[Tommy]

Nash!? The Real MVP In the NBA Is Iverson
by Rick Brown

The media are quick to point out another's errors. From Shaquille O'Neal's free-throw shooting (horrendous), to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays' ownership's money-spending (cheap).

The media always know what's wrong and how to fix it.

But when we get something wrong, who cracks us?

I may not be the first but I'm going to speak out: The media were wrong in naming Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash as the NBA's Most Valuable Player.

Nash narrowly defeated Miami's O'Neal for the award officially announced on Sunday.

Don't get me wrong, Nash had a tremendous season. He led the NBA in assists and was third in the league in double-doubles (assists and points).

He was the catalyst in helping the Phoenix Suns improve by 33 games this season and finish with the best regular season record in the NBA.

Yet Nash wasn't even the most valuable player on his own team. That honor would go to Lake Wales' own Amare Stoudemire.

This is how you judge a most valuable player -- if you take that person off the team, would they still be as good? I'll make it simpler -- would that team even make the playoffs?

If you take Stoudemire off the Suns, the Suns become the Los Angeles Clippers. If you take Nash off the Suns, they become the Memphis Grizzlies, not as good but still a playoff team.

The MVP award should have gone to Allen Iverson, period.

Until the Philadelphia Sixers acquired Chris Webber, Iverson was basically playing with a bunch of CBA rejects.

Iverson had career numbers this year. He led the league in points, was second in steals, second in free-throw attempts and get this, fifth in assists. He carried his teammates, willed his team into the playoffs.

How Iverson finished fifth in the balloting is a travesty. The ones who had a vote should be immediately tested for steroids, or better yet LSD.

If the argument is based on team performance, then Iverson would be in trouble.

The Sixers finished seventh in the regular season and were ousted by the defending champion Detroit Pistons in five games in the first round of the playoffs.

If the argument is based on not having tattoos and being clean cut and media savvy, then Iverson isn't in the top 10. Yet those things aren't requirements.

Since Iverson didn't win it, then definitely the Big Fella in Miami should have been next in line. O'Neal changed Miami from being just a playoff team into a real NBA title contender.

Nash was like the fad pick, someone new and interesting. And he was the wrong choice.

http://theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/a.../1113/SPORTS15

[Tommy]

I have to agree here, its only fitting :D I mean if Iverson had Amare alone he would get MVP every year, not to include Marion, Q Rich, & Joe Johnson. Iverson second best player before Webber came to the team was Koever??? Iverson has played with scrubs all of his career and its amazing how he takes his team to the playoffs 6 out of 9 years including a finals appearance.

Top 5 in 3 catagories this year, only player in the last 20 years to do so and 3rd player in history.

[naught33]

but iverson has never done shit....his team always loses in the playoffs, just like this yr..anyone can score 30 a game on 50 shots, he shoots 40%, hell usually even less, MVP my ass....Shaq is MVP every yr, but phx made the most improvement this yr thus it went to Nash

[Tommy]

Originally Posted by naught33

but iverson has never done shit....his team always loses in the playoffs

Exactly, he has no help and has never had any.

second in free-throw attempts. Are you kidding me, 5'11 150 soaking wet I mean Shaq 1 and Duncan 3 and AI 2nd???

[Buckery]

Biased POV, I'm with the Nash naming of MVP, the guy did it in Dallas, now he's showing you what he can do with 'his' team. Just compare Phoenix last year to this year. You're talking 'Marion, Stoudamire and Johnson'. Hell, look back this season when they were without Nash, they were scoring 25+ pts less a game. They were even scoring in the 80's on some nights (I remember home match vs Memphis and road games in Boston, both < 90)

Nash runs the floor and finds the open man, Amare even admits himself he'd be nothing without Steve. Allen is great but for this season, for me, it's all about Steve.

[pwn3dyo]

Shaq is the MVP every year imo too. He's the basketball god. Only fair to give it to nash he had a good season, and made everyone around him that much better

[Tommy]

Well put guys