Should Kevin Love be in the conversation for NBA MVP?

[wadesworld]

PTI is discussing whether Kevin Love should be in contention for the NBA MVP.  Michael Smith and Tim Calishaw say yes, while J.A. Adonde and Bomani Jones say no, saying if he was that valuable his team would be better.  To me, this is one of the tougher questions to answer.  How good does your team have for you to be considered "valuable" to your team.

If you ask me, there is no question that Kevin Love is in contention.  I like to look at the roster around the guy and ask myself "Would this team be even close to where they are without the player on their roster?"  Kevin Durant and Lebron James are the clear favorites to win the NBA MVP.  If you take Durant off of the Thunder, they still have Westbrook and Harden to carry the offense and Ibaka and Perkins to anchor the defense.  In my mind, the Thunder are still a top 4 team in the Western Conference without Durant.  If you take James off of the Heat, you still have Wade and Bosh who can carry the team.  They are still a top 4 team in the Eastern Conference without James.  I think the Timberwolves are good enough to consider where they would be without Love.  They are in contention to make the Playoffs, and without him they are a 10 win (tops) team this season, especially with Rubio going down.  If they do not have love, they have Luke Ridnour and Michael Beasley trying to carry them?  Good luck with that.  I understand if they were a 10 win team with Love and had no shot at the Playoffs, but you're looking at more than just his numbers in this case.  To me, he should definitely be in contention.  It's crazy to think about, but he is legitimately a top 5 player in the NBA.  Never thought I would say that.

[real chili 83]

Just curious, are you a minesoooooootan? 

Great question.  Going to see the Woofies in 2 weeks.  Taking son for 18th BD.

[nyg]

Kevin Love is just unreal.  He lost weight and now is deadly from three point range.  He has the ability to get offensive rebounds like no other NBA forward.  Averaging 31 ppg in March and if he played in NY, LA, Chicago or Boston was be the front runner for MVP.  Minneapolis, no.  

[wadesworld]

Just curious, are you a minesoooooootan? 

Great question.  Going to see the Woofies in 2 weeks.  Taking son for 18th BD.

I am not.  Don't really care about the NBA.  Milwaukee.  Definitely don't care about the Bucks, and really never have (even when "The Big 3" were here).  I've loved the Sonics/Thunder since Durant went 2.

[SaintPaulWarrior]

He also seemed to improve a lot when they got rid of Rambis and the triangle and brought in a coach with experience in Adelman.

[real chili 83]

He also seemed to improve a lot when they got rid of Rambis and the triangle and brought in a coach with experience in Adelman.

1 Kabillion

I heard that Sid is his newest best friend.

[drewm88]

They're close to a playoff spot because of what they did with Rubio. Since he went down, they are 4-7, losing to New Orleans, Sacramento, Utah, Lakers, Spurs, Thunder, Grizzlies. They've beaten the Suns, Warriors, Bobcats, and Nuggets.

He's playing out of his mind, no doubt. But to say he's the MVP, or that he's not being considered only because of his market, is equally out of one's mind.

[Canned Goods n Ammo]

They aren't good enough... yet.

He puts up huge numbers for a mediocre team, which is a knife that cuts both ways.

#1 It's amazing he's able to put up those numbers with nobody around him

#2 He can get crazy numbers because there is nobody around him

You can argue it either way as there are example of guys from both sides.

[MU82]

Regardless of sport, an MVP should come from a team that at least a realistic contender for a playoff spot.

The Timberwolves qualify thanks to Love, they have overcome tremendous adversity thanks to Love and they would have a winning pct of about .300 without Love. He of course is a true MVP candidate, and right now he'd get my vote over the usual suspects.

[robmufan]

I don't think so only because this reminds me of the Crowder v Jones case of 2012.  If Jones' team was better than around .500 in league play, he wins...but they weren't.  Same goes for Minnesota, just because they make the playoffs doesn't mean Love deserves it (half the NBA makes the playoffs)

[frozena pizza]

Almost impossible for him to actually win the MVP, but he definitely deserves consideration.  He is having a monster year and single-handedly keeping Minnesota in the hunt for a playoff spot.  I'd say right now he is one of the top 3-4 players in the league.  Will be interesting to see if he stays in Minnesota long-term since they didn't give him a max deal.

[tower912]

Same argument as the one against Kevin Jones for the BE POY.    Being the best player and putting up great numbers for a not very good team does not win you an MVP.    Cabrera had better numbers than Josh Hamilton in '10.   The Rangers went to a World Series.   Is Andre Dawson the last player from a bad team to win an MVP?

[frozena pizza]

They're close to a playoff spot because of what they did with Rubio. Since he went down, they are 4-7, losing to New Orleans, Sacramento, Utah, Lakers, Spurs, Thunder, Grizzlies. They've beaten the Suns, Warriors, Bobcats, and Nuggets.

He's playing out of his mind, no doubt. But to say he's the MVP, or that he's not being considered only because of his market, is equally out of one's mind.

I would actually say losing Nikola Pekovic has been a bigger factor over that stretch.  Rubio seemed to have hit the wall a bit and opposing teams figured out that you could get him off his game by being physical with him.  Barea has played well when he's healthy and Ridnour is a better scorer but more effective when he can play off the ball.

[MU82]

Same argument as the one against Kevin Jones for the BE POY.    Being the best player and putting up great numbers for a not very good team does not win you an MVP.    Cabrera had better numbers than Josh Hamilton in '10.   The Rangers went to a World Series.   Is Andre Dawson the last player from a bad team to win an MVP?

[/b]

Nope. A-Rod with Texas, when he was a juicing maniac before going to the Yankees.