Twenty four hours subsequent to being designated Eastern Conference Player of the Week the Lebron James gets dethrone and thrown-out of his kingdom. Some NBA experts say he should not because of the superb statistics he had acquired, but unfortunately stats is not that all and victories are much better to reckon with. Regardless of the off-the-chart individual statistic numbers, the King’s Cavaliers have failed enough to rally around him and fend off Kobe Bryant or surpass the winning record of the Hollywood team.
The combination of KB24 and Gasol has produced much better result than everybody in LA might have anticipated and it is a little bit chilling to imagine how Los Angeles is capable of when young center Andrew Bynum comes back from injury. Kobe ought to be commended for executing an above level performance even on a severely injured pinky. Many basketball pundits have come noting how KB24 had made so much effort to involve his young team play to an above par level game when most needed and LA win-loss record could provide evidence to that pronouncement. In the NBA good statistics are the reference for choosing where to award the MVP plum, but unfortunately and lot of times it was flushed down the drain for a basic reason that most of persons engage in the selection working group look the other way and have a preference to bestow the coveted title to the player that have done so much and have help his team to the Championship trophy.
The way to the Crown is still long and winding but at this point in time, KB and Lebron are neck and neck in their fight to the MVP.
Both teams would not be in the playoffs without these guys. Right now I would have to give the edge to Bryant because he helps to make his team elite in the west, while James is just making his team an also-ran in the east.
I would have to disagree about statistics being such an important factor. Nash won 2 MVP awards with average stats, other than assists.
The norm has been that the best player on the best team, usually receives the most support. This definitely applies to players such as Nash and Dirk Nowitski.Not to discredit their play but, I personally would have never voted for either one.
So in staying with the theory previously stated, as of TODAY....it would only make sense to say it would be 1)Garnett 2)Bryant and 3)James.The Celtics currently holding the best record.
I don't agree with the reasoning that the MVP should always go to the best player on the best team. There are times when it may work that way, but it shouldn't be set in stone.
If you are looking for a choice between Bryant and James only....I would go with Bryant. He has taken the same group of players he has had for the last couple years, with Fisher being the exception, and lead them to the best record in the West, and with a very possible chance of having the best overall record at seasons end.
The statistics are too close, with James holding slight edges but nothing eye popping. The teams success is eye popping and more of a deciding factor. The Lakers are at the top and the Cavs have struggled to be just over .500.
Coming off an appearance in the finals, they should be progressing, instead they are stagnant and no better than last year. LA has grown tremendously and Bryant has been the guy to lead the way.
Last edited by alaskanballa on February 29th at 2:16 AM.
could be either one, but garnett definitely does not deserve it for fleeing to the east and dominating a pathetic field on a stacked team, although never in cruch time of course. then again, from a basketball rather than a pr perspective, nash didnt deserve one let alone two so who knows?
This whole debate is getting so old. People are jumping on it after every game, almost after every shot and every dunk. It is getting really ridiculous. Time will sort it all out. Until then, it is just speculation.
Lebron-Great stats, barely a winning record in a pathetic eastern conference.
Garnett- Very good player with a likable personality. Good stats but on a fairly stacked team. Once again though other than Detroit and them the eastern conference is pathetic.
Kobe-good stats, best all around player in the game. Best record in the strong Western conference. Young team and leading the way as a veteran should. Torn ligament and fractured finger on his shooting hand.
The choice for me is clear at this time. So far I would have to go with Bryant.
Two players to not count out so far. CP3 and the surprise Hornets. Also if Manu Ginobli keeps playing at the level he is. It would be hard not to consider him atleast.
Gambitxx, I agree with your view as to looking at the competition (or lack thereof) these people have to go against. So naturally I have to go with that logic as apposed to the stats they put up.
At this point of the season it would be unlikely that Bryant would not emerge as the MVP if the vote were held today.
To give the MVP to an eastern conference player would to be to say that A particular wolf was the baddest wolf in the world because he huffed and puffed and blew down a house of straw easily while a western wolf huffed and puffed and barely blew down 4 houses made of brick with manned machine gun turrets on every corner of each of the four houses.
If Kobe couldn't get it last year and the year before because his team was not good enough (even though Kobe had the best stats), then LeBron shouldn't get it this year (Cavs are just a mediocre team in the LEast Conf). Nobody should apply double standards.
As for people like AK47spiderman, stop saying Bynum or Gasol is more valuable than Kobe. What's next? You think Jordan Farmar is more valuable than Kobe?
I know you (AK) hate Kobe and you can never view his game in an unbiased way. But if you know anything about hoops, you gotta say Kobe is the MVP so far!
"If Kobe couldn't get it last year and the year before because his team was not good enough (even though Kobe had the best stats), then LeBron shouldn't get it this year (Cavs are just a mediocre team in the LEast Conf). Nobody should apply double standards."
Great point. I think LeBron SHOULD win it this year just like I think Kobe SHOULD have won it 2 years ago. I don't believe LeBron WILL win it though.
I love how many Cavs and LeBron fans are making cases for him now just as Laker fans were for Kobe two years ago. I'd love to know how many of them thought Kobe should have won it 2 years ago.
I totally agree with you jaysisko that LBJ team mate doesn't help his cause any and KB24's team have help him a lot. Yeah, not including Tim Duncan to the choice could be an injustice to the Spurs fans and so with CP3 to the hornets but narrowing the choices is to limit the debate between the front runners in the fight for the MVP. Including others in the running would be chaos.
This debate is getting tired. Aside from what the people who actually vote on the award define "MVP" as , which is clearly wrong (see 2-time MVP Steve Nash), LeBron is the ONLY candidate.
Lebron is the best player statistically.
Lebron is the best clutch player.
And Lebron is CLEARLY the most "valuable" to his team.
Kobe, Paul, and Garnett are all great players. They also all have a ton more help than Lebron. I hate that the MVP is basically solely based on wins. Wins are a TEAM stat. The MVP is an individual award. Teams of Gasol/Bynum/Odom, Chandler/West/Peja, and Pierce/Allen/Rondo are NOT 10 win teams. The Cavs minus Lebron are lucky to be a 10 win team. That's VALUE people.
I am sorry if ur tired in this issue, i didn't brought out this thread just to please you, but it is for those who wanted to talk more of it, anyway tnx for the reply.
I too agree that stats should not be the sole basis for choosing the MVP and it must lean towards the man whose value to his is unparallel, at the same time giving the leadership that the team needs.
There are so many players who's like that(Garnett, CP3, Nowitzki among others), but i just limit this to those frontrunners.
you have continuously presented strong case for Lebron and i salute you for that, but there also those who are giving valuable insight why they choose KB24.
It is unfortunate for Kobe to be robbed for 2 yrs.
I hope he'd be given a more thorough consideration this time around now. It will be a great injustice if he will be again be given a cold shoulder by the NBA in the fight for MVP.
Nice insight and i agree manu is playing great this season. With the absence of Tony Parker basket enthusiast turn their eyes on Manu and in hin big contribution to the Spurs.
EVERYONE, including the actual voters, already knows who the MVP is this year.
In fact, he will win MVP the next three years while the mighty LAKERS take the next three NBA titles. Guaranteed.
Get Figueroa and 11th ready.
Get Chick Hearn Court ready.
Get those Laker flags ready.
Get ready for greatness. When it's all said and done, The YOUNG GUNS will be the best LAKERS TEAM EVER.
Ya... y'all heard me and you heard it here first. EVER. And I ain't delusional either.
Think about it. No one on this team is 30. The core nucleus is set.
The BENCH MOB is another starting unit in itself. LA has two starting lineups. Absolutely sick folks. When Bynum comes back, he'll come off the bench and play with Farmar and Ariza.
Teams are already bracing themselves for what is to come, that's why all those trades were made.
The FANTASTIC FOUR (Kobe, Gasol, Bynum, Odom) can literally dominate the landscape for at least 7 or more years.
And all you haters know that the Lakers know how to keep dynasties around for a long time.
And above all, there is no drama in this Laker story.
It's all over for the next ten years. It'll be all Lakers from here on out and next year we're gonna send five to the All-Star game.
first off thank you for your most kind comment on my blog. Caught me by suprise. I really appreciated it.
As for why Kobe will not win the MVP? I think he's the leader at this point but I suspect that the voters have fallen in love with Chris Paul and he will win would be my guess. Nothing more than a guess but I see it coming. Hope I'm wrong.
I am a die hard Lakers fan. I am Filipino basketball enthusiast and love the game so much.
I am 28 years old male, studied and finish architecture at Mapua University here in the Philippines and presently practising my profession.
Go Lakers!!!!
