D-Will: Darkhorse to win MVP?
ESPN analyst Chris Broussard did a piece talking about the “puzzle” that is the NBA most valuable player race for next season.
If Lebron James does not win the award for a third straight year who would the likely candidates be to take the honor.
He goes on to speak about Steph Curry and his magical playoffs last season and how if the Golden State Warriors make a run it will probably be because Curry is playing out if his mind again.
The next player he had on his “darkhorse” list was our very own Deron Williams.
Many people have been waiting to see the D-Will that dominated the league and point guard position three years ago and especially Brooklyn Nets fans. Williams has been hampered by injuries the last two seasons and that has something to do with his drop-off in production but I also think the talent, or lack thereof, had an effect.
Williams attitude since coming to the Nets has not been good at all and he tends to get moody and standoffish when things don’t go well for the team and that is not a quality you want in your franchise player. The way he played last season after the All-Star break was something similar to his Utah days but he hasn’t been able to maintain that level for a full season.
This upcoming season will be a huge season for D-Will as there are no more excuses about lack of talent or old and outdated coaches slowing him down.
The pressure will squarely be on the shoulders of #8 to navigate this stacked team to the conference finals at minimum.
If he takes on the challenges and succeeds – New York will be his to own with or without the MVP.
[quote_simple] ESPN
It was only a couple of years ago that Deron Williams was regarded as one of the top three point guards in the league. Now, after a couple of injury-plagued seasons with the Nets, folks mention Paul, Derrick Rose, Russell Westbrook, Tony Parker, Rajon Rondo and perhaps Curry and Kyrie Irving ahead of him.
But after the re-emergence of “the Utah D-Will” over the second half of last season — Williams averaged nearly 23 points and eight assists a game in March and April — many believe the slimmed-down Williams will come back with a vengeance this season. That, coupled with Brooklyn’s expected improvement — including the additions of Kevin Garnettand Paul Pierce, the Nets could win 55 games or so — compelled a couple of assistants and executives to say Williams could challenge for MVP.
“I still think D-Will is one of top three point guards in this league,” a Western Conference executive said. “I think he was worn out from playing in the Olympics last year. That’s a lot tougher on the smaller guys than on the big guys. So I think D-Will will have a bounce-back year. And if the Nets are as good as they claim they’ll be, he’s got to be in the MVP conversation.”
Of the two dark horses, I’d say Curry has a better chance. And don’t think for a minute that dark horses don’t have a chance. No one would have ever predicted Nash would win the MVP heading into the 2004-05 season or that Dirk Nowitzki would win it in 2007.
If the Nets do win 55 or so games and Williams is their best player, he might have a shot. But if Golden State wins around 55 games and Curry puts on the type of show he did during the playoffs, he would perhaps be even harder to ignore.[/quote_simple]
