2013 NBA MVP Gambling
The 2013-14 NBA season is nearly upon us, and as usual, it’s a star-studded group that will be competing for this year’s MVP award.
The superstars are spread across both conferences, and as you’d imagine, the following five players will be looking to lead their teams to championships when it’s all said and done.
Chris Paul—Los Angeles Clippers
Chris Paul may not be the top point guard on this list, but year after year he’s looked at as arguably the best floor general in The Association.
During the 2012-13 campaign, Paul’s scoring dropped a bit to 16.9 points per game, but that didn’t stop him from making plays.
He averaged 9.7 assists per contest, and he posted a PER of 26.43—the third-highest mark in the league. Barring any significant injuries, he’ll be a top-five MVP candidate when the year comes to a close.
Odds: 10/1
Carmelo Anthony—New York Knicks
Carmelo Anthony is one of the most criticized players in the NBA, yet he continues to dominate on an individual level year after year. In fact, he actually improved his game last season, finally devoting himself to becoming a better post player.
If Melo can continue to stay disciplined, he has a chance to boost his numbers yet again across the board. Defense is the big question mark, as you never know what to expect from him on that end of the floor.
Odds: 10/1
Derrick Rose—Chicago Bulls
Despite missing an entire season recovering from a torn ACL, Derrick Rose has looked like his old self during the preseason. In fact, he’s stated publically that he’s stronger and can jump higher than he could before his injury. If those statements prove to be true, you’d better watch out.
The Chicago Bulls didn’t stand a chance against the Miami Heat in the playoffs last season without Rose, but now that he’s back, the two teams out East are on more even grounds.
Look for Rose to challenge LeBron James both on the court and in the MVP race this season. [ad-6571516]
Odds: 11/2
Kevin Durant—Oklahoma City Thunder
Kevin Durant was recently voted the second-best player in the NBA by ESPN, and that sentiment holds true amongst most general managers. NBA.com polled all GMS before the year began, and the OKC star came up second in just about every major category relevant to him.
The reason he was second? That would be LeBron James. Durant is arguably the best pure scorer in the game, and his ability to finish late in contests is unmatched by most.
The problem is that James is dominating the league at this time, and Durant is simply stuck behind him.
Odds: 4/1
LeBron James—Miami Heat
LeBron James has won four of the last five MVP awards, and he’s once again the favorite to take home the hardware in 2014.
Quite frankly, it’s video game-like how good this guy has become. Like Carmelo Anthony, he’s devoted himself to playing in the paint, which has helped improve his shooting percentages both in the paint and on the perimeter.
That, of course, acts as a compliment to his ability to defend, rebound and score in transition. Not to mention he is a rare breed of player who can dominate offensively by scoring or passing at any moment.
James enters the year with 3/2 odds to win the trophy, and it’s easy to see why at this stage in his career.
Odds: 3/2
2013-14 NBA MVP Prediction
When it comes to predicting this year’s award-winner, consider a few things.
First and foremost, Kevin Durant is without Russell Westbrook for the first part of the season. This may seem like a chance to boost his stats, but the problem is that the superstar struggled in the playoffs without his sidekick; not exactly an MVP-like thing to say. This year’s race is going to come down to two players:
LeBron James and Derrick Rose.
James may be the favorite to win it, but Rose is the feel-good story of the year if he comes back stronger than ever. This is going to be a two-man race all year, and while James is the odds-on favorite, don’t be shocked if Rose captures the award in the end.
