And the Winner is…
As early and mid-season favorites like Dwight Howard, Kevin Garnett, Brandon Roy and LeBron James eventually fell off the MVP radar (for the most part), the ‘07-08 race became a two-man discussion: Kobe Bryant and Chris Paul.
Here are the numbers:
* Bryant — 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists, 1.8 steals per game. Second in the NBA in scoring, led the Lakers to the #1 seed in the West. Split the season series with Paul’s Hornets while averaging 28 ppg, 8 rpg, 6.3 apg, 1.5 spg.
* Paul — 21.1 points, 11.6 assists, 2.7 steals per game. Led the NBA in assists and steals. Led the Hornets to the #2 seed in the West. Split the season series with Bryant’s Lakers while averaging 23.3 ppg, 15 apg, 3 spg.
So who should win? Give us your MVP pick and tell us why…
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:32 pm
chunky cheese says:
Kobe “Bean” Bryant hands down..”What Da Problem Is”
Reason: Best Player in the League…Nuff said!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:36 pm
Ballerblogger says:
Bryant has had better statistical seasons but he’s never played this well within a team concept. The Pau Gasol trade was crucial in the Lakers success this season but Los Angeles was 25-11 before Andrew Bynum went down on January 13th. The Lakers acquired Pau on February 1st and went 12-3 over their next 15 and Kobe Bryant should receive credit for meshing his skills with Pau Gasol’s.
Yes, Andrew Bynum has loads of potential but none of that was realized until this season. Kobe Bryant made Andrew Bynum a better player.
Derek Fisher is a veteran but he’s never been an All-Star. Neither has Lamar Odom.
Kobe Bryant made all of those guys better. He instilled confidence in the Lakers bench.
His numbers weren’t as impressive as LeBron’s, and he didn’t average 35 like he did two seasons ago. Kobe sacrificed some of his individual talent for the better of his team.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:37 pm
MoxWestCoastRep says:
Well said chunk, well said.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:39 pm
cmos says:
Kobe…was HUGE in the final (critical) matchup between these two teams in the regular season..Which helped secure the west
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm
dank says:
if Kobe doesnt win the MVP this year, you can be assured there will be a massacre at the nba corporate offices, where i will access the list of voters, and then one by one go to their house like im the fucking terminator and shoot their body off piece by piece. the voting the past 3 years has been grade A, quality bullshit.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:47 pm
Prof. TX says:
It’s close, real close, but I think Paul should get it.
Previous years don’t count, which is alot of Bryant’s case for the award. It means 81 points doesn’t count, it means ‘overlooked in the past’ doesn’t count, but it also means ‘refusing to shoot to prove a point’ doesn’t count either. Kobe is the best player on a team of several other very good players. He probably deserves a ‘most skilled player’ if there was one.
Paul has turned a collection of traded parts into a winning team. Byron Scott probably gets some credit there too. The Hornets just don’t have the same names and star power, but are right there in the rankings anyway. Kobe ‘allows’ his teammates to make plays, Paul helps them make plays, and that seems to be an important difference. Kobe makes wins happen, Paul makes a unified team effort happen, which I think fits the leagues vague MVP description a little bit better.
Again, really close.
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:48 pm
Logan Light says:
Kobe.
1) He is well overdue (not that it should really go into consideration, but dude has been the best player for a minute and has no hardware).
2) This season Kobe has it all. He effectively passes the ball, and in so doing, encourages other players to pass. Why is Kobe “only” averaging 5 assists? Because the league doesn’t account for the pass that leads to the assist. Kobe moves the ball and then it gets moved for the extra pass and wide open look.
3) Regardless of how he did it, Kobe made Andrew Bynum. The offseason hype aside, Kobe showed Bynum how to work hard. How to get in the gym early and then stay late… and then he rewarded him come game time with alley oops and trusting the big man in the post.
4) Kobe made Lamar Odom. Say what you will, but LO is NOT a number 2 man. Kobe facilitated his teammates so that Odom would fit into the system and not stand out from it. LO became one of the guys.
5) Jordan Farmar is still on the Laker’s roster. We could have easily had another Smush Parker career on our hands. Instead, Kobe took Jordan under his wing and blesses him with crucial defensive knowledge and trust to hit the shot in games.
6) My opinion is more important than yours… ha…
LL
May 2nd, 2008 at 12:49 pm
GEE...BREAKOUT! Before ya get bumrushed... says:
I had LeBron for a long time, but as time kept going I changed. Just the overall capability of Kobe in work put in, numbers, line-up changes, him really putting his game at a point where he shares and can take over gives it to KB24 to me.
Chris is deserves it as well but since it can only be on and considering Bryant has been up for it before and denied then it’s his time.
If Chris keeps going at this rate he will no doubt get his.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:06 pm
godfreyallstar says:
cp3
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:08 pm
LD says:
KB 24… Black Mamba… his time is now…
aside from his stats…
everyone knows the story how, when the lakers opened training camp, and phil jackson asked each player to introduce himself and give some background info, when it came his turn, he said “i’m kobe bryant, i want to win a championship”…
he set the expectation from DAY 1…
and what happened, his team went out and grabbed the #1 seed in the west… despite injuries to their starting center (bynum), and best defender (outside of kb, ariza)…
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:14 pm
Andray3000 says:
Kobe
1st in the west with his team having so many injuries, Bynum, Ariza, Gasol etc.
Played 82 games, while dealing with his own.
Can a team with only 1 player in the all star game finish first?
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:16 pm
danielle says:
if the award is based on this season ALONE and not past seasons, then i’m giving it to chris paul. if past years are taken into consideration, then i’m still giving it to paul. he turned a lottery team into a near playoff team his first season & they’ve steadily improved. kobe has benn a horrible team player the last few years and just recently accepted that he does indeed need his teammates if he wants to win. both players had their teams vyying for the #1 spot down to the last week of the season. kobe might be the best player in the league, but if that’s what MVPs are based on, steve nash would never have won (i disagree with the two he won anyway)
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
daquest?on says:
i think chris paul should win it for the simple fact that if u take kobe and put him in the hornets they would have gone nowhere but if u put chris paul with phil jackson and the lakers with pau gasol they would with the same record or even better
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:19 pm
LD says:
plus, larry legend was on the dan patrick show the other day, and said kobe not winning the mvp makes him want to go home and throw his trophy’s away…
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:30 pm
Celts Fan says:
Dank, I don’t think the voting was that off the last few years. Dirk earned it last year (best player on the best team in a very weak MVP field. same season only with this year’s field and he’s 3rd or 4th at best) and Nash really earned it the year before (made everyone better. they were considered legitimate title contender WITHOUT Amare! That’s an MVP. Kobe was in full fledged ballhog mode, so he does not count and should not have won it) though Nash over Shaq for Nash’s first one was a complete joke.
Having said that, it’s Kobe this year. Kobe’s the best player in the world (and it’s not even close, remember, there’s a thing called defense too all you LeBron defenders, and foul shooting for TD, and no one else can be in the discussion yet, though CP3’s knocking on the door!) and he’s finally got a team around him that he trusts and doesn’t treat like clowns. IF NO had been #1 in the West though, I’d probably say Chris Paul and I wouldn’t be shocked if he took it, but my guess and my opinion is that it’s Kobe’s this year.
When is this officially announced anyway?
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:31 pm
TWolves Convert says:
CP3
He made his team better than Kobe made his team better. That is the responsibility of a good PG. Paul could score like Kobe, but he makes his team good enough that he doesn’t need to. Chandler was unrealized potential and West was nobody until Paul changed all that. How does Chandler get all those oops? How does West get all those open Js?
I agree with daquest?on. I don’t think Kobe to do what Paul did with the Hornets, but CP3 could win with the Lakers.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
Clutch says:
Kobe heres why
both had very good supporting casts, despite what NO’s record was last year, that was mainly due to injuries. For example they have Peja a former all-star and one of the best shooter to ever be in the league. Chandler offensive rebound leader I believe, and West another All-Star (admittedly this could be due ot Paul. And what the Hornets finished 10th last year, while the Lakers finished seventh, so both teams significantly jumped in the standings.
Some may Argue that Kobe received an All-star in Gasol but LA was in first place when Bynum was playing who probably would not have made the All-star team this year. Kobe’s team is also equally as young as Paul’s. Kobe has also had a statistically equal year to Paul, as well as playing more defense.
And most importantly Kobe’s team finished first while Paul’s finished second.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm
shake&bake says:
One of the reasons Kobe hasn’t won it in the past is because the Lakers haven’t finished on top of the West. This year they came out on top of one of the best playoff races I can remember, so what will the excuse be now?
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:47 pm
Smooth says:
kobe
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
tyson chandler or gasol?
West or odom?
hilton armstrong or bynum?
Peja or D fish?
Pargo or farmer/sasha?
Wright or walton?
Tell me who is doing more with less? Not to mention, everyones sayin kobe has been the best player over the last couple years? well its not a lifetime achievement award (if thats the case I think tmac deserves on because kobe had the same prob as him for a couple years post shaq) and if ur adding in other years, then you can also add in the fact hes been a bitch and ripped all his teammates up until training camp so OBVIOUSLY he didnt have THAT much faith in them. Chances are we wouldnt even be having this argument if they didn’t rape gasol away from the grizz for a jar of peanut butter and kwame. Also you say kobe turned odom into a allstar? didn’t paul turn west into one also and in less seasons? Kobe makes his teammates better by drawing attention from them by being kobe and triple teammed. Chris paul literally makes his teammates better. They went from a lottery team to second best team in the west and like .5 wins out of first place.
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:53 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
and clutch? um how can u make the argument about kobe playing more defense when CP3 led the league in steals? its not like kobe averaged 9 blocks a game or something
May 2nd, 2008 at 1:56 pm
fiyaman says:
i wud give it to Kobe only b/c he’s been there and hasnt gotten it yet but i think CP3 is the real MVP but wouldnt be mad if either got it
ONE THINK THE NO1 SEEMS TO MENTION IS TURNOVERS. I THINK THAT SHOULD BE TAKEN INTO CONSIDERATION. AND SINCE CP3 HAS THE BALL 99% OF THE TIME AND AVG LESS T/O THE KOBE THAT SHOULD GIVE HIM THE ADVANTAGE
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:05 pm
K Dizzle says:
Y’all know which way I’m goin so I’ll be quick….but not really
First - The worst argument ever is “If player a was on team b, then it wouldn’t be as good as player b on team a”. If Kobe was in New Orleans, that team is different cuz you still need a point guard and the team isn’t built around a 2-guard like it is for a point. CP would never play for Phil Jax cuz Jax don’t like little guards and the triangle offense doesn’t require a point guard like CP so please stop with the switch theory. It’s all best guess anyways. How does Paul make his team better than kobe when the Lakers WON the west?
Second - The Hornets are not a bad team, they had the same team last year, but injuries(more man-games lost than any other team) robbed them and if you recall, they almost still got the eighth seed which golden state got on the last day. this year, they were healthy and West and Chandler emerged and Peja found his previous all-star form while Peterson’s always been dependable. Some people need to give Dave West his dues. Chris Paul don’t hit those shots for him, Chris Paul don’t rebound and play play d for him, the man is actually a good baller and he deserved his all-star spot.Some people talk like Chris Paul does everything for him and he’s only in the league cuz CP put him there. Stop with that
Third) Kobe came in with a positive mental attitude. Everybody admits he’s the best player..in the world. Unfortunately, basketball is a team game so he had to put away the ego and buy in, just like Mike had to. He fixed the rift with Bynum, he took Vujacic, Walton, Farmar and Ronny under his wing as a true leader and gave Lamar space to blossom when AB, Mihm and Ariza went down rather than tryin to do the one-man show thing. He integrated Pau into the offense flawlessly cuz everybody knows if Pau came in and Kobe was worried about gettin his shine took, he coulda just gone on a string of 40-50 point games. You don’t have to be a point guard to be a leader. Doing all this with a torn ligament on his shooting finger that would have lesser hearts on the IR and injuries to two other starters and 2 role players while winning the tightest conference race in history defines the MVP.
Truth is, it came down to the last game between CP and KB and I would have no problem with the winner of the Western Conference gettin the MVP and fortunately for my Lakers, we put the whoomp on em.
So for the first time, but hopefully not the last,
KB24- MVP
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:10 pm
nick says:
bron42, steals don’t always mean you play good defense. i’m not saying cp3 is not a good defender, but you can’t base defense on steals or blocks because those stats don’t tell the whole story. look at bruce bowen does he have great steals or blocks, not at all but causes you to take tough shots. there is a reason why kobe is often on the all defensive team.
i’d give the mvp to kobe based on the adjustment he made this year to his game to be more team oriented then ever and also that the lakers have the best record in the west.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:14 pm
Yoooooooo says:
Kobe (for what should be his 3rd at LEAST)…
The format they currently use to determine the MVP is terrible. It shouldn’t be the best player on the best team, it should be the guy who is the best player, period. You can’t fault a guy for having terrible pieces around him. When Kobe took the Lakers to the playoffs 2 years in a row (and within a game of advancing one of those years) with Smush Parker and Kwame Brown he should have been named President. But instead they gave it to a guy who plays well within a system (steve nash). No one can do what Kobe can do in this league, period. However if u put Kobe on ANY team and take off their best player it wouldn’t be a drop off. If u need him to facilitate he’ll do it (olympic team) if you need him to defend he can do it (countless all NBA defensive teams) and I don’t have to mention scoring.
Nobody has matched Kobe’s offensive numbers AND defensive prowess in a single season, except Chris Paul this year. There is always a reference to offensive numbers and never to defensive effectiveness in looking for a MVP. Chris Paul’s validity as an MVp candidate is the first in a 3 year stretch in what SHOULD have been landslide victories for Kobe. But because of his history (its not like he has average numbers this season) and his willingness to adapt and still play at the highest level despite numerous roster changes Kobe is the MVP, finally.
O and not to mention the countless injuries his squad seems to deal with EVERY year
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
Celts Fan says:
Yooo, that idea does not work. you can’t just say give MVP to the best player in the league. you give it to the guy that had the biggest impact on the season. and by the way, THEY DON’T HAVE A FORMAT FOR GIVING OUT MVP. THERE ARE NO SET IN STONE GUIDELINES.
Kobe should NOT have an MVP before this year. Sorry fellas, but he hadn’t deserved it yet. He wasn’t even the best player on his own team until Shaq left, and when he did (up until about the 15 game mark of this year) Kobe was a complete d-bag to his teammates and a ballhog. That’s not an MVP, but his transformation from that to what he’s become and his team winning the #1 seed out West is why he should be MVP this year.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:24 pm
JA says:
Kobe did play hurt this year, and I think that is going to be what pushes him past CP3.
Kobe can also jump cars.
However if Chris Paul does win the MVP award, I guarantee Kobe tells the basketball world to go f*ck themselves by winning a ring and the finals MVP.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm
Kobeef says:
Kobe
1. Better record. If CP3 had taken the Hornets to the best record it could have gone the other way.
2. Watch the last game of the year and see how these guys/teams looked head to head. In that game, which meant a lot (like it or not) Kobe was the man & CP3 was a boy.
3. Kobe played part of the year with Kwame as the starting C, part without a starting centre, part with a new SF (Ariza) part with a new Centre (Gasol) and the rest with a 19 year old center who was almost shipped out of town last summer.
4. CP3 has had the same starting lineup all season which includes a one time All Star (West) as well as a two-time all star (Peja)
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:35 pm
GEE...BREAKOUT! Before ya get bumrushed... says:
See the thing is, please correct me if I am wrong, but there is no specific criteria or info they could give one as to what you actually have to have to win the award.
For instance they (NBA Heads) are not saying the highest scoring average at the end of the year is MVP. Perhaps the player in the top 5 of at least 10 catergories or something.
It’s supposed to go to a cross between the best player in the L / who has had the biggest impact team wise also. Remember this isn’t most improved.
So most will debate for ever cause it’s no clear cut way to say hey Kobe had this, that and the other so he is the best, or Chris has this so he is.
Granted both have played awesome. For the most part it’s on who has stuck out to you, cause the cases are to valid for both. It’s not like there are a lot of flaws to point out either way (outside of those who hated Kobe’s summer call-out of teammates).
Really this year it’s going to be pretty much who the voters feel, cause you can’t really say decided on no clear criteria for the award.
So therefore I “feel” the award goes to Kobe. Either that or CO-MVP it.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm
Logan Light says:
@Bron42 - If Kobe makes his teammates better by getting triple teamed, then CP3 makes his teammates better by dribbling around like crazy… the same thing happens. Defenses break down and the open man scores. Simple.
… and when Kobe gets tripled, he’s still a problem.
But I agree with JA… If Kobe doesn’t win, we might be in for one of the biggest treats in the form of playoff basketball ever.
LL
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:44 pm
Yoooooooo says:
There is a format, the past 3 years its been the player with the best record…
And you tellin me when Kobe made the playoffs the first year without Shaq he wasn’t more valuable to his team than anyone??? He had NOBODY. And still made it to the playoffs in a tough ass western conference. He was was the oldest player on the team at 26 and lead them. Granted it might not have been the way you would have liked for him to, but it was obviously effective to some degree. Call him a ballhog all you want but who else had a better chance of making a shot Kwame Brown? Smush Parker? Walton as a 2nd year player? Aaron Mckie??? Come on be real. He gives whatever team he plays for the best chance to put the ball in the basket. Half his teammates that year could barely catch! O and did I metion even while averaging 35 he was an all defensive player too? Knock it off he pulled a miracle out his ass, O and by the way he was leavin court fighting for his life and in the same day winning games. NOBODY has had the impact on a team the way Kobe has the last 3 years. Everybody has had better rosters until this year. Nobody puts in more time in the gym working on their deficiencies OR their body (how do u just drop and gain 15lbs of muscle whenever u feel like it??) than Kobe.
And the next guy who puts McGrady in the same convo as Kobe should not be allowed in a barbershop. If Kobe was on the Rockets the past 2 years, with THAT squad he would have been won a chip. The Rockets put a squad around McGrady and granted Yao has gotten hurt I think the last 2 years, but he’s still had more help than Kobe who has only started with 1 other all star for practically his whole career (say Gasol this year if u want, but before gasol got there we were winning the west)
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:47 pm
Matt says:
Chris Paul because he had more of an impact on New Orleans success than Kobe had on the Lakers, the Lakers got real good when the got Gasol before that, Kobe was an after thought in the MVP race.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm
Bron42 had springs before slamball says:
what i’m saying logan was kobe doesnt make his teammates better because he wants to, he usually does it as a last resort (up until gasol came)even phil jackson said it the other day on tv. CP3 on the other hand looks to make them better and knows when to set them up and when to take over. Kobe is just now learning that and hes like a 10 year vet.
I mean if you look at it, they both have their pluses although everyone seems to be voting kobe mostly on teh fact that he is the best scorer in the game and hasn’t gotten it other years (um, his teams have sucked since shaq left folks). i mean the biggest issue is theres no set guideline for mvp the last couple years. Nash won for being white and being exciting even though he sucks on defense, people had better stats,led the league in turnovers and his teams ALWAYS fizzle out. Dirk won it for being on the team with the best record even though he NEVER was the best player in the nba and has as much heart as the tin man in the crunch.
So until theres a guideline, do like the rookie of the year should have been and just co sign it.
May 2nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
GEE...BREAKOUT! Before ya get bumrushed... says:
Yoooo I don’t think the last 3 years can be considered the offical format. Then again, I could be wrong. I mean if it has “always” went to the player with the best record then ok. I don’t think that is the case though, so in light of that (if not the case), then it’s still on who you feel really.
McGrady and Kobe both eat grapes.
Just wanted to put Tracy and Kobe in the same sentence.
Anyway speculation is interesting but not proven, so to say what Kobe would have done had he been here or there really don’t hold much to me.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:06 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
I don’t see why the fact Kobe’s been shafted the past couple years shouldn’t be at least a determining factor…
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:12 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
everyone keeps saying “He should have gotten it before…but I know that can’t be a reason”…why not?
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:16 pm
Bust Jlaze says:
I think people are just looking for excuses to not give it to Kobe every time. When Nash got it, it was “he doesn’t make his teammates better”. When Dirk got it, it was “ok his teammates are better because of him, but it should go to the guy with the best record.” This year, it’s OK, he’s got the best record this year, but CP3 does more with less talented people around him” which is the reason KOBE SHOULD HAVE GOTTEN IT 2 YEARS AGO WHEN NASH DID! What the…
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:19 pm
Jah says:
Chris “CP3″ Paul should win the MVP this year because he has done more with less.
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Ace says:
Lets see,
Bad Start to the season…
Stumbled out the gates…
Andrew goes down…
Pau Gasol arrives..Pau goes down…
Dislocated Pinky…
No 1. seed in the brutal West..
KOBE hands down!!!
May 2nd, 2008 at 3:55 pm
James says:
Although I love CP3 and Chris is my boy from my town, you gotta give it to Kobe- I mean Kobe has never gotten an MVP and this year he had all that crap about him gettin traded and his team was going to fail- he lead them to the #1 seed in the toughest conference in argubally the toughest year ever and he makes his teamates better everynight with his Jordan type competitiveness
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:25 pm
Daily boy says:
This is the closest debate in Years, so I feel they should share the award. Both are the only 2 legit canadates and both are pretty equal as far as what they did this year. Both are the leaders of their team on and off the floor, and you would have to say while there value may as players are not equal because Kobe’s body of work is much greater. But this year should be Co-MVP’s KB24 & CP3
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:29 pm
girlybballluver says:
Gee…I want you to know that because of your name today I’ve been singing that song for the last hour!! Thanks a lot!
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm
dh says:
mj won the mvp in 88 because he had crazy scoring stats (35ppg) and took a crappy team to the playoffs all by him self.
won in 91 with less crazy stats (31ppg), a good team and won the east.
won in 92 with a great team that one the conference again and similar stats as 91
won in 96 with a history making fantastical team (72w’s) and his same great stats (30ppg)
won in 98 scoring a little less (28ppg) but the bulls won the east for the third straight year.
except for 88, mj usually won mvp by being the best player on the best team.
just throwin this out there…
May 2nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm
ML says:
Kobe Gets my vote. Dude hasn’t won MVP Ever. Not that it bother’s him. He’s been the best player for the last 5 years. Chris Paul is an amazing talent and budding star. But he shouldn’t get it this year. Kobe get’s it. Has Never finished higher then 3rd.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
Three Stacks says:
Think about it this way: if you replaced Kobe with this year’s 2nd best 2-guard in the League , how much worse would the Lakers be? Who was the 2nd best? Maybe T-Mac? JJ? Ginobili? With any of those players, the Lakers would be decent, but not a championship contender.
On the flip side, if you replaced CP3 with the League’s 2nd best point of the year, maybe Deron or Nash, you’d still have a pretty sick team whose expectations would be EXACTLY the same. That’s why Kobe deserves the MVP this year.
And this way, Kobe can become the 2nd person to win a prestigious sports award after being charged with sexual assault. It hasn’t been done since Mike Tyson won two belts after coming back from his stint in prison for rape. Way to go, Kobe.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:11 pm
BlazeMcHerbs says:
He deserves to finally get one. I mean, i dont even like the lil wannabe, but the kid’s got game, a serious fuckin game. His points were down, but he was always there, there’s no doubt he played team ball this year.
Yeah, by picking up Fisher they lucked out, by having Bynum improve so much made them a good team even before Gasol got there. So Kobe deserves it this year. And now that they do have Gosol, there gonna do damage.
CP has many great seasons coming, he is gonna get better, he will be more deserving in the future, not do discredit what he’s done this year at all, he beat out James and KG for sure.
Plus, you’d think after the whole Nash 2 type MVP debacle/travesty/joke, they might wanna smarten up now and pick the right player for this season.
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Mike C says:
It don’t really matter to me who wins it.
Both of them had a legitimate case this year.
Whoever wins, I just wanna see them settle it once and for all on the court in the western finals..
May 2nd, 2008 at 5:43 pm
daquest?on says:
forget about them..allen iverson should get the mvp its been 7 years since his last one he deserves another one
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:17 pm
doug says:
kobe easy, I quote Larry Bird in his interview with Dan Patrick of ESPN “when I heard Kobe hadn’t won the MVP yet it made me want to throw all my MVP trophies away”this is Larry Legend saying this,enough said,give my dude his trophy and save the MVP award some dignity it’s long overdue.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:19 pm
The Big Country says:
kobe.
May 2nd, 2008 at 6:36 pm
Clutch says:
Sorry what I said came out wrong, I didn’t mean Kobe is playing more defense than paul but rather Kobe is playing more defense than he did previous years.
http://www.coachingblunders.com
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:01 pm
Smitty313 says:
Kobe hand down. If you take David West off the hornets for half the season and Chandler out for the other half of the season the Hornets don’t make the playoffs.
Kobe had to deal with Bynum going down half the season and they didn’t have Gasol for about 60 games and the Lakers still got the number 1 seen in the west.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:25 pm
wartmeal says:
i havent really got a lot of say on that other than i dont like chris paul.
wartmeal over and out.
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:29 pm
rodnets says:
CP3,
1) Im a hornets fan
2) He is a truly team player. kobe is selfish and plays better only if his team mates are better.
3) He carried Hornets team full of losers (Peja, Tyson, Janero, etc). Kobe only wipped out and cried like a lady for more help.
4) He is good, Kobe is evil
Well, guess I made my ponit , seriously Kobe is better player, but the title is Most Valuable. Any doubt?
May 2nd, 2008 at 7:57 pm
GEE..BREAKOUT! Before ya get bumrushed... says:
Sorry girly that song was my joint back in the day lol.
Don’t look good for the Wiz. I don’t think even agent 0 could save them?
Might as well get the trade papers ready.
May 2nd, 2008 at 8:04 pm
Three Stacks says:
Rodnets, how can you claim to be a Hornets fan and say Tyson Chandler is a loser? Dude plays hard every night, knows exactly what his role is, and does all the dirty work for your team. And Pargo was probably one of the top 5 bench players in the League this year. Wish the Lakers still had him.
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:07 pm
What is this!? says:
Well, they just said on t.v that Kobe won the MVP award and the Lakers are waiting for the “official” word…CP3 got robbed. SMH
May 2nd, 2008 at 11:09 pm
Tom says:
Kobe, Just because hes Kobe.
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 am
GEE..BREAKOUT! Before ya get bumrushed... says:
Nice Job whole Utah organization. Congrats.
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:46 am
Elyse says:
Kobe.
I am sick of people saying Kobe does less for his team than Paul…there is no evidence of that. Perhaps the reason the role players can play so well is because Kobe demands double teams. Also, steals aren’t the only measure of defense. I think anyone who watches the two play defense can see kobe is better man to man defense, and also often takes the other teams best player down the stretch.
May 3rd, 2008 at 2:25 am
the_don_mega says:
Kobe…
’nuff said…
cp3 like Bron, still has the next decade to get theirs…
mamba’s time is now…
it’s long overdue…
i aint a big Bryant fan, but ya’ll got to admit he’s THE closest thing EVER to MJ…
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:38 am
Suciniac says:
First of all those who are so crazy about the Lakers coming out of the west as no 1 seed.IT’S A ONE GAME LEAD people.This is the same bullshit reason Kobe/Lakers followers give as why their team are the favorites to win the title.One fricking game???GTFOH with that shit.
Kobe IS the best individual player in the world and he’s long overdue for the trophy.That’s the only reason why he will be getting it this year not because he deserves it more than CP3.What CP3 did with this team is far more impressive than what Nash did with the Suns.Heck,I’ll bet some years from now people will be looking back at this year and wonder how CP3 didn’t win it.
Long story short:
Kobe = MVP(because he’s the best player)
CP3 = MIP(because he means more to the team)
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:42 am
Steve Nash says:
Yeah, I won rhe mvp cuz I was white???
Great argument, jackass
May 3rd, 2008 at 5:48 am
NOEngineer says:
For everyone that says Kobe deserves it because they finished first and Hornets finished second:
1) Lakers beat beat Hornets the last week due to REEDICKULUS amount of first half foul gifts. CP3 and the Bees almost fought back from 30 down to win anyway…
2) Sacremento beat N.O. with 4 3s in the 4th from Artest on the 2nd to last game when they were already out of the playoffs for a month. It was REAL important that they be a “spoiler”. Two days later they rested their starters against LA from the start and the Fakers cruised. Thanks David Stern!
May 3rd, 2008 at 6:14 am
Suciniac says:
No,he won it because he spearheaded a fun, fast breaking offence while making ALL-NBA team members “better” and winning 55-60 games.Of course you wouldn’t know that because you were busy jacking off and trying to type with one finger.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:21 am
Lee says:
Jeez .. How many people are saying CP made West and Chandler better players ???
PRACTICE and WANTING TO GET BETTER made them better players … CP didn’t make tham better shooters/ rebounders/defenders, it’s disrespectful to the hard work these players have put in.
May 3rd, 2008 at 8:25 am
Lee says:
OH yeah .. One more way of looking at it .. if EVERYONE becomes a free agent next season and you’re signing a guy for just next year .. who’d get paid the most !?!?! Most VALUEABLE Player !!!!
(Lets exclude the knicks as they hand out DUMB contracts to bad players !!!)
May 3rd, 2008 at 12:23 pm
COME ON!!!!! says:
Most VALUABLE player to his team… CP3. The Hornets aren’t even in the playoffs without him, can most people even name more than a couple players on that team? The Lakers with Pau, Fisher, Odom, etc would maybe not get in withhout Kobe too but Kobe has a much stronger cast around him.
Kobe will most likely win it though as he is a better and more dominant all around player.
May 3rd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
LA Lakers Blog says:
What a beautiful day it is!!! Lets go Kobe, lets go!!!
May 3rd, 2008 at 3:04 pm
K Dizzle says:
It is a beautiful day. It’s in stone now, haters
@ post 68
yeah there’s West, Chandler, Peja, Peterson, Pargo, Wells
and stop with the Lakers get into the playoffs without Kobe. A lineup featurin Fish, Odom, Pau don’t get into the postseason. Not in the west, not this year.
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:11 pm
TWoody says:
Prof TX, I hear what you are saying, but you also have to remember that this same team of players that you are now calling “VERY GOOD” were just a bunch of reserves last year in most peoples eyes. My own included and I am a So Cal native that bleeds Purple and Gold. Kobe is not just an MVP caliber player on this team, but I think that his mental game today would put him MVP on any team he played from the oldguys at the rec center to the NBA echalon to a National Team looking to dominate and take over the world via Bejing.
Kobe has been an All-Star for years and there is no end in sight. But his full fleged MVP status kicked into high gear this season for sure.
And do not take this to in anyway diminish what Chris Paul has done in the big easy. He was amazing. Coach BS is alive and kicking and his squad backed him up. I just think the nod goes to Kobe this year.
TWoody
May 3rd, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Austin Burton says:
It’s pointless to use the “Would his team make the playoffs without him?” argument for two reasons: (1) You’re picking the MVP based on guessing rather than tangible evidence, and (2) You can never tell how a team - not to mention coaches and front office - will respond without their star. The Bulls made the playoffs when Jordan retired and they had to replace him with Pete Myers. Does that mean MJ wasn’t that valuable?
May 4th, 2008 at 6:35 am
Suciniac says:
MVP has always been more of a guessing game because there’s no strict formula or criteria you have to fulfill to win it.If you simply go best player in the league…MJ should have won every year when he was playing and Kobe should have won a couple.If you go best player on the best team…Garnett should win this year just like Dirk won last year and if you go with player that means most to his team it should be CP3 like Nash.
@Austin
That Pete Myers argument is WEAK.The bulls just had a 3-peat…MJ retires they get bounced in the playoffs.MJ returns Bulls get another 3-peat.Case Closed.
May 4th, 2008 at 7:45 pm
Austin Burton says:
My point is that they made the playoffs without Jordan. When arguing MVP the first argument people jump to is, “Would his team make the playoffs without him?” The way most NBA teams are constructed (salary cap), no one would make the playoffs without their best player.
May 4th, 2008 at 11:38 pm
B.Wells says:
MVP = Mamba.
Reason = Best player in the L, on the best team in L.
The (L)East doesn’t count.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:44 am
Suciniac says:
Yeah but MJ was the difference between a 3-peat and a mere playoff appearance.Lakers have a far better chance of making the playoffs without Kobe than NO without Paul.Anyway if just making the playoffs is the main objective of a MVP winner than Garnett should have won hands down.It’s what a player means to a teams success that should define a MVP not wether they make the playoffs or not.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:36 am
Austin Burton says:
Garnett can’t be the MVP in my eyes because he’s Boston’s 3rd/4th option in crunch time. Not saying basketball is all about offense, but in a season where you had guys like Kobe, CP, LeBron and even T-Mac doing so much for their teams offensively, Garnett comes up short. Defensive Player of the Year? Yeah, I voted for Garnett. If there was a “Most Inspirational Player” I would have given it to Garnett. But not MVP.
Chicago’s “mere playoff appearance” saw them lose a close 7-game series to the eventual conference champions. But since MVP is only based on regular season, the Bulls did win 55 games that year. The previous season, with Jordan, they won 57. My point is that they were a very good team even without Jordan. Again, I’m not saying MJ wasn’t MVP material, just that the “Could his team make the playoffs without him” rationale gets too much weight.