O'Neal calls Nash's MVPs 'tainted'

[msdundee]

Yeah, but how much stock are you going to put in a guy whose last name is French for "The Bastard"?

LeBatard is Miami's answer to Jim Rome. Only worse, if that's possible.

 

[azirish]

It is rather curious that race did not become an issue until Shaq and his supporters brought it up.

The real problem is the same one most fans have. MVP means "most VALUABLE player" - which suggests a team concept. A big time scorer on a bad team rarely gets considered. Winning, espeically winning with poor support, can be a much bigger factor.

But if Shaq wants to worry about an MVP candidate out of Phoenix, he might take a look at Amare too. Of course, Amare needs Nash to succeed, but still he's playing a very high level.

 

[Nasser22]

It is rather curious that race did not become an issue until Shaq and his supporters brought it up.

The real problem is the same one most fans have. MVP means "most VALUABLE player" - which suggests a team concept. A big time scorer on a bad team rarely gets considered. Winning, espeically winning with poor support, can be a much bigger factor.

But if Shaq wants to worry about an MVP candidate out of Phoenix, he might take a look at Amare too. Of course, Amare needs Nash to succeed, but still he's playing a very high level.

Amare doesn't NEED Nash. You did see his numbers without Nash and Diaw right? He can score on his own...he was getting 20 points in only his 2nd season at 19 years old without Nash... Nash makes things easier for him, but so does he for Nash. He would be able to put up his numbers without him.

 

[devilalum]

Amare doesn't NEED Nash. You did see his numbers without Nash and Diaw right? He can score on his own...he was getting 20 points in only his 2nd season at 19 years old without Nash... Nash makes things easier for him, but so does he for Nash. He would be able to put up his numbers without him.

Amare got his numbers but the Suns lost and lost and lost.

JJ gets good numbers for the Hawks.....

And what did Nash do with no Amare last year?

 

[Faithful]

Not only should Nash win MVP, he should also win coach of the year. The way the Suns struggle when he's out makes me wonder if D'Antoni does anything at all.

We still have a star filled roster even without Nash but we can't even beat the likes of Atlanta when Nash doesn't play. I know this has been brought up before but are about 2-10 without Nash over the last 3 seasons.

Why can't we win without him? What other top team is this dependant on one player to win?

Thank you!! And that my friends, is what MVP means!

 

[Heavy D]

OK, msdundee. You got me. You're absolutely right. The only ones who conceived of such an absurd concept of race being a factor in the Nash MVP debate are inconsequential people like myself. All of the real "people in the know" of any import know and understand that racial biases do not exist towards white players in the NBA. It's just not an issue. I'm probably racist for even suggesting it.

 

[msdundee]

OK, msdundee. You got me. You're absolutely right. The only ones who conceived of such an absurd concept of race being a factor in the Nash MVP debate are inconsequential people like myself. All of the real "people in the know" of any import know and understand that racial biases do not exist towards white players in the NBA. It's just not an issue. I'm probably racist for even suggesting it.

That wasn't my point at all. I just think it's a convenient approach for any category of people who want to discredit Nash's two MVPs in any way they can. The NBA is made up of predominantly black players so logically there have been fewer white MVPs through the years, a very small percentage. It would be interesting to know if there were the same kind of "questions" raised when the MVP went to Bird or Walton or Cousy or Pettit or Cowens. I doubt it, but there's no way to check.

As an afterthought, this year's top MVP candidates both happen to be white. If Dirk takes it, will there be more of the same accusations of racial bias?

 

[TheFallen49]

Really? Because if it was the system then any point guard should be able to run it. We have already proven that to be false. The system was built around Nash and for Nash.

Overwhelming? We are talking 4 1/2 games. The problem I have with Dirk getting the MVP is Dirk doesn't make any of the other players on his team better. That to me is what an MVP is all about.

How have you proven it false? With Marcus Banks!? I think several point guards could run your system, they just need to be pass-first orientated and able to shoot on occassion. I guess the most obvious example would be Jason Kidd (he can still run, look at NJ's fast break points) as well as younger guys like Chris Paul and Deron Williams. I know they won't run it as effectively as Nash (because he's clearly the best PG in the league) but they could do his job. Even Toronto is trying to emulate Phoenix's style of play and it's working! T.J Ford is like a really poor mans version of Steve Nash with a quality 'Amare' in Bosh (although pretty different) and lots of shooters. The system isn't just for Nash it's for true pg's, he's the best but he's not the only one.

4 1/2 games is overwhelming because the Mavericks have lost 9 games. They would need to lose half as much games as they currently have in a shorter span with a slightly easier schedule (with Phoenix not losing any during that stretch as well). Personally I think if the Mavericks beat Phoenix in March it's over. We do have a few injuries at the moment and anything could happen but as it stands I don't see anything short of nagging injuries or terrible luck pushing the Mavs off the top seed.

 

[Heavy D]

Msdundee, let me clarify why I posted what I did. On the day I posted my first statement I heard a discussion on Bickley/MJ about Shaq and his remarks. It made me remember back to when the whole LeBatard column came out, and the talk radio that I heard at that time. There really were quite a few people that stated their belief that Nash only won because he was white. I really believe that there are more than a few people who have a hard time accepting that a white player can win the MVP.

And for the record, the MVP this year SHOULD be either Nash or Nowitzki. I guess we'll see what the response if one of them wins.