For most of the season, talk of the NBA MVP award has centered around Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns. The talk wasn't exactly unwarranted, even if incorrect, as Nash was the featured signing for Phoenix during the offseason.
Still, should Nash walk away with the hardware? The turnaround in Phoenix in amazing. From a team well below .500 to the best team in the West. How can you argue with that? By breaking it down a little further.
Nash is not the MVP because you don't put any four players on that team and find the same results. You put Nash on a team that already has quality and you let them roam. There are three other players out there that are having MVP-caliber seasons, three guys that make the difference for their team and simply can not be replaced.
It would be wrong, however, to not start this column off by mentioning what Nash has done for that Suns team.
Twenty-nine wins to 62 wins. It's a huge jump for the team and Steve Nash was the biggest acquisition during the offseason. MVP, though? Not so fast.
Amare Stoudemire has stepped up his game, but that was expected. He went from 13 points a game in his first season to 20 and now to 26. Stoudemire is quickly becoming one of the best young players in the NBA. Shawn Marion's scoring is where it was in previous seasons, but he has stepped up his rebounding a bit, which is more a product of their tempo than their point guard. Quentin Richardson wasn't with the Suns last season and is producing as expected. Joe Johnson became the player he is now when they made him a 40 minutes per game guy last season, not this season with Nash onboard.
Someone tell me where Steve Nash became the MVP in all of this?
What the Suns needed to bring in was a point guard who wouldn't didn't also feel the need to carry the team. Or want to carry the team. It was obvious that Stephon Marbury was not a proper fit in Phoenix. Getting rid of Marbury, who was out of place with the Suns and failed to recognize the talent around him, was the most valuable move that the Suns could make. After that it was simply a matter of finding the guy that could best utilize the talent around him.
That person is Nash, which doesn't instantly make him the MVP. Nash is in a great situation to succeed because of the type of game that he plays. Nash is not the MVP of the league, but that isn't a knock on him.
Plus, he doesn't play a whole lot of good defense and there's a pretty good chance that this comes back to haunt him and the Suns during the playoffs. Making Nash the MVP is jumping the gun.
With Nash, how does an MVP candidate's former team do better without him?
If you want to talk about players from the Western Conference who should be considered for the MVP award, toss Dirk Nowitzki's name around.
This year, he stepped up his scoring and the team didn't miss a beat after losing Nash. For a healthy chunk of the season, the team was unsettled at the point guard position, but still managed to win 58 games. Which was an improvement from last season and just about where they were at two seasons ago.
However, the two main MVP candidates are in the Eastern Conference. One comes from a team that is going to make a playoff run and one that will likely be done in the first round.
Starting with the guy who will be done in the first round, you look to Philadelphia and their point guard, Allen Iverson. Iverson, however, isn't your typical MVP candidate in that the Sixers finished seventh in the Conference and shouldn't make a playoff run.
Still, Philadelphia won 10 more games than last season and much of that has to do with the improved play of Iverson. Iverson is having his best season ever as a pro and is doing things this season that many of his critics thought he would never do. This isn't talk about Iverson's numbers. Yes, the points are there. Yes, the assists are there now. But, more importantly, Iverson makes his teammates better.
That is something that couldn't always be said about Iverson. When he first came into the league, it was the obvious knock on Iverson. Now it's hard to make that argument. Iverson sets the tempo for the rest of his team.
Where you really notice Iverson's impact is when he is not on the court. That sounds strange, doesn't it? Well, it's not. In the past, Sixers teams have looked lost without Iverson on the court. Now they play with a different intensity and a definite confidence. Iverson has put more trust in his teammates this season than ever before and that is the best change that he has made.
But, can you hand Iverson the hardware with Shaquille O'Neal out there? The Heat went from 42 to 59 in the win column and more importantly, made the jump from a playoff team to a team that now has a legitimate chance to win the NBA championship.
We all know what Shaq's old team is doing during the NBA playoffs ... excuse me, we know what they are not doing during the playoffs.
The Lakers sit at home while O'Neal moves on. Sure, Dwayne Wade has been a large part of the 59 wins, but Wade without Shaq would not be the same playoff threat.
And, in the end, that's what it's all about. Shaq is the MVP because without him, no one takes the Heat seriously. They could win a first-round playoff series, maybe a second, but not much else. The difference that O'Neal makes for his team is not matched by anyone else in the league.
Does O'Neal need Wade to win the NBA title? Sure, but without O'Neal, Wade isn't going to get there.
April 28, 2005
Sasha:
In defence of Nash:
“Amare’s scoring increased … to 26 points per game” Was this JUST by the virtue of his skills?
Nash did not help him with this???
“Marion’s increased rebounding is because of tempo, not point guard”
WHO sets their tempo????
“Shaq turned a playoff team into championship contender”
This is just dumb- EVERY playoff team is a championship contender, besides, Nash turned NON-Playoff team into championship contender…
“Iverson’s team won 10 more games this year”
Suns have won 33 games more!!!
“Iverson’s value is seen when he’s out of the game”
What about Nash??? Suns are 2-5 when he’s missed games. When he’s on the bench, other teams make their runs (usually to try to catch-up with the Suns)
If you write a sports column, at least try not to use double standards.
Just look at the things you use to praise Iverson and Shaq:
Won more games, make teammates better, you can see how valuable a player is when he’s not on the court… All these things are GREAT when making a case for Shaq or AI, but not used when making a case for Nash???
Give me a break!
Nash for MVP !!!!
April 28, 2005
kobe>>aka>>unstoppable:
ur such a fruit mann lok at u goin for shaq..ok i think ur one of those player guys who only likes one player and nobody else..u like shaq and thas wats wrong wit u lok at this mann fisrt u diss on lakers like crzy and now u root fro miami cuz shaq is there wth is wrong wit u mann..ok iverson let tlk bout him..he only gets wat he has in his ststa comlumns because he ball hogs…his teammates suckk…shaq….without shaq yes there Still a playoff team without wade they are a playoff team cmon its jus like a one-two punch here kobe shaq, wayde shaq nm more shaq only good with another good player to do his dirty work for him he cant do nythin on his ownn…..and now nash..cmon wen hes out they suckkkkkkk and wen he sin they the best in the league not just west even east …they have a better record then miami look at this shaq goes into a playoff contender and makes them a title contender and without him they still be a playoff contender….nash makes a non playoff contender to a playoff contender and a title contender…pheonix has more wins then ever before…..without nash theyd be nm..not even a playoff conetender…without shaq maimi would still be somethin a plyoff contender..mann i think ur juss a hater…
NASH for MVP
April 29, 2005
Mike:
When the Lakers stay home that’s evidence in favor of Shaq, but the ‘03-‘04 Suns are not evidence for Nash?
Wade ups his game and Shaq gets credit. Amare ups his game and Amare gets credit?
When Iverson’s on the court? Iverson? Argument works for A.I. and against Nash?
Why is O’Neal the M.V.P.? I have one answer: Sportswriters get to vote.
I had the good fortune of seeing these two men on the court at the same time early this season. Believe that Nash can still own the court after 40 minutes. Know that Shaq cannot even run the court at that point.
April 29, 2005
Joe:
I agree with you completely about Steve Nash. Claiming that a 31 year old horrible defender with the career numbers of Nick Van Exel is the reason two huge breakout players are having breakout years is jumping the gun.
The SUns didn’t need Steve Nash. They needed ANY point guard.
The Heat, on the other hand, needed Shaquille O’Neal to be where they are.
Many people claim Steve Nash was the biggest acqusition on that team but Q himself has better career numbers than Nash, Amare wasn’t healthy last year either (Missed 21 games- health is a huge factor in performance, ask Jordan’s second season!), and Nash himself is having a career year.
In the meantime, SHaq has proved his worth for the third time, after leaving Penny Hardaway to rot as a dud, Kobe Bryant to sit out the playoffs and the 1st and 2nd all-NBA teams, and taking the backups of the 42-40 team to a possible finals. Kobe got the quality on that Miami Heat team. Shaq got the third best player onthat team (Wade) and 40% shooter Eddie jones. The rest is a whole new ballgame and Shaq has propped up the cast all year, making them consistent threats every night.
Nash is having a career year because Nash is being propped up. That whole Suns team is the MVP of the west, not one single player is to blame for that. Nahcould have been any point guard.
But Shaq can only be Shaq.
April 30, 2005
antoneo:
doug.
i wonder if you are watching the same nba basketball i’ve been watching all season. no disrespect, but your evaluation of nash and the suns is ridiculous. nash is the mvp. no question.
it is reallly easy to discredit nash. but there is not any other player in the league today who can set people up the way nash can. he makes everyone he plays with a threat (you cant say that about shaq). the other 4 in the suns starting lineup are having fantastic seasons BECAUSE of nash. period. d’antoni looks good with his run and gun offense BECAUSE of nash. period. everything works so well because of him.
lets look at shaq. just look the heat without the big man. they’re fine. not great but still fine. dwayne wade has been so exciting to watch this year, but not BECAUSE of shaq. the suns are exciting to watch, in fact the most exciting team to watch since magic’s lakers, BECAUSE of steve nash.
ask the players and coaches who they think is the most dangerous player in the nba this season. certainly some would say shaq, or iverson, but that is about their individual performance, what they do for themselves. when players and coaches speak of nash they are speaking of him as team. when a player is talked about in terms of a team, THAT doug is the the meaning of most valuable player.
it is unbelievable how much nash is getting pissed on because he happens to be an amazing player not because of any physical attribute, but because he knows the game better than anyone. period.
so talk all you want about iverson and shaq and whoever else, but it ain’t the journalists who choose the mvp who are playing with nash or against him. i could rail on for a good long time but it would just be wasting your time, right? you’ve decided on your mvp: anyone but nash.
ridiculous….
antoneo.
May 3, 2005
Joe:
allen the man for Mvp and that’s the end of the question
May 4, 2005
catcath:
nash and shaq are graet players but the mvp should play the mvp plays…….iverson domates all the qulities of an mvp,forget the points,steals ans assists, mins per game……….the team has grown with iverson’s new attitude in playing….that should be rewarded……….IVERSON FOR MVP.lave him so much
May 4, 2005
catherine:
iverson for mvp!!!!!!!really awesome performance this season….we only admire shaq and nash because they were new in a team then suddenly the team improve’s,but its not only them…..its their teamate,that should be,the most valuable teamates…..
sixers improves also,,,,,a lot of new players but still iverson did a great great numbers this season………if shaq and nash finishes the season then they should have competed at finlas mvp
May 6, 2005
Jimbo:
Two questions: 1) how can you be the MVP if you are a below average defender (like Nash is)?
2) If every year the NBA had a full on fantasy draft (like in a video game), where would Nash go? He’d be lucky to crack the top 10… how can he possibly be MVP?
May 6, 2005
Homer:
Nash for mvp, look at the suns record with him out of the lineup
May 6, 2005
asdf:
If anybody had a body like shaqs they could put up numbers better than his. He isn’t even that skilled
May 8, 2005
chris:
shaq will totally be mvp. he is the best choice. because he makes his teammates better…
May 21, 2005
Marc James:
Is there any doubt Nash should have been the MVP now? He just had the most dominant three-game stretch of any PG — ever. I didn’t think so.
May 23, 2005
Bob Smith:
Iverson for MVP,
he is the best player in the NBA.
He made his team win without anyone to help him. Did Nash? I think not.