SI.com Power Rankings: Steve Kerr calls Yao an MVP candidate

Yao is an MVP candidate in the same sense that Elton Brand was an MVP candidate last year. He's a new name to throw into the mix, so it gives commentators something new to say. He won't be considered seriously, though, unless the Rockets win their division. If San Antonio or Dallas end up with a better record, then Duncan and/or Nowitzki will get more votes.

 

i dissagree. i think it comes down to getting into the second round of the playoffs.

kobe was second in MVP voting last season and he was no where near winning the division. it seems that making the playoffs with numbers to back you up, makes you a candidate. getting to the second round is what gives you a real shot at it.

of course, duncan and dirk will be in the second round too. maybe having a weaker team will be in yao's favor as the most valuable to his team.

 

Does the voting not occur before the playoffs?

 

The odd thing about all these 'experts' is that they say only in the playoffs will thye determine if Yao and T-Mac are dominant. I think someobyd should alert them that the playoffs are still a couple of months away and even the magical powers of Yao+T-Mac can't bring them closer.

 

I think they occur in the first round of the playoffs. Officially though voters are only supposed to consider performance in the season and not the playoffs. Remember Robinson got his MVP trophy in game 1 of the second round which promptly fired Dream up enough to dismantle Robinson.

 

I can't believe no one has pointed out that Kerr thinks the Lakers are the best team in the league right now even while admitting that they've had a really easy schedule with 16/20 at home.

 

Yes. The voting occurs BEFORE the playoffs. People don't realize this or just forget yearly.

 

Hell must have frozen over.

 

1. Yao is definately an MVP candidate.
2. Yao won't win the MVP for various reasons.
3. One reason is that Yao has never led his team in the playoffs.

So that means Yao isn't a SERIOUS MVP candidate until Yao performs well in the playoffs which means it won't be until next season ...assuming Yao plays well both this season and next.

 

That's a good point. But I think Yao can get some decent consideration if (big if) we win our division.

 

At his point Kerr could call Yao the greatest/worst player of all time, I don't care. He's written plenty of ridiculous statements in the past which show his observations are worthless.

It's a shame, because he's not bad doing game commentary.

 

Oh look, Steve Kerr got a new intern.

 

Kind of like Garnett before his MVP year?

 

for sure correct...

 

Kerr still is a donkey-f*cker

 

If Yao had 3 rings already, scored 81 points in a game, and won the scoring title, then no, we wouldn't need to win the division for him to be a serious candidate.

 

If Steve Nash can win it, anybody can.

 

Actually, he wasn't he was like a fourth or fifth behind Lebron, Nowitzki, and I think Brand.

Even though, he should have won it, since his team did make the playoffs, almost beat 2nd place team in 7 games, and had some many record-breaking performances.