Source: Nash to be MVP

[BOSS]

Source: Nash to be MVP
Suns guard would be 10th player to win award in consecutive seasons

Paul Coro
The Arizona Republic
Apr. 26, 2006 12:00 AM

Suns star Steve Nash will be named the NBA's Most Valuable Player for a second straight season, according to a league source familiar with the voting.

The announcement may not come for two weeks, like last season's May 8 ceremony. The votes have been tabulated in what was expected to be a close race with LeBron James, Dirk Nowitzki, Chauncey Billups and Kobe Bryant.

Nash won the fourth-closest MVP vote last year, edging Shaquille O'Neal a year after Nash was not even an All-Star.

Nash, 32, impressed voters this season by posting career highs in scoring (18.8 points per game), rebounding (4.2 per game), field goal percentage (.512) and free-throw percentage (NBA-best .921). He led the league in assists again with 10.5 per game and finished sixth in three-point shooting (43.9 percent).

After Amaré Stoudemire's knee surgery deprived the Suns of their top scorer, Nash led the team to 54 wins and its first repeat division title with only Shawn Marion and Leandro Barbosa back for a full season.

Nash would be the first international and Suns player to win twice.

Only nine previous players repeated as MVP winners. Magic Johnson was the only point guard to do so.

[J@3]

Great, Steve Nash: NBA Legend. This award is a mess.

[Jugs]

*sigh*

*creates the Fuck Nash crusade*

I'm with Jae on this one, Nash is not a 2-time MVP winner type guy

[Dro]

*sigh*

*creates the Fuck Nash crusade*

I'm with Jae on this one, Nash is not a 2-time MVP winner type guy

Why? Because he doesn't need to shoot 30 times a game to earn recognition?

Good for Nash...I thought Lebron deserved the award more than anyone, but I'm not going to argue about the decision

Congrats to Steve Nash.

[Jugs]

When did I say Kobe Bryant should be MVP?

DN4MVP tnx.

[Andrew]

Looks like I might be .500 so far on my predictions. Glad to hear it was a close race though, I wouldn't have considered him (or any of the candidates for that matter) far and away the winner.

[Fenix]

If Steve Nash deserved it twice, Kidd is the GOAT.

[Stevesanity]

Larry Bird must be a happy man.

I didnt want Nash to win it again but Dirk had a good squad around him whilst Kobe lacks in popularity big time around the league and in the media and as for Bron well I guess some may just think its just too early for him. Im kinda upset Elton wasnt mentioned their and Chauncey Billups got recognition, but that could be my homerism kicking in.

[Matthew]

Isnt it funny.. they say its Nash that helps his teamates by not shooting 30+ times and thats why he's mvp, but its the system. Hell, even Nash himself benifits from the system. Look at his numbers compared to when he was in Dallas (not to mention how much better dallas is without him).

It should have been kobe or lebron this season. I wonder why Nash escapes criticsm from casual fans and those 2 dont..

[The X]

it always deserved to be a coinflip between Nash, Dirk & LBJ....

whilst I'm glad LBJ didn't win, would've preferred to see Dirk win it....when you look at it, Nash was probably more valuable to his team this year than last, so he maybe shouldn't have won it last year, although last year the competition wasn't so tough....

but as the others have indicated, you have to wonder about his place....I love Nash & all & he will rank as one of the best PG's of his generation (along with Kidd, Payton & Stockton but probably behind all 3 of them)....MVP award seems to be becoming similar to the MIP Award, as every voter votes on a different basis....maybe they should change the voting guidelines, or add a new award....I dunno, it's tough to say....

as for those who say Kidd deserved MVP's, he was in the hunt & one year I think he probably did deserve it over Duncan or whoever got it, but he was facing tougher competition in comparison I believe....I also think voters back then didn't truly value the impact of a dominant PG until recently, that's why guys like Stockton never factored into the race....

ahh well, at least we can rest assured that ROY will go to the 'best' rookie

EDIT: I would've actually liked to see Melo factor into the race considering how many game-winners he hit. Helping his team win an extra 10-15 wins in the waning moments for the season surely must make him one of the MVP in the league....

It should have been kobe or lebron this season. I wonder why Nash escapes criticsm from casual fans and those 2 dont..

to state the obvious, because:
1) he's white
2) he's fun to watch
3) he's not American (to a lesser extent)

the truth hurts....

[Matthew]

But why are you "glad" Lebron didnt win?

[The X]

But why are you "glad" Lebron didnt win?

because I like Melo....I don't know, I guess I probably don't like to see the most hyped person always win....I always like the underdog I guess....I'm glad he didn't win, but I would not have been disappointed if he did....he would be a worthy MVP & he will be....next season that is....

[Malfa]

YES I GET MONEY NOW BECAUSE I BET MY FRIEND

[Matthew]

But why are you "glad" Lebron didnt win?

because I like Melo....I don't know, I guess I probably don't like to see the most hyped person always win....I always like the underdog I guess....I'm glad he didn't win, but I would not have been disappointed if he did....he would be a worthy MVP & he will be....next season that is....

I like Melo too, but to hope Lebron doesn't win becuase you're a carmelo fan? Thats Riot like .

Personally, I'd rather the most deserving player win it, not the "underdog".

[The X]

But why are you "glad" Lebron didnt win?

because I like Melo....I don't know, I guess I probably don't like to see the most hyped person always win....I always like the underdog I guess....I'm glad he didn't win, but I would not have been disappointed if he did....he would be a worthy MVP & he will be....next season that is....

I like Melo too, but to hope Lebron doesn't win becuase you're a carmelo fan? Thats Riot like .

Personally, I'd rather the most deserving player win it, not the "underdog".

it probably stems from never being the 'cool' kid in school who knows....if it's any consolation, I'd rather Lebron win it over Kobe....I also think Wade is probably more deserving that Nash....but I'll stick with Dirk the Diggler for MVP....he overcame all odds who said he couldn't play without Nash....he's actually been better since he's gone....he's improved in every category, he's clutch & he is the Mavs, who incidentally won about 6-8 more games than the Suns....

oh, if you hadn't already noticed, I answered you Steve Nash query a couple of posts up in an edit to my post....

[Matthew]

he's actually been better since he's gone....he's improved in every category, he's clutch & he is the Mavs, who incidentally won about 6-8 more games than the Suns....

Dont underestimate the value of the pace the suns play in those "improvements" in stats. and this season, who won more games, the suns or the mavs?

to state the obvious, because:
1) he's white
2) he's fun to watch
3) he's not American (to a lesser extent)

I'm white, not american and love to watch fun basketball just as much as you.. so I guess ignorance hurts just as much.

I can imagine the outcry if Yao ming was jipped mvp votes becuase he's AZN, yet its A.O.K to say Lebron is subceptible to criticism becuase he's america? Thats pathetic.

[The X]

he's actually been better since he's gone....he's improved in every category, he's clutch & he is the Mavs, who incidentally won about 6-8 more games than the Suns....

Dont underestimate the value of the pace the suns play in those "improvements" in stats. and this season, who won more games, the suns or the mavs?

sorry I must have missed that or something....I was talking about Dirk Nowitzki, not Steve Nash....correct me if I've misunderstood you....

to state the obvious, because:
1) he's white
2) he's fun to watch
3) he's not American (to a lesser extent)

I'm white, not american and love to watch fun basketball just as much as you.. so I guess ignorance hurts just as much.

I can imagine the outcry if Yao ming was jipped mvp votes becuase he's AZN, yet its A.O.K to say Lebron is subceptible to criticism becuase he's america? Thats pathetic.

I was just providing an answer to your question to why they escape criticism, not completely my own views (I probably mixed in the fun thing as my own view when I shouldn't have)....I think it is easier for the casual (white) fan to associate with a 6 foot something white guy with a crap haircut who can't dunk (kinda like J.J. Redick & Adam Morrison who is taller & can dunk, but that's not the point)....

people take favourites & have bias....my favourite player of all-time is Cedric Ceballos (as Jae would know)....my bias view is that he got screwed at times in his career as he was a talented offensive player who could score without plays run for him & never got the credit he deserved....my realistic view is that he was a pretty mediocre defensive player who can only blame himself that his career curtailed towards the end....still luv the guy though

same bias goes to some of my all-time fav guys like John Wallace, Laron Profit & co....

[BIG GREEN]

Great, Steve Nash: NBA Legend. This award is a mess.

This is part of the reason why the NBA is hitting the dirt. The glory days are gone...and the ratings are showing it.

People like "The X" are the reason steve nash is getting the mvp....they put people like kobe on a pedestal only to enjoy bringing them down for the underdog.

[dada]

That sucks if Nash really won. Oh well. Very disappointed with the NBA on this choice.

[Masilo]

That sucks if Nash really won. Oh well. Very disappointed with the NBA on this choice.

That is not the NBA's decision. The voters are journalists of ESPN, SI and other magazines.

[dada]

That sucks if Nash really won. Oh well. Very disappointed with the NBA on this choice.

That is not the NBA's decision. The voters are journalists of ESPN, SI and other magazines.

Whoever. Its NBA MVP.

[cyanide]

Personally, I'd rather the most deserving player win it, not the "underdog".

According to the media, Nash was never the "underdog" but was said to be most likely to win it twice.

It's unfortunate that other guys like Kidd and Stockton has never won it, but as The X mentioned, the competition was much tougher back then and there was more emphasis on scoring. In addition, the MVP was most likely given to teams with excellent records, so that crosses out a shitload of teams who happen to have superstars. Nash just happens to be playing well on an excellent team (sans Amare, which was probably noted) that ended up with a better record than Cleveland or LA.

This is part of the reason why the NBA is hitting the dirt. The glory days are gone...and the ratings are showing it.

On the contrary, I glanced at an ESPN article sometime in the past several days that mention the ratings have been doing very well the past two seasons and doing better this year than the last.

People like "The X" are the reason steve nash is getting the mvp....they put people like kobe on a pedestal only to enjoy bringing them down for the underdog.

What's that supposed to mean?

[Matt]

BULLSHIT....this should have been Dirks. Dude improved on defense (forget stats), as well as dominating on the other end whilst being CONSISTANT and his team won 60 games. Most importantly his team is ELITE.

[Stevesanity]

Umm I think its all up to America to decide who the MVP is anyway, so your list The X could be something like.

1) He's white
2) He's a "nice" guy
3) Larry Bird paid the media

[Amphatoast]

Umm I think its all up to America to decide who the MVP is anyway, so your list The X could be something like.

1) He's white
2) He's a "nice" guy
3) Larry Bird paid the media

1. Dirk is white
2. Dirk is a "nice" guy
3. Mark Cuban got more $$!!