In tomorrow’s column we’ll cover the first round matchups, series prices and where the money is flowing, but today we wanted to look back on one of the more exciting seasons in recent memory and focus on the regular season MVP award.

There has been a sea of speculation as to who should win the coveted MVP this year, with strong contenders coming from the high profile star department (the usual suspects), as well as the lesser-known ranks (the unusual suspects).

Let’s take a look

Here was the list of MVP options up at SPORTSBETTING.COM on the final day of the season:

Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers

Pretty much a mainstay amongst MVP candidates every year, Kobe Bryant’s most impressive stats included his 28.3 points per game and 5.4 assists per game with his PPG ranking second in the entire league.

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In the Lakers’ final game against the Sacramento Kings, Kobe netted 20 points and had 5 assists in a win that enabled L.A. to clinch top spot in the Western Conference.

Kobe received 36% of all the MVP betting volume.

Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets

The Hornets had one of the league’s biggest turnarounds; going from 39-43 and out of the playoffs last season to 56-26, Southwest Division champions and second in the West this season and point guard Chris Paul was instrumental.

Paul averaged 21.1 ppg and led the league with both 11.6 apg and 2.71 steals per game making him a threat on both sides of the court.

While still relatively unknown this year, many current and former players have sung his praises as a real candidate for the award.

Paul received 17% of the overall action on this one.

LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers

After going all the way to the NBA Finals following a 50 win regular season in 2007, the Cleveland Cavaliers fell off a little in ’08 with only 45 wins; unlike the play of star forward LeBron James.

James led the league with 30.0 ppg winning the scoring title this year and complemented that with 7.9 rebounds per game and 7.2 apg even missing some games with injury this season.

Like Bryant, James has the star power, but this might be a tough year for him to grab the award. King James has attracted 20% of all the volume.

Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics

If you thought the Hornets had a big turnaround in 2008, wait ‘til you see Boston’s numbers from last year compared to this year.

Last season the Celtics finished with an Eastern Conference worst and NBA second worst 24-58 record.

The team responded by gutting most of the roster and trading for G Ray Allen and PF Kevin Garnett who have both fit in well and helped Boston cruise to an NBA best 65-16 record.

Always willing to do his part to contribute, he chipped in with 19.0 ppg, 9.3 rpg and 1.2 blocks per game.

Garnett is seeing 23% of the action.

Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic

The Magic also made strides in the standings, although not as significant as Boston or New Orleans.

The eighth seed in the Eastern Conference last year, Orlando shot all the way up to No. 3 with the aid of center Dwight Howard.

Although he did have decent offensive numbers (20.9 ppg) it was on the boards that Howard earned his money, grabbing an association high 14.3 rpg.

The Magic, as a team, are tied for second in the league with 32.7 rpg and Howard is one of the reasons why.

Howard’s the long shot and most bettors feel he just doesn’t have the resume needed to stack up this season. He’s only seeing 6% of all the betting volume.

Enjoy the playoffs, and stop by SPORTSBETTING.COM for all the daily lines, series matchup prices, props and great bonuses.