“The Sign Is Real Simple, B….”
I can pick my friends and pick my nose. But can I pick an MVP?
By Myles Brown
val·u·a·ble [val-yoo-uh-buhl]–adjective
1. having considerable monetary worth; costing
or bringing a high price: a valuable painting; a valuable crop.
2. having qualities worthy of respect, admiration,
or esteem: a valuable friend.
3. of considerable use, service, or importance:
a valuable player.
4. apparently not Jerry West. (But he got the logo, so it’s all good.)
*And if you don’t know, now you know.
I don’t like much of the case against Kevin Garnett. Everyone knew what conference he played in and who his teammates were before the season started, but he was still a preseason MVP candidate. Six months later he’s not only delivered, the Celtics have exceeded expectations and now what was always known is being held against him? I dont get it.
I don’t like discounting Garnett because he’s in the Eastern Conference. Yes, they did get to pick on weaker opponents, but what happened when they went out West? The Celtics won 25 of 30 games against their left coast foes and three of those losses came in succession (Feb. 19, 20 & 22 v. Denver, Phoenix & Golden State. Garnett’s first three games returning from an abdominal strain.) in what could be considered a bad week. About a month later, they had a great week, becoming the first team in seven seasons to sweep the Texas Triangle and ending the Rockets epic 22 game win streak in the process. And just three weeks ago, the Celtics demolished the Suns and the Hornets in back to back games by 20 points each, the latter victory giving them a W against every team in the league. So East, schmeast. Thorough is thorough on either side of the map.
I don’t like diminishing Garnett’s impact on his team by pointing to his teammates. Even with the Big 3, this team was supposed to be too thin. But it’s been Garnett’s rabid passion that has infected his cohorts and driven them to overachieve. Plain as this is to see, some still question whether Paul Pierce (19.1, 4.6 & 5.5) is more valuable than da kid. Why, because a selfless K.G. said so? Because Pierce scores one more point a game? In three more minutes? Really? His field goal (43.9% to 46.4%) and three point percentage (38.9% to 39.2%) have gone up along with his assists (4.1 to 4.5), because of Garnett spreading the floor and the defense. More importantly, K.G. has inspired Pierce-who has been considered strictly an offensive threat-to match his efforts on the other end of the court. As much as Pierce may help Kev on offense-something he never struggled with-it would never be said that Paul has made Garnett the defender he is. The same can be said about Ray Allen. So teammates, schmeammates. Just like their conference, having good teammates has never been held against a candidate and I’m not going to start now.
I don’t like holding Garnett’s numbers ( 18.8, 9.2 & 3.4) against him either. The scoring is surprisingly low for an MVP, but so are the Celtics opponents and that’s where his impact has been felt this year. The team is allowing nine less points per game this year (99.2 to 90.3) due to drastic decreases in opponent field goal (46.8% to 41.9%) and three point (35.4% to 31.6%) percentages and about 300 less assists (1811 to 1539). I feel safe in saying that practically all of that can be attributed to one guy and his name isn’t Brian Scalabrine. No, not Gabe Pruitt either. And if Doc Rivers didn’t have to almost literally tie Garnett to the bench in limiting him to 32.8 minutes a game, then he would almost certainly sink that extra bucket, grab that fraction of a rebound and dole out that extra assist. He’d still be Kevin “20, 10 & 5″ Garnett and his resume would be a lot sexier. So numbers, schmumbers. Unless you’re going to look at ‘em all. There’s two sides to a court you know.
The Celtics went from being a laughingstock, to a contender, to a disappointment if they come home with anything other than an O’Brien. I’m certainly not gonna bet against them, but for now the one guy responsible for their success is gonna have to settle for another Podoloff. Kevin Garnett is my 2007-08 NBA MVP.
And that’s a wrap.
* I still hope Kobe wins though.
25 Responses to ““The Sign Is Real Simple, B….””
Apr.18 at 5:03 pm
H to the izzo says:
Myles is right and everyone else is wrong.(unless they agree that KG is the MVP)
Apr.18 at 5:11 pm
Bigi says:
Garnett sbarnett,Kobe is MVP
Apr.18 at 5:20 pm
albie1kenobi says:
nice case made for KG. but if Kidd couldn’t get his MVP for turning the moribund nets around (with steller stats to boot), i don’t see how KG can escape the same fate.
kobe it will be. people need to remember most of us are thinking the lakers wouldn’t even make the playoff in the beginning of the season.
Apr.18 at 5:23 pm
Holly MacKenzie says:
Stellar job at being objective, Myles. You know my feelings on this. Great read!
Apr.18 at 5:37 pm
Tariq says:
Kobe is my MVP, but I agree with you completely on all your points.
Apr.18 at 6:05 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Li’l Penny agrees. And so do I.
Apr.18 at 6:09 pm
albie1kenobi says:
what’s Lil’ Penny been up to lately? hanging out with Tyra?
Apr.18 at 6:30 pm
WhaHuh says:
did the celtics tank it last year? will anyone be suprised if the Heat make the playoffs next year with or without the 1st pick? Is this even the same Celtics team as last year? Just thinking aloud- he would be a fair winner but I’ve read 100s of Mvp cases in the last couple of weeks and want it to be over.
Apr.18 at 6:38 pm
Myles Brown says:
Wrap that sh*t up, B!
Apr.18 at 6:45 pm
Captain America says:
Does KG deserve? Yes! Does CP3=MVP deserve? Yes! Does Kobe deserve? Yes! The best argument for KG is that he has been an MVP since emerging in the league, he is showing some wear, and it’s time–damnit!
Apr.18 at 6:46 pm
Russ Bengtson says:
Tell him Li’l Penny from the science club says hello. Can you do that for a brotha?
Apr.18 at 6:46 pm
Captain America says:
…winning it before in one season notwithstanding.
Apr.18 at 7:49 pm
Young Chris #3 says:
What Kevin Garnett has done for the Celtics is nothing short of incredible.
Apr.18 at 8:05 pm
tealish says:
Albie: most of us didn’t know Bynum would turn into a beast and that Memphis would gift-wrap Pau Gasol for the Lakers either. But hey, why look at those things. Kobe is obviously the outright reason for the Lakeshow’s position atop the West.
KB244MVP
Apr.18 at 9:36 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Liar. Great clip, though.
Apr.18 at 10:06 pm
Ryan Jones says:
Seriously though: You seem to hold it against LeBron that he couldn’t lift the Cavs to epic heights despite an injury-riddled and not-very-good supporting cast. Yet you don’t hold it against KG that he plays alongside two perennial All-Stars. Thus, if you have amazing stats on a team of largely mediocre players and win about 55 percent* of your games, you cannot be the MVP. But if you have very good (though not quite amazing) stats AND play alongside TWO future Hall of Famers and win about 75 percent* of your games, you actually are the MVP. I’m following this correctly, yes?
Apr.18 at 10:42 pm
Myles Brown says:
I hold it against LeBron because his team got significantly worse, despite a trade that was supposed to improve their team. These largely mediocre players were the same cast of characters he won 50 games with and went to the Finals with, so while improvement isnt necessary, consistency is to be expected. They had none. I wouldnt have held those new (and supposedly better) teammates against him if through that trade his team would have improved. And in fact, as I stated, if they would have held firm on those 50 wins or at least played strong going into the playoffs then I wouldve given him much more consideration. But a defending Eastern Conference Champ cant finish the way they have and give Bron an MVP. And you know that. I dont hold it against KG that he plays with two All Stars because I feel that he makes things that much easier for Pierce and Allen on both ends of the floor whereas they just lighten the load on offense for him, which again, is something he never struggled with. So its not like theyre covering a deficiency of his, hes covering for them. And his amazing stats are reflected in the teams defensive improvement which wouldnt be attributed to Pierce or Allen, two future Hall of Famers who were NEVER gonna make it with their defense. Defense is why the C’s are winning games and the defense is Kevin Garnett. It was a toss up between him and Kobe to me, and I had to go with the guy who improved his team by more games than anyone in NBA history and has his team as the championship favorite.
Apr.18 at 10:43 pm
Myles Brown says:
And you should be this concerned about Lang’s vote. His actually counts.
Apr.19 at 12:04 am
Myles Brown says:
One more before the bar….”Thus, if you have amazing stats on a team of largely mediocre players and win about 55 percent* of your games, you cannot be the MVP. But if you have very good (though not quite amazing) stats AND play alongside TWO future Hall of Famers and win about 75 percent* of your games, you actually are the MVP. I’m following this correctly, yes?” When Magic and Bird won over Michael throughout the 80’s did you see anything wrong with that? When Nash won two in a row over Kobe, did you see anything wrong with that? When Russell had an entire team of HOF’ers and won throughout the 60’s did you find fault in that? Or is this all just a travesty now because LeBron didn’t win? Teammates have never mattered before and they shouldnt now. And amazing stats have been passed over plenty of times in favor of team production. It will happen again, and maybe Bron will be the beneficiary of it. If so, I hope you fight the good fight for amazing stats then too. Now Im going to drink and forget about all of this.
Apr.19 at 1:12 am
Ryan Jones says:
You’re a good answerer.
Apr.19 at 2:38 am
Hursty says:
with big words.
Apr.19 at 4:03 am
Tariq says:
Myles with the smackdown.
Apr.19 at 4:05 am
Tariq says:
I have no problem with Kobe, KG or CP3 winning. I DO have a problem with Bron winning. Why? Because of what Myles said: “…amazing stats have been passed over plenty of times in favor of team production.”
Apr.20 at 8:00 am
nothin personal says:
In my opinion, a MVP vote should come with three (unconventional) guidelines from the League:
a) It’s a consolation prize. Just like the scoring title. F*ck Russell, he got a championship(or ten) for his troubles Wilt averaged 50 and 20 , while Robertson was doing his triple double thing. A player that has a legitimate chance of win it all, should only get consideration if he is doing it all alone, and if he is making a regular season impact (lets say take his team to a top 5 record).
b)What he does for his teammates should be irrelevant. I don’t care if he motivates his teammates, elevates their games or gives them bl0wj0bs in the locker room, what should matter for an individual award is on court, individual awesomeness. Again, intangibles and teamplay can be counted in the W column, the MVP should be a bad motherf#cker that would fill seats and draw TVratings.
c)It has to be exponentially harder to cop a second Mo Podoloff than your first one. Steve Nash got the Suns running and created a show for the ages? Give him some hardware for his troubles. He kept doing it for a second straight season? Old news, give me something amazing to root for (this will shut up casual viewers and let us consentrate on our Spurs-Pistons finals that should have happened). This way we won’t be getting the Wade-treatment or the Nowitzki WCF ref-bullsh1t). It would also mean that if someone pulls off an amazing year, he has more chances to win one, instead of having the same old boring guy (Duncan) winning cause he fits well with the system and will be good come PO time.
Which leads us to:
d) Reminder: It’s a regular season award. I don’t care if Jordan is a better player than Barkley or Malone, neither if Hakeem is gonna scorch the Admiral in the playoffs. It’s a regular season award. Shaq’s cruising through the regular season? Nowitzki is trying to involve his teammates so they get a better their confidence up? Garnett doesn’t have to play 40 because his team is so damn good and the East is crap? GIVE IT TO SOMEBODY ELSE THEN, please. I’ll say it once more, it’s a regular season, individual award.
On second thought, it would be for the best if we renamed it to Most Outstanding Player award and get it over with.
Apr.20 at 1:27 pm
Myles Brown says:
I see what youre saying and I tried to address most of it in these two posts, but for now I just wanted to point something out: Up until the 1979-80 season, the players voted for MVP. So while anything afterwards could be blamed on ill informed or biased media members anything before that, I have absolutely no problem with. If your peers vote you MVP, who is anyone else to argue with that?