So Bulls bench > Derrick Rose?

on the other, I don’t want to credit Gar Paxdorf too much.

and agree with the fact that Derrick has a very good supporting cast, it is very clearly broken. The Thunder would not be better without Westbrook and the Magic would be struggling to make the playoffs without Dwight. This has the same flaws as plus-minus, in it doesn’t adjust for who he playing against and the open looks he gives his teammates. I mean look at the end of the heat game. D-Rose was the one that got Deng that open shot.

I think the Bulls are still a .500 team without Rose and would still win the weak Central. They still have enough overall talent to avoid the world of basement dwelling.

these numbers don’t make any sense? I’m not just talking about Rose. The numbers for Westbrook, Kobe, Howard also seem way off base.

Really the only reason Rose is in the conversation is that the media can’t figure out who is the best player on the teams ahead of them. If Boozer and Noah had been healthy the whole year they might have had the same problem with the Bulls.

Really the only reason Rose is in the conversation is that the media can’t figure out who is the best player on the teams ahead of them.

That doesn’t have much to do with it. The top 2 teams with the best record are a far more balanced group. No one player is having a ‘remarkable’ season. If KG were still a 20+ 10+ 5 guy or Duncan a 20+ & 10+ guy, they’d be the leading candidates. Let’s look @ the ‘5’ teams below San Antonio & Boston (by winning %) and they’re best player(s):

• Dallas
• Miami
• Chicago
• LAL
• Orlando

Dirk Nowitzki – Was having an MVP caliber season, until he went down with a knee injury. His numbers have dropped off since his return (24.5 ppg before the injury, down to 22.8 now) but Dallas was 2-7 without him (41-9 with). Their record without him is evidence of his “value” to the team, however, I’m not sure voters put much stock into that. As the argument could be made that if you take any #1 guy, off any ‘winning’ team, then there would be a pretty big drop off in wins.

Lebron James – Although he’s playing along side some guy named Dwyane Wade, he has basically put up the same numbers that won him the MVP the last 2 seasons. 26 points, 7.5 rebounds & 7 assists per game this year. He’s scoring is down (about 3.5 ppg less) and his assists are down (by about 1.5) from last season. That’s understandable, considering his other ball dominating teammate. One thing I should point out tho, his usage rate (per Hollinger) has only dropped off by 2% from last season. Has helped lead his team near the top of the Eastern Conference Standings. However, at the moment they are only 14-15 against .500 teams, 29-2 against teams under .500. That’s a possible knock on his MVP candidacy. Plus there’s that elusive club of 3 MVP’s in a row and post “decision” I’m not sure he’s endeared himself to some of those that have a vote (I don’t think that’s fair but f him). In my person opinion, it’s anyone BUT this guy……please!

Dwyane Wade – 25.5 ppg, on 50% shooting (career high), 7 rebounds (up from 5 last season) & 4 assists (down from 6.5 last season), yet he’s almost not in the MVP conversation. The price you pay when Lebron James is your teammate I suppose. His usage rate (per Hollinger) is down 4% so far this season, in comparison to last. I’d argue he’s having a better season this year than last. But is he the MVP of the Heat or is that James? Some voters probably think so, some probably don’t.

Derrick Rose – 25, 8 assists & 4 rebounds per game. There were many questions coming into the year (hell even before than I can recall) that would he make that 3rd year “leap.” I think he’s answered that with a resounding yes! The Bulls, although missing “arguably” their 2nd and 3rd best players for almost 50 game (combined) are only 2 games out of the #1 seed in the East. There’s a lot of factors as to why; the teams defense, the coach etc. But Derrick has been a constant. Teams have been doubling, tripling (as well as spot shadowing) him pretty much all this year and he’s still more often than not able to make the right play for his team. It makes his numbers all the more impressive imo. Oh and per Hollinger his usage rate has increased by almost 5% over last season.

Kobe Bryant – 25 ppg, 5 rebounds & 5 assists. Playing the least minutes per game since his 2nd season, playing 5 minutes less per game than the previous year. Per Hollinger, his usage rate has actually increased by almost 2% over last season. Don’t think voters are seriously looking at him as the leagues MVP.

Dwight Howard – 23 ppg, 14 rebounds & 2 blocks. He’s been on an absolute tear. He’s been great on both ends of the floor for his team. I’m not sure if there is a single player more important to his teams’ success. If Orlando can get hot in the 2nd half (meaning win a better clip than they have been) he could be your leagues MVP.

Dark horse candidate might be Kevin Durant. However, he had such an incredible season last year (remember the, 25+ points in 29 straight games?), that what he’s been doing this year might not been seen as nearly as worthy of an MVP award. As he hasn’t really made any headlines, although he did have that 47 and 18 game and a buzzer beater game winner but that’s about it. His stats are very close to that of last year. I think the rise of Russell Westbrook has taken some away some of his shine. But like Orlando in the East, the Thunder need to up their position in the West for him to get more play in the MVP race.

Oh wait, this is basically what I was saying after the Milwaukee game. That Rose’s supporting cast doesn’t get nearly enough credit. 39-18 seems like a bit of a stretch, but the Bulls would still be a decent team without Derrick.