Sometimes the best way to evaluate the Most Valuable Player is to watch him ride solo for a while.
Yes, stats count. So does his performance in close games, his output against the better teams, his showdowns with fellow candidates and his overall leadership. However, a true indicator can be how the player performs when he has to go it alone.
This season, we have all marveled at Kevin Durant. The perennial MVP candidate has been truly spectacular. But what has elevated him above LeBron James – who pretty much has had a chokehold on this award for the last five years – has been his performance without All-Star teammate Russell Westbrook.
This week’s table is dotted with other names who fit that description, such as Blake Griffin, Goran Dragic and Al Jefferson.
There’s also another name at the very top of this post which falls into the same category.
Mine.
Our editor-in-chief is sidelined this week, and Sheridan Hoops has motored along in his absence, continuing to rack up recognition, clicks and followers.
In the last five days, Sheridan Hoops has had its two best daily hit counts in the last three-plus weeks. Our steadily climbing Twitter following is approaching 62,000. And aside from giving the veteran Kamenetzky Brothers and their Power Rankings a badly needed week off, the difference in the site without its team leader has been virtually unrecognizable.
Offbeat, relevant story ideas are still pursued. Copy is still vigorously edited and posted in a timely fashion. And role players are still contributing at a very high level.
Meanwhile, my increased responsibility in the absence of our leader hasn’t impacted my ability to produce a quality column, in-depth Rookie Rankings or pertinent news analysis.
And all of this has been achieved while guiding a group of middling middle school kids through a disjointed season that has been walloped by weather, assisting my daughter with her housing and FAFSA application for her sophomore year at National Champions University, and making sure my son – who doesn’t yet drive – doesn’t miss a day of school or work.
That’s the sort of leadership and production you look for in an MVP.
Yes, I’m campaigning. You almost have to when you play in a small market and have limited exposure.
But like Durant, I’m getting a little tired of being second.
On to the rankings.