Is Dwight Howard MVP Worthy?

Added on Mar 31, 2011 by Scott in

NBA

It seems like a foregone conclusion that Chicago’s Derrick Rose will win the 2010-11 league MVP. He ranks seventh in scoring, tenth in assists and has led the Bulls to the best record in the Eastern Conference. Should he win, it’s unlikely most fans and pundits will argue the decision. However, that doesn’t mean there aren’t other qualified candidates worthy of consideration. Like Orlando center Dwight Howard.

Howard is averaging a career high in points at 23.1 per game and has tied his career high in rebounds at 14.2. He ranks eleventh overall in scoring, second in rebounding and field goal percentage, third in blocks, second in double-doubles with 62 and twelfth in minutes played, which easily tops all centers.

From a pure statistical standpoint, Howard pretty much dwarfs the competition. He’s reeled off 32 consecutive double-doubles in games in which he’s started and has pulled down 20 or more rebounds eight times this season. On a team that lacks front court depth and elite scoring guards, he has nearly single-handedly willed the Magic to the fourth best record in an improved East.

Obviously, the Bulls would be a much different team without Rose, but with Carlos Boozer, Luol Deng and Joakim Noah, they still might be good enough to earn a playoff spot. On the other hand, it’s safe to assume Orlando would be scraping the bottom of the Southeast Division if Howard wasn’t manning the low post.

Will Howard win the MVP? Barring a shocking upset, no. Again, Rose is more than deserving. But to not include Howard in the conversation would be a mistake.