MVP Race: It's Already a Runaway

[Tammo29@xxxxxxx]

December 20, 2003
MVP Race: It's Already a Runaway 

Joe Schaller

TPR Formula Update: My formula has been fine-tuned recently to reflect 
disparity between values of offensive and defensive rebounds. Also Positional Norms 
has had a major change in status. See my feature "The TPR Formula" for details.


Last year the "Big 5" of Duncan, Garnett, McGrady, O'Neal and Bryant battled 
for MVP with the first 3 all deserving of the honor, a virtual toss-up. There 
doesn't appear to be much of a battle this year as Kevin Garnett 201 has 
skyrocketed to a level not seen since Michael Jordan was in his prime. While Tim 
Duncan 176 struggles with free throws and his usual ballhandling issues KG has 
elevated his scoring game to the point where now he essentially has no 
weaknesses, the "complete" player excelling at stellar levels of rebounding, defense 
and ballhandling. Dare I say if he continues at current pace it could be one of 
the top 5 season performances of all time. Downright filthy.

In the starry-eyed fantasy land of the mainstream media where missed shots 
and turnovers are of no consequence names such as Baron Davis 137, Paul Pierce 
142, Peja Stojakovic 139 and even Allen Iverson 116 have been tossed around for 
MVP.
One of the Most Improved, Davis was nasty with the threes yet has come back 
to earth.
Pierce's game is totally scandalous however the turnovers have been huge.
Stojakovic' pinpoint shooting is disgusting yet the team's game pace and poor 
defense must be figured in.
And Iverson? He is his normal turnover prone, 39% shooting, hugely overrated 
self. His game is definitely not filthy, not even wretched.

It is the whirling dervish Andrei Roadrunner Kirilenko 152 who has risen 
above those mere mortals. Considering his athleticism and skills I suppose you 
could call him a "Mini-KG". His upside potential is limitless. Kirilenko's game 
is flat out indecent.

As I mentioned in my Lakers analysis the Shaq-Kobe duo seem to be coasting 
while Karl Malone 136 and Gary Payton 124 develop their chemistry.

Overlooked: Number one overlooked player has got to be Shane Battier 140, 
another complete player who's only managed 568 minutes in Hubie Brown's platoon 
system. Hubie should have the sense to sit Mike Miller and let Shane and Bonzi 
run. Shane's shooting combined with only 13 turnovers is absolutely corrupt.
Shareef Abdur-Rahim 138 has been vile with 51% shooting and sordid 
rebounding, toiling in obscurity in the forgotten land of Atlanta.
Donyell Marshall 126 has been an allstar performer the last 3 years. What was 
Chicago thinking? He's decrepid.

Have I managed to annoy you with my use of negative adjectives in describing 
performance? I'm wondering where it all ends-- "desecrating the hole doing the 
big nasty with a perverted slam"?? That's totally sick.


Total minutes played are considered for my year end MVP ratings.


TPR scale: 120+ superstar, 100+ allstar, 80+ starter, 65+ bench, 60 = min wage


minutes__seasons top TPR

995__Kevin Garnett___201

812__Tim Duncan_____176

908__Andrei Kirilenko__152

991__Paul Pierce_____142

948__Shawn Marion__141

818__Kobe Bryant____141

568__Shane Battier___140

892__Peja Stojakovic__139

278__Elton Brand_____139

980__Shareef Ab-Rahim_138

743__Shaquille O'Neal_138

671__Kenyon Martin___138

1107_Baron Davis_____137

913__Jermaine O'Neal__137

746__Karl Malone_____136

990__Tracy McGrady__132

906__Zach Randolph__132

856__Jason Kidd______132

972__Michael Redd____131

917__Ron Artest______127

907__Manu Ginobili____127

760__Donyell Marshall_126

828__Yao Ming_______125

739__Corey Maggette_125

867__Brad Miller______124

777__Mike Bibby______124

761__Gary Payton_____124

http://schallertpr.rivals.com/content.asp?CID=249358


TAM