Luka’s Corner

Nearing the end of the regular season and start of the postseason, there are two races heating up in the league. The first is the race to the Playoffs, with the top teams fighting for home court advantage and the lesser teams fighting to get in. The second is the race for the MVP. It is quite clear at this point that the real candidates are Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, and Dwyane Wade. However, I believe that the race is down to two, between “King James” and “Flash”.

James is having yet another extraordinary season in the statistics department, with averages of 28.3 PPG, 7.3 RPG, 6.9 APG. On the defensive side, he has averages of 1.7 SPG and 1.1 BPG. Throughout the season, he either been at the top of the scoring chart or in second (behind Wade), but it is not his stats that are going to win him the Most Valuable Player trophy. It is the success of his team. As of now, Cleveland sits at the top of the Eastern Conference, having a 49-13 record overall and a stunning 28-1 record at home. This is LeBron’s advantage over Wade. This season has been by far the best of LeBron’s career in terms of winning percentage and the Cavs are considered favorites by many to even win the East in the postseason (and possbibly win it all). It is because of team success that he will most likely win the MVP over Wade in the end.

Amazingly, Dwyane Wade has matched LeBron James statistically this season, if he hasn’t surpassed him. With a league-best 29.5 PPG scoring average, 5 RPG, and 7.5 APG, there is no player better than Wade at putting up numbers for his team. Even on the defensive side, where many have doubted him over his career, “Flash” is averaging 2.1 SPG and 1.4 BPG (best among guards in the league). Looking at this sample, his success for Team USA over the summer has truly translated into success in the NBA. This statistical advantage over James gives him a chance at winning the MVP, but his team is nowhere near Cleveland in terms of wins and success overall this season. With a mediocre record of 33-29, Miami is currently in 5th place in the Eastern Conference standings and on the outside looking in at home court advantage in the first round. Ironically, Wade is also on the outside looking in at the MVP trophy.

If I was to cast my vote, I would probably give the slight edge to D-Wade, considering that the players he plays with do not put the team in a position to win on a nightly basis, like a Mo Williams or Pau Gasol does for their respective teams. It seems that whenever Wade shoots below 50% from the field or commits more than 5 turnovers, the Heat manage to lose. Simply put, the combination of Jermaine O’Neal and Michael Beasley is not nearly a supporting cast as Williams, Delonte West, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. That goes with Lamar Odom and Pau Gasol backing up Kobe Bryant in LA. If Dwyane Wade was playing in Los Angeles or even Cleveland, those teams would do just as well in the win-loss column, if not better. That is why my vote goes to Dwyane Wade.