russell every night. Lebron is doing this in an era where EVERYONE is an elite player, and a very select few have the mental aspects of the game down to a point that they ascend beyond 'elite'.

Lebron is doing the unimaginable. He's truly a one-man franchise at this point. He's making people forget the name 'Pippen' for good, outside of the few days around Scottie's HoF induction. LBJ is already the greatest Point Forward in the history of the league, and probably surpassed the Havliceks and Baylors of the world with regards to his standing as a SF. With a couple rings, he'll go down as the greatest SF, if not the greatest forward of all time.

...and he's twenty five.

[RSR]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Kevin Durant snag a few MVP votes. Deservedly so in my opinion. He's elevated his team this year way beyond expectations. Lebron is great, but Durant deserves consideration. Probably won't be close, but won't be unanimous for Lebron either.

-Richard.

[AestheticLife]

Durant is doing it with James Harden and Jeff Green, two could-be superstars in their own right. Not to mention Westbrook, who really is more or less a top 10 or top 7 PG in the league right now...

Lebron is doing it with(out) Mo, the corpse of Shaq, "lets huck it up every chance we get" Jamison, the "I need a walker" version of Big Z, a guy named Boobie, and Sideshow Varejao. When Anderson Varejao is the second best player on the team, that should probably tell you Lebron is the MVP.

[RSR]

You -do- realize that Wilt went out and played against maybe six truly elite players in his time, right? He wasn't backing down Bill Russell every night. Lebron is doing this in an era where EVERYONE is an elite player, and a very select few have the mental aspects of the game down to a point that they ascend beyond 'elite'.

Lebron is doing the unimaginable. He's truly a one-man franchise at this point. He's making people forget the name 'Pippen' for good, outside of the few days around Scottie's HoF induction. LBJ is already the greatest Point Forward in the history of the league, and probably surpassed the Havliceks and Baylors of the world with regards to his standing as a SF. With a couple rings, he'll go down as the greatest SF, if not the greatest forward of all time.

...and he's twenty five.

Lebron is playing against a lot of awful players, some good ones, and a few great ones. More teams leads to diluted talent. Knicks and Nets? Don't discount players from years ago because you're blinded by a select few current players.

And greatest Point Forward? Ever hear of Magic Johnson? Lebron has a way to go before he's put ahead of several HoF forwards. He's well on his way, but as you pointed out, he's only 25.

Oh and for the record, when Wilt was 25 he averaged 50.4 PPG and 25.7 RPG while playing every single minute of the season, 48.5 minutes per game.

Lebron is great, but don't get carried away yet. He needs some rings before you start labeling him the best ever.

-Richard.

[AestheticLife]

1) Magic was about as pure as a Point GUARD can get. Outside of being tall, he wasn't much of a Point Forward.

2) Twenty dollars says Sam Dalembert or some random loser off the 76ers gives Wilt a solid challenge. Players in this era are bigger, stronger, faster, and generally better than their predecessors. If you disagree with that, perhaps you need to toss on some short shorts-wearing random white guys trying to stick an elbow in McHale's back NBA, and then try to tell me otherwise. Watching ESPN Classic is like watching the WNBA. You don't do it, I don't do it, and there's a reason for it. Outside of Candace Parker or Pistol Pete, there's nothing worth watching.

3) I already made note of Lebron needing rings.

[Keller]

I wouldn't be at all surprised to see Kevin Durant snag a few MVP votes. Deservedly so in my opinion. He's elevated his team this year way beyond expectations. Lebron is great, but Durant deserves consideration. Probably won't be close, but won't be unanimous for Lebron either.

-Richard.

Durant has Green and Westbrook. Both players that would be legitimate stars in their own right if they were on a team without Durant.

Now, Durant is good - but he is no where near as important to his team, the league, and basketball in general, as LBJ.

I'm not saying there are not some Backlashian voters who will try to be unique snowflakes and vote for Durant. But they are fucking idiots.

[Keller]

1) Magic was about as pure as a Point GUARD can get. Outside of being tall, he wasn't much of a Point Forward.

2) Twenty dollars says Sam Dalembert or some random loser off the 76ers gives Wilt a solid challenge. Players in this era are bigger, stronger, faster, and generally better than their predecessors. If you disagree with that, perhaps you need to toss on some short shorts-wearing random white guys trying to stick an elbow in McHale's back NBA, and then try to tell me otherwise. Watching ESPN Classic is like watching the WNBA. You don't do it, I don't do it, and there's a reason for it. Outside of Candace Parker or Pistol Pete, there's nothing worth watching.

3) I already made note of Lebron needing rings.

I don't even have the patience to respond seriously to this type of stupidity.

Really?

[Latrinsorm]

Oh and for the record, when Wilt was 25 he averaged 50.4 PPG and 25.7 RPG while playing every single minute of the season, 48.5 minutes per game.I remembered this one! He actually was 8 minutes short of every possible minute because he got thrown out of one game on his second technical. This is especially tricky because another great Wilt fact is how he never fouled out of a game due to personal fouls. In any event, this goes to show what I was saying before - Wilt averaged 39.5 FGAs a game that season, don't you think he could have made do with 30(!!!??) and passed another 10 times?

The thing that's always bugged me about Magic is how he was 6'8", defended guards, and never got any blocks. He got 9.6 rebounds a game one season, so it's not like he couldn't jump, right? What was he doing?

Westbrook is easily a top 7 PG, but that's more a commentary on the sad state of PGs in the NBA. It's hard to see him as a legitimate #2 guy on an elite team. Durant is clearly essential and indispensable, but so are Wade, Nowitzki, Carmelo. LeBron should be unanimous not because there are no other candidates, but because even guys who would ordinarily be contenders pale in comparison this year.

[AestheticLife]

Melo is far, far, far from "indispensable". J.R. Smith could pick up his personal scoring quite easily if Melo ever departed (and it would probably give Kenyon Martin a reason to start training again). If the Mavs had a viable second option at PF, I'd say the same about Dirk and RGB.

I'd stick Chris Paul on the indispensable list, though, even with Collison running around. Brandon Roy, too.

[Latrinsorm]

Like I said before, Paul is clearly the literally most valuable player, but he missed too many games this year and his team is awful, he's not going to get anything.

Carmelo is either the best pure scorer or second after Durant going right now. Even putting that aside, that JR Smith can't start over Arron Afflalo is argument enough against him, especially with a good coach.

[DoctorUnne]

Durant is 21. That is scary. I think he will wear down faster than LBJ though, his body isn't as durable.

Wilt played in a totally different era with no 3-point line, people hoisted shots all the time etc. More shots = more scoring and more rebounds. I bet if you adjusted Wilt's numbers for today's average # of possessions per game you would get numbers that while still impressive are not ungodly. Same reason why Oscar Robertson averaged a triple double. I think Kobe's 81 was harder to pull off than Wilt's 100

[Latrinsorm]

I looked that up once, the average points scored by a team in the first five years of Oscar Robertson's career was 10500 compared to 8000 in the past five years. This isn't a perfect measurement of pace or possessions, but without turnover stats or a way to measure possessions ending in free throws, it's a good quick read. It puts Oscar's triple-double season at 9.5/8.7, which is still pretty impressive but more on par with Magic's 9.6/9.5 (which would also be slightly deflated in today's numbers). Wilt's 50/25 would be a 38/19, which is still more points than anyone else and even edges out Rodman for rebounds among non-contemporaries. It's definitely a perfect storm kind of season, but the personal excellence (and naked selfishness) required is still staggering.

The fascinating thing to me about Wilt's 100 point game is that I heard a rumor that in it he took his free throws underhand-style, which could explain how such a terrible (and usual overhand) free throw shooter went 28 for 32. Why wouldn't he stick with it, though? Who knows.

[Latrinsorm]

So LeBron got 117 of 123 first-place votes. 4 went to Durant, 3 went to Dwight. I still think those voters are knuckle-heads, but at least nobody voted for Kobe. I'm really surprised Wade didn't get any love for dragging Jermaine O'Neal's corpse to 47 wins.

Dwight is by far the best defensive big man in the league, but the guy barely took 10 shots a game and led the league in fouls. Every team in the NBA had at least one player with more shots, and 27 had at least two. The Hawks and Knicks had four each!

Nobody can say that Durant literally contributed more, obviously. I think what a lot of people overlook as far as team comparisons go is that Westbrook and Green started 82 of 82 games and contributed 3000 and 2800 minutes, while the Cavs only got 2300 minutes from Mo Williams and 2200 from Anthony Parker. It's easy to say "well, Shaquille! Jamison!", but nobody was there the whole year. Doesn't LeBron have to be more valuable by the brute fact of succeeding with second-stringers for significant stretches? 4 people apparently didn't think so.

[Drew]

I'm really surprised Wade didn't get any love for dragging Jermaine O'Neal's corpse to 47 wins.



O'Neal was better than he looked in the playoffs during the season. Talk about costing yourself millions of dollars, it was a contract year for him. It's gonna be awesome watching Wade and LeBron in Miami next year!

[Keller]

O'Neal was better than he looked in the playoffs during the season. Talk about costing yourself millions of dollars, it was a contract year for him. It's gonna be awesome watching Wade and LeBron in Miami next year!

Miami pre-retirement - aka New Jersey, right?