We went rounds trying to arrive at a conclusion as to what makes the Most Valuable Player. Is it the best player form the best team? Or is it the player from any team that has meant the most to their team when it matters most?

We here at Wunderdog Sports Picks have determined that a true MVP is the latter. The league MVP should go to the player that has meant the most to his team. The player that has taken the reigns and driven the team where most other players fell short is truly the most valuable.

After considerable debate, many hurled beer cans and several indignant emails; the WD staff has selected New Orleans PG Chris Paul as this year’s MVP.

A solid case could be made for all three of this year’s finalists: the Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant (F) and Boston Celtics’ Kevin Garnett (F). All three candidates have been playing lights out in the playoffs including Bryant’s recent 49 point, 10 assist performance over the defenseless Denver Nuggets on Wednesday night. Garnett has also been playing like his NBA legacy depends on this year’s postseason performance and has been playing each one of his first-round playoff games as if it were the seventh game of the NBA Finals.

But the nod this year goes to Paul who has anchored his team and driven them into the Top 10 of NBA power rankings. His regular season performance has also carried over to the NBA playoffs. In the first two games against the Dallas Mavericks, Paul is averaging 33.5 points, 4.0 rebounds and 13.5 assists and playing like he isn’t in the least bit intimidated by the NBA playoffs. Couple his playoffs stats with his regular season numbers of 21.1 points per, 4.0 boards and 11.6 assists in 80 games this season and not only is he Wunderdog Sports NBA MVP, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the NBA picks him as their most valued player this season as well.

Superstars can put up numbers in the regular season but what matters most is their playoffs output. Paul has been the marquee PG in a series that featured another perennial All-Star in the Mavericks’ Jason Kidd, Paul has made him look like a second-string JV player. Kidd has been unable to guard or even keep pace with the fast-as-lightning Paul. And on offense Kidd’s anemic output of nine ppg while shooting just 40% is one of the reasons Dallas is down 0-2 with their backs against the wall.

Another measure of a true MVP is a player that can raise the level of play of those around him. Paul has done just that with sharpshooter Peja Stojakovic and All-Star David West. While a great player in his own regard, West has benefited form Paul’s ability to see the open man in the low post as well as his ability to draw the defensive coverage leaving West open for lots of scoring opportunities.

Meanwhile, Stojakovic has been getting plenty of open looks around the perimeter and shot a career-best 44.1% from behind the arc this season. Stojakovic is getting great looks from Paul slicing and dicing his way to the hoop and kicking out to the open man, and the threes have been falling like K-Fed’s street cred.

Another deciding factor for Paul as our MVP is one of the sentimental kind. Rarely do you find an athlete that has meant more to a city than Paul has to New Orleans. A city that is still showing the effects of the ravaging by Hurricane Katrina, Paul has delivered something that eludes Bryant and Garnett and that is hope.