Rose Is NBA MVP

After dishing out the game-winning assist in a win over the Miami Heat, I now think Chicago point guard Derrick Rose is the NBA MVP right now. 

His 26 point effort against LeBron and the Heat cemented it for me.

Let me break it down for you.   Rose is averaging 25 points per game, 4.4 rebounds, 8.2 assists and shoots 44.9% from the field.  He makes other guys around him better.  This season, he's averaging 8.2 assists per game; he averaged 6.3 and 6.0 the past two seasons. 

He's both a play-maker and a scorer.  You either have to double him when he’s on fire from outside or collapse on him when he drives the lane – leaving guys wide open in other places (Deng last night vs. Heat).

He's been the only one healthy, yet Chicago is still one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference.  Right now, Chicago is 39-17.  They're currently the 3^rd best team in the East.  They're 2 games back of the Celtics & Heat for the top spot.

They've essentially done this without both Joakim Noah and Carlos Boozer.  Due to injuries, Noah has missed 30 games while Boozer has been out for 18.  Noah and Carlos Boozer have played together just nine times this season.  Rose has taken the Bulls on his back during that time and Chicago has proved itself to be one of the best teams in the East.  Rose has had to carry his team for most of the season without his 2nd and 3rd best player.

The reason Rose will get MVP is because of the injuries to Boozer and Noah.   When those guys were out, there were no other stars on Bulls - except Rose.

Lebron has Wade and Bosh.  He was more of a true MVP in Cleveland when he didn’t have much of a supporting cast.

Kobe is getting worn out while injuries that are finally starting to haunt him.  While Dwight Howard and the Magic are not doing as well.   Amar’e Stoudemire was in the running until Carmelo came aboard.  Now he’s scoring will likely drop.  There are now two cooks in the New York kitchen.