Lebron James is doing many things right this year.  Last night he showed why he, and not D Wade or Kobe, should be the 2009 MVP.  I have a good argument on Lebron’s behalf and hope you will read it objectively before agreeing or disagreeing with me.  Here are at 10 reasons why Lebron will win the MVP.

1. The Cavs cannot win without him on offense or defense.  Lebron has really taken a step to contest every shot this year.  he has some pretty special blocks as a result. 
2. He has the least to work with.  Getting Mo Williams helps, but Z is aging, Anderson Varajeo still flops too much and plays with no control, and Ben Wallace was never a factor on offense.  He has maximized his teammates potential all year.
3. He has finally matured into the leader everyone thought he could be.  Cavs fans knew this would take a couple of seasons, but he seems poised to lead the Cavs with a clearer agenda than in years past.
4. He is comfortable in Cleveland.  It is close to home.  Ignore what you hear about New York.  The Cavs basically let him pick his own coach and teammates.  He is an institution that the Cavs would be stupid to ever let go of.
5. He is playing better under pressure this year.  Seems like when the spotlight was on him in regular season games last year, he was not a factor the way he has been this year.
6. He is embracing his stardom.  The ads here in the near Cleveland market are growing excruciating.  His face is everywhere and his image is automatic revenue.  He never had the commercial and media exposure he is currently enjoying.
7. Cleveland fans are just rowdier than LA fans. Jack Nicholson doesn’t go nuts when Kobe hits a three.  Cavs fan go nuts when Lebron gets a rebound.  The laid back atmosphere of Los Angeles fans can actually hurt Kobe because Lebron’s louder crowd reactions can be an illusion that he is doing more.
8. Because the Most Valuable Player of the NBA must help his team more than other superstars do.  It’s obvious this season.  He starts the fourth quarter on the bench but encourages his teammates to play hard, waives his towel when they do well, and shows concern when they struggle.  His impact when on the floor is the greatest in the NBA this season, making him the leagues most valuable player.
9. Let the fans vote, you might be suprised.  I don’t think for a minute that the NBA MVP should be a popularity contest.  I also have little faith in NBA fans (didn’t they just vote Iverson in as an All-Star starter?).  However, drawing from the greatest reflection there is, an organized poll would clearly show Lebron James as the most popular player in the NBA.
10. Have Lebron and Kobe swirtch teams for a week.  What would happen?  Phil Jackson would still look half-loaded at the end of the bench without his team missing a beat.  Kobe, on the other hand, would fail miserably without Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and recent acquisition Adam Morrison.  He would then cry, as we have seen Kobe do in the past, until he gets his way.

Those are my top ten reasons why I feel Lebron James is already the 2008-09 NBA MVP.   

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