The 2007-2008 NBA Season Is Over, Now Who's the NVP?

Well, Bleacher Report and NBA fans, the 2007-08 NBA season has came to a close. As we anxiously await the playoffs, I've been pondering who's the league's "Not Valuable Player" and why.

As always, the players of the NBA have provided a tremendous season of game-winning shots, moves and upsets.

Some teams and players have been drowned by ineptitude, whether by under-performing and/or doing silly things.

In honor of my favorite sportswriter, ESPN's Bill Simmons' column for LVP (Least Valuable Player), I'm going to hand out my "Not Valuable Player" award to the player who exemplified the worst attitude, off-court behavior and least fulfilled expectations this season. 

In addition, I'll also determine the NBA's LVT award(Least Valuable Team) based on the same criteria.

As an added bonus, in lieu of the debate for NBA MVP, I'll state my pick and back it with facts. Kobe Bryant or Chris Paul?

So everyone get ready to party like it's 1999! Or 2008, for that matter.

P.S- If one of your favorite players or team makes it to this dubious list, don't get angry! There's still hope. Maybe next year. As usual, bring all the comments on! I'm wearing full-body armor!  

Candidates for the Samuel E. Bell Jr. NVP Award:

5. Jamaal Tinsley AND Jermaine O'Neal-(2 First Place Votes)

The entire Indiana Pacers front office must have more migraine headaches than Merril Hoge. You have a perennial all-star, who misses 40 games this season, was suspended in the past for beating up on fans half his size, averaged under 14 PPG this season, and missed 123 games since the 04-05 season and he's your power forward.

If that isn't bad enough, your point guard misses 43 games this season, was in a shoot out early this year, has missed 135 games since 04-05, and neither has played a whole 82-game season and both are staring down 30 years old. One word: Ouch!

4. Zach Randolph- (3 First Place Votes)

Zack Randolph. This guy can't win for losing. Let's see, he complains that Portland are losers and becomes a cancer for that team, leaves them for New York, Portland over-performs and nearly makes the playoffs in the loaded West with nearly a teenage squad, manages to make the Knicks worse somehow, hurts the development of Eddy Curry who has shown some flashes, averages his worst numbers since the 02-03 season and is on a team who loses more than Portland when he was there. Wow. At least he doesn't have to worry about going bald.

3. Shawn Marion and Dwyane Wade- (3 First Place Votes)

Okay, I plan on taking heat on this one, no pun intended, but it's well-worth it. Everyone on that college basketball NBA team, the Miami Heat should be on this list, but we'll handle that later. Talk about Tankapalooza, the Heat decide to shelve Dwyane Wade for the final 32 games of the season after the man was averaging 25, 6 and 5 "injured," and trade Shaq for Shawn Marion and promptly shelve him for the rest of the season. How convenient.

Are D-Wade and the Matrix REALLY not valuable players? Of course not, but they are this year so they make the list. One name: Michael Beasley. Let's see if Pat "I leave when things get bad and return when someone else fixes it" Riley will return. Word of advice: hang it up, Pat.

2. Tim Thomas- (5 First Place Votes)

The Los Angeles Clippers' season was done before it started. When Elton Brand and Shaun Livingston went down, so did the morale and heart of that team. Even quiet, good-mannered Sam Cassell wanted out of there. Who could blame him?

That team actually played with heart but didn't have the talent, but where was Tim Thomas? Mr. Playoffs for Phoenix in recent years was Mr. No Show in 63 games this season. He only shot 41 percent from the field, 31 percent from the 3-point arc and just disappeared on a team whose current star is Corey Maggette. His 12 point-per game average didn't help a team who desperately needed it.

I know one thing, he'd better talk to Mike Dunleavy, Jr. about how to reach potential or his career may be out with the winter.

1. Stephon Marbury- (10 First Place Votes)

This guy is just sad. He's like watching the final episode of a great show and knowing things won't be the same thereafter, like the finale "Friends" show when everyone moved out. We knew there would be years of repeats shown, but the luster was gone.

Marbury was this years "Friends." He started the season with the whole scandal with Isiah Thomas and Anucha Browne Sanders, in which he admitted to, "having sex with her in the back of his truck." She won a sexual harassment case against the Knicks (okay, Isiah) and was awarded lots of money. Then he had a well-publicized feud with Isiah in which he was barred from team events and said, "Isiah has to start me. I've got so much (stuff) on Isiah and he knows it." To top that off, he was shelved for the season for what appears to be a bogus ankle injury, is grossly overpaid, averaged just 13 ppg in 24 games, his least since the 98-99 season with Minnesota and is just downright selfish.

Congratulations, Stephon Marbury, you are the 2007-08 NBA's Not Valuable Player. Relish in your accomplishment, and don't be here again next year.

The Isiah Thomas Award For NBA LVT(Least Valuable Team)

5. Chicago Bulls- (33-49)

When you are a playoff team a year ago, are responsible for the fleecing on the Miami Heat, have Ben Gordon and Kirk Hinrich and monster expectations, we want more than 33 measly wins. Firing Scott Skiles as a knee-jerk reaction was a horrible idea. Better get on your knees and ask for the lottery to swing your way everyday. Add Michael Beasley to that lineup and success could be instantaneous if Luol Deng wakes up.

4. Seattle Sonics- (20-62)

Nobody expected ANYTHING from the Sonics but a preview of what rookies Kevin Durant and Jeff Green could do. They are both destined to be good NBA players, but unfortunately nobody else on that team is. I like the heart they displayed at the end of the season, and that rose them to this fourth spot. Unfortunately they may be on the move overnight like the former Baltimore now Indianapolis Colts, and Seattle fans can thank Chris Paul for being so damn good when the Hornets were in Oklahoma City.

Imagine if the Clippers were the team to spend the year in Oklahoma City. Maybe then the fans wouldn't salivate over having a team there. Oh well, at least Seattle still has Matt Hasselbeck.

3. Memphis Grizzlies- (22-60)

When I think of the Grizzlies, I can't get that line from the movie "Knocked Up" out of my head when the skinny quasi-militant guy says something dumb, and when the pudgy guy from "Superbad" yells at him, he says, "don't embarrass me in front of company." The "Superbad" guy responds emphatically, "you embarrass yourself!!!"

That's what the Grizzlies front office is saying about trading Pau Gasol to a championship contender for free. Every time Sportscenter revisits the trade, GM Chris Wallace is biting a pillow and trembling, saying to himself, "ESPN stop embarrassing us!" Chris, you embarrassed yourself!

2. New York Knicks- (23-59)

Isiah Thomas must have a coaching life of infinity. I don't know why he's still the coach, just as I don't know why Memphis Bleek still raps. Or does he? Anyway, the Knicks could win more games with Zach Randolph at coach. Hell, maybe they should hire me. This team is so bad I can't waste words talking about them.

1. Miami Heat- (15-67)

Has a team ever unraveled so fast? How do you win the finals in improbable fashion two years ago, lose to the upstart Bulls in round one the following season and win 15 games this year? This is how: you lose Alonzo Mourning, trade Antoine Walker, trade Shaquille O'Neal, lose Dwyane Wade and pick up Ricky Davis. Yes my friends, that's how it happens. Congrats to the 2007-08 NBA LVT. You guys earned it. Or maybe not, tankers. "Posers!"

2007-08 NBA Most Valuable Player- Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

I have to give it to you sportswriters, you have done an admirable job of hating Kobe Bryant, the best player we've seen since Michael Jordan. He currently has three titles and no MVP awards.

Nothing against Chris Paul because he is a hell of a player and I've loved his game since Wake Forest, but now you've found someone else to screw Kobe out of the award for. Give it a rest.

Kobe Bryant averaged 28.3  PPG, 6.3 RPG and 5.4 APG playing in all 82 games with a nagging pinky injury, and has no all-stars on his team despite picking up Pau Gasol later in the season. I won't mention CP3's credentials because they're everywhere. Point is, he has a all-star in David West, a sharpshooter in Peja Stojakovic and a experienced supporting cast. Kobe for MVP, for President for God sake.

Goodnight.