2008-09 NBA Regular Season MVP: And The Winner Is...

I’m a fan of the Miami Heat. For this reason, most would likely assume my pick for this year’s NBA Regular Season MVP would be my team’s superstar, Dwyane Wade; better known to Heat fans as "Flash."

However, those assumptions would be incorrect.

While I definitely believe D-Wade deserves to be in the thick of things when it comes to discussions of this year’s MVP, I actually look to a player I’m hopeful Miami will eventually pair up with Flash, LeBron James, as the man most deserving this year of the award.

Certainly D-Wade, and Kobe Bryant have put up numbers that make them prime candidates for the award. Others deserving consideration are Chris Paul, Dwight Howard, Dirk Nowitzki, Deron Williams, and even Yao Ming.

Then again, as many know, there are only four players getting serious consideration for the award; LeBron, Kobe, D-Wade, and Chris Paul. Of those four, I will concentrate on the three other than Paul; who seem to garner the greatest number of votes in online polls for the award.

D-WADE

Dwyane Wade has averaged a career-high 29.2 PPG this season, along with 5.0 RPG, 7.4 APG, 2.2 SPG, and 1.4 BPG. What’s most notable about these numbers are his blocks. 

He’s a 6-4 shooting guard and is 23rd in the league in this statistical category, ahead of such NBA big men as Rasheed Wallace, Erick Dampier, Kevin Garnett, Lamar Odom, Kenyon Martin, Amar’e Stoudemire, and LeBron James.

He’s also led his team, almost solely on the strength of his statistical excellence alone, to a record of 31-28 coming into tonight’s game against the Phoenix Suns; an improvement of 16 games over last year’s woeful season, with 23 games left to play.

Such accomplishments should not be overlooked.

KOBE

Kobe Bryant also has led his team to a marked improvement, as the Lakers find themselves with the best record in the NBA at 49-12.

Bryant’s numbers this season obviously have a lot to do with this, as he’s averaged 28.1 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 4.9 APG, and 1.3 SPG.

His floor leadership, however, has been even greater than his numbers, as he’s helped meld a team of disparate characters into a true championship contender.

KING JAMES

Yet, despite D-Wade and Kobe’s brilliance this season, LeBron James edges them out by just a little in my view.

He too has put up huge numbers, averaging 28.5 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 7.0 APG, 1.7 SPG, and 1.2 BPG.

More important than the statistical numbers he’s put up though, is the fact he has Cleveland right behind the Los Angeles Lakers for the best record in the NBA at 47-12.
This is more impressive than D-Wade’s or Kobe’s contributions to their clubs for two reasons.

First, No one really thought the Cavaliers would be this good this year, despite the addition of Mo Williams. They’ve set franchise records for wins over their first 69 games, and seem to be a true favorite to win it all this year.

Second, while Kobe’s Lakers have a better record (although LeBron’s Cavs have played two less games and could equal the Lakers mark), Kobe has far more established talent surrounding him.

Pau Gasol is a perennial All-Star. Lamar Odom is that kind of talent as well, and has shown it this season, and Derek Fisher has been playing at an All-Star caliber level for years.

Moreover, while Andrew Bynum is currently injured, his play this year and known talent is unquestionably better than that of any big man playing for the Cavaliers.

Cleveland, on the other hand, has surrounded LeBron with some rather dubious talent.

They have put such players around LeBron as Wally Szcerbiak (a former All-Star, but hardly that his past few seasons in the league), Anderson Varejao (a decent forward-center, but nothing that isn’t available all over the NBA), Zydrunas Ilgauskas (a center whose All-Star days are long behind him even if he can still hit the outside jumper), and Delonte West (a capable, yet fully unproven guard).

About the only true All-Star talent they’ve put around LeBron, is Mo Williams, who, while an All-Star, is nowhere near the talent Pau Gasol is.

I must talk about the Heat as well. Without doubt D-Wade is surrounded by even less talent than LeBron.

The Heat have a rookie point guard in Mario Chalmers (talented, yes, but very raw), a very undersized power forward in Udonis Haslem, a questionable talent in Jermaine O’Neal at center, and their first option off the bench is another rookie who has yet to prove himself; Michael Beasley.

Nonetheless, while I’ll be the first to say that Miami’s record of 31-28 shouldn’t exclude Dwyane Wade from seriously being considered for the MVP, especially considering what an improvement over last year it is, I do recognize that a team’s excellence needs to play a part in the decision.

So, while I’m a Miami Heat fan and the biggest fan of D-Wade on the planet, LeBron gets my nod this year (so far) for the NBA Regular Season MVP.