Right now there are two hot topics in the NBA: how is the playoff field going to shape up and what are some 2009 NBA MVP odds and who is going to bring home the Podoloff Cup.

(What is The Podoloff Cup, you ask? According to Useful Trivia, "The National Basketball Association established the Podoloff Cup, named for Maurice Podoloff, the league's first commissioner, as the its Most Valuable Player award in 1956. The winner was originally chosen by the NBA players. Since 1981, however, it has been based on a poll of professional basketball broadcasters and writers." Who knew?)

Right now it's tough to find any online sportsbooks that have 2009 NBA MVP odds posted. However, I think if they did post odds for the NBA MVP it would be one of the most highly bet props that they could have on the board. The debate is heated, and definitely calls into question the subjective measure of what an MVP is and what the phrase "Valuable" means.

There isn't really a wrong answer when you're breaking down the 2009 NBA MVP odds. Well, there isn't a wrong answer unless you have money on it. So I propose that all of the media bobbleheads that spend their time bickering about these issues need to put their money where their mouth is and lay some cheddar on which they think will make Podoloff proud.

So, in the spirit of that, here's a breakdown of the five players in the running for the Polodoff Cup as well as some 2009 NBA MVP odds and predictions:

Dwyane Wade:
Stat Line: 30 points, 7.7 assists, 5.2 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 1.4 blocks
2009 NBA MVP Odds To Start Season: +800
Doc's 2009 NBA MVP Odds: -125

Wade has been absolutely destroying the NBA this season. He, and yes I mean just he, has lead the Heat to a 36-29 record this season. This is amazing considering that the Heat only won 15 games last season. If you have had the pleasure of watching Wade this year you would have had the privilege of watching a man whom people thought was made of glass and on the downside of his career (ALREADY!) manhandle the rest of the league. The way that he controls a game from the opening tip to the final buzzer is unmatched. The Heat finished last season as the worst team in basketball and currently they sit in the fifth spot in the Eastern Conference playoff race. The Heat are an extremely tough matchup for almost any team in the league for one sole reason: Dwyane Wade.

Chris Paul
Stat line: 21.8 points, 11 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 2.4 steals
2009 NBA MVP Odds To Start Season: +1000
Doc's 2009 NBA MVP Odds: +850

With every passing game that Chris Paul plays the Atlanta Hawks feel like they are getting kicked in the balls over and over. Could you imagine having a Big Three of Paul, Joe Johnson, and Josh Smith? That would be a fun team to watch. The Hornets are thankful that the Hawks passed and that they have gotten to watch Paul run one of the most efficient offenses in the NBA. If you decided to sit down and watch the NBA All-Star Game you would have witnessed skills that not many other players in the league possess. Paul's court vision and passing ability are in a league of their own. This man is by far the best point guard in the NBA. Over the past two years Paul has led the Hornets to a 78-65 ATS mark, which includes a 50-30 mark last season.

Kobe Bryant
Stat line: 28 points, 5.4 rebounds, 4.9 assists, 1.3 steals
2009 NBA MVP Odds To Start Season: +500
Doc's 2009 NBA MVP Odds: +600

I think Kobe will finish fourth in the MVP race and at the All Star break he was posted at some online books as even money to win his second straight MVP award. Kobe will suffer from the Michael Jordan syndrome (Being that good every year, so people just look at it as an average season). Bryant's chances to become the MVP suffer due to the fact that the Lakers went to the championship last year and are on a similar path this season. Having an impressive supporting cast doesn't help Kobe either. Man it must suck to be considered one of the best players on the planet every single time he laces up his sneakers. Yeah, I would hate that.

LeBron James
Stat line: 28.6 points, 7.4 rebounds 7.2 assists, 1.7 steals, 1.2 blocks
2009 NBA MVP Odds To Start Season: +500
Doc's 2009 NBA MVP Odds: -150

Oh King James, King James. The poster child for the NBA is leading his Cavs on a fast track to the NBA Finals and he is earning a bigger paycheck with each passing game. Numerous teams in the NBA are completely re-tooling their rosters in hopes that they can land The King in 2010. In my opinion James is the runner-up for the MVP award this season. The addition of Mo Williams has placed the Cavs on the next level. It's difficult to look at LeBron James' numbers and suggest that he isn't the MVP when he has matched every one of his statistical categories from last year with the exception of scoring (and last year he should have won MVP). But this year there is just someone better. The Cavs have an improved supporting cast and LeBron, similar to Kobe, is just doing his thing. Poor LeBron; two years in a row now he could have won the MVP and might come "just that close." He was listed at -300 at the All Star break and was the runaway favorite to take the hardware.

Kevin Durant
Stat line: 25.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 1.2 steals
2009 NBA MVP Odds To Start Season: Off
Doc's 2009 NBA MVP Odds: +5000

Nope. Sorry. Durant is an outstanding up-and-coming player as he is currently fourth in the race for the NBA scoring title. But come on; are people serious when they mention his name for MVP? The Oklahoma City Thunder are 18-48 on the year. You can't have an MVP from a team that is that bad. Plus, they haven't been that much worse without Durant while he has been out with an injury. Like I said, he is good, just not MVP good. Yet…

More info on Robert's NBA picks? Check out his Insider Page here here.