Quick recap on the first two parts. It’s painfully obvious CP3 out-performed Kobe statistically (CP3 has an advantage in 6 major categories to Kobe’s 4) and it’s also pretty obvious that Kobe has a better team. Before I get into my final point, I just want to acknowledge how amazing an MVP race this has been. CP3 is having a season from the PG spot we have not seen since the days of Magic Johnson, Kobe Bryant has dominated night in and night out in a painfully consistent manner, LeBron James is averaging a near triple double with 30 ppg, and KG has elevated his play defensively and become more team oriented for the sake of winning more games.

What is even more amazing is that LeBron and KG are not seen as serious candidates at this point. That’s like saying the Rockets will go through a season with a healthy T-Mac and Yao, it just doesn’t happen. Phenomenal seasons by everyone involved in this race.

To address comments on part 2, the MVP is given to the best player in the respective year the award is handed out. Past returns do not come into play or else it would be called the MVC award, most valuable career. This years award is called the 2007-2008 MVP award, which does not take into account what happened before that season. I’ve heard the argument that “CP3 can’t score 81 points in a game like Kobe did” a thousand times. Firstly, Kobe Bryant has been in the league for 12 years while CP3 has had 3, two which he was still developing his talent. On the simplest level, Kobe has had more time to score 81 points. On another level, that should not even matter.

But anyways, pull an Eddy Curry and curl up with a bowl full of peanut butter coated M&Ms while you read the final part of my CP3 for MVP debate.

3) Chris Paul is more valuable to his team than Kobe Bryant is.

Isn’t the definition of the MVP award to give it to whoever is the most valuable player to their team in the NBA? I don’t simply mean that they are the best player on their team, I mean to say that without the player, that team is lost and their production drops significantly. In essence, the MVP makes his team go. He provides everything a talented player should and goes the extra mile to make his team better through his play.

A telling statistic is the percentage of their team’s points Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul have accounted for through their scoring and assists. Kobe Bryant has accounted for 37.5% of his team’s points this year, on par with many of the other superstars of the NBA. In contrast, Chris Paul has accounted * 48.3% * of New Orleans’ field goals this season. Just take a minute to let that sink in. Without Chris Paul, New Orleans would have scored nearly half as many points as they did this season. If you were wondering, that’s the highest total since John Stockton in the 1991 season. We are witnessing a level of excellence not reached in the past 17 years.

If that doesn’t prove to you that Chris Paul has been the more valuable player this year, maybe this will. When CP3 is on the floor the Hornets score 116 ppg while the Lakers score 115.4 ppg with Kobe on the floor (stats are per 100 possessions). Pretty even right? Well the discrepancy come sin when they are off the floor. When Kobe takes a seat, the Lakers average 108.8 ppg per 100 possessions, a 6.5 differential. When CP3 sits, the Hornets are only able to muster 100.6 ppg per 100 possessions, a 15.4 differential. Without CP3, this Hornets team is far from effective but without Kobe Bryant the Lakers are still serviceable.

In summary, here are my 3 points:
Part 1 – Chris Paul out-produced Kobe Bryant statistically.
Part 2 – Kobe Bryant had a better team than Chris Paul, and the Hornets only finished one game behind the Lakers.
Part 3 – Chris Paul is more valuable to his team than Kobe Bryant is to his.

Chris Paul is having the type of season that comes once in a decade, so how can people rationalize giving the MVP award to Bryant because “he’s had it coming for a while” when it should be decided on how the players did solely in the past year.

Whether people want to admit it or not, and if CP3 wins this award or not, Chris Emmanuel Paul is your 2007-2008 MVP regardless of what the media and voters say. If he wins this award, that will only further validate the classy, talented, and team oriented player he already is.

CP3 for MVP