2001 N.B.A. M.V.P.

[Spike]

So we're coming up on the All-Star break. In actuality, a little past the half way point of the season. Who's everyone's pick for this season's M.V.P.?

I got 3 candidates.

Chris Webber: Just having a spectacular year with the Kings. He's doing everything. Not only offensively but defensively as well (his blocks are up from 1.7 last season to 2.3 this year).

Kevin Garnett: After losing Malik Sealy and the punishment that David Stern handed down on Minnesota things looked really bleak for the Timberwolves but K.G. has prevented them from becoming disspirited and they are playing some awesome ball right now (they've won 10 in a row). Garnett's enthusiasm has really carried them.

Allen Iverson: For all the criticism that Iverson has brought on himself in the past, he's the best player on the best team in the N.B.A. And you've got to love the heart he's shown coming back earlier than most anyone expected him to from that hurt shoulder.

My vote goes to Iverson.

[iFroggy]

I'll go with Iverson.

[Marc]

As much as many critics hate him, I'll also go with Iverson. He played injured for much of the season and still managed to lead his team to the best record in the NBA.

Webber and Garnett also deserve credit, but Iverson is the Most Valuable Player to his team.

[J_Sinclair]

yeah, i don't think any of those players deserve to be the MVP. I think Vince Carter is the mvp, even though he doesn't average 10 rebounds a game, he'z still a hype player and without him the raptorz would stink. his dunkz make the raptors happy and when the raptors are hapy they play good, true story.

[Jersey Devil]

At the beginning of the year, nobody gave the 76ers a chance. Most postseason predictions had them slipping into the playoffs in the 8th spot. At the beginning of the year, nobody expected the 76ers to have the best record in the NBA. Look at the records now. If they don't end up with top spot in the East, I'd be suprised. And that's with about half the team on the injured list.

At the beggining of the year, all anybody cared about was when Larry Brown was going to trade Iverson, or what they would fight about next. I haven't heard a peep out of either two since then.

When Iverson got all those injuries, people expected him to be out 4-6 weeks, I believe. He was back after the next game. I don't think there's enough room in this message to talk about all the other injuries the little guy has suffered and overcome.

Allen Iverson started the year only scoring around 25 points a game. That's all the 76ers needed from him to win. Recently, with the number of injuries the Sixers have had (Speedy Claxton, Matt Geiger, Eric Snow, Toni Kukoc, etc.) ... Iverson's picked up the slack of not having those guys, raising his average to a measely 30 points a game (1/10th of a point behind Kobe). He also leads the league in steals with 2.5 per game, and he dishes out almost 5 assists per game -- for a shooting guard.

If the season ended today ... Iverson would be the MVP. The only other player that I could see getting this award (if Iverson didn't get it) would be Chris Webber, who is also leading his team to a great season and has great stats.