Longshot, but if the rockets manage to get to the 3rd seat somehow. Then i would think that TMac would have to be named MVP. Cuz from 9th to 3rd in one season is crazy.
Well, unless the Spurs take a mighty stumble, that ain't happening. For us to even have a chance for 4th means that we have to tear past the Mavs and the Kings. Remember, 3 divisions means the top 3 seeds are saved for division champs. Record only counts for homecourt, and not until AFTER the first round.
Unless we go on a crazy winning streak and move all the way up to the 4th seed i dont see T-mac even in the same sentence as Nash, Shaq, or Duncan as league MVPs. Even if we did move up all the way to 4th seed I still dont see T-mac actually winning the award.
Duncan and Garnett made their teammates better on a contending roster. He has the numbers, but the team hasn't gelled. And it's still not clear whether the system is geared towards Yao or Tmac if you want to make the Shaq argument. Whether it's his burden or the coaches, we're not winning because of that. On paper those are great numbers. But the MVP is a subjective poll with subjective writers. Personal stats is not enough.
Among the most important things dictating a players' chances of being named MVP for a season is how he played early in the season. Like it or not, the race basically begins after week two, where the writers assess all the surprise teams and contenders. If you stay relatively hot after those first two weeks and make a difference for your team up until the end of the year, then you have a real shot. 6-11 immediately knocks McGrady out of MVP consideration, like it or not. That awful start has put a sour taste in almost every NBA-analyst's mouth, as is evident in the way the Rockets are still called soft and disappointing. I don't care if McGrady averages 33 pts, 7, 7 until the end of the year.....we'll still be a 4th seed with that weak start and make it impossble for McGrady. Now, if we go far in the playoffs this year, people will then look at McGrady in the preseason as a candidate, and then we might have something to talk about next year. Alas, like most people here, I just want wins. Give me 50 and I'll say we had one hell of a year.
If the Rockets kick ass in the playoffs this year by winning at least two series and McGrady looks like a stud in the process (which he would), and the Rockets end up around 60 wins next year, TMac would be a contender for the MVP. However, if we finish 25-8 (75.7% win %) to get to 53 wins and TMac gets another couple W.Conference player of the month nods, we give him a chance. He'd have to shine in national TV games, of which we have many. We would also have to see something like the following. Seattle finishes 20-16 (55% win %) for a 53-29 record, and Dallas finishes 21-14 (60%) for a 52-30 record. Sacramento finishes 20-14 (59% win %) for a 52-30 record. We would be tied for the 3rd best conference record, and a great comeback story. I think that's too much to ask for....don't you? As long as Phoenix keeps on trucking, Nash has this wrapped up. With the rule changes, this has been the year of the perimeter player. As such, here are my rankings for the top 5. 1. Steve Nash - he may not have much gas in the tank, but he's head and shoulders above the field despite having the least physical advantages of the bunch. Defense is not his forte, but he makes up for it with how much he raises other's games. 2. LeBron James - stat sheet monster, it's amazing that he shoots around .490 with the weak free throw stroke (.739). He clearly has the best physical abilities of the group - but having not seen him I can't answer this question: is he clutch? 3. Tracy MacGrady - the new king of clutch city. He has a complete game, which is blossoming under JVG. Once known just for his scoring, TMac is an underrated defender and passer of the ball. Don't believe me? Ask JVG who calls on him for every key defensive stop or Scott Padgett, the biggest member of his fan club. 4. Ray Allen - probably the best stroke of the bunch. He leads the Mavericks North in their free stroking ways. He just doesn't contribute as much to his team as the top 3. 5. Allen Iverson - has raised his game this year, perhaps thanks to the new perimeter rules. Member of the infamous 74 club. (7+ assists - yay! 4+ turnovers - doh!) 6-7. (Steve Francis, Dwayne Wade) High flying, dynamic players. They are also ranking members of the 74 club.
