The Lakers may be making a believer out of their number 1 hater. No, seriously, according to the blogs I'm just a Kobe hater. Still, the way they destroyed the Jazz last night was impressive. Taking out Dallas on their court was respectable also. When you consider it was without Pau Gasol ... even the haters got to give up props!
Lakers now have truly emerged as one of the top 4 contenders for the western conference crown, along with the Spurs, Rockets, and Suns.
Did Kobe get back in the MVP race with the last 2 victories? Jeez Louise I hate to say it ... but I think it's true. What is to become of me? Maybe I should spout like 50 cent and say if Kobe gets the MVP I'll leave the business! 50 cent didn't honor his words when Kanye West beat him in record sales.
Well, the Lakers ain't champs yet and Kobe ain't MVP. So, make me believe it.
Unless the Lakers slide down the standings (which is unlikely since Gasol & Bynum will return to the lineup fairly soon), Kobe Bryant won the MVP award last night.
Look at this road trip for what it was. Tough break in NO with Pau going down 2 minutes in. Who knows what would have happened with a healthy Gasol for the whole game.Last time they were in the Big Easy they gave them a Big Beatdown 109-80.
Tough game in Houston on national TV with a major streak and hype surrounding it, while still minus Pau/Bynum and right in it with 6 to play.Alston won't have the game of a liftime, and the Lakers rarely lose when holding an opponent to 43% shooting.
Nice road win in Dallas, but I am not getting to giddy over it. Dallas is a classic example of a team that posts high win totals from Nov to March and then......POOF..they are gone.Nothing different this year either.
A trouncing of another overrated team in Utah. LA is 3-1 vs. the Jazz this year and the Jazz have been about as formidable as Phoenix has been. The Lakers SHOULD beat the Jazz. The only impressive part about it was they trounced them without Pau and Bynum, and on the road. Otherwise no biggy to me.
I want to see the game coming up with the Spurs. These are the conferences best teams by far, and one will be playing in June.
Before the trip I predicted 3-1. 2-2 is ok considering the injuries they are dealing with. The hardest part of their schedule is gone. Time for PhilJax to start tweaking things and getting ready for a playoff run.
Wondering how Ira Newble will fit in? He is an active body, with good size, and good defender. Probably reduces playing time for Walton and takes Ariza's role. Nice little pick-up for the Lakers.
Two wins in a row against decent teams on the road ... I'm impressed. Still expect the Suns to be a tough opponent in the playoffs and Spurs will be hard to dethrone of course. Anything can happen with the Rockets. I see it as a 4-team race.
they did look good against the Jazz, not so much aainst the Mavs. they had a 35 point lead and lost it. having said that, I am glad they beat the Mavericks and It was good to see Kobe show some emoton out of support of his teammate. By the way, it was reported that they might not get Bynum back until the first round. if thats true, you wonder if Phillup will try to force him in right away because that might not be the smartest thing. All in all, they silenced a lot of critics.
excuse me fellas, my mistake, that was a 25 point lead. but, since I'm here, let me take the time to say that Dallas BLEEPs and I hope the Nuggets make it in and the Mavs wither away.
Not a bad run for the Lakers. Two tough losses and two good wins against elite teams on the road. I would say Kobe has never been out of the running for the MVP. At least none of the sports media has written about that.
What a lot of people dont understand is that Bryant only has one other All Star on his team. And a ONE Time All Star at that.
Pual plays with two other All Stars and a Sixth Man of the Year.
Lebron plays with three other All Stars, one of whom is a 4 time Defensive Player of the Year.
Minus Gasol, the Lakers were still great when Bynum was healthy. Now everybody on the blogosphere consider Kobe as being surrounded with "SUPERIOR" talent. This is just testiment to Bryant making his teammates "SUPERIOR TALENT".
This is essentially the same team as last season. A year ago Odom, Walton, Bynum, Turiaf, Farmar, and Vujacic were in no way considered "Superior", let alone a great team. Now they are. As a matter of fact they are the best team in the West. Thats what makes an MVP.
I was gonna come in here and give Kobe credit for leading the way on a very impressive 2 game winning streak, but reading TCB!tches post swayed me the other way.
"Two tough losses and two good wins against elite teams on the road. I would say Kobe has never been out of the running for the MVP. At least none of the sports media has written about that."
Sure none that it's written about, but plenty that's been talked about. As a matter of fact, I'm pretty sure two days ago Cold Pizza had Chris Brousard (sp?) on who said that NBA insiders are seriously questioning how legit of an MVP Kobe is given that prior to this last two game winning streak he's proven unable to consistantly win against good teams without Bynum and Gasol.
"What a lot of people dont understand is that Bryant only has one other All Star on his team. And a ONE Time All Star at that.
Pual plays with two other All Stars and a Sixth Man of the Year.
Lebron plays with three other All Stars, one of whom is a 4 time Defensive Player of the Year."
Never mind that one of those All Stars hasn't played like All Star in a looong time now. And who exactly is the sixth man of the year that CP3 plays with?
Never mind that Lebron's 3 all star teammates include Wally who hasn't been an all star since 02, or that Big Ben's decline since his last season in Detroit has been well documented. We'll forget about all that. Yeah, Lebron plays with 3 all stars. Lucky guy.
"Minus Gasol, the Lakers were still great when Bynum was healthy. Now everybody on the blogosphere consider Kobe as being surrounded with "
This is essentially the same team as last season. A year ago Odom, Walton, Bynum, Turiaf, Farmar, and Vujacic were in no way considered "Superior", let alone a great team. Now they are. As a matter of fact they are the best team in the West. Thats what makes an MVP."
So why was Kobe crying like a school girl over the summer? This is the same team as last season, so why didn't Kobe make the team better last season the way he's doing this season?
The difference is who stayed and left. Everyone thaat stayed worked to get better and got their mind right.
So long Smush, McKie, Cookie, Shammond, Kwame, Mo Evans.
Hello one team, one goal and commitment to the triangle.
40pct of the team is new. McKie, Mihm, and williams were shining seats.
More than 20 games missed by- Luke, Mihm, Kwame, Vlad, Evans and LOs son died at the start of the season.
Coming back from TEAM USA the only changes were McKie . Williams and the Smushcalade. His boys had worked and came back to play, and he couldnt know that was going to happen. Poetryman-you brought it fair so thanks. The Lakers are reloading and three people-Dr Phil, Dfish and KB24 know the way if they have the support. Fans talking is one thing but the coaches are going to curl into the fetal position as the season rolls on. Everyones matchup nightmare comes wrapped in Purple and Gold.
Last edited by Zen_and_Tonic on March 21st at 9:28 PM.
Are you kidding me? You were going to comment about Kobe in a positive nature?
You're not even a Lakers fan, let alone being able to conjure up something positive about their leader. All you are is a hater with a deceiving profile.
You mean to tell me Chris Brousard had insiders questioning his MVP legitimacy? THEE CHRIS BROUSARD!
Oh my God!
Well then I guess Bryant is unworthy. If CHRIS BROUSARD is questioning it! On Cold Pizza even!
Sorry, but your Cavs are mediocre. Lebron isnt making the THREE ALL STARS on his team any better. And the fact that you dont know that the Hornets guard, Bobby Jackson, was Sixth Man of the Year in 2003 is testament to your basketball IQ.
Dont comment about Bryant. Us Lakers fans dont need you.
Its amazing how you Cavs fans cant even except that you have 4 All Stars on your team. You all have to downplay the legitimacy of your own player's All Star status.
I dont know how many profiles you have, but your "Lakers fan" profile is getting old!
TCB!tch always impresses me with his ability to type long posts that say absolutely nothing of relevance. He gets all his points shot down because he has no idea what he’s talking about when it comes to basketball, then he wonders why he’s such a joke.
Yes, THE Chris Broussard on THE Cold Pizza. You’re right, the guy knows nothing. He merely earns his living when it comes to talking basketball, what could he possibly know? Anybody who doesn’t completely put TCB!tch’s boyfriend up on a pedestal MUST know nothing.
And please, stop trying to pass yourself off as some kind of Laker fan who sticks by Kobe because he’s the team leader. Your mouth isn’t good for talking hoops, it’s good for keeping Kobe’s nuts warm. You probably can’t even name the Laker players who aren’t in the starting lineup without Googling their roster. Lame BLEEP phony.
You tried to say that nobody questioned Kobe’s MVP credibility and got backhanded. You tried to say that Lebron and CP3 have much better talent and got backhanded. You tried to say that Kobe doesn’t have talent surrounded him and got backhanded. If you weren’t such a good punching bag for people that actually know basketball, you’d be completely useless.
Sorry, but your Cavs are mediocre. Lebron isnt making the THREE ALL STARS on his team any better. And the fact that you dont know that the Hornets guard, Bobby Jackson, was Sixth Man of the Year in 2003 is testament to your basketball IQ.
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I agree with your 'goodbye' comment, but not Mo Evans. He was practically free, and he played really hard, and rather well while he was here. Respect your players who deserve it! He was nothing but class, and played really well, and brought good defense.
I like Ariza more...and feel he is a better fit, but talking trash about Evans is really unfair.
WOW....Lebron crushed the Spurs tonight!!!......oh wait....turns out its the Raptors. HARD-Fing-CORE!!! Lebron rocks!!!!! Never mind being 10th (yes.....10th) in the west with his teams current record......no it's the way he OWNS the (L)east.
Dan, I think you give Mo too much credit. He was brought in to be a stopper on D and spent more time stopping the flow of the offense by jacking up ill advised shots. He had all the makings of a star physically and athletically, but the dude's mind just wasn't right when it came to his role on the squad.
He seemed like a really good guy, but he just didn't seem to mesh as far as what this Laker team needed. I'm not sure if you listen to Laker radio or not, but a while back they had an interview with Mo (before the trade) where he talked about how LA lacked the real leadership that he saw in Detroit.
T-Mac, Chris Paul, A. Stoudemire, K. Garnett are all in the mix with Kobe. They have all responded to helping there teams be great. T-Mac 22 games in a row second best ever ? Chris Paul brought New Orleans on the fear map, no one wants to play them.
Amare Stoudemire has picked up the load of the Phoenix team bringing big numbers since Marrion left ! But Kevin Garnett has brought Boston back from the ashes ! Each and everyone of these guys are better team players then Mr.World Gunner Kobe !
So who will be the MVP ?
I'd take the NBA Trophy over the MVP----So give it to Kobe !
And you say I'M the one that doesnt know what I am talking about?
Point out where I was "backhanded". All of us would like to know.
None of your rambling negates the fact that Lebron plays with 3 other All Stars and CP3 plays with two other All Stars and a Sixth Man recipient. Now that you know Bobby Jackson was Sixth Man in 2003. I would say you were the recipient of the "backhand".
Now that you were educated.
I would also like you to reference where and when Mo Evans commented to the media about the lack of leadership in L.A. Or is your answer going to be;
An absolutely fantastic player...don't get me wrong. I think I have said this before...I am a total Laker (hence Kobe) fan, but I think ultimately, Lebron will probably have a more storied career...but his team is so-so in this league. There is just no denying it...they are completely so-so. They are what...4-5 games over 500 and would be 10th-11th in the west. They are 4th in East because 5 and below are COMPLETE BLEEP!
Mo Evans was not the greatest, but he was alright, and he made some nice hussle plays. I totally think Arisa was a much better fit for us, and as much as I was bummed about Mo leaving, I could instantly see Trevor was gonna rock, and be better.
But you gotta show respect to the guys that at least came and brought it as best they could. If you want to say "See-Ya" to the Samake Walkers, the Brian Cooks, the Smush Parkers, thats fine. But those that brought it deserve our respect. Just my opinion.
In high school and college I led my teams as a middle line backer, running back, and point guard. Now, I'm known for my poetry and other arts. Still like to talk sports on any level.
