LeBron May Win MVP, But Kobe, Lakers Favored To Win NBA Title

The NBA regular season is coming to an end this week, and the year-end awards from the league office are about to be presented. Although no one has won an award to this point, the overall consensus suggests that LeBron James is the overwhelming favorite to win the MVP award for the first time in his career.

James deserves the MVP award this season after leading his Cleveland Cavaliers to a 39-1 home record, and an overall record of 65-15 through Monday. The Cavaliers 65-15 record is the best record in the NBA this year.

You may recognize that the Cavaliers have lost only one home game this season. That lone blemish of an almost perfect home record was a defeat to the Lakers on Feb. 8.

The second-best team in the league, and leaders of the Western Conference race by 10.5 games over the second-place Denver Nuggets,  are the Los Angeles Lakers, led by MVP-candidate Kobe Bryant.

After last year's MVP trophy was presented to No. 24, Bryant's sole mission this year was to win another NBA title. That mission seemed sure for disaster when the Lakers' up-and-coming center, Andrew Bynum, injured his left knee in a game against Memphis early in the season.

When the Lakers could have faltered, however, Bryant led his team out of the ashes and to the No. 1  seed in the upcoming Western Conference Playoffs. The home court advantage which comes with the No. 1 seed could pay dividends for the Lakers in the long run.

Though it seems sure that Kobe Bryant will finish either second or third in the MVP voting to LeBron James and Dwayne Wade, he certainly deserves a lot of credit for his play while the injured Lakers star was absent.

Propelling the Lakers to an outstanding record, even in the wake of such a terrible injury to a key player, also earns Bryant some points in the eyes of the voters.

But Bryant did not begin the season searching for a second consecutive MVP award. He started training camp with the mentality of winning another championship under the realm of Phil Jackson and the Los Angeles Lakers.

He is also seeking a championship without being overshadowed by former teammate Shaquille O'Neal. Shaq has already won another world championship with the Miami Heat in 2006, alongside Wade.

This year seems to be the best chance of making Bryant's dream become a reality. The Western Conference seems to be at one of its lowest points, while the East has shown that it can beat any team on any given night. 

The Cavaliers will have to battle to remain afloat throughout the Eastern Conference Playoffs, however, while the Lakers can remain on cruise-control to the NBA Finals if they need to.

The Lakers have shown that they are a step above any other Western Conference opponent this year, proven by the wide gap between the Lakers and the second place team in the West, the Denver Nuggets.

If Kobe Bryant can play at his best, and his teammates play at the high level they have maintained throughout the regular season, than the Lakers should be the favored team come June.

The NBA Finals seem to be a real possibility for this Lakers team, and if they do succeed by making it to that point, they should be favored against any of the Eastern Conference teams, including the Cavs.

Now you must ask yourself, would you rather receive personal glory, as in winning the MVP, sharing the glory with your team, as in winning the championship in June, or both?

It seems as if LeBron has wrapped up the MVP award, but Bryant and Co. should share the glory come June as they lift the trophy high and raise another banner to the rafters.