At least that's how many feel, particularly those that are fans of the Miami Heat, Orlando Magic, and Los Angeles Lakers; fans that feel that their player has been unfairly banished from the race due to an early crowning by the media of Chicago Bulls point guard Derrick Rose.
This isn't a piece designed to undermine Rose, who has had nothing less than a truly great season. He's led his team to the best record in the Eastern Conference with a current record of 53-20 and has managed to do so without starters Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer for 30 and 18 games respectively. He is the only player who ranks in both the top ten in scoring and assists, an undeniably impressive accomplishment.
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| Is Derrick Rose really the MVP? |
But I can't help but wonder if this common understanding of "Rose for MVP" by the majority of fans and media alike, has more to do with exceeded expectations than anything else. Because before the season began many analysts and NBA writers figured the Bulls would finish no better than the fourth seed. Clearly, those expectations were low. Now, because a player proved a couple of doubters wrong and managed to keep his team afloat while two of his teammates were injured, the race is over? I don't buy that.
The award shouldn't be about expectations, it should be about who's the best. Because the best is always the most valuable.
Lebron James is the most physically skilled player in the NBA. Many would say he's the best in the league. So does this mean that if Heat teammate Dwyane Wade went down early in the season and missed 30 games just like Noah, that the MVP talk of James and Rose would be reversed? Surely James' stats would be inflated due to more time with the ball in his hands. And I think it's safe to say that the Heat would still be relevant without Wade, with Chris Bosh becoming even more effective as the second option.
Instead, James' shot at a third consecutive MVP has been lost due to a media perception that despite the facts, Rose is a more "clutch" player than James and more valuable to his team. But if your idea of value translates solely to wins and losses, then Rose isn't the MVP, it's the Magic's Dwight Howard. Take Howard off the Magic and you're talking about a mediocre team at best that probably doesn't make the playoffs.
But if you break down the numbers, you'll find that since the 2006-07 season, James has shot a higher percentage (22.0) and scored more points (31) in the last ten seconds of the fourth quarter or overtime than his supposed super-clutch teammate, Dwyane Wade.
Or how about just this season. According to 82games.com, with five minutes left in the fourth quarter or overtime with neither team ahead by more than five points, James ranks second in the NBA, scoring 48.7 points on .439 percent shooting. Rose ranks seventh, at 45.2 points on .375 percent shooting.
So what's more important? One or two buzzer beaters that give off the illusion of the so called "clutch gene," or better overall fourth quarter production?
Lebron was named MVP of the league in back to back years with a Cleveland Cavaliers team that he clearly made infinitely better. Without him, the team has crumbled to worst in the league.
My point, is that James is the same player as then. It should not be held against him now that he's surrounded with two other great players. If anything, he should be rewarded for still managing to maintain much of his stats playing alongside one of the best players in the league.
If Rose is your pick, fine. You won't get an argument from me. But to say it's so clear cut, well, that's simply not correct.
It's crazy how blinded some people are with hate when it comes to LeBron. If you look at the metrics for almost all arguments about him, the arguments of his supporting cast, not being clutch, etc. are all put the rest.
ReplyDeleteMost interesting stat about him that ends the "clutch" argument... with 10 seconds or less left in a one-possession game, he's a 30% shooter. Highest in the NBA. That's better than Kobe's 25%, the supposed ultimate closer.
Nice piece Drew!