SPOruS

 

 

Darren Paterson, Sports Editor

he NBA playoffs are looming this

season, largely without an exciting
race. But there is one intriguing

race that all Canadian basketball fans
should be watching closely, the MVP race.

Steve Nash is still going strong and is
still averaging 11.4 assists per game; how-
ever, LeBron James, Allen Iverson, and
Shaquille O’Neal are each making strong
cases for themselves. But let me tell you,
by discrediting the other players, why I
think that Nash is still the favourite.

Let’s start with Iverson. Sure, he’s lead-
ing the league in points per game with
30.3, but his team has a sub-500 record.
So he’s definitely out of the race.

Next up is LeBron, who shouldn’t win

the MVP for pretty much the
same reason. Now, yes, his team
is above .500 and they are in the
playoffs, but they have been
fading of late and, while he
ranks in the top-ten for assists
and points, LeBron does not
/ead in any individual category.

Next comes Shaq, whose
team is coasting first place in
the East. I have been very
impressed with the way Shaq
has played this year, because he
has been blocking, rebounding,
scoring and, most importantly,
hustling. And I don’t mean that
he’s been pretending to suck
until the bets get high enough. I
don’t know who told Shaq
what, but he’s commonly been
the first back on defense after
every play. Even when he pos-
terizes someone and deserves a
little gloat, he hardly takes a sec-
ond to pose before bombing
back up the court. But here’s
the thing, the East is weak and
Shaq’s points per game are not even in the
top 20. So, while he’s been a catalyst for
success, he doesn’t really have the individ-
ual numbers to prove it.

Which leaves us with Steve Nash,

 

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SLEEK AND
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Fora

STUDIO 5

 

 

26 | www.theotherpress.ca

J

NIGHTCLUE

TOP GO HIP HOB:
WITH THE JESTER

who’s taken a team of kids and made
them into stars. His team is in a fight for
first in the tough Western Conference and
Amare Stoudemire is fourth in points per
game thanks wholly to Nash. Nash leads
the league with 11.4 assists per game and

 

 

no one else is even close to that. And,
based on his energy and hustle, the
Phoenix Suns have become the most
exciting team to watch in the NBA. It is
for these reasons that Steve Nash is still
the lead MVP candidate. Any questions?

 

 
 
 
 
 
   
  
 
   
  
  
  
 
 
 
 
  

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604-525-1932

 

 

March 16/2005