-DJ R-Tistic- Member since Nov 06th 2008 39134 posts
Sun Jun-24-12 07:58 PM
"The most important non-Finals MVP's in the last 30 years"
We always hear it. Shaq had Kobe, Jordan had Pippen, Kobe had Pau, Lebron had Wade, Wade had Shaq, Magic had Kareem had Magic had Worthy had Magic (since they all got MVP's in the 80's), etc. etc.
So to you...if you had to list the Top three or five "Non-MVP's" since like 1980? Were there any who you even think deserved the MVP for that year?
1. "I probably couldn't go top 5" In response to Reply # 0
a few that stand out to me (and these may not necessarily be Finals MVP candidates) are:
Pippen in the '92 Finals against the Lakers. not for his offense, but for the way he shut down Magic defensively and captained their defense.
also Jason Terry last year for the Mavs really hit some clutch shots and added a consistent threat that seemed to make Dirk's game a little more manageable.
5. "He didn't win a title but Jason Kidd's 01-02 season was pretty special....." In response to Reply # 0
he finished 2nd to Tim Duncan in MVP voting in the regular season, he had a good run in the playoffs, averaged a triple-double in the ECF vs the Celtics, the Nets got swept by the Lakers in the Finals but Kidd averaged 20, 10 & 7.
8. "Yeah it's kind of a weird question, I guess the correct answer would..." In response to Reply # 6
probably be Scottie, most of the other prominent Finals MVP "wingmen" that I can think won their own MVP in other years.
Other guys you might want to consider are Jamaal Wilkes in 82, Kevin McHale in 86, Drexler in 95, Rip in 04, Manu in 05, KG or Ray in 08, Gasol in 10...
