Kevin Garnett for NBA MVP, Seriously
KG for MVP?
A LayupDrill.com Exclusive
The NBA Most Valuable Player award is often awarded to the player who puts up the most outstanding offensive stats on a very good team. There are times, when of course, the MVP award is given to the best player in the game at that time (Kobe Bryant last season), and there are times when it is truly given to the most “valuable” player of a particular roster(Steve Nash).
But when you think about the current state of the NBA, you would be grasping at straws to tell me the difference between the amazing offensive numbers Dwayne Wade and LeBron James are putting up. Then you have Chris Paul, who is leading the NBA in assists and steals. Of course, Kobe is keeping the Laker machine rolling. But nowhere to be found in the discussion is the heart and soul of the best team in the league, Kevin Garnett.
KG won the NBA MVP award as a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves in the 2003-04 season, in which he led the Timberwolves to a 58-24 record, was first team All-NBA, and led the league in rebounding with nearly 14 a game. This year may be just as impressive, but for different reasons. Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen were supposed to be content this season.
They realized their dream of winning the NBA title this past season, and they were supposed to ride off in the sunset. So what did they do? Behind the discipline and focus of Doc Rivers, KG has kept Boston hungrier for more.
Garnett has relished in his role as champion, and at times made his opponents hate him. We have seen him terrorize Jose Calderon, make a grown man cry on his own team just in the first two months. Yet no one has been able to make the champs shut up. Pro Wrestling Fans remember “Nature Boy” Ric Flair used to say, “To Be the Man, You have to beat the Man”.
KG is the face of the best team in the world today, and while every team circles the date on their calenders when Boston comes to town, so they can play their A game, Boston methodically picks apart each team, ripping away the hopes of their opponents fans each and every night. Naysayers will be quick to mention that Boston cannot keep up this amazing pace (24-2 at time of article), because they will get run down.
But one thing is certain, barring any injury, the road to the NBA Title will be going through Boston, and if you want it, you will have to pry it away from Kevin Garnett.
Garnett by the Numbers This Year
16.5 Points
9.5 Rebounds
2.6 Assists
Stats as of 12/18/08
