One long, long month ago, the MVP race was locked up. It was a one-man show, a one-horse race, and Kobe Bryant was the man-horse.
Now I'm beginning to think he's more of a girl-pony.
I know many of you want to kill me for that last sentence, but I want you to know I am as big of a Kobe fan as there is. I bleed purple and gold, okay? I have loved the Lakers through these painful last three years, and even though I had foot surgery that day, I jumped out of my chair when Smush stole the ball from Nash in the waning seconds, and Kobe threw up an off-balance-juke-one-handed-teardrop-floater to send the game into overtime in the '06 playoffs.
(I remained seated when he drained a free-throw line fade-away over defensive-first teamer Shawn Marion to win it. I mean, I saw that coming as soon as he took the inbounds pass. Plus my left foot was covered in blood. Glorious, purple and gold blood.)
So why do I, of all people, believe KB24 won't, and probably shouldn't, win the MVP in 2008? Especially after being overlooked so many deserving seasons? Two reasons: The Lakers are playing like girl-ponies, and CP3 is just too damn good.
Explaining reason one:
Charlotte Bobcats?? Memphis Grizzlies?? OH MY GOD!! Those guys are in the Michael Beasley sweepstakes, they don't even WANT to win! I literally felt sick when I saw those scores, like someone punched me in the jejunum. I know they've been plagued with injuries, but there's a limit. When one game could mean the difference between being the No. 1 seed and not having home court advantage, scrubs like that shouldn't even get within single digits.
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And its not just the losses that are adding up—it's Kobe's numbers in the wins. That second game against Golden State where they struggled to pull out a win? Kobe shot more than 10 percent worse than the rest of the team from the field, but decided to take the most shots anyway. If Lamar Odom hadn't gone 70 percent from the floor and grabbed 21 rebounds, it would've been two in a row dropped to the Warriors.
The Wizards game? He shot 29.2 percent on field goals. That's about 30 percent worse than the rest of the team. That's about 30 percent worse than the rest of the team. That's about 30 percent worse than the rest of the team. Emphasis. But he still decided to attempt 24 FGs, which was exactly twice as many shots as the next highest Laker (Derek Fisher, who scored 15 points on 12 FGAs), and more than double the shots of Vlad-Rad, who scored 18 points on only 11 shots.
Sure, he got 13 assists, but he should have sacrificed 10 of those shots for another 10 assists and just blown out the Wiz, instead of having to beat a weak Eastern team in overtime. Speaking of making assists over taking shots...
Chris Paul, otherwise known as Reason Two.
Wow. Simply wow. Everyone on planet Earth simply fawned over Steve Nash four years ago when he joined the Phoenix Suns, and what were his stats during his two MVP years? 17.2 points, 11.0 assists, and 0.9 steals per game. In case you've been under a rock, in outer space, or dead this year, here's CP3's line: 21.5 points, 11.4 assists, and 2.7 steals.
(I'm not listing rebounds because they're point guards, and they both pretty much suck at it.)
Those are some historic numbers. I'm talking never-before-seen numbers. Isiah Thomas never had a season with more than 20 points, 10 assists, and 2.5 steals per game. Neither did Magic, Jason Kidd, John Stockton...or anyone, actually. Ever. In NBA history. Not once. And if you think those overall numbers are impressive, check out his numbers post All-Star break:
23.7 points, 12.5 assists, and 2.95 steals.
Did your head just explode? Mine did.
And of course there is the small, almost insignificant issue that I wasn't sure I should mention, but aw what the heck, here goes: He's leading a team of also-rans who were projected to miss the playoffs into first place in the most competitive conference in NBA history. Yeah, I dunno—I just think its cool, I guess.
So given all of the above—and I admit this article was very biased, and mentioned none of the amazing things Kobe has done this year—Chris Paul is the MVP. And if you think either KG (not even the best player on his team), or LeBron (Fight for that fourth seed in the east! Fight for it!) are the MVP, please don't even comment on this post. Your time would better be spent finally getting that G.E.D., working on your fry-serving skills, mastering an automatic car, or just shooting yourself in the face to prevent any chance of you reproducing, thereby making humanity a fitter, better people.
As for arguments for Kobe, I'm all ears. (Please convince me he'll win. Please.)
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4 months ago
First! Mine! My First!
Be gentle, I'm Canadian.
from 4 months ago
yeah well I'm not actually canadian. I live in PA. But have fun corn-holing those maple loving canucks if its what your into, just stop telling me about it.
4 months ago
wow, 2900+ reads and only 1 comment.....No wait, it the author's comment...... That's flat out wrong man.....
Nah, what might do Chris Paul in is that he's had the same squad relatively healthy throughout the whole season, David West, Tyson Chandler nor Peja didn't sustain any big injuries.
While Kobe's lakers has had a bunch of injuries at key spot in their rotation: Radmanovich, Andrew, Pau and Ariza(lakers'second best defender). And this team easily inserted Gasol into the rotation like they had him all season and Kobe's was a big reason why.
-Sasha missed some games at the begining of the season,
-Turiaf played some games with a sore foot,
-Kobe is playing with torn ligament in his shootin hand,
-Fisher is playing with a partially torn ligament in his foot and
-Luke walton is playing with an ankle that requires surgery in the offseason. Yet this team has 50 wins and 1.5 games back behind the 1st spot in theh Western Conference.
4 months ago
KOBES DA MVP! HOWZ U NOT NOZ DIS? FUK ALL HATERS KB GOTZ SKILZ NOBDY CAN TOUCH!
4 months ago
Yeah Ralph no comments, WTF? Anyway I think Pau Gasols 8% jump in fg%, fish's career year, and smush parker struggling to get minutes in miami (worst team ever?) all show that Kobe actually makes his teammates better.
4 months ago
At least one dudes commenting on this. Jesus 6000+ views, like 4 comments. That hurts. cp3 for MVP!
4 months ago
CP3 improves the whole league.
Early in this season, my few friends that were posting on NOLA were bemoaning the fact that no one was showing up for the games. New Orleans was focused on rebuilding. The Hornets had jsut returned to New Orleans. Chris Paul being Chris Paul made friends in and out of the NBA. He helped his team, he helped is competition, he helped his community, he helped kids. He gave kids in New Orleans room to dream beacuse he had a dream.
4 months ago
Kobe leading the Lakers with a broken down team and a broken down body to a virtually identical record as the hornets, while putting up mvp like numbers- there's nothing that Chris Paul has done that Kobe hasn't done.
4 months ago
The Hornets right now are a better team than the Lakers with the injuries the Lakers have.
PG: FisherPeterson
SF: Peja>Radmonovic
PF: Odom=West
C: Turiaft see the difference then you might need your eyes checked.
And please, tell me who has played at as high a level as Kobe this season with a serious injury on their shooting hand?
4 months ago
Let me add to that. It messed up my comment.
Kobe is having a better year any people's eyes. He running the offense better, playing tougher defense, crashing the boards more, and has accumulated almost 2 times as many double-doubles as he did last year. He is a more complete player this season.
The Hornets have two legitimate All-Stars and a former All-Star who still shoot the lights out given the opportunity. Can't ignore that. When Bynum and Gasol get back the Lakers will definately be better. But right now the Hornets are the better team and play with a much higher chemistry as they've been healthy most of the year.
4 months ago
If Bynum and Gasol were healthy and played as many games as Chandler and West we wouldnt even be having this discussion because the Lakers would have been so far ahead in the standings.
As for how much better the Lakers lineup is compared to the Hornets, I believe its a lot closer than most people think. The Lakers only have one All-Star besides Kobe with Pau Gasol who made it once. Despite what others would want you to believe, Odom; Fisher and Bynum have never been All-Stars, not even close. Odom is a perenial choker, Fisher has always had consistency problems and Bynum has yet to do anything to merit All-Star status. Bynum had an early good run, but 13 ppg and 10 rpg hardly makes him elite. Until he can back up all the hype and produce on the court, all he is right now is a player with a lot of unfullfilled potential.
Compare that with the Hornets roster which actually has two All-Stars besides Chris Paul. David West made it this year and Peja did it three times. Tyson Chandler's numbers are comparable with Bynum's. Chandler is a rebounding machine who was 0.4 rpg away from the rebounding title last season and is 3rd this year. Oh and he also belongs to the USA Basketball Men's Team that is going to the Olympics. What has Bynum done compared to that? As for the bench, I would love to see how you would convince anyone that Farmar, Vujacic and Walton are so much better than Bonzi, Bobby Jackson and Pargo. Stop pretending that the Hornets roster is like the Clippers compared to the so-called "All-Star team" the Lakers have.
4 months ago
KOBE will win the MVP award this year and will also get his fourth ring. Thank you!
4 months ago
Kobe is The best player in the league, and is goin to win the MVP this year. Oh, and Kobe has always been an amazing defensive player.
4 months ago
Kobe ain't Michael Jordan!
LeBron owns Kobe. Kobe fears LeBron.
Kobe will not surpass MJ but LeBron has now surpassed Kobe.
LeBron's only 23 years old, yet he still dominates Kobe every single time.
4 months ago
I've never seen a man jock another man quite like this dude. He's like LeBron's secret admirer. He Anonymously jumps from LeBron story to LeBron story writing the same thing.
LeBron owns Kobe.
Kobe fears LeBron.
The Cavs have definitely owned the Lakers in the post-Shaq era. But that was pre-Gasol.
If you asked Kobe who he'd rather play in the Finals- the Celtics, Pistons or Cavaliers-he'll tell you Cleveland before you could even get to the "liers".
Kobe fears nobody except his wife--especially not LeBron. Maybe if LeBron could win a game in the Finals he might get his attention. But that still wouldn't put any fear into him.
4 months ago
Superior at both ends of the floor, Kobe is the best player in the game. He will win the MVP and DPOY awards.
4 months ago
Kobe will win the MVP award, I don't know about that 4th Championship, San Antonio is tough in the playoffs. Good luck to him though.
4 months ago
That's the truth right there!
4 months ago
just take a look at this pic.. and it will tell you who's the MVP!
here's the URL!
http://i274.photobucket.com/albums/jj270/amztecson24/431835798353825zo6.gif
4 months ago
By far the best analysis I've seen on the MVP race.
4 months ago
I think this year they have no choic but to give kobe the MVP
4 months ago
Lebron ain't Michael Jordan!
Kobe owns Lebron. Lebron fears Kobe.
Lebron will not surpass MJ and Lebron will not surpass Kobe.
Kobe is 29 years old, yet he still dominates Lebron in every single time!
LEBRON JAMES SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 months ago
Lebron ain't Michael Jordan!
Kobe owns Lebron. Lebron fears Kobe.
Lebron will not surpass MJ and Lebron will not surpass Kobe.
Kobe is 29 years old, yet he still dominates Lebron in every single time!
LEBRON JAMES SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 months ago
THIS IS FUUNY HOW U CAN POSSIBLY PUT LBJ IN THE SAME CATEGORY AS BRYANT.............SHAME ON YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!N.E WAYS LBRON CAME INTO THE LEAGUE AS A FRANCHISE PLAYER BECAUSE CLEAVELAND HAS NO HISTORY OR GOOD PLAYERS AND THEY GAVE HIM EVERYTHING WHILE KOBE CAME INTO THE LEAGUE FIGHTING FOR TIME I WONDER IF ROLES CHANGE AND LBJ WAS IN L.A AND KOBE IN CLEAVELAND .............KOBE WOULS BE UNTOUCHABLE IN POINTS...BUT WOULD HAVE NO CHAMPIONSHIPS....SEE THATS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN KOBE AND LEBRON KOBE HAS CHAMPIONSHIPS AND IS AND ASSASIN ON THE COURT WHILE LEBRON IS LIKE A VINCE CARTER GREAT DUNKER BUT THATS AS FAR AS IT GOES...
4 months ago
Completely blind, biased, and unsubstantiated.
4 months ago
what the heck? if you take kobe off the lakers, even with pau they won't get the job done in the west. it's a close call between the two regarding your line of reasoning
4 months ago
you do realize that the last 3 seasons Kobe carried a team that had no business in the playoffs TO THE PLAYOFFS while accomplishing superhuman, historical statistical achievements. and no, he didn't do this because he was a ballhog, he did this because he was ordered to by Phil Jackson; before the Lakers were hit by the injury bug last year, Kobe was the ultimate facilitator, but key players went down. He tried to facilitate but the players were a bunch of scrubs who couldn't do anything to save their lives(kwame? smush? these people can't even get bench time on the worst teams in the nba). So Phil specifically ordered Kobe to take the offensive load, and he did, and that's when the Lakers started winning again. And even though probably no one else in history except for Jordan could have done what Kobe did with that team the last several years, a player can only do so much and the lakers won in the mid 40 games, which obviously does not "qualify" you for an mvp historically speaking (although he clearly was mvp worthy). the media criticized him by saying that it's not enough to be dominant statistically, and although the lakers would have won 10 games without kobe they said the lakers still need at least 50 wins. fine, so kobe is doing that this year by facilitating more and toning down his stats (even though we all know he can turn it back on any time he wants, he's just going by the flow) because his team mates have improved and he has led them to the top of the west, and you think it's because he's "on the decline"? what kind of fucking idiot are you?
4 months ago
you mean you get on here and just type whatever lame thought pops in your head, right? it's obvious you have no brain, or if you have one it's seriously damaged, to not realize how your comments directly fall into the category you just mentioned.
there are two things i love to read: extremely good articles and extremely bad articles. the former for obvious reasons, the latter because they make me laugh at how embarrassing the writer looks. (kind of like matt homdis) unfortunately for you (and fortunately for me), you fall into the latter group.
don't you realize it doesn't matter if kobe wins the mvp or not? nobody cares, cuz kobe's already above that; he doesn't need an mvp to define him. everyone knows he should have had 2 or 3 mvps by now.
4 months ago
Kobe Bryant SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 months ago
Kobes Playing with a broken finger! And his teams torn apart this year w/ injuries! Hes MVP all da way!
4 months ago
NObody but kobe this year deserves it man, no way CP3 has earned an MVP. Kobes the best player in the world and finally needs to get some love. He will, don't worry
4 months ago
Kobe is not Michael Jordan, and neither is Lebron, so don't even go there.
4 months ago
the difference is kobe's sacrificing his stats to help his team mates be more involved. his team mates have finally put in the work ethic this summer that kobe has always done, and that's why they're better. it's not a coincidence his team mates are emerging this year. kg is not even in the discussion for improving his team mates when he has 2 legit all stars next to him. just start being objective, that's all i'm asking from you as a writer
4 months ago
To put Kobe vs. Paul to rest, I'll say this. Kobe is a two guard, and a two guard is primarily a scorer and thinks pass second. Chris Paul is a point guard who averages twenty points a game as primarily a facilitator. Twenty points and eleven assists per game. A 4.5 assist to TO ratio too, which means he rarely turns the ball over and makes the right decision with the ball almost every time down the court. Paul is also one of the best rebounding point guards in the league, along with Jason Kidd and Rajon Rondo. Kobe is a great scorer, and has sacrificed his body to play for his team this season. I commend him for that and he is definitely worth mentioning in the voting. He has not eclipsed the performance of Chris Paul this season however, as Chris Paul does it on both ends just like Kobe and means more to his team then any player. He leads the NBA in steals to put the cherry on top.
4 months ago
stop with the inferior team propaganda. it's just that, propaganda. it holds no truth except to the delusional like you. let's see what cp3 does with half his team gone or hampered by injuries
4 months ago
i don't see chris paul making his team mates so much better like you say. tyson chandler was always getting numbers like that; only difference is that he's a starter on the hornets. same with peja, i don't see any significant improvement. west was the only improvement, but we're looking at someone who was in the league for only 2 years before chris paul got there, you're gonna conclude that he's a nobody from just that? plus he's not even doing that much better if you really look at it because he's averaging almost twice the minutes now than previous seasons when he wasn't even starting at all. i agree with you that chris paul is a key component to the hornets, like garnett is to the celts, like duncan is to the spurs, like kobe is to the lakers. but don't pretend and start exaggerating how he's the reason for everyone playing well and that without him they would be losers.
4 months ago
Lebron ain't Michael Jordan!
Kobe owns Lebron. Lebron fears Kobe.
Lebron will not surpass MJ and Lebron will not surpass Kobe.
Kobe is 29 years old, yet he still dominates Lebron in every single time!
LEBRON JAMES SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 months ago
Lebron ain't Michael Jordan!
Kobe owns Lebron. Lebron fears Kobe.
Lebron will not surpass MJ and Lebron will not surpass Kobe.
Kobe is 29 years old, yet he still dominates Lebron in every single time!
LEBRON JAMES SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 months ago
I dont want to sound repetitive. But I have posted these stats before.
The players that Lebron guards in games on average shoot 50% from the field. Which means if I'm a player I want Lebron to guard me.
The players that Kobe guards in games on average shoot 44% from the field. Which means if I'm a player I dont want Kobe guarding me.
And Kobe does guard the best perimeter player all game. Not just the 4th quarter. 77% of the time, Kobe is guarding that player.
As for Lebron being better this season. Yeah I agree, but compared to what last season? If defense was a drag race, last season Lebron wasnt off the line. This season he may be in 1st or 2nd gear. Kobe, on the other hand, has finished and won a few races and has sat in the winners circle for the past 12 years.
rob911ny,
I aslo posted the SI.com's players poll on a prior page. Another great poll is the NBA.com's GMs survey 2007-2008.
NBA.com GMs Survey 2007-2008
Which player forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments?
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 34.6%
2. Steve Nash, Phoenix 15.4%
3. Tim Duncan, San Antonio 11.5%
4. LeBron James, Cleveland 11.5%
5. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami 11.5%
6. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 7.7%
4 months ago
Defenders know they can't stop Bryant, they can only hope to contain him.
http://www.latimes. com/sports/la-sp-kob e2apr02,0,2789333,fu ll.story
4 months ago
PS....a recent poll of current nba players shows that they rank Kobe as the most difficult/unpleasant guy to guard in the NBA. I know this is not the only thing that matters for MVP (or for winning games), but I think its pretty impressive. A little surprising, I expected this to be closer between LBJ and Kobe.
Here is a quote from the LA times article ( http://www.latimes. com/sports/la-sp-kob e2apr02,0,2789333,fu ll.story ) which sites the SI poll:
"Among his peers, Bryant is overwhelmingly the most intimidating. In a recent Sports Illustrated poll of current NBA players asking who scares you the most, Bryant earned 35% of the vote, while the next four -- Shaquille O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James and Dwight Howard -- combined for only 24%."
I"m sure LBJ (and Cp3) scare opponents, they are a nightmare. But one-on-one, Kobe is still the best assassin in the NBA. And now that he has a solid team around him, he's even more dangerous (when teams double or triple him, he can just dump it to Gasol or Bynum.)
4 months ago
ESPN's own ex NBA players Jalen Rose and Jamal Mashburn have said that Kobe wasn't considered in the MVP race until Pau showed up. With KG, LBJ, CP3 been the MVP choices all season how can any voter in their right select an MVP for 1/3 or the season when it was more attributed to a big trade.
Even Hollinger said this
John Hollinger: Honestly, I thought people got way ahead of themselves with the Kobe for MVP thing -- it was like they felt they owed it to him after the propesterous vote in '06. But he doesn't have the best numbers, and he doesn't have the best record, and he hasn't been the best teammate ... so why are we annointing him again? Oh and Also Stephen A at the start of the season was commenting on how bad a team mate Kobe was being and how he was digging his own grave by openly pushing for a trade.
Obviously the faker fans are only seeing and hearing what they want to hear.
4 months ago
As I said below, Kobe deserves the MVP this year. That doesn't mean he's a better player than Lebron, but if you take into account everything (injuries to his team, playing in the loaded west) and the fact that all the things people criticize Kobe for (e.g. poor team player, creating dissension, etc.) haven't seemed to impact the Lakers' success, Kobe deserves to win it. I don't like Kobe, but at a certain point you have to look at results. People criticize Kobe and say he can't get the team to win. But they're winning. It's sort of like insisting your buddy has no game with women because he's awkward, short, has no job and a bad haircut, and all the while he's getting more than you. At a certain point, you have to look at the results.
However, for those who say Lebron shouldn't win MVP because of he's not a lockdown defender, might I point out:
1. Steve Nash
2. Charles Barkley
3. Magic Johnson
4. Larry Bird
5. Kareem
6. Dr. J
All these guys won MVP (some multiple times), and none were the best defenders at their respective positions. And I didn't even include Shaq.
4 months ago
A good, and interesting quote from Bill simmons (espn's the sports guy):
"Whether they win the title or not, it's been a sincere pleasure as a basketball fan to watch Kobe tap into his talents, trust his teammates, pick his spots, forget about statistics and become the player we always wanted him to be. Whether Kobe or Chris Paul wins the MVP award, we haven't seen two better individual seasons at the same time since Jordan and Barkley in 1993. ... And if you throw in the fact that LeBron is averaging an absurd 31-8-8 right now, you'd have to go back to Bird, Magic and M.J. in '88. Holy schmoley. Should I write the word "amazing" again? Probably not. This season has turned me into "The Bachelor." "
It's a great article. (can find it at: http://sports.espn. go.com/espn/page2/st ory?page=simmons/080 326 ). Very good analysis, very smart, and hilarious too.
4 months ago
Greatest article ever written!
4 months ago
i think it could go to either LB,Kobe, or Cp3. I think its b.s. that LB is practically left out because of the teams record. im not sure it s fair to be measured compared to other teams becasue of all the issues they ve had. the only constant was lb and without him they were 0-7 and lost to some #### teams. and i know people say the numbers are inflated because he has to do it all but then again yes he has to do it all to even get them competetive. the guy is unreal especially for 23 years old.andi watch just about every Cavs game so i see it all the time. he has become pretty much unstoppable. hes not hitting turn abound thress as the clock expires but everyone knows its going to him every tiem and hes making things happen . so any game its close at the end they are in it. and I know kobe is an assasin in the 4th as well. but damn. like i meant to say earlier they cavs had playersholding out in the beginning, then they have had pretty much every player missing time due to injury and then they trade half their team away...
4 months ago
The first cavs-lakers game....they only matched up on one another the last couple of minutes...and Kobe went 0-2. The most recent game, yes LBJ played better in the 4th quarter. BUt as Tommy notes....Lebron is a difficult matchup for Kobe (since he's 6-8 and 240). But stepping back from the mano-a-mano stuff....Lakers were without bynum & pre-gasol...so the Cavs could double-team or collapse on Bryant all game...and it worked. Luckily Kobe is playing the best team ball of his career this year...and helps set the table for the whole team. And agreed...those few moments are not a good criteria for judging the MVP.
4 months ago
"without Gasol and Bynum how have the Lakers done? oh back to back losses to Memphis and Char at home? lol wowo ok." vskr...yes, you're right. the lakers lost back to back against these 2 teams. but go back 2 more games...and the lakers without bynum & gasol beat Dallas & Utah (on the road). and if you're gonna point out 2 games only that the lakers lost, why don't you mention that DFish was injured (torn tendon in his foot) and Odom was sick (flu/respriatory infection) (you ever played a game with a torn tendon or the flu? Yeah, I don't think it would be fun either.) So, let's talk about how the lakers beat dallas, utah & golden state without bynum & pau. How have the Hornets done with Chandler & D.West? Oh that's right...we don't know, hasn't been happening for them. YOu don't like Kobe...okay. But don't use selective facts to say he's not very good. Give me a break.
4 months ago
yeah i def think the MVP should go to a guy leading the league in techs. or a guy that before the season starte demanded a trade.
from 4 months ago
I have to agree...If Kobe doesn't win the MVP it is because of his arrogance and privledged attitude. He thinks he commits no fouls and could do no wrong. Too bad he is such a POOR role model on and off the court.
4 months ago
I agree it is tricky to talk about best player in the league, to me there is only one real way to determine this. If the league had to reshuffle and redraft EVERY year, in what order would the players be selected. You can say what you want about Shaq and his free throws and his blubber, but from 1998 to about 2004 he goes first in that pick every time - that means he was the best player back then.
Today, I would guess that pick is Tim Duncan - if that is true, that makes him the best player. It doesn't matter whether or not he can dribble or shoot threes, it only matters what he delivers. In this scenario, up until this season, it's possible Kobe went before LeBron, however, from this year forward, LeBron gets picked before Kobe, CP3, T-Mac, Nash, Amare, etc. every time. Any GM who passed over LeBron and picked Bryant is going to get fired in the off season for putting his team at a disadvantage.
That said, the MVP debate is a different debate that can not be separated from Ws and Ls. I think "Must be best player on the best team" is a little too hard core and limiting, but unless you are just absolutely head and shoulders above every other player in the league and you have the world's lamest supporting cast, you shouldn't be in the running if your team isn't somewhere near the top.
Kobe is my MVP, he has played stellar ball individually AND he has been a great teammate and mentor (we can excuse the one outburst he had recently). Give him the MVP.
4 months ago
But dont take my stats or word for it, lets see what the people that know better than anyone. The GMs and the players say about who the "best" or the most "intimidating" player is. Though the sports writers and analysts all same Kobe is the greatest player in the world. Lets see what the "hands on" guys think.
NBA.com GMs Survey 2007-2008
Which player forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments?
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 34.6%
2. Steve Nash, Phoenix 15.4%
3. Tim Duncan, San Antonio 11.5%
4. LeBron James, Cleveland 11.5%
5. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami 11.5%
6. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 7.7%
SI.com Which opposing player scares you the most to play against?
http://fannation.co m/blogs/post/153977< /a>
1. Kobe Bryant, Lakers G...... 35%
2. Shaquille O'Neal, Suns C...... 12%
3. Kevin Garnett, Celtics F...... 6%
4. LeBron James, Cavs F...... 4%
5. Dwight Howard, Magic C...... 4%
6. Allen Iverson, Nuggets G...... 4%
7. Tim Duncan, Spurs F...... 4%
8. Steve Nash, Suns G...... 4%
9. Dirk Nowitzki, Mavericks F...... 4%
10.Tracy McGrady, Rockets G...... 2%
[Based on a survey of 242 NBA Players] taken at the end of February.
I think that says it all.
4 months ago
It's an any other year type of seeze. Any other year, Bron-Bron's numbers would be good enough. And the same goes for CP3 & Kobe. But, they are all going off in the same season & the MVP race is gonna be a tight race for years to come.
4 months ago
If you take stats away....sometims syou just have to look at the overall game. Stats are somewhat useful, but overrated. LBJ should have better stats tthan Kobe....Kobe has (now, this year) better teammates...and teh triangle is designed to create opporutnities for everyone. Cavs often jsut give the ball to LBJ and say: score get an assist. And Hollinjerk...if you live in LA (as I do)...you gotta see that Kobe makes the Lakers better, and is a good defender. Better than cp3 or lbj. at least this year. if you think cp3 or lbj is better or more fun...that I can't aruge with. You can make a legitimate arugment. But kobe makes the lakers better...you gotta see that. Right?!
4 months ago
I keep reading arguments FOR Kobe, that say "he makes other players better." In Kobe's case, he does it the LEAST compared to Lebron and CP3. How does Kobe do it? Wispering in his teammates' ears between plays? Besides that, I don't never see anything else to support the case. The Lakers have the best coachES in the entire league...who made Bynum better? KAREEM! Who makes the Lakers offense work? PHIL, and the rest of the "Dreamteam."
Now, Chris Paul RUNS THE OFFENSE, and does it better than any point in the game right now (like Nash when his team was on top, and he was MVP). Paul and Chandler have hooked up (assist-basket) more times than any other duo this season. Paul creates his shots. Paul also creates Peja's trade-mark SPOT-UP 3-POINTERS, and who created the shot West took to beat the Cavs the other night?...Chris Paul. #1 in Assists & Steals.
Lebron has better stats than Kobe, Kobe has the better team, just like last season.
Is Kobe a lockdown-defender? Really?? He got torched by a BOBCAT the other night, Lebron always outplays him, McGrady wins the battles, and Arenas made him look silly at Staples last time. "He always guards the best guy on the floor..." If the best guy is 6'4" PG of course Kobe will have the advantage. Other coaches use
smarter option. The players that beat Kobe are the one's who aren't INTIMIDATED, that is Kobe's only other weapon. Kobe is famous for scoring! If he never went off for 81, or 51, would you say he was the best?
4 months ago
Kobe held together a bunch of wounded-walking all year while playing with a torn ligament and making a run at the top seed in the toughest division and here you tools are talking about CP3 for MVP. You haters are laughable.
4 months ago
ONe could make a good argument for Kobe, Lebron or CP3 fo rhte mvp this yaer. could also make a case for KG, amare, Pierce, Nash, and a few others....but I think it comes down to these 3. Any of them deserve it. If I were voting I would give the edge to Kobe. Why? Lebron vs. Kobe.....2 best overall talents in the game, about even of who is better. So, here I turn to team performance...Lakers are towrads the top of the west, have already won 50 games. CAvs....aren't going to win 50, and wouldnt' even make the playoffs if they wer ein the west. So...since they're equal, I give the edge to Kobe. Kobe vs. cp3 (these are the best 2 candidates) why the edge goes ever so slightly to kobe? Bk I think the teams have an equal amount of talent. Kobe has Pau, Bynum, Odom and others. But cp3 has d. west, chandler, Stojakovice and others. And Lakers have been much, much harder hit with injufires. Would Hornets be at the top ifchalndler had missed 30+ games, and if WEst had missted hte past 9 games? Maybe...but I'm skpetical.
4 months ago
ONe could make a good argument for Kobe, Lebron or CP3 fo rhte mvp this yaer. could also make a case for KG, amare, Pierce, Nash, and a few others....but I think it comes down to these 3. Any of them deserve it. If I were voting I would give the edge to Kobe. Why? Lebron vs. Kobe.....2 best overall talents in the game, about even of who is better. So, here I turn to team performance...Lakers are towrads the top of the west, have already won 50 games. CAvs....aren't going to win 50, and wouldnt' even make the playoffs if they wer ein the west. So...since they're equal, I give the edge to Kobe. Kobe vs. cp3 (these are the best 2 candidates) why the edge goes ever so slightly to kobe? Bk I think the teams have an equal amount of talent. Kobe has Pau, Bynum, Odom and others. But cp3 has d. west, chandler, Stojakovice and others. And Lakers have been much, much harder hit with injufires. Would Hornets be at the top ifchalndler had missed 30+ games, and if WEst had missted hte past 9 games? Maybe...but I'm skpetical.
4 months ago
I want a public apology from everyone, who dismissed my article.
4 months ago
I don't see Kobe losing this battle. If he does, everyone in the playoffs will be ground into mush because he will absolutely go ballistic.
4 months ago
You kobe lovers do realize that MVP IS A SINGLE SEASON AWARD! Kobe has had a great carreer! He has put up amazing numbers. He has won championships (though he was with one of the greatest big men in NBA history who has done it without kobe while kobe hasn't done it without him). However, the mvp does not go to the player who has had the best carreer (well, it does and will go to that player, lets call it the Karl Malone syndrome, but it shouldn't.) Also, why the hell are people awarding Kobe for playing like a team player like he is SUPPOSED to! Just because he discovered the magic of passing this year, doesn't mean he should win mvp!
CP3 is the truth! He's having the best season a pg has had in years! The last pg to do what paul is doing was tim hardaway with the warriors way back when in 92! And hardaway didn't have to fight in the toughest nba conference fight in nba history (which paul is currently winning!) Also, if Paul averages 20 pts, 10 asts, and 3 stls by the end of the season (which may happen) he would be the first player in NBA history to do so. Furthermore, Paul has not only led the hornets to the best record in the west, but has led the hornets to the best record against the western playoff contenders (when compared to the other western contenders records against each other).
Oh, and Paul is the third quickest player ever to reach 2,000 assists behind Oscar Robinson and Kevin Johnson. That company isn't too shabby....
from 4 months ago
I didn't know that about CP3, cool. Not to shabby indeed
4 months ago
I think a few things are getting lost in the discussion here.
Sure, Kobe's had a broken finger, and several of his teammates have gone down to injury.
But Gilbert Arenas has a torn knee, people. For a time, he couldn't even walk.
Not only that, but his team has been missing its leading scorer all season.
Despite these obstacles, Arenas is leading his team in both points and rebounds per game, and the Wizards are heading to the playoffs.
Imagine if Arenas had been healthy! What might his stats have been? Clearly, he is the MVP of this, last, and the following season.
from 4 months ago
Haha, wow. awesome post.
from 4 months ago
i think that has alot to do with the opt out clause and Arenas' ballhogging nature, i love Gilbert but he's a SG playing PG.
4 months ago
I won't even try and convince you that Kobe will win the MVP award.
No one deserves it more than CP3. Pau Gasol > Tyson Chandler. Lamar Odom > Morris Peterson/Peja Stojakavic (I guess). Andrew Bynum ? David West. Kobe Bryant > Chris Paul. Right?
No one man has done more with less than Paul and if you remove Paul and Bryant from completely healthy versions of their current team, the Hornets will be fighting the Heat for Beasley and Jack Nicholson would have suited up for the playoff stretch.
MVP is for value, not for the best player (who is undoubtedly Bryant) and no one man is more valuable than Paul.
If anyone not named Chris Paul wins, it will be a robbery of sorts. Even if its Kobe or LeBron.
Kobe does deserve one... just not more than Paul.
4 months ago
Finally someone who understands. Amen to that Gem.....With you dropping knowledge like that, I might have to add you to my authors list. Chris Paul took a team that was out of the playoffs last season, to perhaps a 1st seed this year. I don't care how much of a Kobe fan you are, you can't look past that. You just can't. CP3 for MVP
from 4 months ago
Thanks Jason, I'm glad a reader gets it too
4 months ago
dont get me wrong i love kobe bryant and i think he is the best pure player in the nba right now but chris paul is this years MVP bar none no question he has led the hornets a team with far less talent than the lakers to the top seed in there division he clearly deserves it more than kobe kobe has been awesome but dont forget he is surrounded by more talent as well
4 months ago
who dat gonna beat dat kobe,he be da bestest,he gottem big feet,yada,he gottem big feet.i put mashed taters in my ears.yada
4 months ago
"he has led the hornets a team with far less talent than the lakers to the top seed in there division he clearly deserves it more than kobe kobe has been awesome but dont forget he is surrounded by more talent as well" what the heck are you smoking? like chris paul isn't surrounded by talent? and even if he wasn't, chris paul never had to deal with almost half his key players out for significant amounts of time. kobe led the lakers to almost the same record as the hornets with bynum, ariza, and pau out, in addition to fisher and himself being injured. let's see chris paul do that. i didn't think so
4 months ago
"Finally someone who understands. Amen to that Gem.....With you dropping knowledge like that, I might have to add you to my authors list. Chris Paul took a team that was out of the playoffs last season, to perhaps a 1st seed this year. I don't care how much of a Kobe fan you are, you can't look past that. You just can't. CP3 for MVP"
do people really have such horrible, selective memory? the lakers won ONLY 3 MORE GAMES than the hornets last season. EVERYONE was predicting BOTH the lakers and hornets were not going to make the playoffs this year. add that fact to how the majority of the laker squad is injured or out and they're still pretty much at the top of the western conference, YOU JUST CAN"T LOOK PAST THAT. GET YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT
4 months ago
"No one deserves it more than CP3. Pau Gasol > Tyson Chandler. Lamar Odom > Morris Peterson/Peja Stojakavic (I guess). Andrew Bynum ? David West. Kobe Bryant > Chris Paul. Right?
No one man has done more with less than Paul and if you remove Paul and Bryant from completely healthy versions of their current team, the Hornets will be fighting the Heat for Beasley and Jack Nicholson would have suited up for the playoff stretch."
gee gem, thanks for making a comparison with non existent laker team mates.
chris paul much better than fisher
chandler less than pau
west about the same as odom
peja much better than radmanovic
wells/morrison much worse than kobe
with the lakers healthy, they are a better team and would have a much better record than the hornets. but with how the lakers have been existing with injuries and without players, their team is pretty much the same as the hornets and their record is pretty much the same as the hornets. what does that tell you? that even at half-health, kobe led his team to pretty much the same result as cp3 and the hornets at full health. that's more impressive than what cp3 is doing
without kobe, the lakers wouldn't even be in the playoffs. same thing with chris paul and the hornets.
4 months ago
"(though he was with one of the greatest big men in NBA history who has done it without kobe while kobe hasn't done it without him)"
etha, can you fucking say something smart? shaq won those rings because of kobe, and kobe won those because of shaq. it's not a one way street. and it's not an argument against kobe to say that "shaq won one 'without' kobe while kobe didn't 'without' shaq". that doesn't even prove anything. shaq won his 4th ring cuz of wade, not cuz of anything he did himself. stupid ass idiot. the only way shaq ever won his rings is by playing with the 2nd best shooting guard in history, and a poor man's version of kobe afterwards.
4 months ago
To be honest yes...chris paul has put up great numbers. the hornets are kicking butt in the tight western conference. no doubt it is a tight race to mvp. KOBE is mvp. he has EARNED it. chiris paul will get his, hornets will still kick butt for a good bit of time, they have a brilliant coach and a young and heallthy chris paul. the lakers were a team that has struggled, even before the shaq trade. kobe stuck around putting up the numbers and sticking with the team(even if he was frustrated). he stuck around and put in his 110% effort to win. he never flaked. he has been in the league for 11 years and has at least 5 mvp seasons that he didnt win because of being overshadowed by shaq or team records.
LOOK at this season for the lakers 51-24 number 3 seed in the tight western conference with injuries to almost the whole roster. this season could have easily been a 34-41 record and out of the playoff picture. but kobe stuck in and played, led, shared, carried and took over the right games. he played smart. he did what he knew he had to do in whatever game it was, so the lakers can compete and win. all i am saying is he has earned it. he shows leadership, hardwork and puts up the numbers. he deserves mvp THIS SEASON. .not another season. CP3 will have plenty of mvp trophies. but kobe deserves this one. he has proved it in any way possible.
4 months ago
To be honest yes...chris paul has put up great numbers. the hornets are kicking butt in the tight western conference. no doubt it is a tight race to mvp. KOBE is mvp. he has EARNED it. chiris paul will get his, hornets will still kick butt for a good bit of time, they have a brilliant coach and a young and heallthy chris paul. the lakers were a team that has struggled, even before the shaq trade. kobe stuck around putting up the numbers and sticking with the team(even if he was frustrated). he stuck around and put in his 110% effort to win. he never flaked. he has been in the league for 11 years and has at least 5 mvp seasons that he didnt win because of being overshadowed by shaq or team records.
LOOK at this season for the lakers 51-24 number 3 seed in the tight western conference with injuries to almost the whole roster. this season could have easily been a 34-41 record and out of the playoff picture. but kobe stuck in and played, led, shared, carried and took over the right games. he played smart. he did what he knew he had to do in whatever game it was, so the lakers can compete and win. all i am saying is he has earned it. he shows leadership, hardwork and puts up the numbers. he deserves mvp THIS SEASON. .not another season. CP3 will have plenty of mvp trophies. but kobe deserves this one. he has proved it in any way possible.
4 months ago
To be honest yes...chris paul has put up great numbers. the hornets are kicking butt in the tight western conference. no doubt it is a tight race to mvp. KOBE is mvp. he has EARNED it. chiris paul will get his, hornets will still kick butt for a good bit of time, they have a brilliant coach and a young and heallthy chris paul. the lakers were a team that has struggled, even before the shaq trade. kobe stuck around putting up the numbers and sticking with the team(even if he was frustrated). he stuck around and put in his 110% effort to win. he never flaked. he has been in the league for 11 years and has at least 5 mvp seasons that he didnt win because of being overshadowed by shaq or team records.
LOOK at this season for the lakers 51-24 number 3 seed in the tight western conference with injuries to almost the whole roster. this season could have easily been a 34-41 record and out of the playoff picture. but kobe stuck in and played, led, shared, carried and took over the right games. he played smart. he did what he knew he had to do in whatever game it was, so the lakers can compete and win. all i am saying is he has earned it. he shows leadership, hardwork and puts up the numbers. he deserves mvp THIS SEASON. .not another season. CP3 will have plenty of mvp trophies. but kobe deserves this one. he has proved it in any way possible.
4 months ago
I hope these two play in the second round of the playoffs!
Sure, Kobe is better.
But this award is on the season, and CP3's has been more valuable.
4 months ago
Rob has nailed it. I hope those who vote for MVP read his article.
4 months ago
Really?, I don't believe it man. Good article though, I mean whow as the one that missed two key free throws when the game was on the line. He was lucky though, his team escaped.
4 months ago
Hey, I can't argue that CP3 is not deserving of MVP. I just think that Kobe has proven that he deserves it this year. Taking his team to the top of the west. Playing his A-game despite all the injuries around him. And he is playing with a messed up finger and still dominating defenders.
from 4 months ago
Losing to Memphis and Charlotte back to back in the home stretch of the season, and consequently falling two playoff spots, is like a shot in the gut to Kobes MVP campaign.
4 months ago
Kobe killed it last night. In my opinion, he has the best chance to win.
He's going get the sympathy votes because people passed over his last two amazing seasons. He's going to get votes for leading his constantly changing and injured team to a high position in the West. He'll get some for helping integrate Pau during the middle of the season. And he'll get some for still being the most dedicated basketball player on the planet.
CP3 is amazing, no dobut. But he hasn't had the momentum/publicity of a Kobe or LeBron over the entire season. And he's hasn't had to go through the injuries the Cavs and lakers have had either. That's what might hurt him most.
4 months ago
Keep the MVP. Didnt do much for Dirk, Nash, KG, Iverson, the Mailman, the Admiral and Barkley the years they won it. Id rather see an angry and extra-motivated Kobe light it up in the playoffs.
from 4 months ago
Anonymous be the fuck quiet I so understand nothing you say.
4 months ago
Chris Paul deserves to win that right he have the Hornets at the top of the toughest conference.
4 months ago
Take Kobe away from the Lakers and theyd still be a playoff team. That may be true since the Lakers still have Gasol and Bynum. But this season those two never even played together and there were even several games where neither big man played. So THIS season there is no way the Lakers would be a playoff team without Kobe. That is why he should be the MVP.
4 months ago
Lebron ain't Michael Jordan!
Kobe owns Lebron. Lebron fears Kobe.
Lebron will not surpass MJ and Lebron will not surpass Kobe.
Kobe is 29 years old, yet he still dominates Lebron in every single time!
LEBRON JAMES SUCKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4 months ago
"No one man has done more with less than Paul and if you remove Paul and Bryant from completely healthy versions of their current team"
Gem, yes its true the Lakers are better when they are COMPLETELY HEALTHY. However that hasnt been the case this season. Bynum, Gasol, Mihm, Ariza and Radmanovic have all been gone for long stretches and have even been missing from the lineup at the same time. Plus Kobe, Fisher and Walton are all playing through injuries that will require offseason surgery. Compare that with the Hornets who have stayed relatively healthy this season. The Hornets staring 5 has missed a combined total of 22 games this season. Thats barely half the 40 games Bynum alone has missed. So how in the world can you say that Kobe has it easier than Chris Paul this season?
4 months ago
If the Lakers had managed to stay as healthy as the Hornets they would have 5-10 more wins, maybe even more. In that case the Lakers would lead the West and there would be no argument about CP being the MVP because hes leading NO to the top of the West. So the only reason CP is even in the MVP discussion is because of the injuries to Gasol and Bynum.
4 months ago
Everyone knows its not about numbers, just because Chris Paul has better numbers than Steve Nash in his MVP season doesn't mean he's the most VALUABLE player. Same goes for Kobe Bryant, how many MVP's has he won in seasons when he was the scoring leader? It's all about which player has the most value to his team, and that is based not only on personal achievements, but also those achievements of teamates that are attributable to him.
So how would either the Hornets or Lakers fare without their star players? I think both guys are completely deserving of the mvp in their own right, so really it's gonna be tough to evaluate without some bias. I'm a little concerned by the fact that the Lakers have struggled so much without Gasol, it almost points to him being more valuable than Kobe, but let's face it -- if the Lakers were playing with Gasol instead of Kobe, they would probably be struggling more. If you look at the pieces around CP3, they really benefit from his ability to feed them the ball -- which means Chris Paul is making his team more valuable. At the same time Kobe is not a point guard, so expecting him to create as many assists as Paul is unrealistic.
4 months ago
With all the injury problems the Lakers face imagine what would have happened if Kobe hadnt played every single game. Hes the only reason the Lakers are still in contention for the top record in the West where every single win matters. Now thats what I call valuable.
4 months ago
if the hornets dont finish on top of the west does CP still deserve the mvp? if not then cp needs to thank bynum, gasol and tony parker for missing all those games that allowed the hornets to take the lead in the west
from 4 months ago
Good question. No.
4 months ago
"Take Kobe away from the Lakers and theyd still be a playoff team. That may be true since the Lakers still have Gasol and Bynum. But this season those two never even played together and there were even several games where neither big man played. So THIS season there is no way the Lakers would be a playoff team without Kobe. That is why he should be the MVP."
are you kidding me? the lakers make the playoffs without kobe, but with bynum and gasol? the only reason bynum has those numbers right now is that kobe is the one facilitating for him. same thing for pau, he's no leader. did you ever see him in memphis? if he can't even solidly lead a team to the playoffs in the east, do you think he'll be able to do that on the lakers in the west? without kobe, the lakers are far out of the playoff race. if golden state, dallas, and denver are vying for the 8th spot this year, you think the lakers would be there without kobe? you gotta lay off the crack
chris paul has bynum, pau, ariza, and rad to thank for not playing from injuries, and kobe and fisher to thank, too, for playing through injuries, cuz if all of them were healthy like the hornets, the lakers would be almost 10 games ahead of the hornets and we wouldn't even be having this discussion. the very fact that the lakers and hornets are at the top of the west even though the lakers are broken down shows how much more valuable kobe is than chris paul.
and the guy who said that the recent struggles might indicate that pau is more valuable to the lakers? again, are you kidding me?
4 months ago
"With all the injury problems the Lakers face imagine what would have happened if Kobe hadnt played every single game. Hes the only reason the Lakers are still in contention for the top record in the West where every single win matters. Now thats what I call valuable."
true, imagine if kobe had decided to take surgery. the lakers would be out of