You vote, Head-to-Head: Nash or Nowitzki for MVP?

April 14 07

Head-to-Head: The MVP race is too close to call. Steve Nash is seen as the player who’s most valuable to his team. Dirk Nowitzki is the best player on the league’s best team.

Forget the experts; hoopsvibe wants our readers to decide the 2006-07 MVP. We’ve laid out the case for Nash and Nowitzki. You read the evidence and post your vote in the comment box below.

Everybody has an opinion, so vote-even Diddy’s getting in on the action.

Candidate #1: Steve Nash. 2006-07 season averages: 19 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 11.5 assists per game.

Argument for Nash:
1) He is the Phoenix Suns. Without their point guard, the Suns lose their identity as a run-and-gun team.

2) He’s recognized as the NBA player who’s most valuable to his team. Quite simply, Nash makes all his teammates better.

3) He’s having his best ever statistical year. So, if Nash’s numbers are better than his MVP seasons, then he’s due for a three-peat.

4) He’s the Suns’ undisputed leader. Phoenix’s players and coaches look to Nash for guidance.

5) Nash’s Suns beat Dirk’s Mavs on March 14th and April 1st.

Argument against Nash:
1) He’s seen as a poor defender. The Suns often protect Nash by using Shawn Marion on the other team’s point guard.

2) He benefits from the system. Some feel Nash succeeds because Phoenix has the perfect system for his unique skills.

Candidate #2: Dirk Nowitzki. 2006-07 season averages: 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 3.5 assists per game.

Argument for Nowitzki:
1) He’s Dallas’ best player. And Dallas has the NBA’s best record.

2) He’s a better defender than Nash. Nowitzki, through hard work, has developed into an solid 1-on-1 defender, who can match-up with most power forwards.

3) He’s played through numerous injuries. Nowitzki has displayed courage, playing all season on two badly sprained ankles.

4) He’s finally become a leader. Nowitzki used to yell at teammates when they made a mistake. This no longer happens. Dirk’s improved his on-court demeanor.

Argument against Nowitzki:
1) Dallas could survive without him because of their defense. This means Nowitzki is one of the NBA’s best players, but not necessarily it’s most valuable player.

2) He lost twice to his best friend. Down the stretch, Nowitzki and the Mavericks dropped two games to Nash and the Suns.

The Winner: That’s up to you. Post your vote in the comment box below. Hoopsvibe.com will tally the votes and announce our MVP. Later this week, you can logon to www.nbablog.hoopsvibe.com for an opportunity to vote on the rest of the NBA awards.

Read Oly Sandor’s blog everyday by bookmarking http://NBAblog.hoopsvibe.com.

66 Comments: You vote, Head-to-Head: Nash or Nowitzki for MVP?

Posted by
jon
on 05.6.2007

nash is the mvp!!dirk chokes in difficult situations nash thrives on themno dout nash is nba mvphe makes his teammates better!!that is the key, to winning the mvpmaking your teammates better!!! .

Posted by
Ricky
on 05.4.2007

Forget all that its Carmelo Anthony look at how much he has developed at a very young age and how much he means to his team GIVE IT TO HIM HE DESERVES IT hes the most talented player out their he will win and if he dosent well their is problems in the nba .

Posted by

on 04.28.2007

Here’s the thing: If Nash was averaging 40 points 25 assists and 25 rebounds per game this season, he still wouldn’t get 3rd MVP in a row.Voters are thinking that Nash CAN’T get MV3 because even MJ didn’t get 3 in a row.And since they will not give it to Nash, they will pa-------it down to Nowitzki (not because he deserves it, but because history is against Nash) .

Posted by
Nashty
on 04.23.2007

If a bunch of NBA players were stranded on the Lord of the Flies Island, here’s what I think would happen:1. Ralph = Steve Nash or Lebron 2. Jack = Kobe 3. Piggy = Shaq 4. Simon = D-Wade 5. Roger = Dirk 6. Maurice = KG 7. Sam and Eric = Yao Ming and T-Mac .

Posted by
Nashty
on 04.23.2007

Kobe had a good chance for it in the beginning of the season, but he lost it because the Lakers went on a huge losing streak. He is selfish at times, but only because you can’t trust Kwame Brown or Smush Parker to take more than 10 shots a game. Dirk is the best player on the best team, but the Mavericks can survive without him. Also, Dirk is no clutch player.I say that Steve Nash edges Dirk this year. The biggest argument against Steve Nash is that he has Stoudemire and Marion while Kobe has no one. However, the Suns went 2-4 without him. It is said that the sum of parts is smaller than the whole. Nash is the glue that holds together great players that underachieve without him. I also love Steve Nash as a person. He is so sunny and cheerful and even-tempered. He travels all over the globe (even to Iraq) during the summer to do community service. He is so conscientious about what’s happening in Iraq.Yes, Steve Nash is the ideal president. He doesn’t have Shaq’s laziness, Dirk’s poor self-control, LeBron’s nail-biting, or Kobe’s bad temper. Kobe is too talented, too perfect in some ways, he can’t accept the shortcomings of anyone.Kobe is probably the most skilled, though the most impatient player in the league .

Posted by
pimpsta
on 04.23.2007

No Doubt Its Steve Nash. The Guy Is Just So Good And Makes Everybody Else Around Him Shine. He Is A Pa-------First Point Guard But Can SteP UP IN ANY WAY ON OFFENSE. So Thats Makes It Very Hard To Stop Him Because You Dont Know Whether He Is Gonna Pa-------Or Shoot. .

Posted by
Lance Walton
on 04.23.2007

An MVP is the Most Valuable Player, therefore lets look into it deeper. When Steve Nash is out of the lineup the team is sort of lost and falls apart. Even though they have so much talent, you would think it wouldn’t be a drop off, but it is they’re no longer a 55+ win team. With Kobe the Lakers are 500. Without him they’re even worse. You take Dirk away from Dallas and someone else just steps up and they still win ball games. And when D-Wade was out the Heat still won ball games, even though when he is in the lineup he plays at an MVP level, like at the finals he was clearly an MVP, but season wise not yet. So with that said, to me Steve Nash is the winner. .

Posted by
Simon Says
on 04.22.2007

Dirk for MVP! .

Posted by
Dave, Santa Barbara
on 04.21.2007

I don’t understand the Steve Nash hype. Dwayne Wade has won a championship, no MVP. Jason Kidd has been there twice, and plays much better defense than Nash.And Jersey sales ought to tell us something about Kobe. If a guard is going to be MVP, he can’t be Nash. .

Posted by
Coach T
on 04.20.2007

Nash or Dirk? Please! Neither one gives as much to his team or the NBA on both ends of the floor as Tim Duncan. Tim Duncan is the MVP of the league and has been since his second year in the league. Nobody has been double teamed and triple teamed as much as Tim and still be that successful! .

Posted by
DRE
on 04.19.2007

big dirk KILLIN lil nash .

Posted by
Sciros
on 04.19.2007

Steve Nash for MVP of 2006-07! Putting up numbers like Magic Johnson this year, he is keeping the Suns strong and focused this year, their sights set on the championship. .

Posted by

on 04.19.2007

NASH! NASH! NASH! NASH! If NASH, not Bush, were the president of the United States, there would be less wars and more assists to average Americans all over; less bullying of little countries and more teamwork among Americans. Such is the impact of Nash on the American psyche. NASH 4 MVP! NASH FOR PRESIDENT?Oh, I forgot - he’s Canadian. .

Posted by

on 04.19.2007

NASH! He has single-handedly made basketball fun again. I’ve stopped watching the NBA due to absolute boredom until I saw NASH play. NASH resuscitated the NBA from its comatose state, and now I’m watching games again! .

Posted by

on 04.19.2007

Steve Nash definitely is the best candidate for MVP...when Nash-less in the team,Phoenix loss 3 straight no compromise games...that means Nash is the absolute MVP not just for his team but also in the NBA,,,he dont need to has frenzy score like Kobe...he dont need to dunk or solo selfish machine like Lebron...Nash is simlply the best,he is the one who made his teammate shine .

Posted by
j3nny from the philippines
on 04.18.2007

DIRK NOWITZKI!!! Give the credit to this incredible player!!! .

Posted by
Bekah
on 04.18.2007

Steve Nash no question! Take Dirk off Dallas and they’re still a good team, but take Steve off Phx. and as we saw they aren’t very good! .

Posted by

on 04.18.2007

for all of you who dont understand... NASH has won the last 2 mvp awards and his stats have all improved so you would have to make a fool of yourself to vote last year for nash and not this year. Dirk is a phenomenal player i agree but he does not take the same roll on his team like Steve Nash. Remember before the all star break nash went down hurt and phoenix could not win. Dallas as a team has the ability to win without Dirk because of there team as a whole which shows that dirk is not as valuable as Nash. Nash should win but the major things against him are RACE and NO CHAMPIONSHIP. .

Posted by
Gleen
on 04.18.2007

Easy Steve Nash. he can pass, shoot, and steal. he avrages a double double each game. now that is crazy. .

Posted by
Tom
on 04.18.2007

It should be Nash’s award to lose. His numbers have gone up for an astounding third seaon. He keeps the trophy. .

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	About Oly Sandor
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

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