by Sam RubensteinKobe and LeBron are a part of every MVP conversation for something like this: great numbers, 30 point-plus scorers, carrying flawed teams on their backs to the heights of mediocrity. Okay, then I've got another guy to add to the list. Gilbert Arenas. He's at 29.5 a game right now, which is close enough, not to mention his six assists per game and two steals, good enough for fourth in the league. LeBron's team stole Larry Hughes from him, and Gilbert responded by adding four points and one more assist every time out, plus he took over Larry's role on the defensive end. Last year Hughes led the league in steals, this year Gilbert leads all players headed to the playoffs. Granted, Antawn Jamison is arguably better than anyone that Kobe or LeBron plays with, and Gilbert's in Eddie Jordan's scorer-friendly system. But you cannot deny that the Wizards go as Gilbert goes. He's already made a handful of crunch time baskets, drawing fouls at the end, hitting big threes, but for whatever reason the media doesn't make a big deal out of whether he's clutch or not. He is. Maybe it's because he wasn't a fancy lottery pick or even a first round pick like everyone else in MVP land.So much of this MVP race has come down to arguments about what individual players don't have around them. Kobe gets extra credit because he's doing so much with so little around him, though the potential is there for guys like Lamar Odom and even Kwame Brown to contribute more. For whatever reason, they're not playing up to their physical talent, which could mean that their team leader is not making them better. LeBron plays with one of the better centers, good shooters, and supposedly explosive wing players, though all we hear about is how everyone is underperforming and LeBron has to keep saving them. Well, Gilbert gets his numbers for the Wizards, but without taking away from what Jamison and Caron Butler can do.If you're thinking, huh, the Wizards? Were they even in the league this year? I could say nobody would have noticed the Lakers or Cavs if it weren't for their hyped up superstars. If we're willing to call the MVP an award for superior performance on a mediocre team, then Gilbert's right there with any of them. Personally I think the MVP should go to the best player on the best team, hence my vote is for Chauncey this year. But this is about Gilbert. An inconsistent team? Sure. Did they have a few 5 game losing streaks, one coming at a really bad time? Hey, nobody's perfect. Just don't be surprised when Gilbert is torching the young potential MVP in the first round.