Hey Kobe—you wanna be a man?
Then own up to what isn't yours and hand Chris Paul that MVP trophy.
You heard me Kobe: Chris Paul is the rightful winner of that award, not you. And I don't care whether or not you deserved one some other year—my calendar says its 2008, and the Most Valuable Player trophy is supposed to go to the best player in the league the same season it's awarded.
Don't thank your teammates, Phil Jackson, or the league for this honor—thank the writers who convinced themselves halfway through the season that you and you alone deserved the award.
They, after all, are the people who have committed this fraudulent act. And even though it would have been nice of you to decline the award and offer it to Chris Paul, no one's blaming you for walking off the stage with the Maurice Podoloff Trophy firmly in your grasp.
Honestly, I'm happy for you Kobe. I really am. When the Lakers finally surrounded you with some talent, you proved to everyone why you're one of the all-time greats.
You made us eat our words Kobe. You're clearly a good leader, a team player, and capable of winning without Shaq.
Your team earned the top playoff spot in one of the most competitive conferences the league has seen in years—and if the current pace continues you'll soon be on your way to a fifth NBA Finals appearance.
And hey—despite sharing the glory with Pau and the gang, you managed to put up some pretty impressive numbers: 28.3 ppg, 6.3 boards, and 5.4 dishes.
But Chris Paul, Kobe...Chris Paul's numbers make your year look like something out of Tractor Traylor's play book.
And I'm not talking about the stud from Michigan who tore down the backboard…I'm talking about the out-of-shape lardass that was traded five times in seven NBA seasons.
Let's go over some basketball basics together Kobe, and perhaps you can see why I'm so angry that you won.
The point guard is the guy who runs the offense. As such, he tends to handle the ball more than anybody else on the court—including scorers such as yourself.
Believe me Kobe, Chris Paul handled the ball quite frequently this season. But even though he was running the offense and you were playing the wing, Paul managed to turn the ball over significantly less often than you.
Being so cautious with the ball, you might think that Chris Paul wouldn't have created much on the offensive end of the floor. But that's simply not the case: this year, Paul became one of the few point guards in league history to average over 20 points and 10 assists per game in a season.
And he did it with fewer turnovers than anyone else in the history of the NBA to accomplish such a feat.
You know Steve Nash, right Kobe?
In his two MVP seasons, Nash averaged 11.5 and 10.5 assists per game, respectively—he turned the ball over more than three times in each of those seasons.
What about Magic Johnson, Kobe—you remember him? The best Laker the City of Angels had ever seen until you came to town?
Magic averaged over 20 points and 10 assists in three different seasons, which is simply mind-boggling. It should come as no surprise that he cleaned up MVP honors in each of those seasons as well.
But in every case, Magic turned the ball over between 3.5 and four times a game.
Chris Paul on the other hand averaged 22.1 points and 11.6 dimes a game this year—with only 2.5 turnovers.
Let's also not forget that Magic and Steve Nash weren't (and aren't) famous for their defensive abilities. As a defensive phenom yourself, you surely realized that Chris Paul led the NBA in steals per game this season…right?
Here's the bottom line, Kobe: Chris Paul just completed one of the greatest seasons for a point guard in the history of the game. You on the other hand had a very good season for a shooting guard...but by no means revolutionized the position.Yet somehow, you walked away league MVP.
Don't like the point guard/off guard comparison? Fine Kobe, we'll do it straight up:
Chris Paul was a stronger offensive player than you this year. He shot the ball significantly better from the field (.488 vs. .459) and distributed the rock in ways you can only dream about.
Your defense was more impressive, but not enough so to compensate for the vast performance discrepancy on the other end of the floor. And while you surely deserve credit for how far you brought the Lakers, Paul singlehandedly turned a sub .500 New Orleans team into a legitimate contender that finds itself leading the four-time World Champion Spurs 2-0 in the second round of the playoffs.
Let's also not forget that Paul is a good seven inches shorter than you.
Reason with me here, Kobe; be a man and give the deserving player the trophy. It will be an unprecedented action that will permanently alter the way that history looks at you.
If you don't listen to me, I think you're going to lose to the Hornets in the next round. Because no matter what he says, Chris Paul is pissed about all of this…and if he can't be league MVP, you can bet he's already shifted his focus to the Larry O'Brien Trophy.
These are the times that try men's souls, Kobe—I know you'll do the right thing.
Comments (86) Add a comment »
from 6 days ago
Enjoyed this article. I wasn't aware of a lot of those statistics and I have to admit I agree with you.
from 4 days ago
For one you are wrong on a few points.
Paul's shooting percentage might have been better. But their TS% was exactly the same. And since you probably don’t know what that is judging from the callow way you write. It is True Shooting % which includes three pointers and free throws. It is also more accurate in measuring efficiency. Both were at .576%
Another part where you are wrong is on defense. As a matter of fact Chris Paul is a defensive liability to his team.
His team gives up 6 more points while he is on the court compared to when he is off the court. And that is the biggest disparity on the entire team, starter or sub. And NO we won’t be seeing him on any 1st Team Defenses this season but we will see Bryant on it.
And since this award has absolutely nothing to do with past winners. It absolutely doesn’t matter why Nash won it.
And why do you assume that Chris Paul's numbers were better? It’s easier to pass the ball than it is to score. That’s just common sense.
As for Kobe's teammates.
Gasol was a SUBSTITUTION not an ADDITION. It’s not as though Bynum, Gasol, Bryant, and Odom were ever on the court at the same time. And pre-Gasol the Lakers were on pace to win 56 games and won 57.
While Chris Paul had the privilege of a nearly injury free season, Kobe had to deal with losing Bynum. Remember, if Bynum doesn’t get hurt, NO GASOL! Kobe was without a starting center for 30 games this season which meant Kwame and Turiaf started in 30 games. Radmonovich missed 17 games and Walton and Gasol each missed 10. Yet Kobe still kept his team atop the West.
Did I mention that Paul plays with TWO other All Stars? And before you try and tell me that Chris Paul was the reason, remember last season the Hornets went 11 and 19 without West. That is a less than a 30 win season pace. Yet pre-Gasol the Lakers were on pace to win 56.
Two more quick points before I dismiss you from your lesson Zander.
Vujacic, Farmar, Odom, Bynum, Radmonovich, Turiaf, Walton.
If you were to say that those guys were a great team last year people would laugh you under the table.
Today they are considered "Superior Talent". Why do you think that is?
Not Gasol. Remember the Lakers were on pace to win 56 before Gasol.
Not Fisher. He is the locker room leader. But not a facilitator and NO he couldn’t lead the Warriors.
Not Odom. He was called "Odumb" last year on the bloggosphere and one of the most inconsistent players ever.
Not Phil. He runs a team he coaches the triangle but it still has to be executed.
That leaves Bryant.
6 Lakers had career seasons. 4 in points and FG% Bynum, Turiaf, Farmar, Vujacic.
Lamar in Rebounds and FG%,
Gasol in FG%. In fact Gasol went from shooting .501% being the leader of one of the worst teams in the NBA to having a career high .589% playing 2nd option to Bryant.
Derek Fisher is having the second best season of his career at 33 years old.
And 3 Lakers are in the top 20 in 3pt field goal percentage while Bryant is leading his team in assists AGAIN.
So let’s go over it.
Points per game winner Kobe.
Assists per game winner Chris Paul
True Shooting percentage Draw
Defense winner Kobe
Rebounds per game winner Kobe
Team Record winner Kobe
Making there teammates play at a higher level winner Kobe (6 players career seasons, wins, etc) Paul plays with two other All Stars, West is just as important as Paul.
So the only stat or team success that Paul has over Bryant is Assists. Well, good for him.
Did I mention that Bryant led his team to the best record in the most competitive conference in NBA history?
Bryant is the only player in NBA history to lead a team to the best record in a conference with EIGHT 50 plus win teams while winning the MVP. Chalk up another record for #24
Last point.
Kobe Bryant did it all with a torn ligament and broken finger in his shooting hand. That STILL requires surgery.
Kobe is the MVP!!!
They only thing that needs to be redone. Is this callow, horribly written, invalid, insipid post!
from 4 days ago
If you want to see the retort to this insipid wreck. go to
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/22159-Chris-Paul-Fans-need-to-Man-up-and-Except-the-Truth-Kobe-is-the-MVP-
from 6 days ago
Zander -
Forgive me when I say (to quote billy joel, sort of): You may be right, but I don't care.
People get all worked up about MVP. Sure, Chris Paul might've deserved it. Perhaps Bron-Bron did. I'm just tired of the debate. The writers voted for Kobe. I'm ok with that too. Would've also been fine with Paul, KG, or LeBron.
Listen, my point is this: in a game that's hard to quantify individual accomplishment such as basketball (it's even harder in football). Why should we care about who wins the MVP? In baseball, I think stats do an excellent job of this. In basketball, it's damn near impossible.
Just my 2 cents.
from 6 days ago
I also presume you've seen this graphic as well.
http://gmapuploader.com/iframe/2XA3IrcfV9
from 6 days ago
That is one confusing graphic Ben Alliare
from 6 days ago
I hadn't seen that graphic but it is an AWESOME breakdown. You don't hear as much about win-shares in hoops, but it's cool to see it laid out like that...
I hear you in terms of being tired of the debate. Frankly I have been relatively silent on the subject all year and felt I may as well speak up about it now. Just seeing Kobe not even mentioning Chris Paul in his acceptance speech/follow up interview really irked me.
Does it really matter who wins MVP? "What matters" is completely relative Ben. Basketball itself doesn't matter all that much in the grand scheme of life...
In my mind, as long as there is an MVP award, there's reason to debate who deserves it the most. Frankly I almost always end up disagreeing with the winner. I can't recall however an example in recent memory of someone getting shafted as badly as Chris Paul did this year.
It would be one thing if he had the year he did and his team snuck into the playoffs (I often feel that great players on teams who end with an 8th seed get overlooked). But the Hornets are one of the best teams in the league, and it's because of him.
from 6 days ago
Though Kobe was long overdue for an MVP, I think the voters may have given him this one based on his lifetime achievements.
Chris Paul's numbers were way better, and if Steve Nash can win back-to-back MVPs when his numbers are nowhere near CP3's, then Paul got screwed.
But in the end, Kobe's team ended up with the top seed in the West and that probably played a big role in the final voting.
from 6 days ago
"Though Kobe was long overdue for an MVP, I think the voters may have given him this one based on his lifetime achievements."
They did without question—and it's BS.
It was B.S. when Karl Malone got his first MVP over M.J. for the same reason, and it's B.S. now.
The Hall of Fame is where players are recognized for lifetime achievements. The MVP award goes to the best player in the league for a single season. And this year, that player was Chris Paul.
If the voters want to go ahead and switch the name of the Trophy from "Most Valuable Player" to "Lifetime Achievement Award Designated to Outstanding Player in this Particular Season" then they can select whoever they want.
But as long as it's an MVP we're talking about—and not a LAADOPPS—votes should be given to the best player THIS SEASON, period.
from 6 days ago
"Chris Paul's numbers make your year look like something out of Tractor Traylor's play book.
And I'm not talking about the stud from Michigan who tore down the backboard…I'm talking about the out-of-shape lardass that was traded five times in seven NBA seasons."
That's a nifty 'shocking' statement, but also totally ridiculous. 20, 11, 5 and 3 don't shame 28, 5, 6 and 2. They just don't.
"Believe me Kobe, Chris Paul handled the ball quite frequently this season. But even though he was running the offense and you were playing the wing, Paul managed to turn the ball over significantly less often than you."
Significantly? Kobe turned the ball over less than 1 time more than Paul did. How is that significant? Yes, Paul handles the ball more, but he sees less than half of the double teams that Kobe sees. And if you want to talk about how much he handles the ball as a PG, you must point out that every PGs assist numbers are inflated a bit BECAUSE they handle the ball so much.
"Chris Paul on the other hand averaged 22.1 points and 11.6 dimes a game this year—with only 2.5 turnovers—which is far and away more impressive than any season that Nash or Magic ever had."
Far and away better than Magic's 88-89 season, when he averaged 22, 13 and 8 boards?!?! Seriously? While averaging one more turnover than Paul averaged this year? How is that better at all, much less 'far and away'??
"As a defensive phenom yourself, you surely realized that Chris Paul led the NBA in steals per game this season…right?"
Paul's a great defender, but steals are not where you measure great defense.
"Chris Paul was a stronger offensive player than you this year. He shot the ball significantly better from the field (.488 vs. .459) and distributed the rock in ways you can only dream about."
Sure, he shot the ball better from the field...he also scored 8 less points a game! And again, his offense benefits from the lack of facing double teams. No one's going to argue that Paul distributes the ball better, but his scoring ability is not in the same stratosphere as Kobe, and Kobe is not by any means a poor distributer. And if you were starting a team to win next year (not the next ten), you'd still go with Kobe, easily.
All of that said, only a moron would say Paul had anything less than one of (although certainly not THE) best seasons for a PG. He's going to be a great player for a lot of years. A Lakers-Hornets finals would be wonderful, as neither team has a player capable of guarding the other teams' star. The Lakers are the better team with the better star and the better role players, but the Hornets could certainly make a series of it. It'll be great to watch.
But Kobe deserves this MVP. Did most sportswriters decide they were going to vote for him months ago? Yes. Was that a stupid decision? Yes. Does that make the end result wrong? No.
Kobe's the MVP.
from 6 days ago
Most insightful comment of the thread yet—thanks for making me look bad Josiah =)
My responses:
"20, 11, 5 and 3 don't shame 28, 5, 6 and 2. They just don't."
The first stat line is significantly better than the second (the large discrepancy in assists is surely a lot more significant than the gap in points scored), but I agree it doesn't put the second "to shame." I just wanted to throw in a line about Tractor Traylor...is that a crime?
"Significantly? Kobe turned the ball over less than 1 time more than Paul did. How is that significant? Yes, Paul handles the ball more, but he sees less than half of the double teams that Kobe sees. And if you want to talk about how much he handles the ball as a PG, you must point out that every PGs assist numbers are inflated a bit BECAUSE they handle the ball so much."
Excellent point, difficult to argue against. I'd say however that shooting guards stats are equally inflated on the scoring front because a talented back court scorer gets a lot more leniency with his shot selection, as his main role on the team (with a player like Kobe) is to put points on the board, not to distribute the ball.
"Far and away better than Magic's 88-89 season, when he averaged 22, 13 and 8 boards?!?! Seriously? While averaging one more turnover than Paul averaged this year? How is that better at all, much less 'far and away'??"
I admit that I exaggerated the situation somewhat—I was very fired up when I wrote this and I figured strong language would strike some interesting debate, which it has.
That said: Paul's season is more impressive than Magic's on a pure POINT GUARD COMPARISON, as assist-to-turnover ratio is THE MOST IMPORTANT STATISTIC for the position. In terms of overall contribution to a team, I agree that Magic's season was more well rounded than Paul's (again, not really fair that Magic has a nine inch height advantage over Paul, but such is life in the NBA...)
"Paul's a great defender, but steals are not where you measure great defense."
True without a doubt, and no one is saying that Paul is a better defender than Kobe. I was just pointing out that Paul is a good defensive point guard, unlike a guy like Steve Nash who put up similar (yet less impressive) offensive numbers to Paul in his two MVP years.
"Sure, he shot the ball better from the field...he also scored 8 less points a game! And again, his offense benefits from the lack of facing double teams. No one's going to argue that Paul distributes the ball better, but his scoring ability is not in the same stratosphere as Kobe, and Kobe is not by any means a poor distributer. And if you were starting a team to win next year (not the next ten), you'd still go with Kobe, easily."
I was never trying to argue that Chris Paul was a more potent scoring threat, that he faces the same challenges as Kobe, or that I'd build a winning team around him rather than Kobe.
All I said is that he's the clear MVP of the NBA this season.
"Did most sportswriters decide they were going to vote for him months ago? Yes. Was that a stupid decision? Yes. Does that make the end result wrong? No."
You've made a great case for why Kobe should be MVP this season. I happen to disagree with your bottom line, but I'm glad that you at least recognize that an MVP award should go to the best player THE SAME SEASON IT'S GIVEN!
Great stuff here Josiah!
from 6 days ago
i would take Chris Paul over Kobe Bryant to start my team anyday.
it's easier to build around a point guard than it is a shooting guard
from 6 days ago
Really enjoyed the article!
Chris Paul does deserve the title but I'm glad kobe got it. Chris Paul is young and will get 17 more chances! Let us forget about this issue and focus on what is happening now.
from 6 days ago
Thanks Rodge!
It looks like we may get to see Kobe and Chris Paul square off head to head in the Western Conference Finals, which would shed further insight into this debate and make for one heck of a series!
I'm guessing the Spurs are going to win on Thursday though, so let's not count our chickens before they hatch...
from 6 days ago
Zander,
Be a man and admit you wrote this just to get a bunch of hits.
Cmon Zander, you sold out for money. You don't REALLY feel this way. This is silly.
from 6 days ago
LOL—alright I admit it: I did it for the money.
As I mentioned in an earlier comment, some of my claims were exaggerated without question, to produce a livelier discussion and because I felt someone needed to come to Chris Paul's defense.
Honestly John: I think Kobe had a great season and like I said, I'm really happy for him and everything he and the Lakers have achieved (and in all likelihood, everything they have yet to achieve).
But I'm going to stick to my guns here and insist that Chris Paul should have won that award. Call me a fool, but that's what I think.
from 6 days ago
A case can be made for a handful of guys to be the MVP. This article reads as if anybody that thinks Kobe is the MVP is an idiot.
I probably would have voted for Chris Paul, but I can understand Kobe getting it. After all, he IS probably the best all-around player in the league, and his team DID finish in first place in the best conference in the NBA. And the voting wasn't all that close, either. So you're definitely in the minority with your opinions. Not that there's anything wrong with that.
from 6 days ago
Woah Jeff...I never called anyone who thinks Kobe is the MVP an idiot!
Are you referring to this?
"Don't thank your teammates, Phil Jackson, or the league for this honor—thank the writers who convinced themselves halfway through the season that you and you alone deserved the award.
They, after all, are the people who have committed this fraudulent act."
To clarify: I don't think the voters gave the award to Kobe because they are unintelligent. I think they gave it to Kobe because they felt he was long overdue for an award.
This kind of thinking really bugs me, because the MVP stands for "Most Valuable Player," NOT "Player Who Is Most Overdue For An Award." Political decisions like this make a mockery of such awards...
from 6 days ago
I didn't mean to imply that you literally said it. But the way it read to me, if I didn't follow basketball I would have thought that some kind of travesty occurred in the MVP voting - like when the judges in the '88 Olympics didn't give Roy Jones the gold - like a strong case couldn't be made for Kobe. And that certainly wasn't the case.
I like CP3 as the MVP this year, but have no beef with it going to Kobe - I'm sure *some* people voted for him because he had never won it before, but not enough to sway the vote that badly - I mean, it really wasn't all that close of a vote. Kobe got a high majority of the 1st place votes.
from 6 days ago
Chris Paul has a great argument for the award. He had an outstanding season. But some of your statements, like the Tractor Traylor one and the one about Paul having a better season than Magic ever had, are ridiculous. I mean, Magic had those seasons when the NBA was at its competitive peak. The League was ten times better back then.
This award usually goes to the best player on the best team - provided that player had an outstanding season. And that's Kobe.
And while the Celtics had the best record in the league, I think most people actually think of the Lakers as the best team in the league because the Celtics are in the crappy Eastern Conference and the Lakers finished first in an unbelievably competitive West. And anyone who thinks the Celtics are better need not look any further than that atrocious first round series against the 37-win Hawks.
This will probably be debated for years.
from 6 days ago
don't the celtics have the best record in the league against the western conference? yeah, if not, it is at least a better percentage than the lakers. so you can't say they wouldn't have been as good if they were a western conference team.
and you can't talk about one playoff series. any crappy team can take any good team to seven games or even beat them, it only takes peaking at the right moment, look at the warriors last year.
or maybe the celtics lost b/c atlanta was at home. on your home court in the playoffs you can do anything, especially when you are a very athletic run and gun team and your place is packed. it just so happens that if the hawks get fired up, they can beat anyone, especially at home, where they were 25-16 over the course of the season. being wicked athletic will do that for you, however, athleticism can only take you so far as shown by the blowouts in games 1, 2, 5 and 7.
from 6 days ago
You said people chose Kobe half way through the season, this is not true. It was a dead-heat right up until the end. What favored Kobe in the end was the last game between the Hornets and The Lakers. The lakers beat the Hornets and that is what convinced everyone. It was 1 game difference, the race was that close. In the end, Kobe made his team better. Its a close race, Paul is great, no doubt, but the best team is the Lakers. If I asked you what is the biggest factor in choosing a MVP? A lot of people would say "wins." Kobe had more wins than Paul. Kobe had a injury as well, he was playing through pain, made his team better and got more wins. Maybe if these were the old days in which we chose people based on their skills and value, instead of how many wins they got, Paul might win, but this is the way things are, and based on those things, Kobe is your MVP.
from 6 days ago
So basically this report is saying that Chris Paul is the greates point guard to ever play the game, or at least for a season, right?
What about the followings stats for a point guard: Points 26.5 Assists 10.5 Steals 2.2
In my opinion better or as impressive than Paul's stats right?
Would you consider those stats as one of the greates for a season?
Those are Michael Adams stats for 90-91 season, many of you do not even know the name.
He will not be in my top 20 point guards all time.
Stats are great but they are far from telling the true.
Chris Paul is a great player but he is not on Kobe Bryant level, not yet.
He do not have the 5 opposing players on the floor concentrated on him.
Defense plans for playing Chris Paul are not as complex as playing Kobe Bryant.
Besides that PG is a position on decline in the league.
Congratulations to Chris Paul for a great season but this is Kobe Bryant MVP by far.
Kobe Bryant has been the best player in the league at least for the last 4 years.
from 6 days ago
i agree 100% with this article. Great article man. I am a fan of both players, but isnt't way more fun to see a 6 footer take over a game then someone a half foot taller. Being short myself I see basketball the way Paul does. Adjusting shots over bigger defenders, tough in-the-air passes and being fouled, but finishin at the rim when he is lucky to be 6-foot are tough accomplishments. That turnover comparison to Magic and Nash is awesome. If Nash got it then CP3 should get it. FROM 10th to 2nd by one game. Let the hornets play the lakers, the winner and better player should get the award there. bad voting by the writers, wrong time to give it to kobe
from 6 days ago
good stuff.
we could solve this problem by naming the MVP after the season is over. i wish college fball would do the same with the heisman.
this award was decided the last week of the season when the hornets and lakers played in LA and the Lakers won. most of the voters probably caught that game and little else on paul besides his numbers. a shame. but i really don't care that kobe won, he probably was due in other years, i think CP3 is mature enough and focused enough to know that the NBA title is waaayy more important.
and it all goes back to what exactly IS the mvp? is it a best player in the league or truly a most valuable player to his team award??
best player is kobe. however it's dead even when talking about value and value to one's team. neither team could compile the 1 and 2 seed in the west without these two guys. when it comes to making the players around him better, no one is better than paul.
from 6 days ago
Great article, you didn't just make a statement, but you backed it up with significant evidence.
from 6 days ago
Very good, lots of stats about Chris Paul I didn't know.
from 6 days ago
I have to admit, even though I'm a huge Kobe fan, I agree with 99% of the stuff in this article. Chris Paul should have gotten the MVP. There are only 2 reasons I can see this decision making sense:
1. LA is a HUGE market, New Orleans is tiny. Kobe was on TV and got far more publicity than Chris Paul. This had to have influences the decision. Think of the Heisman. This is why lesser known players that put up WAY better numbers don't get this award often.
2. It's a makeup for previous mistakes. Kobe should have won 2 of the last 3 MVP's. No way in HELL Dirk deserved it last year. NONE. And Steve Nash didn't deserve the 2nd MVP he earned 2 yrs ago.
Face it, America loves to forgive and forget, and also to see people succeed against all odds. Kobe went into this season as the biggest jerk in CA and became one of the best teamates in the NBA.
I have no problem with Kobe getting the MVP. He clearly deserves one sometime. He is the best player in the NBA. But that does not mean the most valuable.
from 6 days ago
Go N.O.!!!!
Hornets all the way and Paul MVP of the FINALS
Woop!
from 6 days ago
Good stuff, Zander. Looks like you really got the masses all up in a tizzy - Nice Job!
I'm a Kobe fan, but agree that CP got the shaft. I for one hope this is the beginning of a great rivalry between the two, exactly what the NBA needs: a good ole Bird/Magic kind of rivalry.
from 6 days ago
The NBA definitely needs a Bird/Magic caliber rivalry (though I'm not sure any rivalry could quite match that one!) I'm guessing that a guy named Lebron James is going to end up being one of the participants though...
from 5 days ago
You're probably right. He's young, talented, popular. All he needs is a counterpart somewhere in the NBA to match up against. But who?
from 6 days ago
Chris Paul got the shaft...Kobe through his teammates under this past off-season, produces a typical status quo Kobe season, and it took him and another bona-fide all-star (Gasol) and a hall fame coach with 6 rings to oust N.O. out of the top spot in the final weeks of the season. Paul had less to work with, played in the same conference as Kobe, and represent everything the NBA is looking for in their young all-stars. The sports writers were just impressed with L.A. and celebrity of Kobe Bryant...
Great Article!!!!!!!!!!!
from 6 days ago
Ok Zander,
I'll agree with you on that's 'truly your opinion' and the part about 'you may be a fool' for saying it, but that's it, that's where I draw the line! lol
"You'll have to pry this trophy from my cold dead hands before I give it up"
- Kobe Bryant
from 6 days ago
Hahaha...what if as a compromise, Kobe offered Chris Paul the trophy if the Hornets take down the Lakers in the conference finals?
from 6 days ago
Listen here you stupid Hornets fan. Do you mean to tell me that if YOU were the world's BEST player and you won the MVP that you would go give it to some overrated cry baby point guard? You are STUPID! I'm sorry, because I hate it when people give unnecessary criticism, but this article makes me MAD!!!
from 6 days ago
i don't think a hornets fan wrote this article.
chris paul hasn't been a crybaby about anything.
from 6 days ago
Sorry to make you mad Buddy. You'll be happy to know that I'm not a Hornets fan, but rather a Warriors who is angry that my team isn't in the post-season!
That said: at least the Warriors controlled their own destiny and blew it when it counted. This Chris Paul thing is a lot more unjust because there's nothing he could have done to make a better case for being designated league MVP.
I can accept that I'm not the smartest man alive, but no need don't call Chris Paul a cry baby Brandon. I'm the one who's making a big stink about him not winning the MVP...he's out there giving 110% and mopping the floor against one of basketball's great dynasties!
from 6 days ago
Zander,
Writing this was a bold move on your part since there have been 39049 MVP-related pieces on this site. But once I heard Kobe won the MVP I thought to myself, "I hope someone on Bleacher Report enlightens us and burns the Kobe-for-MVP media bandwagon to the ground."
Seriously, the thought process behind this year's award was, "We overlooked this guy in the past, so let's pay him back for our mistakes since Steve Nash is all but a cripple." This MVP award is the "Martin Scorsese for The Departed" award. It feels like a career achievement award. Kobe was snubbed in previous years and somehow giving him the MVP this year puts the universe back into a state of nirvana.
Only one problem: Does this mean 5 years from now - if Chris Paul has a solid season - we will felt compelled to make a case for him since he didn't win it this year? Then, as a result, someone else will get the shaft. Do you see the ridiculous chain reaction of meaningless MVP awards we've started?
And we wonder why the NBA's popularity fluctuates year to year. Sheesh!
from 6 days ago
You really hit the nail on the head here John.
The Scorsese Oscar is the perfect analogy. One of the greatest directors in the history of film ends up finally getting his long overdue Oscar, for...a great movie, but surely not a masterpiece.
Does anyone actually think the Departed stacks up to the likes of Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, or Goodfellas? Giving him that award did not justify the previous snubs...if anything, it just further de-legitimizes the Academy.
My opinion: get it right the first time, and live with it when you mess up. Most importantly, do your best to GET IT RIGHT THE NEXT TIME, as that's the only way to avoid the problem in the first place.
Guys will get snubbed from time to time—but if you use THAT SEASON AND ONLY THAT SEASON to make your decision you're a lot more likely to have a credible award in the long run.
from 6 days ago
Really, this Chris Paul-Kobe Bryant MVP debate has gone too far. Kobe Bryant is the best palyer in the NBA consistently, period. He had a super season, won the West with a bunch of has-beens or not-yets, and deserved this award. Was Chris Paul amazing? Yes, he was. I find it funny that nobody seemed to care about Chris Paul when he was rippin up the ACC with Wake Forest, now he should have edged Kobe in his first big season in the NBA? Nah, I don't think so. People are so unfair to Kobe that it makes me sick. He more than deserved the award, and it has nothing to do with not winning it before. He elevated his team to a very high level without Shaq, and exercised those demons. Could Chris Paul have won it? Of course he could've, the guy is super, period. But to say that Kobe should give up the award because Chris Paul is that much deserving? No sir, no. But you did a great job of writing this article, I must admit.
from 6 days ago
You don't really believe what you are saying. Paul's PG season was the best in NBA history?! Come on, be serious! I will just say one name....one that is not Magic's: Oscar Robertson.
This are his stats for one of his better years (he had at least 5 years with similar stats):
12.5 Rpg
11.4 Apg
30.8 Ppg (that's right, 30.8 Points per Game)
Plase do some more research before you disrespect basketball gods. Please delete or edit your statement before Mr. Robertson gets to see it.
And please don't say that Paul being short gives him more credit, I am sure Paul woulnd't like that. His size is part of who he is and if he was too short to play he wouldnt be in the NBA.
from 6 days ago
Very good point Miguel. Honestly, I meant no disrespect at all to the Big O...
I should have been more specific about this, but the argument I was making about Paul was how high his assist to turnover ratio was, and how that fact desperately needs to be recognized.
It's difficult to compare Paul's season to that of Oscar Robertson's because turnovers were not recorded back in those days. What if the Big O put up a triple double every game with nine turnovers? I'd probably take Paul's 21.1/11.6/4 with 2.5 turnovers...
In all likelihood, Oscar Robertson's season was without question more impressive (pretty hard to top those numbers!). I regret failing to mention that I was only comparing Paul to point guards who's assist to turnover ratio could be computed...
I went back and changed the sentence to read as follows: "Here's the bottom line, Kobe: Chris Paul just completed one of the greatest seasons for a point guard in the history of the game."
from 6 days ago
Zander,
Can not argue the stats cuz they are pretty clear, but since when has the right player won the award? I agree with Kobe winning it. It seems to always go to the best player on the best team. The Hornets fluttered down the stretch and the Lakers did not. Therefore Kiobe wins the MVP. Dirk won it when the Mavs finished first and Steve Nash won back to back awards, which was a little questionable, when the Suns were the elite in the West. That is how the award is and will always be. And just one more little thing to think about Kobe won with a supporting cast that was below average where Paul had a much better cast around him and no expectations.
from 6 days ago
So you admit that the wrong player sometimes wins the award? And that's okay?
Come on C.J...if we had that attitude about everything, we'd still be living in caves!
"I pick the berries and beat my wife with a club—what's so bad about that? It's always been that way."
Zan
from 6 days ago
I never said that I agree with the wrong player getting the award. Kobe earned it. In head to head match ups Kobe out performed Paul and his team won, especially when it mattered. New Orleans went into LA with the number one seed on the line and Kobe and the Lakers won the game and ultimately the west.
from 6 days ago
I think Jeff summed it up best when he wrote:
"I like CP3 as the MVP this year, but have no beef with it going to Kobe "
I think most people feel this way (myself included), so you're not going to see much outrage over this (even if it is warranted).
This comment was a little over the top Zan.
"and if he can't be league MVP, you can bet he's already shifted his focus to the Larry O'Brien Trophy."
I would hope his initial focus would be the Larry O'Brien, but I guess it falls into the "I was very fired up when I wrote this and I figured strong language would strike some interesting debate, which it has"
Good stuff though.
from 6 days ago
As I've said before if Paul wins MVP, Deron Williams wins MVP.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/16620-If-Chris-Paul-Deserves-an-MVP-Award-so-Does-Deron-Williams-070408
from 6 days ago
He had a great year too Sean—but fewer assists, fewer points, and more turnovers make him a weaker candidate...
from 6 days ago
If Kobe was so deserving he should have got it last year or the year before. How about when Shaq was there, he didn't because he didn't deserve it. It's obvious that Shaq was the reason they got to the finals and won those championships. Then Shaq leaves and what, goes and win another championship without Kobe. I don't see why are they rewarding or even acknowledging guys who want to run when the tough gets going and be jerks at the same time (Kobe Bryant, Jason Kidd, Sam Cassell). Kobe is only scoring that many points because he acts as if he has no supporting cast (Odom, Fisher, Bynum) when the truth is he's really a ball hog has been for years and want all the attention, why you think Shaq left. He couldv'e did it if he were the kind of player people says he is. Lebron didn't win a championship (yet) but he got to the finals last year practically by himself and Kobe had a better supporting cast. I sure hope he showed up at the ceremony wearing a mask and gloves because Chris Paul was definitely robbed.
from 6 days ago
I wrote my article about why Paul should win MVP back at the end of March. I couldn't find anybody that agreed with me. Where were you when I needed you guys most? Lol, now that Kobe has won the award, it seems like everyone thought Paul should have gotten it. That's what it seems like any way, ha. Paul is the MVP, hands down. THis was a lifetime achievement award for Kobe.
from 6 days ago
It was called CP3-MVP by the way, if anyone wants to read it. ha
from 6 days ago
You're an idiot. You might as well say that Deron Williams should win MVP because he "handled the ball" more than Kobe while averaging nearly 20 points and 10 assists.
Plus you say Paul has better defense? Sure he gets steals, cause he find the advantage against big men who are unaware of him. But shooting guards (or small forwards...they're pretty much the same thing) are the most well rounded players in the game of basketball. I'm pretty sure guarding the likes of Vince Carter, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Dwayne Wade, LeBron James, Josh Howard, Michael Redd, Rip Hamilton and Tracy McGrady is a lot harder then guarding the point guard of a team. Who presents a challenege for Paul? Steve Nash, Deron Williams, Allen Iverson, and Chauncey Billups are excellent players, don't get me wrong, but Kobe has to go up against a lot tougher players than these guys.
Plus you can't say Kobe doesn't handle the ball as much. How do you think he everaged almost 29 points a game?
Kobe has all around game. He can hit the mid range, hit the three ball, make his free throws, get in the lane, pass the ball, and rebound the ball. He can score from anywhere on the court, very unlike Paul, who scores most of his points by getting in the lane. Sure he can hit the three, but how often does he take them?
This is why Paul didn't win MVP. Stop crying about it. Talk about taking it like a man, you can't even take it like a man.
from 6 days ago
"Plus you say Paul has better defense"
Did I? I believe I said this: "Your defense was more impressive, but not enough so to compensate for the vast performance discrepancy on the other end of the floor."
Since this article was addressed to Kobe, it's clear (at least in my mind) that I never implied Paul was a better defender. I did however say he's a better defender than Magic or Steve Nash, which he is.
"Stop crying about it. Talk about taking it like a man, you can't even take it like a man."
When I was talking about "being a man," I meant fessing up to the truth and doing the right thing. If your definition of being a man constitutes sitting idly by while injustice prevails then heck....guess I'm the girliest thing since Sex in the City!
from 6 days ago
You are a complete buffoon. A moron. You write a friggin article and then admit to the first person that shreds your silly thoughts that "I admit that I exaggerated the situation somewhat—I was very fired up when I wrote this and I figured strong language would strike some interesting debate, which it has"?????????? I ask everyone who responds to your dumb blog is your goal to write an opinion with integrity or write some silly little girlie piece intended to stir up debate?? Do you get paid if people respond?? Are you like the lowlife morons who frequent boards and make racist comments just to get a bunch of comments and stir up debate??????? LOOK YOU IDIOT KOBE WON THE MVP. IT WAS NOT EVEN CLOSE. GOT IT???? NOT EVEN CLOSE. Paul is a great player but to insinuate that he took a bunch of nobodies to the second best record is a slap in the face to Peja, Chandler, and most importantly to West. IF PAUL IS THE SOLE REASON MORON WHAT HAPPENED LAST YEAR WHEN ALL THOSE AFOREMENTIONED PPLAYERS WERE INJURED?? PAUL LED THE HORNETS TO A LESS THAN .500 RECORD SHERLOCK. He had help you nitwit so stop drinking his jock juiice and saying he singlehandedly turned this team around. If that was the case they would have won the conference last year instead of going fishing after the reg season. Get your biased facts straight son.
from 6 days ago
"Paul singlehandedly turned a sub .500 New Orleans team into a legitimate contender that finds itself leading the four-time World Champion Spurs 2-0 in the second round of the playoffs."
UMMMMMMMMMMMMM no. If they had made the playoffs last year then this statement would have been accurate. But the truth is they didn't make the playoffs last year when Paul was playing "singlehandedly did they?????? They SUCKED. Yet when West (an all-star by the way) plays the entire year, along with Peja (a former all star) and Tyson Chandler (an emerging all star) now Paul single handedly turned a sub .500 team around??? You are a friggin joke man.
from 6 days ago
Mike, how longs Paul been in the league? Theres a learning curve in the Nba and point guard may be the toughest to adjust to. Who cares about last year?
Also, about the Magic comparison...Magic was a career 20 11 and 7 guy. From a pure point aspect... u MIGHT have an arguement. Magic's arguably the best pure point ever...I think what Paul did this year was phenomenal but the team is set up for him to just go. Everyone knows there role..I bet Rondo could average 16 and 10 as the starting point on that team. Certainly wouldnt finish as well but hopefully u get the idea. I think the biggest atrocity was that Lebron got 1 single first place vote.
from 6 days ago
when you replied to josiah you just said you were wrong in many points and weren't able to back it up...
no offense but ur article lost credibility when you can't stik w/ your info and opinions...
and thanks for exagerrating everything to make Kobe less deserving than CP...that makes people want to believe that, cuz thats what reading articles is all about?
pathetic if u tihnka bout it, you know what u were doing when u wrote this article and how it impacts readers whom may not have as much basketball knowledge as others...
think before you write.
from 6 days ago
I think I've stood my ground pretty well in this debate—but I'm not so full of myself that I can't admit when other people make good points. I can point you to writers who refuse to ever acknowledge that someone else COULD be right about something...that's just not me.
I'm an honest guy C—not trying to say I'm the ultimate authority on the NBA, just trying to express my opinion.
As for this comment: "you know what u were doing when u wrote this article and how it impacts readers whom may not have as much basketball knowledge as others"
You're absolutely right: I'm TRAUMATIZING impressionable fans by arguing that Chris Paul should have won the MVP. Their opinions of basketball are now going to be permanently scarred by this blasphemy.
Seriously, lighten up!
from 6 days ago
Brandon maybe you don't care about "last year" and so be it no worries. However, when this idiot says Paul "singlehandedly" turned around a sub .500 team --well now that's just BS isn't it. The rerason for bringing up last year was that Paul could not do DIDDLEY when he didn't have the three others healthy. PERIOD. They were a sub.500 team with Paul on it last year so maybe we should be saying that it was Peja being healthy all year that turned them around or the emergence of West as an all star. As far as a learning curve, again fine. That has nothing to do with my point. Although now that you mention it, Magic Johnson did win 2 NBA championships AND two finals MVP's in his first 3 years so I guess he learned real fast huh????
from 6 days ago
Did it ever occur to you that Chris Paul got better with age? As in: perhaps he was just a much better player this year than last?
No one's trying to deny credit to his supporting cast—but HIS IMPROVEMENT AS A PLAYER was the driving force in the Hornets turnaround this season.
from 6 days ago
LeBron James was the best individual player for this season (statistically). Kevin Garnett was the best player on the best team. If you want to get extreme and shorten your criteria, it has to be one of those two.
from 5 days ago
Why do people always insist on discrediting Kobe every time he does something good? The MVP award that was given to him was well-deserved and by no means was it a "lifetime achievement" award. Look kid, Kobe has been consistently amazing for the past decade and has always rose to the challenge. People who think Shaq was the only reason for the Lakers' 3-peat are just plain stupid. Just take a second and see things from a neutral perspective and just freaking appreciate what Kobe is doing for the league. I love basketball and I love seeing the best players in the world duke it out on the floor. I'm a huge Kobe fan and I still love and appreciate what LeBron, CP3, DWill, KG, Dwight Howard do on the floor. Honestly, Kobe is disrespected way too much.
And you know what, you exaggerate everything CP3 has done and belittle all the amazing thing Kobe has done. Oh sure, Kobe has Pau now but what about before? Who did Kobe have? If you're about to say Lamar, Jordan Farmar, Vujacic, just shut it. Those guys (especially Lamar) did not emerge until this year and that's because Kobe made them a lot better and also because Kobe trusted them (of course, this was an issue but is no longer applicable). Look at CP3. He's got an All-Star in West, amazing shooter in Peja, and an emerging force in Chandler. I know a lot of this is thanks to CP3 but if you're gonna say that, why not apply that to Kobe? It's obvious that there is a double standard here. Oh yeah and just in case you forgot, Kobe is playing with an injury on his freaking shooting hand. And he still dominates on the court. Look people, I understand all the love for CP3. The kid is just amazing and will be right up there with LeBron when Kobe passes on the torch. But for once, just once, can we appreciate Kobe. There are like so many other points I can touch on but that would take too long. The bottom line is you can hate him but you better damn respect him.
This with the fact that you attribute every mistake you made to "I was very fired up when I wrote this and I figured strong language would strike some interesting debate, which it has," just makes your article silly. Please don't just write on your bias and look at things from a neutral perspective. The only reason why Kobe's season isn't considered amazing is because Kobe has been so consistent that that is what we've come to expect of him. This will be true for CP3 in the future as well. CP3 did indeed have an amazing season and perhaps one of the greatest seasons for a PG, but what Kobe did and how he matured was truly transcendent and a big part of the Lakers' turnaround.
Oh and by the way, the media's been hating on Kobe for a long time while CP3 is never ever criticized and now shares a spot next to LeBron as the "poster boy" of the NBA. And believe me, Kobe would never trade any of his rings for an MVP. Sure, it's a great honor, but Kobe is all about winning the rings.
from 5 days ago
Most people that argue with you are just miffed at your choice of wording. Others, like myself, are just sick of the hopeful hack writers that would do anything to stir up a shitstorm to get page counts.
The fact that you put CP3's season (albiet a great one) on an almost equal footing with Oscar's legendary triple-dub because "...they didn't record turnovers then" is downright assinine, and borderline George W. stupid. You honestly think Oscar would be held to such high esteem by his peers as well as future greats if he averaged 9 turnovers a game? Give me a break.
Your worst call was comparing CP3 to Magic. Magic did his wizardry for many years, won multiple MVPs, Finals MVPs, and championionship rings. Not only has Paul won diddly squat, the improvement of his team can genuinely and easily be attributed to West and Peja having (finally) healthy seasons.
Making it worse with your first reply acknowledging you were trying to stir up a pointless, after-the-fact debate.
If all you wanted to do was generate a high comment count and feel that warm fuzzy feeling that people are finally reading your blog, good job. You would do great working for one of those Loch Ness, Big Foot, or "the world is ending" trash publications European housewives read.
If you genuinely wanted to demonstrate any knowledge of the game to secure real readers, specifically why CP3 deserved the award over Kobe, you should have mentioned details other than referring to face-value stats (such as Peja shooting career highs due to Paul's great vision).
All the same, I congratulate you on writing something fun to read. Next time, please stick with the gossip mag topics. To be honest, you don't know shit about basketball.
from 5 days ago
"Your worst call was comparing CP3 to Magic. Magic did his wizardry for many years, won multiple MVPs, Finals MVPs, and championionship rings. Not only has Paul won diddly squat, the improvement of his team can genuinely and easily be attributed to West and Peja having (finally) healthy seasons."
1) I said that Paul's season was better than any Magic had—that's a far cry from saying that "Chris Paul is better than Magic Johnson." I recently ranked Magic Johnson #3 on my all time list of players, so please don't act like I don't recognize his greatness. Chris Paul had his first fantastic year of his NBA career...Magic Johnson had many seasons of that caliber.
2) Magic played alongside Kareem and Worthy...the same cannot be said for Paul. I'M STILL NOT COMPARING PAUL TO MAGIC, but I am pointing out that Magic had the better supporting cast of the two without question.
How come you deny Paul credit because of two solid players surrounding him but you don't deny Magic the same credit even though he played alongside two other Hall of Famers?
from 5 days ago
Well said Jonathan. The sad thing is that this is the type of brain dead Idiot who ends up sending his resume to ESPN and gets hired as a friggin "sportswriter" based on blog hits or some other kind of bulls@!#@, and then actually gets a media ballot to vote for the MVP.
"No one's trying to deny credit to his supporting cast—but HIS IMPROVEMENT AS A PLAYER was the driving force in the Hornets turnaround this season." SAYS WHO???????? This could be true. PERHAPS. OR it can also be true that the hornts improved because they were healthy. If you know ANYTHING about the hornets team (which you don't) then you would know that when their players WERE HEALTHY last year they won. Period. But every time they had a healthy stretch, another player would get reinjured. Also why is it that Paul's improvement as a player is a driving force (and you credit this as the improving force OF THE TEAM, but then knowone credits Kbe for "improving his game?????? Why is it that knowone credits kobe for getting PAU out of the first round of the playoffs--something he was not able to accomplish before?????? Last time I checked Pau was 0-12 in the playoffs with Mike Miller (one of the best ourside shooters), Posey, Drew Gooden AND Shane Battier???????????? Ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh but the lakers got the best seed because they got Pau!!! LET ME TELL YOU IDIOTS SOMETHIN. KOBE PLAYED THE EXACT SAME WAY LAST YEAR EXCEPT THE DUNKS THAT PAU GETS NOW WERE FUMBLED AWAY BY KWAME. The confidence Odom has now was lacking last year because he was called upon to be clutch and Lamar has ALWAYS played better when he did not have to be clutch. You know what..........I don't even know why I'm wasting time with a numbnut like you becuase after backpeddling 10 times and waffling on your own story you are truly WEAK. PONDSCUM. You are not even a challenge to debate with. Let me go back to abusing Chad Ford and John Hollinger on the ESPN board. I'm trying to get them fired.
from 5 days ago
I just have this one point to make. I'm not against the CP3 argument, I think he had a phenomanal season. So did Kobe. However, I think it's really funny that everyone forgot- Kobe's statline was pretty consistant all season. During the last third of it, what happened? the pinkie incident. On a shooting hand. that needed surgery.
He's played so well with an injury that would have sidelined almost anyone else. Get surgery on it, be done with it, come back next season.
Kobe did not. He sucked it up, found a way of playing with it, and it's come to the point where he's STILL playing so well that people forget about the injury.
Speaking of injuries....take a look at the injury reports for the season- Odom's had his fair share, Bynum's been out for half, Pau was out for what, a dozen games? Ariza's still out, Luke had a foot problem, Fisher's been banged up, Vlad missed 20 games, Sasha missed tenm, and they STILL won the west.
Cp3's been amazing, but his starters have only missed 18 games amoung all five.
Just lettin' ya know there are things other then stats.
from 5 days ago
WOO Look at all the numbers thank you for restating everything that is already known. Because of course the numbers are the real reason. What an idiot, its unbelievable how look at stats and say a person is better then the other. Zander the reason why your article achieves nothing is because of how you averages account for everything. If you cant make any statement that has something qualitative don't bother at all because you just make yourself look like a one-dimensional writer.
from 5 days ago
The funniest thing about this blog is when someone brought up that lil rugrat from the eighties Michael Adams of Denver who Averaged 25pts and 11 assists one year. According to the logic of some of these shmuks he should go down as the second best point guard in the history of the NBA. Second only to Chris Paul and his 21pts and 11 dimes. LOL!!!!! WOOOOOOHOOOO. {sarcasm}
KOBE!!!!!!!!!!! M-V-P... M-V-P.. M-V-P... M-V-P...MVP...MVP...MVP!!!!!!
from 5 days ago
ZANDER: "How come you deny Paul credit because of two solid players surrounding him but you don't deny Magic the same credit even though he played alongside two other Hall of Famers? "
UMMMMMMMMM HOW COME YOU BELITTLE KOBE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR TURNING THE LAKERS TEAM AROUND WITH HIS SUPPORTING CAST WHILE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE PAUL DID EVRYTHING WITHOUT ANY HELP WHATSOEVER???
from 5 days ago
ZANDER: "How come you deny Paul credit because of two solid players surrounding him but you don't deny Magic the same credit even though he played alongside two other Hall of Famers? "
UMMMMMMMMM HOW COME YOU BELITTLE KOBE'S ACCOMPLISHMENTS FOR TURNING THE LAKERS TEAM AROUND WITH HIS SUPPORTING CAST WHILE MAKING IT SEEM LIKE PAUL DID EVRYTHING WITHOUT ANY HELP WHATSOEVER???
from 5 days ago
Also note:
David West's season stats--20.6ppg; 8.9rpg 1.3blocks (an all star)
compared to Pau Gasol 18.9ppg, 8.4rpg, 1.5blockspg (not an all star this year)
and you say Paul "single handedly" turned them around from being a sub .500 team to almost on the verge of beating the Spurs while Kobe had help???
Get real.
from 4 days ago
Okay, I dislike Mr. Adultery aka Kobe Bryant with a passion, so I am surely quite biased in siding with Zander.
I have also watched CP3 run circles around my Spurs for the first part of their series (including in the Spurs' Game 3 victory) and do so with dignity, class, respect, and character.
Clearly, this MVP award was a result of a popularity contest and merchandising trends. Those #8, oh wait, #24 jerseys sell like hotcakes across the country, but nobody is running out to don their #3.
And I'm sure the NBA would love to recognize Kobe as the Lakers MVP and not recognize the contributions of a Spaniard to the Lakers' success
from 4 days ago
Dear Dan--you seem to be a bigger idiot than Zander. Are you his best buddy in real life tryin to give the kid some support for one of the worst pieces of written trash in memory??? I suggest you scroll up and read the retort written by a dude named Xris. His write up runs circles around you and your gal-pal Zander. Real numbers, real stats. Not some "I was especially fired up when I wrote this article so I exaggerated bullsh*@# Go on....scroll up. Read. Are you back now??? So you dislike Kobe because he is an adulterer?????????? Fair nuff. But that is all you can say. You dislike him as a person. As far as basketball..........Shut the F@#$$ up because you have the intellect of an amoeba (which is a sinle cell animal by the way-essentially I am saying your intellect is comprised of one cell).
You have NOTHING to stand on for your arguments so typically as idiots often do, they say the only thing they can-----ohhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh he is an adulterer. Ohhhhhhhhhhhh he is a rapist. You a fan of Roger Clemens??? Did you know that sleeping with a 15yr old is statutory rape??????? Do we know if he really slept with her (not yet). Will we ever know (maybe, maybe not)???? Does that take away from the fact that Clemens was the Cy young on 5 different years??? NO. Get over it. KOBE IS THE MVP.
from 4 days ago
I'm not going to respond to the personal attacks on myself nor Zander.
I will, however, continue to defend my choice to support players of good character in sports, especially in the NBA where character is a big issue.
No, I do not like Roger Clemens. Never have, never will. He has made stupid decisions in both his personal and professional lives and I have little respect for any of his "accomplishments." I'm sure not every team/player I root for is of good character, but I would have lost interest in the NBA completely had it not been for the Spurs, who I have liked since I was a kid, showing me that the league isn't completely made up of gangstas, thugs, playas, etc.
In terms of the use of statistics, one may use what one chooses to support an argument, but the award is called "Most Valuable Player," not "Top Scorer" or "Best Stat Line." The New Orleans Hornets happen to be an excellent defensive team, so Chris Paul may not be given the same amount of opportunities or is not required to generate as much offense as another player, but what he does on BOTH end of the floor and the leadership he has provided makes him a total package. He has taken a nothing team and made them a top contender in a rather small amount of time.
It's funny how the Kobe fans seem to forget the trade demands and drama at the beginning of the season. Kobe seems to certainly be "most valuable" in terms of media attention.
from 4 days ago
I thought this was a great article.
I couldnt agree more that Chris Paul should have won the MVP because Chris Paul was more valuable to his team than Kobe. I never realized how much better of a season CP3 had than Nash when he won his MVP's. I think Kobe won MVP not because of the season he had but for his career in general and the writers voted for him because they beleive this will be the closest to an MVP season he will have before he retires.
from 3 days ago
Instead of reiterating what I've written from April 12th on my blog, here it is.
-----
Compared to the previous 3-4 years of MVP votes, this season's trophy voting has come right down to the wire, thanks to 4 candidates that all have had great seasons. Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, LeBron James, and Kobe Bryant have battled for much of the second half of the season for (from what it amounts to) the league's "best" player this season. The greatest excitement stems from the fact that each of the candidates have things both on and off the court that goes for and against their candidacies.
But in the last two to three weeks or so, the award has become a two-horse race, between Kobe and Chris Paul. I am admittedly biased, but I would have thought that the award, if down to a two man race, would be between Kobe and KG. I would argue that KG is definitely not getting enough credit for the turnaround in Boston. Nash won his with Marion and Stoudemire, Dirk with Howard and Terry...why should KG be punished in the vote? Both KG and KB have undergone much more adversity this season (KG on a completely new and unfamiliar team, Kobe with a tumultuous off-season and injuries) on their quest to win, whereas CP3 has not. CP3 also has had a considerably better supporting cast (this season) than either Kobe or LeBron, but he is not likewise being punished (in regards to MVP votes) for his situation.
I am also miffed at the ridiculous argument that CP3 deserves the MVP if the Hornets come up on top of the West, when logically the "conference champion" would only be seperated by one game or less from San Antonio and Los Angeles. At the same time, I would also be extremely upset if Kobe wins it because the Lakers end the season a game ahead of the Hornets. For what it's worth, both team's records are great, so a game or two should not sway the vote between either player.
Due to both playing on different teams, in different coaching systems, as well as playing different positions, it's rather difficult to do straight-up comparisons of both players. With the MVP almost locked up on being given to one of the two and being down to the performance of their teams, an analysis of both player's teams is needed to figure the situation, statistical as well as observational.
Kobe Bryant Chris Paul
28.5 PPG 21.2 PPG
5.4 APG 11.5 APG
6.3 RPG 4.0 RPG
1.9 SPG 2.7 SPG
0.5 BPG 0.04 BPG
It's prudent to note that Kobe should not be viewed negatively by his lower assist totals (due to his position at SG and the Lakers' triangle offense). Likewise, CP3 should not be voted against for having less points than Kobe, due to the nature of his position and his team's system (where he is the primary facilitator in the Hornets' offense).
Both players are having MVP-caliber seasons statistically. Naturally, Bryant has the better scoring (naturally), rebounding, and block numbers (due to size). Likewise, Paul is racking up the assists (due to his team's offensive system and his great playmaking ability) and steals (due to Paul playing IMHO very underrated man-defense...alot of those steals are on-ball steals). Individual statistics can be argued as a wash, a category in which LeBron can be definitely argued to have a slight advantage over both.
However, it is the difference in the quality (and especially, "quantity") of their teammates that puts Kobe over CP3. With the other MVP candidates, one cannot argue the point of "doing more with less", as the Cavaliers (face it) plain suck, and KG definitely has more help than any of the four. But with these two, it is a very valid argument, especially in relation to their respective positions in the Western Conference.
This is a significant point for me, as many CP3 fans have been pulling the same old Kobe-hater tactics, claiming that CP3 does "more with less", implying that his team is full of scrubs, while Kobe is supposedly playing with a superstar squad, which is flat-out absurd. Kobe has definitely, glaringly, done "more with less" this season than Chris Paul, while having the Lakers 0.5 games back from the Hornets. And it is precisely because of this issue why Kobe deserves the MVP over CP3.
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Let's take a look at the clinchers here.
Lakers Top 3 Performers sans Kobe Bryant A
Pau Gasol - 18.6 PPG, 3.6 APG, 7.8 RPG, 0.5 SPG, 1.5 BPG, 25 / 80 GP. All-Star: 1
Lamar Odom - 14.2 PPG, 3.6 APG, 10.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 75 / 80 GP. All-Star: 0
Andrew Bynum - 13.1 PPG, 1.7 APG, 10.2 RPG, 0.3 SPG, 2.1 BPG, 35 / 80 GP. All-Star: 0
Hornets Top 3 Players sans Chris Paul
David West - 20.3 PPG, 2.3 APG, 8.9 RPG, 0.8 SPG, 1.3 BPG, 73 / 79 GP. All-Star: 1
Peja Stojakovic - 16.4 PPG, 1.2 APG, 4.3 RPG, 0.74 SPG, 0.1 BPG, 74 / 79 GP. All-Star: 3
Tyson Chandler - 11.7 PPG, 1.0 APG, 11.8 RPG, 0.56 SPG, 1.08 BPG, 76 / 79 GP. All-Star: 0
Lakers Top 3 Combined A: 45.9 PPG, 8.9 APG, 28.5 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 4.6 BPG, 135 / 240 GP. All-Star: 1
Hornets Top 3 Combined: 48.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, 25.0 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 2.5 BPG, 223 / 237 GP. All-Star: 4
At first glance, the numbers play out quite evenly, previous All-Star selections non-withstanding. The Lakers' top 3 players (sans Kobe) are +4.4 APG, +3.5 RPG, and +2.1 BPG. The Hornets' top 3 (sans CP3) are +2.5 PPG and 0.3 SPG. In terms of pure statistical production, one can argue that the Laker players are / have been better.
That is, if we had them.
The most telling stat is the number of games played. The Lakers supporting players have missed a combined 105 games this season, due both to injury and to Gasol's arrival in mid-season. The Hornets players have played 88 more games than the Lakers' top 3. The Lakers top players have missed more than an entire regular season's worth of games compared to the Hornets.
To put this into even greater perspective, consider the following.
A) The Lakers have played 20 games this season without either Bynum or Gasol, 25% of the regular season.
B) West missed games on 1/5, 3/5, 3/7, 3/8, 3/16, and 3/17. Stojakovic missed games on 12/9, 12/12, 12/15, 12/17, 12/19. Chandler missed games on 11/21, 2/6, and 2/9. None of them ever missed a game on the same day.
And finally
C) Neither Bynum, nor Gasol, have played at the same time this season.
This is a crucial point, as it skews the starting lineup's production drastically in the Hornets favor. Not only have neither been on the court at the same time, both have been playing the same position for the Lakers. This makes Derek Fisher the Laker's fourth best player. This is especially apparent after combining Gasol and Bynum's stats for the season.
Lakers Top 3 Performers sans Kobe Bryant B
Gasol & Bynum - 15.4 PPG, 2.5 APG, 9.2 RPG, 0.4 SPG, 1.8 BPG, 60 / 80 GP. All-Star: 1
Lamar Odom - 14.2 PPG, 3.6 APG, 10.5 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 1.0 BPG, 75 / 80 GP. All-Star: 0
Derek Fisher - 11.7 PPG, 2.9 APG, 2.1 RPG, 1.0 SPG, 0.04 BPG, 80 / 80 GP. All-Star: 0
Again...
Lakers Top 3 Combined A: 45.9 PPG, 8.9 APG, 28.5 RPG, 1.8 SPG, 4.60 BPG, 135 / 240.
Lakers Top 3 Combined B: 41.3 PPG, 9.0 APG, 21.8 RPG, 2.4 SPG, 2.84 BPG, 215 / 240.
Hornets Top 3 Combined: 48.4 PPG, 4.5 APG, 25.0 RPG, 2.1 SPG, 2.50 BPG, 223 / 237
Compared to what is potentially a potent lineup, the Lakers lost a massive 4.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, and 1.8 bpg, while gaining a measily 0.1 apg and 0.6 spg. Instead of being a wash, the Hornets top players become significantly better than the Laker players, outscoring them by 7.1 ppg (more than the Lakers' points differential of 6.9 ppg), and outrebounding them by 3.2 rpg. Even still, the Laker starters have still suffered more injuries than the Hornets starters have.
Not to mention Kobe's play with a broken finger on his shooting hand.
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Hopefully, Kobe's performance tonight wrapped up his first, well-deserved MVP award (even as a die-hard Laker fan, I couldn't bring myself to personally vote for him, primarily because our team sucked ass).
KB - 29 points on 53% shooting, 8 assists, 10 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 turunover, and the win. Made a lot of great passes that resulted in some missed shots by Farmar and Radmonavic, else he could have easily got the triple-dub. Played some fantastic defense.
CP3- 15 points on a pathetic 30%, but a whopping 17 assists, 6 rebounds, 4 steals, 3 turnovers.
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If you STILL think that CP3 deserves it over Kobe due to the ridiculous argument that he's done "more with less", I believe revisiting basic elementary school education should be in order.
from 4 days ago
Kobe clearly deserves it he has a better ppg and rebound average with a torn ligament!!!!!!!!!
from 3 days ago
Zander,
I've been reading your responses to what other readers have to say. I'm curious as to why you have no response to Xris or Chris. They both write two very good comments that support Kobe and they support their comments with objective facts and a little more thought process then what you put into your piece. I'm a NBA fan first and a Kobe fan second, so I appreciate the skill set of all the players out there. You can take nothing away from Kobe's season and accomplishments.
Chris said it best with this line "The only reason why Kobe's season isn't considered amazing is because Kobe has been so consistent that that is what we've come to expect of him." When did avg 28, 6 and 5 become common place? Those numbers are great across the board but since those numbers belong to Kobe it's just an avg season for him but if another player rises to that stat line they are hoisted up on shoulders.
How can you even consider this MVP as a "Life Time Achievment" award? Kobe is considerd by all as the best player in the game playing TODAY. The Lakers finish with the #1 seed in the west and are showing no signs of slowing down in the playoffs. The Hornets were in first place going into that game vs the Lakers at the end of the season and the lost. After that game they were still in first place going into the next game against the Kings and they lost. In fact the Hornets finishe 1-3 on the final four games of the season that were all must win games to hold onto the top spot in the west. The Lakers finish 4-0 to end the season to secure the #1 seed. Now I ask you, which star played MVP basketball when their team needed it the most. There is no need to pull up individual stats on those final games of the season, anyone that's a fan knows who played well and who didn't. The Hornets NEEDED that #1 seed so say they would have home court throughout and giving them their best chance to advance to the finals. Chris Paul couldn't be found when his team needed him to be the MVP. Kobe's star was shining the brightest as he led his team to the #1 seed in the closest playoff/MVP race in recent memory. Paul is a great talent and will go down as one of the all time greats at the PG position, but he wasn't the MVP this year.
Kobe was not only due his MVP but he was also deserving of it from this years performance alone.
from 3 days ago
This is not the same Mike that responded to DAN......although I do agree with alot the other Mike has to say.
from 3 days ago
Ok Zander I don't even have to read this article and point out that you are wrong and really if Kobe has to give his well-deserved MVP to CP3 then Nash and Dirk should hand their MVP's over to