Understand the things I’m about to reveal about myself.  I’m short.  I used to play the point for every organized league I’ve ever participated in.  And I haven’t loved a Canadian since Alanis Morissette was talking about doing some such in a theater.  But Steve Nash as this season’s NBA MVP?  Really?

I will DEFINITELY say that last season’s MVP Award was well-earned and well-deserved by Nash.  He basically took a team, however talented, and just ran with it - literally and figuratively. In the 2003-2004, the Phoenix Suns finished 29-53.  They added Steve Nash during that offseason and in the 2004-2005 season, Nash was a main factor in turning the team around to have the best record (62-20) in the NBA.  And he also led the league in assists.  Indubitable MVP credentials.

But, this season?  I’m sorry, but I have to go with LeBron James on this one.

Listen, I’m not a LeBron groupie or anything, trust me.  I honestly take an objective view on things that go on in the league.  In fact, if I have man-love for any NBA baller, it’s Shawn Marion, Nash’s teammate.  Which brings me to a point in my argument that Nash couldn’t be (okay, yes he can because he is, but I’m just saying…) the MVP.  He was playing alongside another MVP-caliber player (although Marion gets absolutely zero respect it seems as he didn’t even place in the Top 5 in MVP voting).

When Amare Stoudemire, full-blown stud in the making, went down to injury before the season, many people wrote off the Suns to some degree.  But, the stellar play of Marion and Nash, as well as the improved production from players such as Boris Diaw, Raja Bell, and towards the end, Tim Thomas, the Suns finished first in the Pacific Division with a 54-28 record.  Seriously, everyone stepped up for the Suns.  Not just Steve Nash.

Now, I am not devaluing the Cleveland Cavaliers players, but ask anyone that knows basketball (besides the MVP voters who didn’t put James first on their ballot) and especially the Cavs organization and their fans, and they will tell you that if you take LeBron James off that team, they do not finish with a 50-32 record and probably don’t make the playoffs this season as they did and have.  Larry Hughes was supposed to be LeBron’s wing man (I won’t make any Top Gun references… but if LeBron played for Dallas, I’d be all over that one), but he was lost for most of the season due to a thumb injury.  LeBron basically put the team on this back and through his will to win, carried them to a place they have been to in some time - the NBA Playoffs.

Okay, value to a team aside for now because I will get back to it, let’s look at the stats:

Games played - James: 79; Nash: 79
Minutes per game - James: 42.5; Nash: 35.5
Points per game - James: 31.4; Nash: 18.8
Rebounds per game - James: 7.0; Nash: 4.2
Assists per game - James: 6.6; Nash: 10.5
Field Goal % - James: 48.0; Nash: 51.2
Free Throw % - James: 73.8; Nash: 92.1
Three Pointers Made - James: 127; Nash: 150
Steals per Game - James: 1.6; Nash: 0.8
Blocks per game - James: 0.8; Nash: 0.2

Now, what do all the numbers mean?  Honestly, every single statistic can be twisted in either player’s favor.  For example, Nash played less minutes so no wonder James scored more points.  Or, Nash shot better than James did from the field and from the free-throw line.  True, but we also have to look more inside the numbers, so let me take the favorable Nash arguments I made and turn them pro-James. 

Yes, Nash did play less minutes because he had capable backups in Leandro Barbosa and Eddie House.  Who was James’ backup?  Ira Newble.  I think my point is made here.  As far as points go, per minute, Nash scored 0.53 points per game.  James scored 0.84 points per game, so if they played equal minutes, James still would have had a big advantage over Nash.  As far as shooting percentages go, there is no way for me to argue than Nash isn’t the better free-throw shooter, so I won’t argue that.  Regarding field goal percentage, considering that James had more chances at the basket (23.1 shot attempts per game) than Nash (13.4 shot attempts per game), James was empirically bound to shoot a lesser percentage, but he still made almost half his shots.  And why did James have to shoot so many shots?  Because he didn’t have a Marion, a Bell, a Diaw, a Barbosa, a House, a James Jones to split the shots with.  Personnel deemed James had to be the money man. 

And can you argue that he wasn’t for the Cavs?

Okay, let’s face it.  The NBA MVP voting is looking like they’re doing it Academy Awards style this year.  I have a sneaky suspicion (founded on absolutely nothing) that some voters passed on James because he’s young and he’s going to get about a decade’s worth of serious chances at the award.  Sort of like the way Academy voters looked at Tom Cruise during the late 80’s and 90’s when he made good movies (c’mon, you have to admit it) and wasn’t jumping on couches (okay, cheap jab).  But, if all goes according to the Academy plan, James should do a Denzel Washington for “Training Day” (seriously, that was his best acting performance; no way) and a Russel. Crowe for “Gladiator” when both actors won for performances almost clearly lesser than their performances the year before.  And you know what?  I feel it in my bones - it’s going to happen for James next season.

But still…

LeBron James got short-changed THIS season.  I know it.  And just about everyone else besides the MVP voters that didn’t vote for James know it.  On his back, James has a tatoo across the top of it that says - “The Chosen One.” If you’ve been following the season and postseason, there is no question that James is on his way to fulfilling that prophecy.

It’s just too bad that some people were short-sighted when they cast their ballot.