On merit, how can anyone other than Chris Paul be MVP this year?

I think Kobe will win it. I think you can make strong cases for four guys, which really is a good thing because there are tons of great players having great seasons right now. I think the final vote will go 1-Kobe, 2-KG, 3-Paul, 4-LeBron.

LeBron is having an unreal year, but he'll also have plenty more like this. He'll get his MVPs. But being the fourth seed in the East is too much to overcome when you compare the resumes of his competitors' teams.

 

I agree with the dancing hooligan on the left.

 

Paul should win it.

Kobe will win it.

 

I'm sorry, but has New Orleans already finished the season as the West's No. 1 seed?

Heck, a loss or two and they might not even have home court in the first round of the playoffs.

 

CP3 will be favored to win it next year if he follows up with another strong year.

The trend I've noticed about NBA voting is awards are earned based on accumulated reputation. A very select few (Kobe, LeBron, Nash) have earned it. Dirk earned it by leading Dallas to the finals and then a 67-win season, but then pissed it away with an epic playoff choke.

I definitely think CP3 has entered the realm of the superstar. (What's his contract status, anyway? Cuban would break four banks to get him. He's a four-banker. )

 

I think LeBron and Kobe have to be the favorites going in every year for the near future, though others like Paul and Garnett can have great seasons and enter the discussion.

 

Lifelong Lakers fan here, but I wouldn't be bitter if CP3 gets it. No doubt in my mind it's a two-man race at this point.

My prediction: 1. Kobe 2. CP3. As someone said earlier, this award does resemble a popularity contest, and Kobe trumps CP3 in that catetory. For now.

 

If Chris Paul does win MVP, may his trophy be a bronzed cup. Jock strap optional.

 

Or maybe just a punch from Hodge to make things even.

 

If that would even things with Julius Hodge, I'd be fine with it.

What really bothers me is I liked Chris Paul until he did that. Everything else points to Paul being a decent guy. But his shot to Hodge was cheap.

 

Completely agree. No matter what he does in his career, that cheap shot will taint him just a little in my eye. It was so blatant.

 

If the "he makes his teammates better" and other subjective criterias are applied to Paul as it was for Nash then no question he should be the MVP.

But that type of talk doesn't seem to follow Paul as much for some reason.