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["Jaims" <jaims@info.com.ph>]

      NBA MVP Watch:
      Can the Mailman keep it up?
      by Terry Brown
      Thursday, January 10    Updated 10:50 AM EST

      Karl Malone couldn't care less what you or I thought about the Utah Jazz
and their 1-4 start that turned into a 6-11 debacle and left him completely
out of the MVP running for the first time in his career.

      And he could care even less what you or I think about the Jazz now that
they're 18-16 and currently seeded sixth if the playoffs were to begin now
after going 7-4 in their last 11 games that included eight on the road.

      Or that he is that much closer to passing up Kareem Abdul-Jabbar as the
NBA's all time leading scorer.

      Who needs another MVP trophy? He got one back in 1999 when he averaged
23.8 points per game. He's averaging 23.5 now after putting up 23.2 last
season. In fact, he's even playing more minutes now, 38 to be exact, compared
to last season, 35.7, or the year before, 35.9, or even the year before, 37.4.
You've got to go back six years before you'll find Malone averaging as many
minutes as he is now in his 17th season.

      And in all those years, all those games, he's missed a total of seven
contests compared to the 1,307 he didn't, averaging 25.8 points per game to
bring him to a current total of 33,718.

      Only 4,669 left before he catches Kareem's 38,387 and immortality.

      Celtic great Robert Parrish played in a record 1,611 games. Moses Malone
totaled 1,329. Buck Williams finished at 1,307 and Elvin Hayes at 1,303. These
are all players at roughly the same height and weight but not nearly the
physique.

      At the current pace, Malone will need another 200 or so games to pass
the Laker Great, bringing the Mailman's game total to 1,506. Rain, snow,
sleet, sore ankle and bad back. Karl Malone will continue to average 20-plus
points a game for next couple of years not because he needs to as much as the
Jazz need him to.

      Sure, he's shooting a career-low 45 percent from the field. But he's
also shooting a career high 80 percent from the free-throw line. He's also
averaging more rebounds, more steals and more blocks than he did last year,
leading the team this year in points, minutes, rebounds and steals.

      The Jazz need him even more than he needs the record.

      And he could probably care less if his name never appeared on the list
below again.

            The Top 10 Contenders
            Tim Duncan, San Antonio Spurs
            Numbers: 25.3 ppg, 13.2 rpg, 3.7 apg, 0.7 spg, 2.7 bpg, 50% from
field, 0% from three, 79% from line

            As his supporting cast continues to get grayer, it is Tim Duncan
who is actually getting better with time. He may have committed 7 turnovers in
the last two games since his last blocked shot, but who on the Spurs is going
to mention it? He already just about doubles the second leading scorer on the
team (25.3 ppg to Steve Smith's 12.9) and second leading rebounder (13.2 to
David Robinson's 7.8).
            Kevin Garnett, Minnesota Timberwolves
            Numbers: 21 ppg, 12.7 rpg, 5.6 apg, 0.9 spg, 1.7 bpg, 46% from
field, 34% from three, 82% from line

            We touched on this during the last MVP Watch, but in case you
missed it, the consummate roundball handyman just added some more artillery to
the arsenal. Last year, Kevin Garnett totalled 19 three-point baskets in 82
games on 28%. This year, he's totalled 17 three three-point baskets in 33
games on 34%.
            Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers
            Numbers: 25.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 5.8 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.4 bpg, 49% from
field, 32% from three, 85% from line

            What superlatives we have left for this kid will have to be saved
for future exploits. Suffice it to say that as he continues to handle the ball
more and more for the Lakers, again leading them in assists for the second
year, he is totaling fewer and fewer turnovers than ever before.
            Shaquille O'Neal, Los Angeles Lakers
            Numbers: 25.9 ppg, 11.1 rpg, 3.5 apg, 0.8 spg, 2.4 bpg, 55% from
field, 0% from three, 50% from line

            Isn't it nice to be the biggest bully on the block and still have
the luxury of picking your fights? His scoring, rebounding, blocks and
shooting may be down to near career lows, but that hasn't stopped him from
challenging the league's referees, leadership and credibility. But I guess you
get to do that when you step out of your shirt and tie and beat down the next
three opponents by an average of 30 points.
            Michael Jordan, Washington Wizards
            Numbers: 24.4 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 5.4 apg, 1.6 spg, 0.4 bpg, 41% from
field, 14% from three, 82% from line

            Forget the 96 points in two nights. Believe it or not, MJ is off
to his worst month of his comeback thus far but that's only the beginning of
the quandary he's dropping on the rest of the league as the Wiz are but a game
and a half from not only making the playoffs, but having homecourt advantage
for the first round. Jordan's led them to an 8-2 record over the last 10 while
the only four teams ahead of him in the East are a combined 23-17 in that same
period.
            Jason Kidd, New Jersey Nets
            Numbers: 14.3 ppg, 7 rpg, 10 apg, 2.1 spg, 0.2 bpg, 36% from
field, 32% from three, 81% from line

            On Dec. 27, Jason Kidd scored 4 points on 1 of 11 shooting as the
Nets defeated the Pistons by 13 points. He also had 18 assists. On Jan. 2,
Kidd scored 2 points on 1 of 2 shooting as the Nets defeated the Grizzlies by
18 points. He also had 14 assists. So far this season, Kidd has failed to
reach double digits in the scoring column on five occasions as the Nets have
put together the best record in the entire Eastern Conference at 22-11..
            Paul Pierce, Boston Celtics
            Numbers: 26.8 ppg, 7 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.9 spg, 1.2 bpg, 42% from
field, 41% from three, 82% from line

            We can sit here and talk about his scoring all night, but when
Paul Pierce decides to play defense, and I'm not talking about those nice
numbers on the line above, I mean really get down and dirty, he is, perhaps,
the one player who could stop himself when he's hot. As it stands, he gets 2.4
steals and 1.5 blocks when the Celtics have won and only 1.1 steals and 0.7
blocks when they've lost.
            Tracy McGrady, Orlando Magic
            Numbers: 25.6 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.2 spg, 0.8 bpg, 45% from
field, 38% from three, 80% from line

            Three reasons to love T-Mac. Last game, he checks in with one of
his all around games at 21 points, 7 boards, six steals on 50% shooting. The
game before, he spreads the love around on a bad shooting night with 17
points, 10 boards, 8 assists, 3 steals and a block. The game before that one,
he unloads for 35 points. All three Magic wins. All three Tracy McGrady.
            Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas Mavericks
            Numbers: 23.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 2.2 apg, 0.8 spg, 0.8 bpg, 47% from
field, 37% from three, 84% from line

            He may have only gone 8-for-28 in his last attempts from long
distance for a very humble 28%, but he's also blocked 7 shots in the last four
games. Not to shabby for a guy still trying to create himself.
            Gary Payton, Seattle Sonics
            Numbers: 22.6 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 8.9 apg, 1.4 spg, 46% from field, 30%
from three, 81% from line

            His numbers are close to career bests and Payton was supposed to
be on the downslide of his career. Instead he's changed his attitude, taken on
a more leadership role and has quietly led the Sonics to a winning record in
the tough, tough West. He's one of the rare points guards who can do it all --
defend, make the right pass and score at will. Think the Sonics are glad that
they hung onto Gary this summer?

      Dropped out: Antonie Walker, Vince Carter, Peja Stojakovic