Everyone seems dead set on Kobe being the MVP this year. He's the best player on arguably the best team in the league (Boston still holds the best record though). He puts up great numbers and is the main reason the Lakers are where they are.
But let's discuss what the MVP is supposed to be. Does the acronym not stand for Most Valuable Player? So that means it should go to the player that is most valuable to his team. Not the best player on the best team.
So yes, that means Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki should not have been the two most recent MVP winners. If it weren't for Kobe, the Lakers would have been a lottery team the past two seasons. There's no doubt he carried that team. That's clearly evidenced by the string of 50 point games he had last season, and the fact that he averaged 33.5 points per game the past two seasons.
So with that argument, LeBron is this year's MVP. He is his team's Most Valuable Player. Without him, they literally cannot win. The Cavaliers went 0-5 when LeBron went down with that ankle injury.
If you take LeBron from his team, here would be the likely starting lineup: Delonte West, Devin Brown, Wally Szczerbiak, Ben Wallace, and Zydrunas Ilgauskas. Can anyone honestly say that team would be even close to a contender, even in the Eastern conference?
Now, if you take Kobe away from his team, this would be the likely starting lineup (when healthy): Derek Fisher, Sasha Vujacic, Lamar Odom, Pau Gasol, and Andrew Bynum. That team may not be a title contender, but it's still certainly better than Cavaliers without LeBron.
If you want to look at it from a statistical perspective, LeBron still beats Kobe in almost every aspect.
Points: LeBron has the advantage 30.8 to 28.1.
Rebounds: Lebron has the advantage 8.1 to 6.1.
Assists: 7.4 to 5.3. They are equal in steals at two per game. LeBron averages twice as many blocks as Kobe, 1.0 to 0.5.
FG Percentage: LeBron once again has the advantage, 48.5 percent to 46.4 percent.
3P Percentage: 35.4 percent to 31.3 percent. Kobe finally gains an advantage here.
FT Percentage: 84.4 percent to 71.6 percent. Another advantage Kobe. So, from a statistical standpoint, LeBron holds the advantage, 4-2 with one tie.
Don't forget that LeBron is the league leader in fourth quarter points, while Kobe is around third or fourth. And, LeBron's team has the most fourth quarter comebacks with 15.
So for those of you who say Kobe deserves MVP due to being the best player on the best team, remember what the award really stands for. Who's more valuable to his team, Kobe Bryant or LeBron James?
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4 months ago
You make a solid argument, but you should also look at who has the better team. The Lakers have the better team and they're doing it in the far better Western Conference. Look at this thought, if you put the Cavs in the West, they go from a top 4 seed out East to a 9 or 10 seed and not even in the playoffs. The Lakers still land top 3 out East, easily.
You also make the argument of what the Lakers would be without Kobe. While we haven't seen that this year, they wouldn't be that good, period. They would definitely not be a playoff team, the West is too good for a player to make the playoffs without their best player.
I just can't see how you can disregard what Kobe is doing, just because LeBron is carrying the Cavs. While Kobe hasn't carried the Lakers, he's still having his best season as a pro and the Lakers are still one of the top 3 teams in the NBA.
4 months ago
Wow....just wow. Real mature there Anonymous. Fans like you are the reason I don't like LeBron.
4 months ago
Wow....just wow. Real mature there Anonymous. Fans like you are the reason I don't like LeBron.
4 months ago
hahahaha...I agree with you Mike...I think deep inside this "Anonymous" guy loves Kobe...coz he hates Kobe more than he likes Le Bron...he always post that same comment in every article I read about Kobe..lol
4 months ago
can we please stop these lebron kobe debates? it's getting really tiresome when we already know that kobe is the real mvp. all the facts and analysis point towards kobe. just drop it. please
4 months ago
The facts and analysis don't point towards Kobe. Did you even read the article or did you just decide "Oh, Kobe vs. LeBron, Kobe ftw"?
4 months ago
First off I do not like Lebron because of the media. He is a great player. top 5 in the league, but they seem to elevate him to some other type of status. Me being a fan of the game gets mad at that. To make one point Lebron was Rookie of the year his Rookie year. Now who really agrees with that. Carmello that year had better stats and led his team to the playoffs in the WEST. Overall I think Kobe does not get the credit he deserves, but should be MVP.
4 months ago
Where's KG? the Celts would be a 5 seed or lower without him, he has reinvigorated this squad and his stats are fantastic considering that he plays with Allen and Pierce, 2 shooters not known for their ability to distribute the ball
from 4 months ago
The fact is, KG plays with 2 all-stars around him. LeBron doesn't.
4 months ago
KG is also on a great team that has the top record in the NBA. The Cavs aren't even top 10 in record and wouldn't even make the playoffs out West. I personally think if they're going to reward winning for the last few years, why stop the trend? Kobe is the best player on the one of the best teams in the NBA and the Lakers would go NOWHERE without him.
4 months ago
you reporters said of kobe last year that stats just dont make up a mvp ...and the year before ...now your saying his stats arent enough? thats bs ...you dont like him and you refuse to give him what you KNOW he deserves ..i remember reading an article last year from one of you " reporters" ... the writer actually admitted that he knew kobe deserved it but ...did not vote for him because it was not politically correct ..!!!! thats some serious bs ..some investigation needs to be done ...if you cant be fair and bias then you should not be allowed to vote ...
from 4 months ago
Did you read the article? I clearly said Kobe was MVP the past two seasons, "So that means it should go to the player that is most valuable to his team. Not the best player on the best team.
So yes, that means Steve Nash and Dirk Nowitzki should not have been the two most recent MVP winners. If it weren't for Kobe, the Lakers would have been a lottery team the past two seasons. There's no doubt he carried that team."
4 months ago
Lebron dominates Kobe but LBJ is still a class act and praises Kobe as the best player in the league (even though LBJ is without a doubt the best) Kobe never compliments LBJ and how amazing he is because he is extremely jealous of him!! Lebron is not only amazing on the court, but is also a humble and respectable guy off the court, who aknowleges his competitors!! LBJ 4 MVP & CLE ROCKS!!
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