Who was the best player in the league in 2010-2011?

[SouBeachTalents]

I feel out of any year since Jordan retired, this is the one season that doesn't have a truly definitive answer, and has the most candidates as well. Who would you consider to be the best player that season?

[LoneyROY7]

I feel out of any year since Jordan retired, this is the one season that doesn't have a truly definitive answer, and has the most candidates as well. Who would you consider to be the best player that season?

Dwyane Wade.

[Fire Colangelo]

Regular season? or the whole year playoffs included?

If accounting only for regular season, maybe Rose/Dwight. Accounting for the playoffs, probably Dirk.

[Young X]

Wade

[G0ATbe]

Godbe.

[j3lademaster]

With full hindsight looking back it's got to be Dirk.

[Nash]

Regular season: Lebron

Playoffs: Dirk

[MastaKilla]

Wade

[T_L_P]

Dirk and Wade. He killed it in the Finals when LeBron wasn't on the ball as much.

[T_L_P]

And I've always thought 05 was the more contentious year.

Kobe was injured / clearly not the best when playing. Duncan struggled offensively in the Playoffs. Shaq was a year removed from his prime and didn't dominate the postseason. Dirk didn't have an otherworldly year. Garnett missed the Playoffs. Nash was never seen as the best player in the league, or even top 3. I mean, you could argue that someone like Ben Wallace or maybe even Andrei Kirilenko had a top 5 impact on the floor.

[Fudge]

Finals: LeBron

[RRR3]

LeBron still ability wise. Choked bad though.


This guy deserves a mention
http://atlantablackstar.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/dwight-howard1.jpg

[Genaro]

Dirk or Wade.

[GrapeApe]

LeBron, Wade, Rose, Dirk, and Howard all have arguments. I think Dirk's playoff run puts him over the top.

[FKAri]

Lebron and Dirk. Wade and Dwight closely behind them. I do think people overrate Dwight that year a little bit. He was really in a perfect system for him.

[TheNaturalWR]

Dwyane Wade. Always felt like that was his second best season.

[Papaya Petee]

Wade. Outplayed/was equal to Dirk in the finals and was much better than him in the regular season. Lebron chokejob is the only reason Dirk has an argument.

[Magic 32]

Not a great year in the NBA.

[masonanddixon]

Wade. Outplayed/was equal to Dirk in the finals and was much better than him in the regular season. Lebron chokejob is the only reason Dirk has an argument.

Except Wade choked every 4th quarter away.

[Magic 32]

Except Wade choked every 4th quarter away.

Trying >hiding

[masonanddixon]

Trying >hiding

Lebron was the worst player on the floor in the Finals but I can't stand people overrating Wade's Finals performance when the reality is he choked away every 4th while Dirk was clutch as hell.

Especially the Game 6 where Wade was total garbage

[VIP2000]

Lebron was the worst player on the floor in the Finals

Mike Bibby says hi.

[masonanddixon]

Mike Bibby says hi.

Mike hit some 3s at least. Lebron was just trash.

[Cone]

Dirk and its not even close.

[Cone]

Wade. Outplayed/was equal to Dirk in the finals and was much better than him in the regular season. Lebron chokejob is the only reason Dirk has an argument.
:roll: :roll: chill there

dirk was way better in both regular season and playoffs. IF dirk didnt get injured in those 9 games + the amount of time he took to get back to form, he may have won the MVP.

but ya LeBron was the only reason Dirk has an argument :oldlol: Not because he put on one of the greatest playoff runs of all time and was damn good in the regular season. GTFO

[TheNaturalWR]

Lebron was the worst player on the floor in the Finals but I can't stand people overrating Wade's Finals performance when the reality is he choked away every 4th while Dirk was clutch as hell.

Especially the Game 6 where Wade was total garbage

We're going to ignore the fact that Dirk shot 40 ****ing percent? Wade was easily the best player in the Finals. If LeBron actually showed up, Wade wouldn't have those opportunities to "choke" in the first place.

[masonanddixon]

We're going to ignore the fact that Dirk shot 40 ****ing percent? Wade was easily the best player in the Finals. If LeBron actually showed up, Wade wouldn't have those opportunities to "choke" in the first place.

Ah no, Wade had like 3 good games and choked every 4th.

Dirk's overall % was low because he shot like 4-18 or whatever in that Game 4 where he has sinusitis and a 102F temperature.

Bottom line was every 4th Wade was shit whereas Dirk was godlike. Thats why one guy won and the other lost despite having the far superior supporting cast

[Milbuck]

I honestly think it might have been Dwight. 23/14 on 61% TS, visible game changer on defense, dominant rebounder, one of his better seasons leadership-wise, great as a go to offensive option. Overall ability wise it would probably be Lebron or Wade...but Dwight's two-way impact that year was incredible imo. Swap him in for current Dwight and Houston is a legit contender.

[SamuraiSWISH]

I feel out of any year since Jordan retired, this is the one season that doesn't have a truly definitive answer, and has the most candidates as well. Who would you consider to be the best player that season?
You feel every year since Jordan had a definitive best player? I think there is a few years where there was some grey areas besides 2011. I'd like to hear your definitive best player from 1987 until today.

2006 Regular Season - Kobe
w/ 2006 Post Season - Wade

2007 Regular Season - Dirk or Kobe
w/ 2007 Post Season - Duncan or Nash

2009 Regular Season - LeBron
w/ 2009 Post Season - LeBron or Kobe

2010 Regular Season - LeBron
w/ 2010 Post Season - Kobe

etc.

[Young X]

^ 2005 also. KG? Duncan? Shaq? Dirk? Nash?

[Heavincent]

Dirk

[SouBeachTalents]

Yes, you guys are right, '05 & '07 would definitely apply as well. Besides that though, I think every other year of the 2000's has one, two players at most who would be seen as the best player in the game

2000-02: Shaq
2003: Duncan
2004: KG
2006: Kobe or Wade
2008: Kobe
2009: LeBron or Kobe
2010: LeBron or Kobe
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron
2014: Durant or LeBron

[SamuraiSWISH]

Yes, you guys are right, '05 & '07 would definitely apply as well. Besides that though, I think every other year of the 2000's has one, two players at most who would be seen as the best player in the game

2000-02: Shaq
2003: Duncan
2004: KG
2006: Kobe or Wade
2008: Kobe
2009: LeBron or Kobe
2010: LeBron or Kobe
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron
2014: Durant or LeBron
I'm of the personal belief that MVP shouldn't just be regular season based, but the entire season. It has to include the most important, and intense part of the season. That separates men from boys. Greats from Legends.

We wouldn't have had embarrassments like Malone in '97, Nash in '04, '05, and Dirk in 2007. Or if you believe Rose's 2011 MVP was whack, etc.

Including Playoffs:

'88: Magic
'89: Jordan
'90: Jordan
'91: Jordan
'92: Jordan
'93: Jordan
'94: Hakeem
'95: Hakeem
'96: Jordan
'97: Jordan
'98: Jordan
'99: Malone (?)
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Shaq
2003: Duncan
2004: Garnett
2005: Duncan
2006: Wade
2007: IDK
2008: Kobe
2009: Kobe or LeBron
2010: Kobe
2011: Dirk (?)
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron
2014: Durant or LeBron

I think that's a MUCH more accurate gauge of individual greatness in terms of the league belonging to a certain player in given seasons, or for various stretches of dominance. MJ in the 90s, Hakeem when Mike was gone, Shaq in the early 2000s, Kobe in the late 2000s, LeBron in the early 2010s, etc.

[Papaya Petee]

:roll: :roll: chill there

dirk was way better in both regular season and playoffs. IF dirk didnt get injured in those 9 games + the amount of time he took to get back to form, he may have won the MVP.

but ya LeBron was the only reason Dirk has an argument :oldlol: Not because he put on one of the greatest playoff runs of all time and was damn good in the regular season. GTFO
:roll: :roll: You lost all credibility by saying that.

Dirk- 23\7\3\.5\.5 51% FG 72 Games Played
Wade- 26\6\5\2\1 50% FG 76 Games Played

Wade did this with LeBron on his team, do you realize if LeBron never came to Miami Wade would of had another 30\7\6 season that year? I am not even going to get into the difference DEFENSIVELY, where Wade has a clear advantage over Dirk. He scored more, was a better passer and defender, and shit, averaged .5 RPG less than Dirk who has 7 inches on Wade :roll: all while playing more games and his team finishing with a better record.

If LeBron doesn't play the worst series of his career, the Heat beat the Mavs in 5-6 games tops, Wade gets FMVP and Dirk has no argument. Statistically Wade had a superior series to Dirk as well. Was he as clutch? No, but shot 15% better from the field than Dirk while outscoring, outassisting, outstealing and outblocking him.

[pastis]

:roll: :roll: You lost all credibility by saying that.

Dirk- 23\7\3\.5\.5 51% FG 72 Games Played
Wade- 26\6\5\2\1 50% FG 76 Games Played

Wade did this with LeBron on his team, do you realize if LeBron never came to Miami Wade would of had another 30\7\6 season that year? I am not even going to get into the difference DEFENSIVELY, where Wade has a clear advantage over Dirk. He scored more, was a better passer and defender, and shit, averaged .5 RPG less than Dirk who has 7 inches on Wade :roll: all while playing more games and his team finishing with a better record.

If LeBron doesn't play the worst series of his career, the Heat beat the Mavs in 5-6 games tops, Wade gets FMVP and Dirk has no argument. Statistically Wade had a superior series to Dirk as well. Was he as clutch? No, but shot 15% better from the field than Dirk while outscoring, outassisting, outstealing and outblocking him.

you can also argue that with bosh and lebron on the court, wade had much easier baskets, wasnt the focus of te enemys defense etc. pp.

[Mass Debator]

you can also argue that with bosh and lebron on the court, wade had much easier baskets, wasnt the focus of te enemys defense etc. pp.
Lebron was on the court? :wtf:

He had much more easier baskets because he had wide open jumpers and wasn't finishing at the basket with Tyson Chandler/Dirk playing tight-D on sharp shooting Haslem and Joel Anthony.

[PsychoBe]

I'm of the personal belief that MVP shouldn't just be regular season based, but the entire season. It has to include the most important, and intense part of the season. That separates men from boys. Greats from Legends.

We wouldn't have had embarrassments like Malone in '97, Nash in '04, '05, and Dirk in 2007. Or if you believe Rose's 2011 MVP was whack, etc.

Including Playoffs:

'88: Magic
'89: Jordan
'90: Jordan
'91: Jordan
'92: Jordan
'93: Jordan
'94: Hakeem
'95: Hakeem
'96: Jordan
'97: Jordan
'98: Jordan
'99: Malone (?)
2000: Shaq
2001: Shaq
2002: Shaq
2003: Duncan
2004: Garnett
2005: Duncan
2006: Wade
2007: IDK
2008: Kobe
2009: Kobe or LeBron
2010: Kobe
2011: Dirk (?)
2012: LeBron
2013: LeBron
2014: Durant or LeBron

I think that's a MUCH more accurate gauge of individual greatness in terms of the league belonging to a certain player in given seasons, or for various stretches of dominance. MJ in the 90s, Hakeem when Mike was gone, Shaq in the early 2000s, Kobe in the late 2000s, LeBron in the early 2010s, etc.

i agree with this almost 100% actually. only thing is in 07' i'd probably give the nod to bran because of that crazy pistons game.

[Frozen1]

you can also argue that with bosh and lebron on the court, wade had much easier baskets, wasnt the focus of te enemys defense etc. pp.

Yeah, watch Wade scoring only on wide open layups and fast breaks in the 2011 nba finals on this video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NwUAWhUmCeM

Lebron was being triple teamed, that's why he scored 8 points in game 4 and wade shot 56% in the series.

[MastaKilla]

i agree with this almost 100% actually. only thing is in 07' i'd probably give the nod to bran because of that crazy pistons game.

Nah somebody who takes 30 shots to only score 24 points in a one point loss in the deciding game of the finals isn't the best player in the league.

[Papaya Petee]

you can also argue that with bosh and lebron on the court, wade had much easier baskets, wasnt the focus of te enemys defense etc. pp.
Seeing how Wade just averaged 30 and 27 PPG while being the only vital option on Miami the 2 seasons before that, and how Doug Collins and Doc Rivers both said their #1 priority was to stop Wade in those first 2 rounds of 2011 playoffs, no, I can't argue that.

[Dengness9]

Rose regular season

Dirk playoffs


Just like it happened in reality.

[SexSymbol]

Dirk both in regular season and especially in the PO's.
I remember how when Dirk was out in the regular season, Mavs would completely suck, and as soon as he came back, they began to play great again.

Dirk and it's not even close.
Second would probably be Wade
Then it's between Howard and James

[fpliii]

Dirk, or Dwight. I like watching Rose play, but I'm still not feeling it, years later.

Dirk isn't revisionist history BTW, I remember articles that season about how good the team was with him, and how bad they were without him. Played 70+ too, so missing games is not a valid excuse.

[Mass Debator]

I remember how when Dirk was out in the regular season, Mavs would completely suck, and as soon as he came back, they began to play great again.

Dirk and it's not even close.
Yeah, the Mavs were 2-7 in that span. Mavs were almost down 10 ppg in their scoring average.

But...

23/7/3 + 1.1 b/s 23 PER
26/6/4 + 2.6 b/s 26 PER

28/8/3 + 1.2 b/s 25 PER
25/7/4 + 2.9 b/s 26 PER

Wade played 3 more games.

So...

Not even close?

[D-Wade316]

Regular Season(per 36):
Dirk - 24.2pts, 7.4reb, 2.7ast, 51.7fg%, 7.84+ RPAM
Lebron - 24.8pts, 6.9reb, 6.5ast, 51.0fg%, 7.04+ RAPM
Wade - 24.8pts, 6.2reb, 4.4ast, 50.0fg%, 6.16+ RAPM

Playoffs
Dirk - 27.7pts, 8.1reb, 2.5ast, 48.5%fg%, 39.3mpg, 25.2PER
Lebron - 23.7pts, 8.4reb, 5.9ast, 46.6fg%, 43.9mpg, 23.7PER
Wade - 24.5pts, 7.1reb, 4.4ast, 48.5%fg%, 39.4mpg, 26.4PER

Quite easily Wade and Dirk. Lebron clearly second, followed by Dwight.

[Shep]

lol at nowitzki being anywhere near james because of 5 games. it is easily lebron.

[SouBeachTalents]

Some top 5 rankings after the 2011 season

ESPN
1. LeBron
2. Dwight
3. Wade
4. CP3
5. Dirk

SI
1. LeBron
2. Dwight
3. Wade
4. Dirk
5. Kobe

Slam
1. LeBron
2. Durant
3. Kobe
4. Rose
5. Wade

Skip Bayless
1. Wade
2. Durant
3. Kobe
4. Dirk
5. Carmelo

Stephen A Smith
1. Wade
2. Kobe
3. Dwight
4. Dirk
5. Durant

[jrong]

Except Wade choked every 4th quarter away.

Really, was that when he carried them in the 4th quarter of Games 1 and 3?

Of course, you're right, he did go, 0 -2 in the last 7 minutes of Game 2. But, then LeBron went 0 -4. And considering Wade had 36 before that, maybe he should have been the one taking more shots in the fourth quarter.

Then there was his 8 pt. 4th quarter in Game 4, which wasn't good enough for the win. Of course, LeBron had a 2 pt 4th quarter, and an 8 game.

And oh, Game 5, Wade, who got hurt in the first quarter and NEEDED LeBron to take over,still managed 6 pts in the 4th and 23 for the game. LeBron had 17.

Get off the board.

[jrong]

Ah no, Wade had like 3 good games and choked every 4th.

Dirk's overall % was low because he shot like 4-18 or whatever in that Game 4 where he has sinusitis and a 102F temperature.

Bottom line was every 4th Wade was shit whereas Dirk was godlike. Thats why one guy won and the other lost despite having the far superior supporting cast

Games, 1, 3 and 4, for reference:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JbLg1vARoE

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lgE2JG1k0Fg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IOZtt2vqD5s

Don't ever try to bring that shit again.

ETA: The answer is Wade. LeBron/ Wade were #1/2 in the season and #2/#1 in the playoffs. But, LeBron was so bad in the Finals, that it tips to Wade.

Dirk has an argument on offense, but he gives too much back on defense

[ArbitraryWater]

2003 (after #1), 2005-2007, 2009-2011 (after #1), is so close it's unfair... Should be done in tiers with multiple players on a damn near equal level.

You can reasonably present an argument for 3-4 guys.