Ray for MVP?

Am I the only one puzzled that Ray Allen isn't getting any serious consideration for MVP? Marc Stein's latest piece mentions Duncan and - ugh - Steve Nash, but Allen is relegated to a second tier.

My question is, why? I can see if Nash's team was head and shoulders above the Sonics, but I fail to see why a 3.5 game lead (Phoenix over Seattle) means one team is light years ahead of the other. Throw in the fact that Ray's got one all-star teammate to Nash's two, and it seems to me Ray is worth some mentioning.

Of course, you can add in that Duncan is playing with only one all-star, but Tony Parker is easily better than the third-best Sonic (Radman? AD? Luke?), so Allen's got the edge there, too.

No, I'm starting to think that the Ray-for-MVP bandwagon ought to have some more people on it, and if we can't say it, then who can?

Magic Number Update

With the Sonics win in Cleveland last night and the "T-Woes©" losing at home to G-State, the Magic Number for Seattle to win the division is now a combination of Sonics wins and Nuggets losses.

That number? Fourteen, baby!

*T-Woes used with the express written consent of Alan. © 2005 Patents pending all rights reserved.

Game Night: Cadaverliers

Okay, the game's already started, so it's a bit late to be issuing predictions. Obviously, the Sonics can't be expected to take 2-of-2 in a back-to-back east coast swing ... can they?

No, they can't. Smart money is on Cleveland to cover the 3 points, but I'm going to go out on a limb and say the Sonics will cover - and win.

Final score? Sonics 99 - Cavs 93.