Nitro

This season? He'll probably get to 6th, assuming no injuries. By the end of his career, I expect him to pass Jordan and finish somewhere between MJ and Malone.

Too much Kobe at the end, and the Lakers bigs played like pussies.

Kobe's taking over, playing some great basketball. Right now the Lakers need Gasol and Bynum to get big, grab some boards and take some of the pressure off Kobe offensively.

I think the fact that Deng has been an 18PPG player this season and their best wing defender, along with the fact that the Bulls' role players have clearly played better the Heat's kind of makes up for that. As I said, not completely, but the difference isn't as big as people make it out to be. LeBron is the Heat's best offensive player who is producing more than Rose, and is clearly their best defensive player (while Rose is far from that on the Bulls, although he has definitely improved). On/off court stats are strongly in favor of LeBron, which I do think has some substance. I'm not completely ignoring the fact that Rose has been so consistent, but bottom line is for the season LeBron has been the better player and produced more, while being the more effective and valuable defensive player. Also, give me a break with the Heat's struggles in close games and whatnot. Look at the last month or so and all the crappy teams the Bulls have feasted on to shoot up the standings. Doesn't mean he doesn't deserve it.

Shaq got screwed out of one award because of the AI season, and the next season 3 seasons he missed 15 games a piece. He was also playing in years where there were stronger candidates than the likes of Rose and Amare. As for 2008, Kobe and Paul simply deserved it over KG. Not just based on value, but because they were the better players who produced more (KG's 19/9 or whatever he had in 2008 just doesn't cut it with voters). He also wasn't the team's closer. LeBron is still producing at a ridiculous rate, moreso than his peers, is the best defender on one of the 2-3 best defensive teams in the league, and he flat-out is the best player in the league. He also leads the Heat in clutch points, clutch assists and shoot 90% from the FT line in those situations. He has a far stronger case than Shaq did before 99 and after 01, and same with KG in 08.

I disagree. Yes, the Bulls have had injuries, but when Noah was playing he was playing better than Bosh, and when Boozer has played he has been better than Bosh. Deng has played very well this season, and their role players (Brewer, Korver, Thomas, Gibson) have been better than the Heat's role players. And take it for what it's worth, but when LeBron is on/off the court, there is nearly a 10pt difference, while with Rose there is only a 4pt difference. As I said before, Rose is probably more valuable than LeBron is, at least offensively, but I don't think the difference is as big as people think it is. If the Bulls finish with a better record, then Rose will have a much better case, but I doubt they will finish higher than Miami. Mixed those factors in with the fact that LeBron is the much better player who is producing more, and I just don't think Rose should win the MVP over LeBron.

Amare won't win it because the Knicks won't have a good enough record. Nowitzki has already missed quite a few games, and without Butler they've dropped in the standings and probably won't finish with a top 5 record. Rose you could make a case for, although with LeBron producing more and being the far better defender, the idea that he is so much more valuable than LeBron is kind of off-base IMO. Also, with how Wade struggled so much the first 20 or so games, with how Bosh struggled to fit into the team the first 10 games or so, with Miller and Haslem (their 4th and 5th best players) being injured, with their gaping holes at important positions, and with the fact that they put veteran minimum guys and 2nd rounders around the Big 3, I really do think James has comparable value to his team as Rose does to the Bulls. Maybe not quite as much, but certainly comparable. Couple that with the fact that LeBron is the much better player and is producing more, and I have a hard time giving the MVP to Rose over LeBron.

I think O'Brien's a good coach, and I'm a little disappointed they canned him, but it's not surprising. The team was underachieving, and in that offense they weren't utilizing Collison as well as they should have. I think if they give him more responsibility, the Pacers will start to pick it up going forward.

I think he deserves it. Generally speaking it goes to the best player on one of the 2-3 best teams in the NBA, and LeBron fits that description. He is easily the best player in the NBA, once again putting up crazy stats (26/7/7 on strong efficiency), is one of the 2-3 best perimeter defenders in the league (could make a case for him being the best), and the Heat are going to end up with a 1/2 seed assuming none of the Big 3 goes down for an extended period of time. In a year or two, when they get more role playing talent, I will buy that he isn't comparably valuable as other candidates are to their teams, but this year they have surrounded the Big 3 with veteran minimum contracts and 2nd rounders. Now that Miller is healthy that has gotten better, but for the first half of the season I think without James they would have struggled mightily. Maybe not quite as much as the Bulls would without Rose, but I think the huge gap between LeBron and Rose's abilities, as well as LeBron's advantages in the stats department, make up for the difference in value to their respective teams (which is something that's a lot harder to measure and is based off assumptions).

LMAO House with the big balls.

Spo is a robot and likes to use traditional lineups; it's why Arroyo, a traditional PG, started the majority of games this season. I think Spo is finally starting to open himself up to change, and in the last few weeks has used some lineups that are out of his comfort zone. As long as Wade is fine defending PG's, which I think he can do better than Chalmers/Arroyo/House, then that lineup should see the lionshare of minutes, even if they don't necessarily start.

GREAT first half of basketball, one of the most entertaining halves of the year. It started off a little slow for Maimi, and ended a little slow for OKC, but overall it was pretty close the whole way through. I'm happy to see Spo using the Wade/Miller/James/Bosh/[insert C] lineup, the first time all year it's been used if I recall (at least the first time it's been used since Miller started to find his groove). Definitely looked really dangerous the few minutes they were out there, and if Spo is smart he will give that lineup extended minutes come playoff time.

Spo has to give Dampier some burn, and get Joel the hell out of the game. Miami is getting killed on the boards.

I certainly think it can beat a championship-caliber team in a 7-game series. If they don't win a championship, it will be because of the offense and them getting beaten on the boards. I think the Celtics and maybe Bulls have less defensive holes individually than the Heat do, but the Heat's defense is absolutely smothering. I don't know where their ranking is now, but despite their lack of frontcourt help, they were leading the league in points in the paint a few weeks ago (before the injuries to Wade/James/Bosh), and Wade and James are amazing at closing out and contesting 3pt shooters. If you defend the 2 most efficient areas on the floor as well as the Heat do when healthy, then you have a defense capable of beating anyone (and it's not like they have poor individual defenders, either). He can't be any less mobile than Z or Dampier, and he offers the size that Joel lacks. I don't know if he can be a legit starting C for the Heat because I haven't seen enough of him recently to form that conclusion. However, I do think the Heat should try him out. Worst case scenario is he falls flat on his face and never resurfaces in a Heat uniform again. Best case scenario is he gives them some of the offense that Dampier and Anthony lack, some of the mobility Z lacks, and some of the size Anthony lacks. With Z breaking down and getting very little PT, and Dampier in Spo's dog-house, I see no harm in giving him a whirl. If he works out, then the Heat have a rotation C on a rookie contract, who will give them important depth once Dampier and Z are gone this summer. They don't need an offensive big, but it certainly wouldn't hurt. Joel can't finish at the rim and is scared to take a shot (he won't even look for passes), Z isn't getting many minutes and doesn't finish around the rim unless it's off the offensive glass, and Dampier's in the doghouse and also isn't a strong finisher. I think having a strong finisher will definitely help out Wade/James, especially come playoff time.

I never said he wasn't an [expletive], but since he's gone to the Celtics he's tried a lot harder to play dirty and do things to get into player's heads. He did some of that with the Wolves, but he's taken it to a new level the last few seasons.

KG is an [expletive]. I used to love KG back when he was with the Wolves; in fact, the first authentic jersey I ever bought was a KG Wolves jersey (the black won) during his MVP season. Since he came to the Celtics, though, he has gone overboard with his on-court antics. He has become really, really hard to root for. With that said, I would love it if I was a Celtics fan. He gets in people's heads and throws them off their game with his dirty style of play. He gives the Celtics an attitude and extremely unlikable swagger that helps them be the team they are.

That is what's not to like. Personally, I think Smith would be a huge upgrade over what they currently have at SG, but I think they can do better. Even if they have to give up some of their valuable bench players like Gibson to get it done, it'd be worth it. I don't like the S-Jax idea because it puts them in a 'win-now' mode, and right now it probably wouldn't put them over the top. If nothing is available right now that could put them over the top, then they should wait 'till the offseason or next season's trade-deadline before they get something done. That's why I like the T-Mac trade idea; they'd give up virtually nothing for a veteran minimum contract that will expire this summer, and it could potentially have a high reward. It could also give the team a better idea of what will or won't fit at the SG position.

1) Yes, the team was built primarily on defense, but with an offense so impetent and such poor talent, they never had a shot to do much come post-season team. Bottom line is you need a legit 2nd option who can create his own shot, and need TALENT. The fact that LeBron could post 38/8/8 in a series and the team still lose in 6 games proves that. There is nothing, especially in his last 2 seasons, more that could have realistically expected one man to do. Besides a prime Jordan, I've never seen a single player carry as much responsibility as LeBron did his last 2 seasons with the Cavs...he did EVERYTHING. Even in the days where Kobe had to do everything with the Lakers when his team was [expletive], he still had a guy in Odom to take some of the ballhandling/playmaking responsibilities away from him, and Kobe didn't put half the effort defensively those seasons as LeBron was doing his last few seasons with the Cavs (that's not to say LeBron's better than a prime Kobe, but what LeBron was doing was ridiculous). On top of that, he had to score at insane volume and create everything for his teammates in clutch situations. And he besides the sheer volume, he did everything extremely efficiently. If LeBron couldn't win a championship with all the things he had to do, no one can. He simply needed more. 2) I mixed up seasons, I forgot Mo wasn't on the team in 07-08. But, the reason they only won 45 games that season was because of injuries/shakeups in personel...Hughes, Gibson, Gooden, West, Wally, Pavlovic, Varejao, Wallace and Marshall all played less than 60 games with the team. The fact that they pushed those Celtics to 7 games shows the team they really were. You are severely underrating LeBron's defensive abilities. I've watched almost every single game the Heat have played this season, and he's easily the best defender on arguably the best defensive team in the league. He is a bit flat-fooded, and coupled with his huge frame he can't be expected to lockdown some of the quicker perimeter players in the league. However, he is extremely smart defensively, and does a very good job on all SF's, and completely locks down the more physical SF's like Pierce. However, the real area you underrate his defensive impact is with his help defense...he does far more than those chasedown blocks. He completely denies passing lanes, makes sharp rotations, and he contests 3pt shots off ball movement that 99% of SF's wouldn't be able to get to. To me, his work with his help defense is far, far more valuable than if he was simply a lockdown defender; along with Wade, they can shut down offenses without being a prime Artest with their on-ball defense. This made me LOL. I'mma start calling him Dorothy every time he takes a clutch shot this season.

I've only seen some highlights from Pittman in the D-League, but from what I hear he definitely can help the Heat at some point. He was actually measured at 6'11.5" with shoes, and even though he lost weight, he still has the build to play C on a pro-level. He can't be any worse defensively than Z is, and he offers far more size than Joel "the midget" Anthony does, along with more rebounding. He also seems to have a good, albeit very simple post game, which is something no Heat player besides Wade and occasionally Bosh possess. He is tearing it up in the D-League right now, and with the Heat's C situation being so sketchy, I do think they should give him a run (although it will never happen; the Heat are one of the worst franchises at giving young talent a chance to succeed). As for the Heat needing a defensive anchor, I disagree. They just need someone servicable. Z is starting to wear down and is simply too old, and Anthony is a complete liability offensive and on the boards. Spo refuses to give Dampier minutes, even though he might be the best of both worlds (although I hear is knees have been bad for quite some time as well). None of those C's should be starting on a champioship team. Ideally all the Heat need is a C with size that has a little mobility and can finish strong around the rim when given easy opportunities. They have a defensive system and capable enough defenders where they make up for each other's weaknesses, and can dominate on that side of the ball. The bigger area of concern is on the boards.

I disagree with him being the scapegoat. That first season without Shaq he certainly was because he was feeling the residual effects of the perception that he bounced Shaq out of town and the whole rape thing. It didn't help that he missed the playoffs that season with some halfway decent talent, but his injuries had a huge part in that. However, the next 2 seasons I feel the perception of Kobe changed dramatically. He was doing some historic things and leading a crappy team to the playoffs, which prompted MVP talk and the idea that he was unquestionably the #1 player in the league (which he was). Of course there were plenty of haters who would still rip him apart, but that is when Kobe's image turned from a negative one to a very, very positive one, and he gained the respect he deserved (which prompted me to write THIS article in 2008, which was the culmination of my Kobe love-fest...after that I cooled down and started to put his career into broader perspective). Early in his career LeBron's 2nd best player was Drew Gooden/Z. I don't care what makeup the team has, that team will never win. And you're overblowing that statement when talking about LeBron his first few seasons; in 05-06, only one player besides LeBron shot above 30% from 3 in the post-season, and that was Donyell Marshall. That season Hughes, Flip Murray, Varejao and Pavlovic all played about half the season or less, and only 2 players shot 34% or better from 3 that season, yet LeBron got them to 50 wins and a near-upset of the defending EC champion Pistons in the 2nd round. The next season he had the same garbage talent, but the players stayed healthy and shot a little better (although once again, only 2 players, Gibson and Hughes, shot 35% or better from 3 that post-season), and he got them to the Finals. The next few seasons he got some better talent, but his 2nd best player (Mo) choked in the post-season, and he ran into an amazingly well-balanced, all-time great defensive Celtics team two of those playoffs (the other against the Magic LeBron averaged 38/8/8 and was insanely clutch in the two wins the Cavs did have). Iverson's Sixers got really, really lucky that one season, and had the benefit of playing at a time where the East was arguably the weakest it's ever been. And Hakeem during the Rockets dynasty (if you want to call it that) was one of the 5-10 greatest players in NBA history, and simply dominated on both ends. He also had some really, really good role players around him, who knew how to come up big in pressure games. Not to mention they didn't run into a team as difficult as the '08 or '10 season. Nontheless, if you are going to use a prime Hakeem as the one guy who won with a similar type supporting cast, despite all the other factors, then that isn't a knock on LeBron at all. It's more of an ode to how amazing Hakeem was. As for LeBron being more clutch than Kobe, he certainly wasn't up until about 2 seasons ago. Now he's a monster in clutch situations, and that's just going by the eye test. I know the stats back it up, but no one is as good as LeBron is at taking over and winning games in clutch situations as LeBron is right now. For the last shot, I'd probably still take Kobe just because he has more ways of scoring, but I consider LeBron the better clutch player at the moment.

I don't blame you. When the Nets were really awful, including last season and this season to a degree, I couldn't watch full games. When you have young players with superstar potential, then it becomes easier to watch the games as you are watching exciting, young talent develop into something great. But, in the situation you guys are in, where Demar is probably your best prospect, then it's really unbearable to watch.

Haha, Cofidence, stop stealing RealGM topics word-for-word. I like the idea of sparking discussion, but make it a little more original. Anyway, it'd be a major improvement, but in a 7 game series I still think the Celtics, and maybe Heat would beat them (and maybe Lakers/Spurs). Also, by making a move for Jackson, who's like 33 years old with a fat contract, they would really be handicapping themselves to a 'win-now' mode. I think it'd be better to deal a draft pick and maybe Johnson to the Pistons for T-Mac, see what they can do with the upgrade, and if it doesn't work out he's a cheap expiring. If he works out really well for them, he can be a MLE level signing in the offseason, which is still cheaper than what Jackson would be. If they are looking for a long-term solution, then they could go after JR and Mayo, or maybe see if they can get into the Melo talks without having to give up Noah.

I miss afro Kobe. Even though he wasn't necessarily more athletic than a guy like VC, he had some of the quickest hops I've ever seen; he would just explode off the ground (his poster on Dwight Howard is a great example of what I mean). Thanks for sharing!

Agreed, but Abbot hits that term from a variety of 'accepted' ways...last possession with chance to tie or win game, last 5min when the game's within a certain reach, etc... I mean, if you want to compare him to a guy like LeBron, his individual post-season performances aren't exact mind-blowing either. He plays like a superstar and the Lakers win, just like they are supposed to. But, individually his level of clutchness is overstated, mainly because he's got so much talent mixed with killer instinct. However, at the same time, those Abbot stats do Kobe an injustice, like I said in my first post.

Only thing that bothers me about this article is that Kobe has been blessed with more talent around him than any superstar the past decade, so he's had far more opportunities to have those memorable career moments in playoff situations. The fact that he wins is a team accomplishment; Kobe plays like the superstar he is and the Lakers win like they are supposed to. However, a guy like LeBron has annually been a better individual clutch performer, has been a better post-season performer the last few seasons, yet is viewed as a choker because his teams haven't won championships. That is a faulty arguement to use pro-Kobe. When you counter individual stats with team accomplishments, then you are entering sketchy territory.