[Lebron’s HairlineParticipant]

 Here are  my top 3 Darkhorse MVP candidates. 1.Tony Parker: Parker is coming off of the best season of his career and was one of the main reasons why San Antonio were so dominant in the west last year yet he’s not getting any early MVP love and barely got any last year. I he can duplicate his numbers and lead San Antonio to the top of the west, he may get some votes. 2. Deron Williams: Williams was the lone bright spot on the 22-44 nets last year. Now that he has a respectable playoff team expect him to be the engine that gets the Nets back into the playoffs. If he can get back to around 18 points and 12 assists like he has in Utah while leaving the nets to the top of their division, expect him to be in the running. 3. Rajon Rondo. Rondo is easily one of the most unique players in the league, if he can up his scoring, cut down on his turnovers, and get Boston to one of the top records in the east, expect Rondo to get some consideration.

[corneggParticipant]

No question about it

 

[BasketballJunkie224Participant]

As a Nets fan, i hope Dwill makes a run for MVP. it will certainly be a lot easier now that the nets have some life to them. definitely going to be tough tho with so many great players poised for great seasons. Rondo i could see maybe being in the mix based on his HUGE numbers. If kevin love is the PF version of big numbers then you have to have Rondo as your guy while talking about PG’s. And tony parker always plays well but IMO i dont know if he has enough juice left for another mvp chase

[LipstickParticipant]

I like Deron Williams or Rajon Rondo as more likely of a dark horse than Parker. Main reason being the East’s #2 seed is up for the taking and huge season from either of these guys could propel them to #2 with 50-55 wins.

But I would take Rajon given his postseason performance and the larger role he’ll likely have in the offense.

[eazy_peachesParticipant]

 I think all three of these guys are solid darkhorse picks. Obviously Lebron and Durant will be everyones favorites heading into the year. And Chris Paul should get lots of pre-season love as well.

But I will mention that Tony Parker did get some love for MVP last season. People were talking about him being in competition for the award throughout periods of the season. And he did finnish 5th in MVP voting, and he was very close to 3rd and 4th place. He came 4th in first place votes. So I guess that’s some love. If the Spurs have another phenomenal year, I expect Parker to again get at least some consideration (assuming he can repeat his season personally as well).

2011-2012 NBA MVP Voting, top 5;

1. Lebron James: 1074 total points, 85 first place

2. Kevin Durant: 889 total points, 24 first place

3. Chris Paul: 385 total points, 6 first place

4. Kobe Bryant: 353 total points, 2 first place

5. Tony Parker: 331 total points, 4 first place

[omphalosParticipant]

 Let me start by saying Rondo is my favourite player in the NBA, but he’s not going to be the MVP. For starters, he’s criminally underrated by the media. But most importantly, his focus in the regular season is to get his guys going and get them the touches they need to be ready for the post-season. Then, when the playoffs roll around he surprises people by being a lot more aggressive and firing on all cylinders, content with the knowledge that the guys he’s built up around him all season will be ready to play when called upon.

He won’t be upping his scoring numbers a whole lot this season, but he’ll still have 10-13 apg and probably average a double-double. The fact is, with a whole bunch of new players on board, making sure everyone is comfortable in the regular season is more important than ever this year, and Rondo has always been a team-first guy.

If we are talking a real dark horse candidate for MVP, I’d have to put forth Andrew Bynum. Finally playing the role of 1st option on a team deep with talent but lacking another star, Bynum will have to shoulder the burden and could lift the Sixers to one of the top seeds in the East to go along with great scoring, rebounding and blocking averages, but he could theoretically steal the MVP.

[LipstickParticipant]

For starters, he’s criminally underrated by the media.

This. It’s why Dwight Howard might not win the MVP even if LA and him have a monster year, and definitely why LeBron didn’t win the MVP in 2011.

Bynum for sure could jump in.

I’ll throw out another in Kevin Love. Should Minnesota have a 50-win season (really no chance unless everything falls into place), he’ll climb up the MVP ladder. He was last season until Rubio went down along with the record and, eventually, himself thanks to injuries.

[eazy_peachesParticipant]

 I didn’t think about Bynum. If he stays healthy all year in his first season as a number one option, and the 76ers have a successful season and they overachieve, maybe he will get some love.

[HaleParticipant]

Love isn’t even the most valuable guy on his team. The media is in love with him, so his name will be up there, but no way will he actually be worth a top 3 consideration of it.

[BenchWarmerParticipant]

I would say K love and Bynum but no point in beating a dark horse… Dead horse 😉 so what’s left I’d say:

Stephon Curry- Long shot (he’s also got one haha I’m on fire) but he’s efficient and could lead the warriors into respectability.

Lamarcus Aldrige- maybe not this year but he looked good last year, he looked better passing and he’s got shooters around him, which will in turn help him.

Rudy Gay- probably not, more of a glue/utility Jack of all trades, but I’ve waited 3 years for him to bust out.

And maybe… Brian Scabrine assuming he comes out our retirement, gets snubbed every year.

These guys don’t realistically have a chance but I didn’t want to keep repeating names, just maybe some other names we might see on the ladder.

[joecheck88Participant]

 Idk, define dark horse. The same guys are usually mentioned every year. Cp3, Kobe, Durant, Lebron, Dwight and you can add K Love, Tony Parker and Westbrook to that. After that, who is there? The team has to he really good for you to win. So that leaves maybe Blake Griffin, Pau Gasol, maybe Bynum to that list because everyone else either won’t have a great record or the team will be too balanced(Pacers for example should be good but no MVPs on the team). So then you have to pick guys on teams that could break out and be a top 3 seed. Maybe the Knicks with Melo or the Nets with Deron. Do the Hawks surprise and J Smoove get a chance(doubtful).

Point is, it’s a decent discussion but no dark horse will win it. It’s a 6 man race at best. Kobe, Durant, Lebron, Dwight, Westbrook, & CP3. None of whom are dark horses.

[BasketballJunkie224Participant]

call me crazy but i think carmelo could be a darkhorse for mvp..depending on if the knicks suck or not

[The8thDeadlySinParticipant]

 I think that Dirk could be a dark horse..  Bynum or Cousins simply because of the lack of number 1 option big men.  Also, their teams would have to be really really good for either to have a chance

[TallmanNYCParticipant]

 Rondo is my dark horse. I would say Love, but I don’t even consider that a Dark horse candidate. If he first or second in the league in rebounds, scores 20+ a game, shoots a nice percentage and his team is on pace for 50 wins, then of course he will be an MVP candidate. 

But seriously, this is a two horse race, Lebron and Durant. No one else is really going to be in contention by January. 

[BasketballJunkie224Participant]

yea i think it will be a lot similar to last year as lebron and KD were the frontrunners with guys like tony parker,cp3,kobe all hanging around. this year i figure lebron and KD will be the frontrunners again with 2 or 3 guys playing insanely well.

[LipstickParticipant]

Deron Williams and Carmelo Anthony. I think one of these teams will exceed expectations and in the East that can be good enough to grab the #2 seed. For Carmelo it would have to either be a monster year or very unselfish. I think Deron Williams is going to bounce back from last year but we’ll see how much.

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