PCTI the Cuatro: MVP Odds

I like to talk. No one will answer a phone call if they know it's me. PCTI has a blog. Everyone reads it. It's time for me to capitalize.

I've been hesitant to post on the blog for a variety of reasons.

1. I'm lazy, and this requires some degree of effort.
2. I don't want to be anything like Sabin.
3. I don't ACTUALLY want to piss anyone off (except Sabin).

That being said, I don't need to contribute more than just the entire idea of this weekend everyone loves so much.

Everyone knows I like to (Chris) gamble, so I thought I'd go with some MVP odds for PCTI IV.


Josh Stephen(s): 2:1

Clear favorite. Coming off the first sweep in PCTI history, he'll be anxious to remind everyone he's more of a Bill Russell than a R.C. Buford. Having the highest ppg should lock up MVP for Abe, especially since he has figured out the formula for being the most liked guy in PCTI...

1. Have very few opinions
2. Be the runner-up "most liked guy"
3. Let Krow constantly hate on someone for being the actual "most liked guy" (Ben Wilson)
4. Abe wins.

 Brent Carney: 12:1

Probably getting some decent value on Bambi here at 12 to 1 based on his popularity, and well deserved after his Craig Sageresque performance in PCTI III. However, I'm taking the 35:1 prop bet that he shows up in a Milwaukee Bucks "Fear the Deer" t-shirt. I really hope I just ruined something simple he has been planning for months.


Scott Donley: 6:1

Betting on Donley to win MVP is like betting on Lee Westwood to win a PGA tournament. You know you are going to get a solid performance, and everyone will mention him as a possible winner throughout the entire tournament, until he doesn't win.


Michael Orr (Smo): 10000:1

A few centers who never had a chance at an MVP in the NBA:

• Kendrick Perkins
• Bill Cartwright
• Tyson Chandler

They all have something in common (besides being black and human)... role players on a championship team. That will have to be good enough for this tall drink of water, but don't feel too bad for this guy. The odds of Smo winning the off-court MVP are 1:10000 every single year.


Michael Beasley: 5:1

I feel like (bumble) beas is the only player in this thing who has the possibility of averaging anywhere from 5 to 25 ppg. Having only played in one PCTI, his true niche has yet to be determined. I believe he is one of the few players who can win MVP without averaging double-digit points. Rumor has it he will be guarding the "actor", and a lot of people will put MVP type value in that defensive effort should Team Eskildsen come out on top, and rightfully so. Throw in his ability to create for others, I'm not sure he has to score a point all weekend to win MVP... but he will score... Damn... (recalculating odds)...


Wes Murray: off the board

I love Wes. I'm serious. That's not just a compliment to cushion the blow of any statements that might will follow. He really is an awesome guy, and I hate any talk of him being forced out of PCTI. That's ridiculous. Not borderline ridiculous, full on ridiculous. I could write an entire article on why that is, but I'll save it. Anyways, if you want a good laugh, envision what Fil-A putting in an MVP performance would look like. Gives you the same feeling as envisioning Chris Paul not flopping for an entire basketball game or Mark price dunking all over Mutombo and Mourning simultaneously.

*Odds of Murray becoming a captain before BC/Donley/Sabin: Even money. (Seriously).


Ben Wilson: 4:1

If Team Thompson (TT) wins this year, it has to be due to the resurgence of this once nimble grizzly bear. The actor has put the spotlight on himself (there is a sexual joke in there somewhere) when it comes to scoring, so TT is going to need someone to lighten the load, if not take the majority of it. A little bird told me "Ben is back". If that's the case, 4:1 on this guy is easy money. IN MY OPINION, I think TT winning PCTI IV and Ben winning MVP goes hand in hand.


Hannibal Lector: 55:1

This sportsbook has Team Eskildsen winning PCTI IV, so anyone on that team is going to have slightly better odds of winning MVP (Yes, I said I believe my team is going to win. I didn't Jeff Sabin Rasheed Wallace it or say the other team is garbage, so don't get your panties in a wad.). Ahop is an interesting bet here at 35:1. I think a lot of people were taking the easy way out with MVP the first few years, but as everyone starts to resent the same people winning gets more and more comfortable with each other, their votes for MVP will reflect more of an all-around performance or "glue players" and away from "points scored". If that's the case, give me a Ulysses S. (Horace) Grant on Hops.

*The Horace Grant thing was forced in about 8 different ways on my part, but it's Horace Grant. Come on.


Brian Eskildsen (I chose to spell it correctly. Shocking, I know.): 7:2

He's the best player in this thing. I know it. You know it. He knows it. I'm not sure if that works for or against him this year. I won't vote for him, because I secretly want to win MVP myself, so I wouldn't vote for the player who I think has the best chance of getting more votes than me. I'm hoping everyone secretly wants to win MVP and after reading this now realizes what they need to do in order for someone else other than Brian to win.


Danny Krow: 55:1

The explanation is right along the same lines as Ahop's. I would say he is a (Samari) role player, but I'm not exactly sure what the term "role player" means anymore. Does that mean he lacks a skill to make him something more than a role player? Does it mean he specializes in one aspect of the game? I think even he would admit that scoring isn't his (too easy) forte, but does that make him a less valuable player than someone who would admit playing defense isn't that their forte? I would say his specialty is defense, but his above average passing ability was put on display at times in PCTI III. Team Eskildsen legitimately has 4 point guards, but the fruit man may be the most... (I literally just sat here for 5 minutes trying to think of something he did better than the other 3 point guards, and I'm now typing this sentence)...


Spotlight: 1500:1

This guy had a solid showing in PCTI III, but there seemed to be a bit of  a "surprise performance" feeling from those who had seen him play prior to the event. I thought he played the game the right way. He let the game come to him (this strategy didn't work as well for him with Angeline). In a basketball tournament where the majority of the shots feel forced or unwarranted, he chooses his "spots" (ba-zing) wisely. He doesn't play the type of game that most would consider MVP worthy, but like i said earlier, I think that attitude changes in the coming years.


Bruiser: 18:1

I'm going to choose my words very carefully here. First off, this whole "Bruise hates Pitto" thing isn't entirely correct. Off the court, it is beyond cordial between us. One would almost call it a friendship. However, everyone saw the look in his eyes during game 4 when I was going in for a fast-break layup. I'm 100% serious when I say I might be typing this post using one of those blow straws attached to a keyboard mechanism (I think those exist. For some reason that comes to mind) if I had not bailed out on that layup. I'd like to chalk that incident up to it being the final game of the impending sweep. I think anyone was getting Dick "Night Train" Lane'd there, and I just happen to be the unlucky soul. At least that's how I am going to rationalize it.

Oh yeah, MVP odds... He could win if PCTI was built like a college basketball season, but it's not. It takes a TON out of you to bang down low for an entire game, and since PCTI is built more like an NFL team playing the Thursday night game, that one Saturday night game, Sunday morning, Sunday afternoon, Sunday night and MNF in the same week, it's going to be tough for Bruise to remain consistent throughout the entire series.


McKinney: 400:1

This is an instance where I feel a little bad about deeming someone such a long-shot to win MVP. McKinney is a unique player in every sense of the word. We aren't even sure what makes him unique (other than injuring everyone), but yet we are so sure he is unique. I think I just said he has unique uniqueness...

Here is the thing about McKinney, I think he is stuck in between trying to be an MVP candidate or an elite role player. Ironically, I think he has a better chance of becoming MVP if he embraces being an elite "role player". I personally asked Brian to draft McKinney so he wouldn't be guarding me. I don't if that had any influence on his draft selection, but I do know whoever McKinney ends up guarding won't be happy about it. If he is put on a team that has him confident in his role, or a roommate willing to watch the entire CostCo documentary the night before (dude loves him some History channel), I think he shines as one the best 2nd tier players (1st tier: Abe, Brian, Donley, Joe).

Pitto: Even money

"Sportsbook Pitto" knew "degenerate gambler Pitto" was going to bet on himself no matter what the odds were, so he just gave him shitty odds.  


In summation, thank you for the distraction from doing what I get paid to do.