Is the NBA MVP Race Too Close To Call?

In most years the NBA's Most Valuable Player award is a lock, this year is different...

Cain & Abel?

Kobe and LeBron each have their teams poised to blow past their respective opponents in the playoffs from the top seed and meet head on in the Finals (The execs at ABC must be praying for that matchup every day). Since they are both the stand-out Superstars among stars in the league and have boosted their lackluster teams to the level of "best" in East/West conferences, we need to look at the numbers...

KOBE - Points (27.1) Rebounds (5.3) Assists (4.9) Steals (1.4) Field Goal Percentage (.466)

LeBRON - Points (28.3) Rebounds (7.6) Assists (7.3) Steals (1.7) Field Goal Percentage (.487)

The numbers are in LeBron's favor (through 80 of 82 games) and in my mind the amount of attention he's been getting this season, as well as pressure to take the Cavs to the championship tilt the edge toward him even more. So, is the race too close to call? I don't think so. LeBron James will be the 2009 National Basketball Association MVP.