The NBA’s Most Valuable Player

The 2007-'08 is nearing its conclusion, and we can all agree that it has been one of the most exciting season of hoops in this or any generation. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen resurrected the proud Boston Celtics franchise. LeBron James continued his catapult toward the league's best. And who could forget Dwight Howard's Superman dunk?

In the West, it looks like a 50-win team will not make the playoffs. New Orleans and Los Angeles have been fighting tooth and nail for the top spot, with the Lakers finally taking it. Houston went 22 games without losing. The Lakers traded for Pau Gasol and set off a domino effect of epic proportions. Phoenix brought in Shaquille O'Neal, and transformed into the Big Cactus. Dallas followed suit, and traded for Jason Kidd.

The postseason will be even better.

While everyone gears up for the second season, one debate has risen to capture every talking head, every radio show, and every website. Who deserves the MVP?

Last year, the argument centered on Dirk Nowitzki and Steve Nash. Nowitzki won partly because his team had won 67 games, and the thought of giving Nash a third straight award scared many off.

This year's contest is not only harder, there is no right answer.

Some say it's a four-man race between James, Garnett, Kobe Bryant, and Chris Paul. I believe it's logical to throw out the two East Coast combatants. James led the Cavs to a four seed in the weaker Eastern Conference. If the voters couldn't give it to Bryant in years past because of the overall team performance, there is no way James can win it this year.

As great as Garnett has been, his campaign has been tarnished, as well, mostly because he has two other superstars on the team, Pierce and Allen.

Which means, if I carry the two and add the one, it's between CP3 and the Kobe.

Both players are having outstanding years; both guards are the quintessential leaders for, arguably, the two best teams in the Western Conference and both have the numbers to backup an MVP award. How do you decide?

It's easy when you break down the root of the award. Who is the Most Valuable Player for his team?

You can start by looking at just wins and losses. Kobe has started every game this year and has led his team to the top of the West. Paul has his squad nipping at the Lakers' heels, and in the two games Paul missed, the Hornets went 1-1, beating Minnesota and falling to Orlando.

No one really takes the edge here.

Individual performances however, are a different story.

Chris Paul nearly missed becoming the first player to finish the season with 20 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals, but still became the first player to end the year with 20 points and 10 assists since Tim Hardaway did it 14 years ago. When the Hornets need him to step up his game, he does, and when they need CP3 to be a distributor, he concedes. Although most of the time, he does both. The Hornets guard is averaging 21 points, 11.6 assists, and 2.7 steals.

The stat that jumps out at me however, is the numbers accompanying New Orleans' losses. In those games, Paul is averaging a shade over 32 points and nearly 10 assists per game. His points increase, and his assist drop. It almost seems as though Paul abandons the need to distribute and tries to carry the game on his own. Teams welcome this attitude. Paul is a lot less dangerous when he is taking the shots compared to finding his teammates and getting everyone involved, making it almost impossible for him to be stopped.

As for Bryant, there was never a need to backup his statistical production. It was always when will he start to distribute, trust his players, and make everyone better? That day has finally arrived. Bryant is playing the best ball of his career. His numbers are down, but it's the intangibles that have made him so incredible this year. Bryant, for the first time since the Dynasty Lakers, smells the championship, and for the best player in the NBA, that's all he needed. This year, against San Antonio, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, New Orleans, Boston, and Detroit, only the Rockets and the Celtics hold an advantage in the season series.

While Paul has been playing with a full deck the majority of the season, the Lakers have not had all the pieces for one game since Gasol was traded to Los Angeles. Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol combined to miss more than 60 games this season, but the Lakers have not missed a beat. Bryant is also playing with a hand injury requiring surgery at the end of the season.

The man is playing in a different atmosphere and now has the team chemistry and record to deserve the MVP.

Let it be known that I am not a Kobe-holic. I just enjoy good basketball, and no one this year has been more valuable to his team than Kobe. Although this is not new, what is new is Bryant involving his teammates, the Lakers have backed him up with their record, and now there is no reason for Bryant not to be named MVP.

The same can be said for Paul and what he has done for not only the Hornets, but for New Orleans. Many believe the success of the Hornets saved basketball in the Emerald city and Paul, along with David West, Peja Stojakovic, and Tyson Chandler are the main reasons for it. Paul has shot to the top of the point guard echelon and there is no logical explanation to say otherwise. If you chose Paul for MVP, you wouldn't be wrong. But when it comes down to who is the Most Valuable Player...

It is as simple as 8 + 8 + 8.