The reigning MVP Derrick Rose and the rest of the Chicago Bulls get back to work tonight in San Antonio. It’s been and up-and-down start to the season for Rose, who has played well, but has also been fighting through back spasms and turf toe. While he’s certainly in the MVP discussion this year, it’s more like “is he a top 5 or a top 10 MVP candidate this year” type discussion. ESPN Chicago’s Melissa Issacson writes that Rose was asked about this year’s MVP and said he doesn’t think he’s the guy this year, but offered up another name.
“I haven’t (done) anything this year yet to be MVP,” Rose said. “One guy that’s ballin’ right now is Kevin Durant. He’s ballin’ right now. Putting up numbers. Playing great, shooting high percentage. He’s ballin’.”
Derrick Rose is half right. He’s not the MVP this season, but it’s also not Kevin Durant. LeBron James is the only valid answer right now. His numbers are on par with his first two MVP seasons and he’s been doing it at a much more efficient rate. He’s averaging 27.4 ppg, 6.8 apg and 8.1 rpg while shooting a career best 54 percent from the field and 41 percent from three. His defense reminds me of Scottie Pippen in the mid-90’s, which is to say irt’s some of the best perimeter defense I’ve ever seen.
As for Durant, he’s having a great year. The Thunder are tied for the league’s best record and much of that is due to Durant. 28 points and eight rebounds per game is fantastic. He’s been even more aggressive than ever this year, more efficient, more everything. He’ll get some first place votes this season because he’s playing that well and some writers still just don’t like LeBron James. Let’s also not forget that Dwight Howard is having another tremendous season in Orlando and will garner some attention as well. But this is LeBron’s award to lose this season. You just can’t match what he’s doing on both sides of the ball.
