Despite garnering 82 first place votes, there are still some NBA fans who believe Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, or LeBron James were more deserving of the 2008 MVP than Kobe Bryant was.
That's understandable.
All four players had phenomenal seasons.
LeBron dominated individually. KG led the Celtics to the largest singe-season turnaround in NBA history. Kobe led the Lakers to the #1 seed in the NBA's most competitive conference. Chris Paul became the first player ever to average 20 points, 10 assists, and 3 steals in a season.
But which player has been the MVP of the postseason thus far?
LeBron James
Cavaliers Regular Season Record: 45-37 Postseason Record: 4-3
LeBron's Regular Season Statistics: 30 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, 48% from the field, 32% from the 3-point line, 71% from the free throw line.
LeBron's Postseason Statistics: 27 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists, 44% from the field, 24% from the 3-point line, 71% from the free throw line.
Kobe Bryant
Lakers Regular Season Record: 57-25 Postseason Record: 6-0
Kobe's Regular Season Statistics: 28 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 46 % from the field, 36% from the 3-point line, 84% from the free throw line.
Kobe's Postseason Statistics: 34 points, 6 rebounds, 6 assists, 52% from the field, 35% from the 3-point line, 82% from the free throw line. Kevin Garnett
Boston's Regular Season Record: 66-16 Postseason Record: 5-3
Garnett's Regular Season Statistics: 19 points, 9 rebounds, 3 assists, 54% from the field, 0% from the 3-point line, 84% from the free throw line.
Garnett's Postseason Statistics: 22 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 50% from the field, 100% from the 3-point line, 83% from the free throw line.
Chris Paul
Hornets Regular Season Record: 56-26 Postseason Record: 6-1
Paul's Regular Season Statistics: 21 points, 4 rebounds, 12 assists, 49% from the field, 37% from the 3-point line, 85% from the free throw line.
Paul's Postseason Statistics: 24 points, 5 rebounds, 12 assists, 50% from the field, 29% from the 3-point line, 78% from the free throw line.
Hoffman, been a long time dude. Bryant was the MVP of the regular season by a small margin, in my opinion. Funny thing is, he is being pushed by Paul again but right now, he is still the man. Once again, in my opinion.
You said, "Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom are both better than anyone on the Hornets roster... other than CP3, of course."
That's not true.
David West is better than Lamar Odom AND Pau Gasol...individually of course.
Odom may be better than Peja but their worth to their teams is closer than you think.
Peja stretches the defense and gives Paul room to operate. He's been HUGE to their success.
I'll admit freely that Kobe has the better supporting cast but the widely held notion that Paul plays with a bunch of D-Leaguers couldn't be further from the truth.
Pau made the All-Star team once (2006)
Lamar never has.
West made it THIS year.
Peja has been there multiple times.
(won the three point shootout title more than once too)
Chandler going this year wouldn't have been out of line either, but he didn't.
Byron Scott won coach of the year.
Has Phil ever won?...not with the Lakers.
Who really has the more accomplished teammates?
All that really matters to me is the championship.
I don't have a problem with people talking Bryant's supporting cast. It is what it is but I don't like reading that Paul is playing with a bunch of guys from the local YMCA.
From top to bottom, the Hornets are a very good basketball team.
I was watching NBATV the other day and they were highlighting the 1991 NBA Finals between MJ & Magic. Up until then, the criticism of MJ was that he didn't make his teammates better. Specifically, they compared him to Magic Johnson's ability to make all of the guys around him better.
MJ's response: "Give me James Worthy and Kareem and we'll see how much better I can make them."
Every legend has been afforded a good supporting cast.
Bird had McHale and Parish.
MJ had Pippen and Rodman.
Magic had Worthy and Kareem.
Kobe hasn't accomplished near what those players have but he's got Gasol & Odom. Barring MAJOR improvement, neither of those two will be Hall of Famers.
How many HOFamers do see in MJ, Bird, and Magic's supporting cast?
Good read. With that said; I still have CP3 as the regular seaason as well as post season MVP.
1 thing people fail to mention is the fact that N.O's entire offense practically runs through CP3 and no matter how many times teams try, they can only force 3 turnovers ( at best ) out of this dude. Mine you; he forces that many turnovers his damn self and Kobe has been turning the ball over more than that.
Paul has been unfortunate not to have the benefit of more televised games, so the perception is he was doing well for 3/4 or maybe half the season. While those with the benefit of league pass knows that this kid has been carving up defenses from day 1 of the regular season.
Their record against the top tier teams were better than any team in the league with the exception of Boston.
Not to say Paul doesn't have talent around him; because he clearly does in West, Stoy, Pargo, Wells, etc; but there really is no arguing who has the better talent around them. Then considered that, as good as the Hornet's roster is, with the exception of West; most of them can't create their own shot. The Lakers, at every position has players that are capable of beating you off the dribble and creating for themselves.
IMO- the sports writer's clearly knew they had been jerking Kobe for at least the last 2 years giving the award to Nash and Dirk and this year they are doing the same to Paul; giving it to Kobe.
Paul ( God Forbid ); could have a career ending injury tommorrow. Their is no guarantee he would be in this position again ( though he is talented enough ).
Funny how last year, EVERYONE (and don't you f'n haters deny it) here said the Lakers had one of the worst supporting casts in the league. Don't even deny it LYRIKELL, you're one of 'em.
And now all of a sudden, "The Lakers, at every position has players that are capable of beating you off the dribble and creating for themselves"? When last year y'all said that guys like Turiaf, Farmar, Vujacic, Walton, Radmanovic, and Odom were all mediocre and couldn't play a lick of basketball.
All of a sudden, the Lakers have the best supporting cast?
And all the Lakers added was Pau Gasol. Pretty much the same team from last year!!
You say, "with the exception of West; most of them can't create their own shot." Do you know who Morris Peterson is? Did you know he was the number one scoring option for Toronto not too long ago? Have you seen Jannero Pargo play? And what about Mike James? Wasn't he averaging like 18-20 a game with Toronto and Houston just two years ago?
HOFFMAN: Chauncey Billups is third because he was the one responsible for getting his team together after the Pistons were down 2-1 against Philly.
He had three straight solid games against the overachieving 76ers and helped limit Andre Miller, who is always game.
In the second round, Billups averaged over 20 pts in the first two wins over Orlando and after getting hurt last night his value was missed as the Pistons were blown right out of the water.
Without Chauncey, who is like a player-coach, Detroit has no floor general out there and the Pistons would suffer tremendously.
I'd probably place Howard in a third place tie with Billups.
The most valuable role player in the playoffs thus far is a tough call.
I'd probably go with David West over Pau Gasol because without West, I don't think New Orleans defeats Dallas but the Lakers still eliminate Denver without Gasol.
What resource did you use to determine the Hornets record "against the top tier teams were better than any team in the league with the exception of Boston?"
Because I know Utah had the best record against Western Conference playoff teams.
I agree that Chris Paul is a GREAT player. I doubted him all season and picked the Hornets to lose versus Dallas.
I was wrong.
But I still think Bryant was the NBA's MVP this year and is DEFINITELY the postseason MVP thus far.
Look at his #'s.
He's averaging 34 points a game and shooting 52% from the field.
He doesn't have Paul's assist numbers, obviously, but he creates so many opportunities for his teammates because of the attention opposing defenses must pay to him.
I prescribe to Kenny Smith's theory that KG had the best first half of the season, Paul had the best second half, and Kobe has been great throughout.
I didn't mention him because he wasn't really an MVP candidate during the season but the kid averaged 20 points and 18 rebounds in the first round. He had three straight 20 & 20 games.
I N.O conference record is 34-18 while Utah is 33-19, I probably shouldv'e factor the bottom tier teams and I was also referring to overall( East and West ). I also think Kenny Smith is probably guilty of not following the Hornets most of the season like most people.
J-Dizzle,
I'm not sure who you have me confused with buddy. If anything I felt Kobe gave his team mates a bad rap and was trying to create shots out of triple-teams with wide open team mates alot of times. Also I don't know what Odom you are referring too; I believe you are selling this brother a little short. They also didn't have Derek Fisher last year; nor Gasol.
Another thing, is Toronto was a bad team ( and still is; regardless of making the playoffs in a weaker conference ) so Peterson being their leading scoring option, doesn't say much. Mike James doesn't even come off the bench for N.O.. I will give you Pargo as; though. Believe me; I think I said N.O is not without talent.
I also have always said Kobe is the best in the game, and it's not even close; IMO. That said Chris Paul is still my MVP.
But he is also a defensive liability. He averages 3 steals a game, but his team is better defensively while he is OFF the court. They allow 6 more points per 100 possessions while he is ON the court. And he wasnt a 1st Team Defender as Bryant will be AGAIN.
The Lakers were without a starting center for 30 games this season. Thats more than a third of the ENTIRE season. For those 30 games Kwame or Turiaf started. And Gasol wasnt born knowing the triangle so give some credit for that.
As for the importance of David West. Last season 11 and 19 without him. Mind you Peja missed a few of those games but he wasnt close to the impact he is this season.
Turiaf, Vujacic, Farmar, Odom, Bynum, Radmonovich, Walton. If you were to say they were a great team last season, people would laugh at you hysterically. Now they are considered "Superior Talent". Why is that? You would give Chris Paul all the credit for making his teammates better even though he is a defensive liability and of their record without West last season, but you wont give credit to Bryant?
Of course not. Why would you.
This season pre-Gasol, the Lakers were on pace to win 56 and won 57. And Gasol went from shooting .501% to .589% being the 2nd option to Kobe. A Career high. 6 Lakers had career seasons. 4 in points and FG%, Lamar in FG% and Rebounds and Gasol in FG%. Fish is having the 2nd best season of his career at 33.
And why do people act as if Bynum, Gasol, Odom, and Kobe have all played together throughout the season? Gasol was a REPLACEMENT not an ADDITION. Why do the same people that called Lamar "Odumb" last season now say he is "Superior Talent"? The man has never been an All Star. Gasol has been one only once. And the rest of the Lakers are still wet behind the ears.
They all took after their leader.
Did I mention that Bryant also led his team to the best record in the most competitive conference in NBA history?
He will be the only player in NBA history to lead a team to the best record in a conference with EIGHT teams with 50 plus wins while also winning the MVP. Chalk up another record for #24.
The truth of the matter is not the MVP. Its who it is. Take the same stats with a different player leading the same team to the same record and NO ONE would have a problem.
Bryant could lead a team of underprivileged teenagers from the Boys Home to an NBA Championship. And some people would hate that.
But what will be the excuse when he wins it again and again and again?
Did I also mention that he did it with a broken finger and torn ligament in his shooting hand that STILL requires surgery?
As for playoff MVP so far. Please!!!!!
Kobe is the ONLY player in these playoffs that has no weakness. NONE WHATSOEVER.
N.O.'s record last year; without Peja playing 80% of the season is neither here nor there. N.O. has better defenders coming off the bench as a whole. Paul doesn't play stellar 1 on 1 defense ( but no where near Nash-Bad ) but he plays great team defense with the 2nd best defensive unit on their team.
Bottomline. Kobe has gotten too much credit for really, just not being a ball-hog; which he has been up to this season. You can not guage your teams talent and commitment with LIMITED touches and with Kobe as their leader; their touches were indeed LIMITED. Kobe has better team mates who he decided to act like was on the floor with him.
Also, let's be real; A man that refuses to take shots in a game seven; after he's been a ball-hog all year shows weakness. It's called mental weaknesses. Kobe has alot of them. Though I still think he is the best player in the game.
BTW- Alonzo Mourning, Shaq, T-Mac, Vince Carter, etc; have all been voted to the all star game after not playing most of the season. Who's an all-star based on un informed fan's voting is not how I guage talent. I also see Kobe take on guarding Lebron to get abused like everyone else. Let's not act as if because he gets 1 or 2 weak side blocks in a game that he is a stellar defender. Again I watch Basketball, I don't take my cue from other fans or biased sports writer's. All-Star games, first team this and that generally boils down to someone's opinion and after these same people felt Nash deserved 2 MVPs; their opinions become no longer valid.
While the Western Conference is clearly the superior conference, the Hornets conference record doesn't prove "their record against the top tier teams was better than any team in the league with the exception of Boston."
New Orleans was 34-18 against the West.
Los Angeles was 37-15 against the West.
Also, you said, "bottomline. Kobe has gotten too much credit for really, just not being a ball-hog; which he has been up to this season. You can not guage your teams talent and commitment with LIMITED touches and with Kobe as their leader; their touches were indeed LIMITED."
Do you believe Smush Parker and Kwame Brown deserved more touches the past few years? Who on the team was Kobe holding back from being the player they were capable of becoming?
Hoffman
I for one don't have a problem with Bryant winning the regular season League MVP award. All due credit to him as it was long overdue. This was just the writers' way of saying sorry to him after all the years of their apparent neglect.
But when it comes to the postseason play it all becomes about what happens in the Finals themselves. Not what the players had to contend with the postseason conference games but the NBA Finals ! As in everyone's eyes that'll be what counts above all else ! And in the end it'll come down to who wants to win more and which players are prepared to step up their game.
I love basketball. While many basketball fans enjoy the month of March, I prefer the months of April, May, and June. I look forward to productive chats, heated debates, and honest opinions.
