LJ wins WNBA MVP
Okay, Lauren Jackson was just announced as the WNBA MVP. It was a close vote with my girl Becky Hammon finishing second and Diana Taurasi third.
Those who follow the women's game, know, Jackson is like Michael Jordan in that she's clearly the best player in the world. She could get the award every year because she will always be among the scoring and rebounding leaders.
Jackson led the WNBA in scoring and rebounds this season and, in one of the great mysteries of our time, was also named Defensive Player of the Year. Obviously, you could give her the MVP Award every year and it would be tough to argue.
But, her team didn't have a winning record. Her team didn't put up much of a fight in the playoffs. Was that her fault?
No, but how valuable was she if her team lost more than it won?
People who saw San Antonio in the playoffs know Hammon put that club on her back at times. If the MVP vote had been taken after the playoffs, Jackson probably would not have won.
To be fair, if I had to turn in a vote after the regular season, I might've voted for LJ as well.
Thankfully, the El Dorado News-Times gets to wait until after the season is over. For me, postseason carries more weight for these types of accolades than anything else.
Sure, I could give my Player of the Year Award to the girl who scores the most points on a mediocre team that fails to advance in the postseason. That would be the easy way.
But, I like to see who does what when the season is on the line. When it's do-or-die is when the cream rises.
Everyone has their own ideas of how these awards are given out. One reporter asked Jackson Wednesday during the MVP press conference specifically about Hammon. Jackson acknowledged Hammon and the other players who had outstanding seasons. Basically, the Australian's answer was, it was the media who voted. She didn't have anything to do with it.
Jackson is a classy player and said all of the right things. She even said she was surprised to win it.
I'm not surprised. I'm a tad disappointed, but not surprised.
Those who follow the women's game, know, Jackson is like Michael Jordan in that she's clearly the best player in the world. She could get the award every year because she will always be among the scoring and rebounding leaders.
Jackson led the WNBA in scoring and rebounds this season and, in one of the great mysteries of our time, was also named Defensive Player of the Year. Obviously, you could give her the MVP Award every year and it would be tough to argue.
But, her team didn't have a winning record. Her team didn't put up much of a fight in the playoffs. Was that her fault?
No, but how valuable was she if her team lost more than it won?
People who saw San Antonio in the playoffs know Hammon put that club on her back at times. If the MVP vote had been taken after the playoffs, Jackson probably would not have won.
To be fair, if I had to turn in a vote after the regular season, I might've voted for LJ as well.
Thankfully, the El Dorado News-Times gets to wait until after the season is over. For me, postseason carries more weight for these types of accolades than anything else.
Sure, I could give my Player of the Year Award to the girl who scores the most points on a mediocre team that fails to advance in the postseason. That would be the easy way.
But, I like to see who does what when the season is on the line. When it's do-or-die is when the cream rises.
Everyone has their own ideas of how these awards are given out. One reporter asked Jackson Wednesday during the MVP press conference specifically about Hammon. Jackson acknowledged Hammon and the other players who had outstanding seasons. Basically, the Australian's answer was, it was the media who voted. She didn't have anything to do with it.
Jackson is a classy player and said all of the right things. She even said she was surprised to win it.
I'm not surprised. I'm a tad disappointed, but not surprised.
posted by Tony at
3:36 PM
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