By Ian Levy – This post first appeared at Hickory-High.com

Debate over the naming of this season’s MVP has grown increasingly active and contentious over the past few weeks. Opinions have been flying in from every direction. Arguments have been made for Derrick Rose, against Derrick Rose, and for Dwight Howard. Even Kevin Love, Kyle Lowry and Russell Westbrook have had their names pop up. There have also been thousands of words written trying to clarify the boundaries of the debate. I’ve been working to codify my own opinion on the matter and, nearly there, I thought it was time to wade into the discussion. Luckily very few people actually read this site, so I won’t really be adding any fuel to the fire.

Judging by the media coverage, the MVP race seems to have been pared down to just two players; Derrick Rose and Dwight Howard. One of the main arguments from Rose’s supporters, against Howard, is that an end-of-game offensive liability shouldn’t be considered the league’s Most Valuable Player.

According to 82games.com, Rose has scored 43.2 points per 48 minutes in clutch situations (defined as the last five minutes of a game or during overtime, with neither team ahead by more than five points). That’s a gargantuan number, and one that dwarfs Howards’ 25.0. However, that number doesn’t cover efficiency in any respect. I took the numbers from 82games and did a quick conversion to points per possession (Pts/(FTA*0.4)+FGA+TO). The entire spreadsheet can be viewed here. By this measure of efficiency, the tables are completely turned. In clutch situations, Howard averages 1.37 points per possession, the 15th best mark among the 164 players 82games has statistics available for. Rose scores 0.87 points per possession in clutch situations, the 116th best mark.

Granted, Howard has accomplished this on a much smaller sample size, just 38 total possessions, by my calculations, compared to 126 for Rose. His efficieny would almost certainly decline with more clutch opportunities. Still, the numbers seem to indicate he could shoulder more of a load, and still be a reasonably efficient offensive option.  It seems that the Magic avoiding Howard in the clutch is as much about fear as it is about actual results.

Now, I’m about to make an argument that I don’t normally stand behind: These numbers I’ve presented don’t really matter to this discussion, and neither do any others. There is no consensus on the criteria which defines this award. Therefore, there is no way to offer definitive evidence in support of any candidate.

That’s not to say that the discussion isn’t worth having. In fact I think the ambiguity of criteria is precisely what makes this argument so interesting. The race for the league lead in PER hasn’t generated any attention, mostly because it doesn’t provide any room for subjective opinions. The PER leader is determined by a mathematical formula, with the weights for each statistical component pre-determined.

The fun of MVP discussions is that each person gets to create their own qualitative and/or quantitive evaluation method, assigning relative weight to, or ignoring completely, each piece of information. It’s a lot like disagreeing about which is best: New York style pizza or Kurt Vonnegut novels. That’s simply not an argument that can be won, but I’m sure it would lead to an interesting exchange of ideas.

I don’t have a problem with Rose winning MVP. I’m not entirely convinced he’s the best choice, but it’s certainly not a travesty if he wins. I do have a problem with the vocal minority who have been arguing it’s a travesty if he doesn’t win. There is a reasonable argument to be made for Rose. I think there is also a reasonable argument to be made for Dirk, LeBron and Howard.

Argue your belief, passionately and completely. However, acknowledge that someone else may do the same and reach a perfectly reasonable, albeit different conclusion from your own. Enjoy the discourse and exchange of ideas. There is no wrong answer in this discussion. Except of course for Kobe Bryant. That guy is terrible.

By Paul Gotham

Mr. Greenberg and Mr. Golic,

Let me start by saying my wife and I have been fans of your show for several years. We find “Mike & Mike In The Morning” informative, insightful and entertaining. In addition, we congratulate you on your recent success with the publishing of your book.

As teachers, we catch bits and pieces of your show. On an average work day, I will see / hear 30 minutes of the dialogue (most during my drive time).  From time to time I will search out a podcast or two. I really enjoyed the segment with Marcellus Wiley. That was great stuff. I mention this because I do not get a chance to hear your shows in their entirety. Further, my comprehension is limited to what I hear. I do not know if you produce transcripts of any sorts.

With that in mind,  I have been somewhere between scratching my head and alarmed recently.

The discussions about golfer Brian Davis and the expansion of the NCAA Men’s basketball tournament have caused me concern. In particular, the attitude of Mr. Golic seems disappointingly callous.

The topic of honor in sports was the focus of a discussion surrounding Brian Davis, the golfer who called a penalty on himself and thus lost a tournament.  Mr. Golic distinguished between sports by using the excuse that football, basketball, baseball etc. all have officials responsible for overseeing those games. Players make plays and it is the responsibility of the referee to uphold the rules of the contest.

Again, I do not have Mr. Golic’s exact words, but unless I am mistaken, his assertion suggested that if a player gets away with doing something illegal that is part of the game.  From there Mr. Golic suggested it was part of player’s role to push the limits of the rules.

If you recanted all of this, I apologize. But you need to understand I am coming from an educational stand point. That is exactly what I battle every day. Frequently in the classroom, I use the saying: “Character is what you do when no one is watching.” Mr. Golic left no doubt that the rules were not his responsibility during a game. If the referee is not watching, it is not the player’s fault.

Does conscience play a role in this at all?

A fourth-grade student at my wife’s school was playing little league last spring. He scored from second. There was a discussion about whether he touched third base. The umpire admitted not seeing the play. Overhearing  what was going on, the ten-year-old took it upon himself to go up to the umpire and admit he missed the bag. He was called out.

I know there is a difference between the NFL and little league baseball, but conscience knows no boundaries.

Maybe it is a stretch, but using your mindset Mr. Golic, the only thing Derrick Rose did wrong was to get caught. He had someone take his SAT exam. The proctors (or officials of the exam) did not recognize any problem. They did not see a penalty on the play. Rose and the University of Memphis got away with this until someone with a conscience spoke. It’s kind of late to make it up to the fans of UCLA, Texas, Michigan State, Mississippi State and Texas-Arlington – the teams that lost to the Tigers in the 2008 NCAA Tournament.

I put this discussion of honor in the back of mind until Friday.

While analyzing the NCAA’s decision about expanding the tournament, Mr. Golic sarcastically read an email from a listener (John) who disagreed with using gambling brackets as motivation for the scheduling of the tournament. I applauded John’s email. Mr. Golic did not.  He proceeded to say that “John probably doesn’t have a cell phone.” Not that it matters, but I have a cell phone. I text. I tweet. I have a facebook account. I have a website where this article is published. I do not think the NCAA should worry about how their schedule will affect your “sheets of integrity” or anybody’s brackets.

Beyond that, Mr. Golic went on to discuss the role that gambling plays in generating popularity and revenue for the NCAA. I hope that gambling funds do not go directly into NCAA coffers.  Do you really want to associate gambling with college athletics?  Haven’t I seen television commercials from the NCAA that directly contradict what you are saying?

Beyond that, the manner in which you encouraged a mob mentality amongst others listeners was disappointing. Of course others would write in and criticize John. You left no doubt where you stood on the topic and your sycophants joined in the bashing.

Finally, Mr. Golic I am further confused by all this when considering your status with the University of Notre Dame. I have had the good fortune of marrying into a Fighting Irish family. My late father-in-law graduated in 1953 and my mother-in-law attended St. Mary’s. I have had the privilege to attend many events on the South Bend campus. I have always thought that Notre Dame held itself to a higher standard.

Does that still apply to you?

Sincerely,

Paul Gotham

Courtesy of NBA.com

By Paul Gotham

The mysterious Chicago Bulls

Two years ago the Chicago Bulls seemed ready to make a run at the Eastern Conference crown. Third-year coach, Scott Skiles (he took over during the 03-04campaign) guided the Bulls to their first playoff series win in nine seasons. Led by young guns Ben Gordon, Luol Deng, and Kirk Hinrich the Baby Bulls swept the reigning champs, Miami, before falling to Detroit 4-2 in a hard-fought series.

The future seemed  to favor Chicago. Gordon, Hinrich, Deng along with Andres Nocioni and Ben Wallace prepared for the 07-08 season.

Then, discontent between Wallace and Skiles surfaced. The Baby Bulls started slowly, 9-16. Management showed Skiles the door, and Chicago earned a ping pong ball for the draft lottery.

Despite injuries to Deng and Nocioni the Bulls finished 08-09 at .500. Rookie Derrick Rose led an upstart crew against a hobbled Boston Celtics in an epic first-round series. Few professionals find solace in moral victories. Taking the reigning champs to overtime in four of seven contests lends hope to the future of the United Center denizens.

Chicago added James Johnson (Wake Forest) and Taj Gibson (USC) through the draft. Gone is Gordon. Long gone is Wallace (if he was ever truly there). The East is getting stronger. Where will the Bulls fit?

Anybody have room for a 16 / 10 guy?

The Utah Jazz matched Portland’s offer for Paul Millsap. Are the Jazz ready to part ways with Carlos Boozer? Two years ago Boozer and Deron Williams seemed like the perfect pick-and-roll successors to John Stockton and Karl Malone.

Courtesy of NBA.com

Now the Jazz appear ready to window shop.

Miami looks like the best suitor. Dwyane Wade has expressed concerns over floundering through the upcoming season without another viable option in the lineup. Boozer averaged 16 points and 10 boards for the Jazz last season. Can the Alaskan native handle the near tropics?

Talkin’ ’bout PRACtice?

It’s August. The NBA season opens in two and half months. For the first time in 14 years, Allen Iverson is unsure which uniform he will put on this season.

The Clippers, Heat, and Grizzlies have all shown interest. Yet, Iverson still hasn’t found a dotted line to autograph. At 34 years old and #16 on the all-time scoring list, will Iverson consider playing in Europe?

Got some splinters to share? Post them here and let’s discuss.

(AP Photo/Laura Rauch)

What Happens In Vegas…

Summer is in full swing, and that means Summer League basketball. Thanks to NBA TV basketball junkies can catch some hoops in the month of July.

Devoid of the pomp and circumstance that goes along with the regular season, Summer League hoops has a throwback feel to it. There are no player introductions prior to tip-off. The coverage is not state of the art – the audio mix isn’t always optimal. Commentators and play-by-play guys don’t follow a script. To top it off, commercials are minimal and sideline interviews seem less intrusive. All of that makes for rather enjoyable viewing on a rainy day.

Watching Summer League games lends a deeper appreciation to the level of play in the NBA. These games are a mix of rookies and youngsters trying to earn a contract. Several minutes can tick off the clock before a semblance a half-court offense shows up.

Managed to catch a little of the Bulls / Oklahoma City game. Good to see DeMarcus Nelson on the floor for the Bulls. Nelson still works hard on his defense. He played limited minutes for Golden State last season. Here’s hoping the Duke alum finds a bench to ride for the season.

Word has it that Hasheem Thabeet is struggling in Sin City. No surprise there. But with time Hash should contribute in the NBA.

It’s all about location.

Prior to the NBA Draft, many thought DeJuan Blair would be a lottery pick – if not, at least in the middle of the first round. Draft day arrived. The first ten picks came, and Blair waited. The first round ended, and still Blair did not have a team. Not until the 37th pick (San Antonio) did Blair hear his name.

Blair may not have been a lottery pick, but he landed in a great location. While many youngsters will struggle on weak teams, Blair will have the chance to learn from a bunch of veterans and experience playoff basketball. Wonder if a Tim Duncan / Blair commercial with the gnomes is in the making.

The Spurs who looked a step slow the second-half of the season have rebuilt themselves into contenders. Adding Richard Jefferson prior to the draft gives the Spurs a perimeter presence they lacked when Manu Ginobili went down with an injury.

Jefferson should enjoy a return to the playoffs. It’s been a while since he helped the Nets get to the finals. Jefferson on the floor with Tony Parker, Duncan, and Ginobili should provide more than just a threat for the Los Angeles Lakers.

San Antonio also drafted Jack McClinton from Miami. Although he is unsigned as yet, McClinton is a three-point threat who, along with Roger Mason, can provide a complement to the Spurs offense.

Cleaning out the skeletons.

What a summer for Derrick Rose.  He’s fended off more allegations than the Cambridge police department. First, we read about the bogus SAT scores. Then came the story about his high school grades.  Now, Rose is dealing with a picture from high school that portrays a less-than flattering image.

What’s a guy to do? Rose is spending time in the gym working with the USA National team. Sporting News reports that Rose is taking 500-800 shots a day.

That’s one way to avoid the negative press.

Got some insights? Take a seat on the Pine and share some wisdom.

Today changed all that. Faced with Texas of the Big 12 and their premier point guard, DJ Augustin, Rose displayed his worth. The freshman canned 21 (including 5 of 6 from the free throw line late in the game as the Longhorns tried to extend the game), dished out nine assists, and grabbed six boards.

Beyond all that Rose asserted himself as the best player on the court as the Tigers advanced to the Final Four.

Any moment now Brother Reynell is gonna comment: “I told you so.”

Let’s hear from the Clipboard community. Who had your POTW?