Can't Buy Me Love

By Dan Rodgers

This NBA season has two big names being talked about for the MVP race. Heat forward LeBron James and Bulls guard Derrick Rose.

Chicago is coincidentally tied for the two-seed in the Eastern Conference with the Miami. However, there is someone who is not being mentioned for the MVP and I think he should be leading the discussion.

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kevin Love is dominating the NBA this season and should be the leading MVP candidate.

Love: 20.9 ppg 15.7 rbp 2.5 apg
Rose: 24.6 ppg 4.4 rpg 8.1 apg
James: 26.2 ppg 7.5 rpg 7.1 apg

Love is leading the NBA handily in rebounds, and obviously he isn't going to be anywhere near the top in assists. I understand the Timberwolves (15-49) suck but they would easily set the record for the most losses in a single season without Love. He has a double-double in every game played in December, January and February. He has set the Twolves franchise record for most double-doubles and he is one short of the all-time NBA record of 51 set by Moses Malone in the 1978-1979 season.

I understand the Twolves suck and that will probably mean that Love won't even get consideration, but just consider what the guy is doing on a terrible team. He is shooting 47% from the field, 42% from three-point range (yes he can shoot long distance) and he is 86% from the free-throw line. I mean the guy gets double digit points and rebounds every game and does it efficiently.

All three of those percentages are better than Rose's and they blow James' numbers out of the water except FG% in which James is 2% better. That should mean something in the MVP talk.

So we'll see what happens as we approach the end of the season, but I hope Love destroys the record and wins MVP (and not just because he is on my fantasy team).

Rodgers That

Some love for the USA

By Dan Rodgers

While MLB heads for the final stretch and the NFL gets ready to kick off, many people have pushed the NBA to the back of their minds. While it might stay there, don't forget to give some love to the U.S.A. team that is competing in the 2010 FIBA World Championships.

While the "superstar" names aren't playing, there are still quite a few young stars that are competing. Headlining the team is Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant. Playing along side him include: Durant's OKC teammate Russell Westbrook, Chicago's Derrick Rose, and Memphis' Rudy Gay, among others.

U.S.A. is 2-0, tied atop their pool with Brazil. Their wins, both by double-digits, were over Croatia and Slovenia.

This post is probably not necessary because, as usual, we will probably dominate most teams and come away with the championship or gold medal, etc. Nevertheless, these guys deserve credit, and I'll come back with another update in a few days.

Rodgers That

Wade, Bosh Heating up

By Dan Rodgers

ESPN reported that according to a source with knowledge of the situation, Dwayne Wade will resign with Miami and he will have a new playmate in former Toronto Raptor Chris Bosh.

This move isn't a surprise, or shouldn't be, to anyone. It was fairly anticipated that Wade wanted to resign in Miami with the assumption that the Heat would being in another big name to play along side him.

This will have a fairly large impact on LeBron James' decision because now we now he won't go to Miami and he may not stay in Cleveland. James was lobbying for the Cavs to sign Bosh which could have guaranteed him staying in Cleveland. Now, he may be inclined to head to Chicago or New York.

The Bulls already have a good supporting cast with Rose, Deng and Noah. The Knicks just signed Stoudemire and will give LeBron the Garden if that's what it takes to get him. Should be interesting; tune in tomorrow night to the LeBron James special on ESPN at 9 PM.

Rodgers That