Can Anyone Stop a LeBron Repeat?

Sports betting players are gearing up for the stretch run to the NBA playoffs, which means it’s time to start thinking about who will win the MVP award this year. It looks to be a foregone conclusion that LeBron James will win for the second straight year, but here is a look at four other candidates who could possibly wrest the honor from him.

LeBron James, Cleveland

Not only is he the most dynamic player in the game, James really is the most valuable player in the league. Can you see Cleveland with the No.1 record in the league if James wasn’t on the team? He’s a triple-double threat each and every time he steps out on the floor, and it wouldn’t even really be a surprise if he ends up averaging one for a season, and soon.

Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Bryant is hurt in this category as the Lakers actually went 4-1 in a five-game stretch in which he was injured, but if your team is taking the last shot to win the game, who do you want with the ball? Bryant has won a few games this year with last-second shots, and he still has the strongest will in the game.

Kevin Durant, Oklahoma City

Even though his Texas Longhorns have fallen out of the race according to 2010 March Madness odds, Durant has powered the Thunder to a possible homecourt advantage in the playoffs as perhaps the biggest surprise of the season. Durant could be the best pure scorer in the NBA, and he’s improved his defense as well. No one expected the Thunder to be this good this soon, and Durant’s ability to score from anywhere is the main reason.

Jason Kidd, Dallas

Kidd is probably the longshot of the group, but he ranks in the top five in steals and assists, and most surprisingly, he’s having the best three-point shooting campaign of his career. Kidd his averaging his age in minutes per game (36), and the Mavericks are pushing Denver as the second seed in the Western Conference. Dirk Nowitzki and the moves to get Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood have been important, but Kidd steers the ship. We’re betting management isn’t so upset about the Devin Harris trade anymore.

Dwyane Wade, Miami

This inclusion is more of a testament to how little help Wade has. Without him, the Heat are barely a university team. The Heat are 2-3 when Wade has missed a game this year, and one of those wins came in New Jersey, which doesn’t really count. The Heat have to get some help for Wade or he’ll bolt in the offseason, which would be a disaster in south Florida. Put it this way: if the Heat were in the NCAA Tournament without Wade, right now, would you wager on their March Madness odds? I think not.