Superstars Shoot, MVP Candidates MakeTheir Teams Win

There are so many superstars nowadays the NBA is really fun to watch. But many of the young MVP candidates are on struggling teams. You can't blame them if there aren't enough good complimentary players, role players, a supporting cast willing to follow them to the promised land of championships.

Kobe Bryant, Gilbert Arenas and Allen Iverson were the focus of the last column. Each player is an MVP candidate and rightly so. They make shots when they are double-teamed under the basket and sink shots from the arc with defenders draped all over them. It's unbelievable the plays they make in clutch situations.

Tracy McGrady is another player who can make shots from all over the floor and he always leaves us wanting more. The one thing these guys lack is proof that they can lead their teams to titles.

Kobe has three rings with the Lakers, but nobody seriously thinks the Lakers would have won championships without Shaq.

Then there is a group of players that have become team leaders, they don't average 30 points a game, but they make their teammates better and show desire to win championships.

The names that come to mind are Detroit's guards Billups and Hamilton, the Spurs' Tim Duncan, and last year's MVP Steve Nash of Phoenix.

Let's not forget what Vince Carter is doing this year with the New Jersey Nets. Carter has been spectacular this season, shooting extremely well, making huge shots to win games and getting other players involved in games, which has really turned the team into a contender. I personally thought the Nets were going nowhere fast early in the season, but now they have won nine straight and lead their division.

My MVP candidates at the beginning of 2006 are Hamilton, Carter, Dirk Nowitzki, Billups, Nash and Bryant. Of course Tim Duncan also deserves recognition as the San Antonio Spurs have the second best record in the league.

However, Nash has guided the Suns to the third best record in the West without help from Amare Stoudamire, who has been out with an injury. Any one of these players could win the award.

One thing is for sure, the NBA rivalries, superstars, MVP candidates, and teams eyeing a championship are all very interesting.

Enjoy the rest of the season.