[Hold My Own]

Im just saying he was no where near a POY candidate the first month...

[paradox]

I don't think that anyone is going to argue that Seth & Anthony are the top two players on the team. But to say that Smith is "hands down" the best, is a little over the top, to say the least.

Seth, undoubtedly, draws the most attention from the opposing defenses. Even within that context, he's delivered big-time in the clutch. Clutch play and the opposition's defensive strategy are two very important items that simply don't show up on a stat sheet. Therefore, I'd give the edge to Seth, with Smith a close second.

Having said, I think that an argument can be made for Smith as MVP, but there's no way that he's "hands down" better than Seth.

[SuperJon]

Im just saying he was no where near a POY candidate the first month...

First calendar month of the season:

Ant: 19ppg, 49.5% shooting, 50 rebounds, 19 assists, 17 turnovers, 3 blocks, 9 steals, 34 minutes/game
Seth: 21ppg, 44.3% shooting, 39 rebounds, 19 assists, 15 turnovers, 2 blocks, 5 steals, 38 minutes/game

[Hold My Own]

Jon we've had discussions before about how "Ant finally turned it on" after that one game...DePaul?

[SuperJon]

I agree. But looking back, I may have just been too hard on him. The stats were there that first part of the season.

[dompennix]

I think Smitty is the MVP. He has been stepping up recently

[Cider Jim]

POY Smith casts his MVP vote for Jesse (has he been reading our thread?):

Sanders spearheaded Liberty’s 58.6-percent first half shooting effort. At the break, he had nine assists and no turnovers and the Flames’ offense hummed along smoothly.

“Last game, when he fouled out against Radford, our shot percentage went completely downhill,” said Liberty’s Anthony Smith, who finished with 23 points and three rebounds and became the ninth Big South player with 1,500 points and 500 rebounds. “He’s really the MVP of the team. He makes it go.”

(from Lang's article in the fishwrap)
http://www.newsadvance.com/lna/sports/c ... int/12847/

[prototype]

Only a true MVP would be that unselfish;)

I will say it again - Smith is our MVP HANDS DOWN. Curry is good, but he has 3 more years to win MVP and Smith is an all around stud!!

[olldflame]

IMHO the only negative stat Smitty has is his turnovers. Otherwise he has been a more effecient offensive player than Seth, scoring almost as much while shooting a much higher percentage and also leading the team in rebounding and playing interior defense on guys a half a foot taller.

[PAmedic]

plus, he has that whole "white arm-sock" thing going on. That oughta count for something

[kel varson]

I was leaning towards Sanders as well. I don't think we could get away with the small lineup without his scrappiness in getting after loose balls and rebounds. I think Smith, Curry and Sanders are equally important though. I guess if I had to pick I would say Anthony though because he is a senior and has made almost as many big shots as Seth. Anthony's only glaring flaw is the foul shooting.

[flamesfilmguy]

also leading the team in rebounding and playing interior defense on guys a half a foot taller.

That is why he should be MVP and Jesse is a close second because he's getting rebounds over guys that are literally a foot taller than him.

[olldflame]

I was leaning towards Sanders as well. I don't think we could get away with the small lineup without his scrappiness in getting after loose balls and rebounds. I think Smith, Curry and Sanders are equally important though. I guess if I had to pick I would say Anthony though because he is a senior and has made almost as many big shots as Seth. Anthony's only glaring flaw is the foul shooting.

I forgot about Anthony's history of poor foul shooting, maybe because he made up for some of it the other night hitting 4-5 in the big comeback. .635 is not great but not horrible. He has more turnovers than assists this year, which IMHO is his weakest stat.

[grm]

MVP talk understood & accepted. Otherwise, I hate it. Never seems to help anyone. We preach team - team - team - & then then have a banquet and pat a guy (or few guys) on the back. Makes no sense to me.

[Rocketfan]

I was leaning towards Sanders as well. I don't think we could get away with the small lineup without his scrappiness in getting after loose balls and rebounds. I think Smith, Curry and Sanders are equally important though. I guess if I had to pick I would say Anthony though because he is a senior and has made almost as many big shots as Seth. Anthony's only glaring flaw is the foul shooting.

I forgot about Anthony's history of poor foul shooting, maybe because he made up for some of it the other night hitting 4-5 in the big comeback. .635 is not great but not horrible. He has more turnovers than assists this year, which IMHO is his weakest stat.

by whose standards....63.5% is horrible in my opinion unless your 7 feet tall.

[thepostman]

no...63.5 is horrible no matter what...big guys just get off easy

[Hold My Own]

big guys just get off easy

Thats what she said

[paradox]

I was leaning towards Sanders as well. I don't think we could get away with the small lineup without his scrappiness in getting after loose balls and rebounds. I think Smith, Curry and Sanders are equally important though. I guess if I had to pick I would say Anthony though because he is a senior and has made almost as many big shots as Seth. Anthony's only glaring flaw is the foul shooting.

I forgot about Anthony's history of poor foul shooting, maybe because he made up for some of it the other night hitting 4-5 in the big comeback. .635 is not great but not horrible. He has more turnovers than assists this year, which IMHO is his weakest stat.

Let's be honest now, as much as we love Anthony as a player, 60% from the charity stripe is absolutely horrible, and it could end up having a an impact on how far this team can go. Hopefully, he'll improve on that.

...

[olldflame]

I agree that 60% is horrible. 63.5% is bad. There is actually quite a difference. Free throws have always been Smitty's achilles heel. Hopefully his clutch makes in the High Point comeback will boost his confidence next time he is at the line in a crucial situation.

[thepostman]

no 63.5 is still awful

[Rooster Cogburn]

Jesse: first Flame with a triple double (I'm leaving out the presumed)!

He is a huge part of this team, and is finally getting his due press after last nights game.

[luflame15]

How bout Kyle Ohman? He is a very solid contributor to the offense and defense as well.

[coolhandluke]

How bout Kyle Ohman? He is a very solid contributor to the offense and defense as well.

no.

[ToTheLeft]

How bout Kyle Ohman? He is a very solid contributor to the offense and defense as well.

no.

...you're really one of the least brain using members of this board.

Kyle has been amazing for us this year in Big South play. He's also shooting a ridiculous clip from 3 point range. His defense has been amazing, handling big men and guarding perimeter players. He's arguably the most balanced player on our team in terms of solid offense and solid defense.

Just because you don't like Kyle doesn't mean he's not arguably the most valuable player to this team.

[SuperJon]

I would've said a straight up no. I think he's the 4th most important player. That's not to say he's not important, but I would rank him 4th.