Over at my main site, www.sportsviews.com, on Mondays I’m going to be doing my weekly NBA rankings. So, I thought why not do MVP rankings on Wednesday over here? Let’s get started –
1. LeBron James, Cleveland – Last Week: N/A
This is everybody’s #1 right now, but he was also everybody’s #1 the last two years. Is this the year LeBron makes the leap? He has the talent; he just has to hope that his team finally does as well.
2. Chris Paul, New Orleans – Last Week: N/A
LeBron James may put up the best stats in the NBA, but Chris Paul isn’t far behind him. If the Cavs are underwhelming this season Chris Paul could slide into the top spot in a hurry.
3. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers – Last Week: N/A
Kobe may have looked un-Jordan like in the Finals, but I’m betting he gets another shot this year. His Laker team is probably the most talented team in the NBA, if both Paul and James fall, Kobe will be there waiting.
4. Deron Williams, Utah – Last Week: N/A
I think D-Will is going to have a career year, much like Chris Paul last season. I think he’ll join Paul in the 20 points and 10 assists club. Williams can win this award; all he has to do is win the West. It should be pretty easy…
5. Elton Brand, Philadelphia – Last Week: N/A
Elton Brand has the best shot at being this year’s Kevin Garnett. Brand will probably still get somewhere in the 20 points and 10 rebounds range for this team, but how well Philadelphia does will be the whole story.
6. Dwight Howard, Orlando – Last Week: N/A
Dwight Howard is currently the best center in the NBA. Greg Oden and Andrew Bynum are too young, and Yao Ming is too fragile. Still, like everyone else, it’s going to be how good his team is that matters. Orlando will win the Southeast, but that won’t be enough.
7. Amare Stoudemire, Phoenix – Last Week: N/A
As well as LeBron, Paul and Kobe played last season, you could make the argument that after the all-star break Amare Stoudemire was the best player in the NBA. His biggest hang up is going to be that he’s playing on a team nearing retirement age.
8. Paul Pierce, Boston – Last Week: N/A
Boston is going to be the top seed in the East, without a doubt. If they dominate in the same fashion as last season, one of the big three will get MVP talk. I think Paul Pierce has established that he’s the go to guy for this team.
9. Yao Ming, Houston – Last Week: N/A
You might think that with all the talk of Houston winning the West that I might have Ming or McGrady higher on the list. Well, I’m afraid I have to agree with Adrian Wojnarowski from Yahoo! Sports, I’ll believe Houston can stay healthy when I see it.
10. Chris Bosh, Toronto – Last Week: N/A
Chris Bosh did himself a world of good this summer with Team USA. He’s probably on more people’s radar than ever before. If the Raptors can surprise people this season, he may warrant a little chatter.
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