How Derrick Rose Impacts MVP Race

As I'm sitting here at 2:05 AM typing this, scrolling down my news feed I see lots of Derrick Rose memes like usual. I think its funny because people are so ignorant and forget just how great Derrick Rose is when he is healthy. Before I get into this article let me just state that this coming NBA season Derrick Rose will come off a huge ACL injury and will win the MVP award over the likes of Kevin Durant and Lebron James. I will now allow you to take this time to curse me out via twitter @TruSchoolSports and question my knowledge of basketball.

As we all know Derrick Rose missed all of last season, sitting on the bench in street clothes watching every Bulls game. Some have even called him “the highest paid fan ever”. Joke all you want about him riding the bench last year but the fact of the matter is that this guy during the 2010-2011 season became the youngest MVP in league history at the age of 22. His level of greatness during that season was so undeniable that out of 120 first place votes, 113 were awarded to Rose via the NBA sportswriters and broadcasters. That same year he was the only player in the league who ranked top 10 in scoring and assists. His return impacts every superstar in the league as far as the MVP race is concerned.

Lebron James

The guy that benefited most the Rose injury was Lebron James who captured back to back titles while he was recovering. Although he did beat Rose in the 2011 Eastern Conference Finals the fact of the matter is that the Chicago Bulls and Rose are Lebrons biggest threat and many could argue that his road to finals greatness was easier because Rose wasn't healthy. Now I have heard many people here in South Florida say “Lebron should have won the MVP that year, Rose didn't deserve it”. That’s nonsense and the fact of the matter is that he didn't even finish 2^nd place in voting, he finished 3^rd behind Dwight Howard. That’s right at 643 points Howard had more then Lebron's 522 points. The return of Rose has a huge affect on Lebron so he better make sure that he leads the Miami Heat to the #1 seed in the Eastern Conference as well as winning head to head battles vs Rose.

Kevin Durant

With the exception of maybe Rose himself, I don't think any player in the league is more upset about Lebron's title success than Kevin Durant. Last season KD and the Thunder (Minus Russell Westbrook) were eliminated by the Memphis Grizzlies. This season the Thunder are expected to be in the NBA Finals once again to meet the Miami Heat. Durant's ultimate priority is to win a championship but I'm sure he would love to validate himself as the best player in the league with an individual accolade such as the NBA MVP award all while proving that OKC is the premier team in the Western Conference. It's hard enough for KD to win that award over a guy like Lebron but with Rose added to the mix its about to get even harder for Durant. He hasn't averaged 30 points per game in 3 seasons, if he can re establish himself as the premier scorer in the NBA along with dominating the west then he has an incredible chance to take home the MVP hardware this season.

Chris Paul

No current superstar in the whole league has more to prove with the return of Derrick Rose more than Chris Paul. CP3 has a newly improved roster to go along with a new contract extension that will keep him in LA over the next 5 seasons. Many consider him the best point guard and now that Rose is back he will have more motivation than ever to prove why he is the best at his position. Winning a championship for the Clippers is enough to keep CP3 motivated but with Rose returning he has to prove why he and the Clippers are the best this season.

There many other players I could list who will be in the discussion for MVP but some won't win it for many reasons. Carmelo won't win because the Knicks will not improve on their #2 seeding from last season. Tony Parker won't win because basketball “experts” think the Spurs are boring. Kobe and the Lakers won't be good enough this year to garner him enough votes for an MVP award this season.

As we can see the return of the former MVP drastically impacts the race for the award. It should push players in the conversation to up their game and be razor sharp skills wise once the season starts. October 29^th the 2011 MVP (Derrick Rose) takes on the MVP of the last 2 seasons in Lebron James as the Chicago Bulls go on the road to take on the Miami Heat who will be raising up their championship banner. Expect Rose to announce himself to the basketball world against the defending champs with a statement performance for what will be an MVP-caliber season.

Vlog:Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies have the winning formula in the playoffs

Here is a video i shot the Other day speaking on Zach Randolph and the Memphis Grizzlies. That team has a lot of talent and Zach Randolph is the best Low post player in the Playoffs right now, they got everything it takes for a deep run.

Playoff Time 2013: Ty Lawson

For the past several seasons Denver Nuggets Coach George Karl as urged his point guard Ty Lawson to take control of the team and become a leader. He proved he could do that in the regular season leading the Nuggets to 50+ wins and the #3 seed in the Western Conference. He was instrumental in beating opposing teams in the West such as the Grizzlies, Clippers and OKC. While those are great accomplishments TY will now be tested for real and will need to pick up the intensity.

If you look at Lawson's statistics compared to last season they aren't that much different. He has become much better at controlling the flow of the offense and getting the ball where he wants to go. Whether its a Pick and roll with Kenneth Fareid or penetrating the middle to kick out  to guys like Corey Brewer or Iguadola on the Perimeter Ty is getting it done for the Nuggets this season.

As the Playoffs begin later on Today the Denver Nuggets embark on a crucial playoff run. They are the third seed in the West and Lawson has said they could win the west if they just take care of their business. This Nuggets team has all the ingredients to become a champion. They score the ball better than anybody the league. They also rebound just about better than everybody else in the league as well thanks in large part to Kenneth Faried. If the Nuggets Can put a banner up at the Pepsi Center then that would be historic for a franchise that has never tasted that particular level of success. David Thompson, Alex English, Dikembe Mutombo and not Even Carmelo Anthony Delivered a championship to the city of Denver.

Before the Nuggets worry about banners they got to worry about passing their 1st round test-The Golden State Warriors. Like the Nuggets the Warriors score the basketball in the upper echelon of the league ranking at 7 averaging 101.2 points per game. Lawson's matchup Steph Curry has looked like an MVP for stretches of the season and has played the best basketball of his career. Lawson has to buckle down defensively and make sure Steph doesn't under any circumstance get hot from the outside because that will be the death of the Nuggets. It's going to be an exciting series between the two teams but the the team that buckles down better will take this series.

How far can the Nuggets go?

The playoffs begin today April 20th as Ty Lawson and the Denver Nuggets take on Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors.

Pay Attention People

In the State of California as it pertains to basketball we tend to think Lakers, Clippers first before anything
but few are paying attention to that team by the bay known as the Golden State Warriors. At 11-7 they rank 5th in the gantlet  known as the western conference but very few people outside the bay seem to be giving them any love so I thought I would. I don’t understand why people aren’t paying attention to them, they are an exciting, young up tempo team who play great team Basketball.

With Wins over the Clippers, Hawks and Brooklyn Nets I think its time for more people to open they’re eyes This team can play. When you look at the reason this team has been playing well It all Starts with the elevation of play at the Point Guard position from Stephen Curry who is playing big time basketball right now. He is healthy for the 1st time maybe since his rookie year and is playing the best basketball since that time. With 11 games of 20 points or more. He has 4 straight double-doubles coming into tonight’s match up with Brooklyn. He is playing like the guy Golden State drafted and the player the whole country fell in love with at Davidson.

There is more to Curry’s success though then people realize. Jarret Jack who the Warriors picked up in the off-season has given Steph something he has never had before and that’s a back up point guard who can facilitate an offense and give Curry the freedom to move off the ball and be the Perimeter nightmare that he is. Jarret Jack is one of the most undervalued players we have in the league today he always played solid basketball facilitating and scoring and the fact that the Warriors have a guy like this who can come off the bench give Curry some freedom in the flow of the offense as well as get buckets for himself is big. If people Steph give credit I think Jarret Jack deserves some to.

Then you have the young Rookie Harrison Barnes from UNC who honestly I wasn’t high on like most people coming into this years draft but  to get him at 7 I thought was a steal for them. I can see why people were high on him this kid knows how to play basketball and has a good head on his shoulders and you can’t say that about a lot of Rookies. He has shown flashes of brilliance with performances like 19 points 13 rebounds and 20 points 12 rebounds in wins against the Hawks and Mavs. I think as long as he keeps working this guy can be an All-Star in this league.

David Lee is one of those players in sports that never gets talked about enough he goes out plays the game right and produces at a high level year in and year out usually in top 5 in Double-doubles. He is up to his old tricks again Averaging 17 points and 10 rebounds for Golden State. If he keeps playing like this along with the team winning he may finally get some of the recognition he deserves in this league.

Golden States Bench is dangerous guys like Jarret Jack and Carl Landry will do that for you. As important as I said Jarret Jack was earlier Carl Landry is just as if not more important to the Warriors success as he is. Carl Landry is a low post presence that you can play next to Lee if you go small or Spell David Lee if you want to give him some rest. On most team in the League Landry is starting so having a guy with 15-10 capabilities to come off your bench and give you 13 and 6 is huge. He is Efficient smart and plays the game right. Add Richard Jefferson, Brandon Rush, and Draymond Green along With Jack and Landry and you have a deep bench.

This team has Shooters, Big men, a solid bench and a good mix of young players and veterans who play the game right.The scary part is they don’t even have Andrew Bogut who when healthy  is a very productive basketball player.
Marc Jackson has a lot to be proud of as coach of this basketball team and with a core of young guys like Curry, Klay Thompson ,Harrison Barnes the future of Basketball looks bright in the Bay area.