MVP Voters Pick Kevin Garnett Over LeBron James In Midseason Survey

February 04 08

The Akron Beacon Journal reports on Kevin Garnett winning their mid-season MVP survey:

The Beacon Journal contacted 35 likely MVP voters to take the race’s temperature. There are roughly 125 voters, so this is a healthy sample, and it was spread around to all areas of the country to avoid any Eastern or Western Conference bias.

New Boston Celtics arrival Kevin Garnett is the leader right now, getting 63 percent of the vote. Garnett’s game numbers (19.9 points, 9.9 rebounds and 3.8 assists) can’t match James’ and, obviously, he’s gotten way more support from his teammates than James has.

My AM Take: The survey shows MVP voters believe in recognizing the best player on the best team. Garnett’s Celtics currently hold the league’s top record, while James’ Cavaliers struggled before finding their form.

Another line of thinking exists with the MVP award. It’s known as subtract a player. Remove Garnett from Boston and James from Cleveland. Which team is worse off?

The Celtics, because of their supporting cast, would stay competitive. The Cavaliers, without James’ scoring, rebounding, dime-dropping, ball-handling, and defense, would regress into a version of the Washington Generals.

Regardless of criteria other candidates exist. Kobe Bryant must be included in all MVP discussion. Then there are youngsters Dwight Howard, Brandon Roy and Chris Paul. And old heads like Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki.

Determining awards and honors is subjective. Much can unfold in the second half of the season. For now, MVP voters prefer recognizing the top player on the top team, which gives Garnett a slight edge.

Fair or not, their interpretation could ultimately determine the winner.

Agree or disagree? Should MVP be the best player on the best team? Is Garnett your winner? Get at us in the comment box below.

The AM Take is Oly’s morning thoughts on the NBA, appearing Sunday through Friday on HoopsVibe.com. Errors can be attributed to the time and his need for another coffee. Click here to get his AM Take and subscribe to his blog.

24 Comments: MVP Voters Pick Kevin Garnett Over LeBron James In Midseason (...)

Posted by
driz
on 04.15.2009

kobe is the real MVP. even though he is playing in a small time, he can still manage to have a high score and a good stats. he proven himself so many times. even though he had a injury he still plays, because he has passion for the game. he loves what he is doing. I’m saying this cause I’m a real fan of kobe.. they have the best record on ROADS. they can manage to win even though they are on other teams home court. keep this in mind, when kobe has no pau gasol you call him a selfish. but lebron has delonte west, mo williams, szcerbiak and illgauskas then you don’t call him a selfish even though he shoots so many.. all I’m saying is don’t be a bias one. we all know kobe deserves the MVP, he’s a warrior. he is the true NBA star.. they also beat cleaveland on their home court. cleaveland didn’t win this season on the lakers, so how could you say lebron deserves the MVP? even though kobe don’t win the MVP, they still gone be the NBA CHAMPS and that’s for sure.. .

Posted by
BEANTOWN
on 02.6.2009

KOBE SUCKS AND HE IS THE BIGGEST CRY BABY IN THE NBA! SO DOES HE DESRVE ANYTHING YES THE CRY BABY AWARD!!!!!!!!!!!!! GO CELTICS! DONT SUPPORT RAPIST!!! .

Posted by
JAYVEE24
on 02.15.2008

KOBE FOR MVP.......!!!! DATZ ALL I CAN SAY.........!!!!!!! .

Posted by
JAYVEE24
on 02.5.2008

FOR ME IT IS NOT K.G. OR LEBRON DAT SHOULD WIN THE MVP.......... BOTH OF THEM DONT DESRVE IT............ ITS ALL ABOUT KOBE YOW.....................!!!!!!! THEY SHOULD GIVE IT TO A GUY LIKE KOBE THAT HAS WON A CHAMPIONSHIP RING.............!!!!! KOBE FOR MVP...............!!!!!!! .

Posted by
OCTANE
on 02.5.2008

CELTICS BEING A TOP TEAM IN THE NBA IS ALWAYS A GOOD THING, BRINGS BACK ALOT OF OLD RIVALRIES, BUT IF THAT TEAM DONT MAKE ANY NOISE IN THE PLAYOFFS, ITS GONNA BE A BIGGER DISAPOINTMENT THEN THEM PATSS. KG PP JESUS HAVE A LOT ON THEM SHOULDERS COMING PLAYOFFS. CAVS WELL ITS ALL UP TO LEBRON ON HOW FAR THERE GONNA GO. CELTS VS CAVS EAST SEMIS.... CAVS IN 6 .

Posted by
Darren
on 02.5.2008

haha idk im a celtics fan who wants KG to be the MVP i mean the C’s sucked for awhile since i liked them and this year is somewhat of a dream cometrue so i would like to see KG get MVP for such a great season and for all he did for C’s fans this year between energy at games and giving us a chance for the title .

Posted by
Darren
on 02.5.2008

KG’s stats were deff.. goin down this year because he doesnt take as many shots as he used to they were divided in half since he got to the C’s but somehow he still is averaging around 20 and grabbin 10 a game ray allen and paul pierce take the majority of the shots .and even there shot attempts are down this year so if KG shoots 15 shots and makes 9 thats 18 right there but in lebrons case he might take 30 shots a game so yeah is average is gonna be better so i dont think KG is overrated at all he just had to commit a little of his own stats to better the C’s and thats just what he did so just right there he deserves the MVP in my mind because no nba superstar wants to sacrifice his own reputation but he did so that his team would be better and realizes that doin the things he does with bringin energy and a competitive nature along with defense to the celtics will help them win .

Posted by
no
on 02.5.2008

take lbj from the cavs and kg from the celtics and see who the real mvp...celtics could still win around 30 gms cavs would go back to a 17-65 record or worst...KG has 2 TWO 2 TWO players just as GOOD...hes has done nothing spectaular at all...and hes not gonna win it bc most people have him 4th or 5th in the mvp voting for the the ppl whos vote that actual count...even the center on the magic is better KG has 4 players better than him MVP wise and bout 20 players better skill wise...overrated .

Posted by
OCTANE
on 02.5.2008

ABOVE 700. .

Posted by
OCTANE
on 02.5.2008

GOOD POINT AND ALL.. BOSTON IS A LOT BETTER WITH KG. BUT HES NUMBERS DONT SHOW ANYTHING EMPRESIVE, THEY HAVE 2 OTHER ALL STARS ON THAT TEAM. LB23 WELL ITS JUST LB23 AND HE HAS THEM ON THE SAME PACE AS LAST YEAR BUT AVG LEAGUE BEST PPG AND 8 AND 8, THOSE ARE MVP NUMBERS, ITS GONNA COME DOWN TO THE RECORDS OF BOTH TEAMS, BUT IF LEBRON ENDS UP LEADING SCORER AND ABOVE 6OO HE ;SMVP NO DOUBT, KB, CP SHOW US SOMETHING IN THE PLAYOFFS.. CUZZ THAT WHEN IT ALL COMES DOWN 2. .

Posted by
Darren
on 02.5.2008

Why do u think Steve Nash won all those other years because he knew how to set his teammates up and he brought a very high energy level to the suns this year its KG he brings a new attitude and tons of energy to the C’s that lebron does not lebron just brings his own game to the table i think a few years down the road lebron will be the MVP but not this year KG will this year KG knows he got a shot at the title and so does the rest of the celtics once they get to the playoffs KG will go crazy along with pierce and allen because they will want a championship sooo bad after being on a losing team for a while .

Posted by
Darren
on 02.5.2008

kevin garnett is deff. the MVP when you think a little bit hes the one who came into boston and completely changed the attitude and brought all kinds of energy and hope to the C’s who are the best team in the league because of him i mean lebron might average more points and kobe mite to and chris paul mite be having a breakout season but those are induvidual stats it matters how many wins and losses ur team has and what you do to help them KG mite be down a little bit this year in some categories but he does the things for your team that kobe and paul dont do for theres lebron would be # 2 but his teams the same every year pretty much its always the same thing with them yeah lebron might be the best player in the nba but he doesnt bring that certain kind of energy KG does he got my vote .

Posted by
sherman
on 02.5.2008

the sheer talent and creativity of kobe bryant should land him the top spot in MVP voting however, he is no where to be found could it be from a lack of national exposure? .

Posted by
JAYVEE24
on 02.4.2008

ALL I CAN SAY GUYZ....... IS DAT KOBE IZ BETTER DAN MICHAEL JORDAN....................!!!!!! KOBE D REAL MVP...........!!!!!! .

Posted by
JAYVEE24
on 02.4.2008

ALL I CAN SAY GUYZ........... IS DAT D NBA SHOULD JUZ HAND D TROPHY TO KOBE............ BCOZ ALL I KNOW IZ DAT HE IS D REAL MVP.........!!!!!!! HE DESERVES IT................!!!!!!!! ............... KOBE FOR MVP...........!!!!!! KOBE FOR PRESIDENT.................!!!!!! .

Posted by
J-HOWARD
on 02.4.2008

DWIGHT HOWARD FOR M-V-P! .

Posted by
Chaaaaa
on 02.4.2008

alex good comment if you knew what the hell ur talking about...whos been in the lg longer has nothing to do with winnin mvp...Garnett is a proven loser and if hes so much better that y his a-------was gettin eliminated 1st round those 3-4 yrs in a row...LBJ 1st playoff run 2nd round and his 2nd run he got them to round 4....when its all said and done lbj #s are gonna be like double KGs. in every category but blocks n bounds..B4 you know it a few yrs he prolly will have more pts scored...20 pts 10 reb is not impressive at all for MVP...#1 in Scoring...#7 in AST...and bout 8 Reb is much more like it...GARNETT IS NO WERE near MVP material he gots 2 players on his team just as good...LBJ #1 Spot CP3 # 2 Spot Kobe #3 Spot .

Posted by
alex dolan
on 02.4.2008

lebron hasn’t won a championchip yet....neither has garnett, but garnett has been in this league longer, and proven himself...he is in overall good player and better than lebron will ever be! .

Posted by
octane
on 02.4.2008

not quiet like lebron is 30 8 and 8, .

Posted by
knicks2010
on 02.4.2008

I think Kobe Bryant deserves to be the MVP. He should have won a couple of years ago and didn’t. He’s always up there, playing at the greatest level. .

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Daily take on NBA Oly Sandor is an NBA analyst and sports journalist based out of Vancouver, Canada.After years of the free-lance game, Oly Sandor is bringing his unique brand of NBA analysis exclusively to (...) More

MVP Voters Pick Kevin Garnett Over LeBron James In Midseason Survey

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