Kobe: Put me in the East and see what happens

I think Kobe is upset by the fact that he did so much in the past with a horrible team and didn't even get any recognition for MVP, where as Lebron does the same in the East and is considered a favorite for the MVP

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 13 2008, 11:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Mar 13 2008, 11:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 13 2008, 11:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Mar 13 2008, 10:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 13 2008, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Someone knows LeBron is better haha.</div>

Or that the East inflates stats.
</div>
Double teams are the same no matter where you play.
</div>

Read my last post and Mamba's. There's nothing to argue about. What we both said is a fact, it doesn't matter if they had the same schedule either (which they didn't).

To be fair though, I don't think Kobe is in his prime right now either (somewhat close).
</div>
LeBron is not in his prime either and like I said before, a double team is a double team.

I know Kobe is leap frogs above LeBron but talking a cheap shot at him only glorifies the fact that he knows LeBron is going to be more talented than him or that is still hasn't matured at age 29.
</div>

Please don't use this as a definition of maturity, because LeBron was the biggest brat too on national tv recently. So are most stars.

Kobe is right about his comments. Put the Lakers in the East and what do you think would happen? They'd lose more games?

Brian was right about the reason Kobe's upset.

 

Just to clarify my amorphous comments (sorry for the delay Mamba):

<u>Against the East</u>

Kobe 05-06: 36.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 57.1 TS% (averages 55.9% against both), 40.5 MPG (averages 41.0 MPG against both)


<u>Against the West:</u>

LeBron 07-08: 29.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 54.8 TS% (averages 57.1% against both), 40.6 MPG (averages 40.6 MPG against both)

Kobe plays better against the other conference, LeBron doesn't.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 13 2008, 11:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Mar 13 2008, 10:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 13 2008, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Someone knows LeBron is better haha.</div>

Or that the East inflates stats.
</div>
Double teams are the same no matter where you play.
</div>

Fact of the matter is this. two or three teams under .500 can possibly make the playoffs in the East.

Out west, a 50+ win team might not even make it!! HUGE power SWING from EAST to WEST. The Obvious tougher conference is on the Westside and they play each other 4 times a year.

Has nothing to do with who's better.

 

Just shows you the League and media are on LeBron's jock. Like previously mentioned, if solely based on numbers and importance to team alone, Kobe would've had at least 2-3 MVPs by now. "Oh, but LeBron is single-handedly making a playoff team out of the Cavs and putting up great numbers at the same time." Pshhh...Kobe did the same the past two years IN THE WEST while avg. 35.4 and 31.6 ppg, respectively. Need I remind you Smush Parker was the starting PG and Kwame Brown was the starting PF/C. Did he win MVP? No. I don't even think he was runner up either. So how in the world could LeBron even be considered for MVP if he's merely doing what Kobe did the past few years but in the weaker Eastern Conference? People keep saying LeBron is unselfish, etc. But my opinion is that he is purposely going after the scoring title and MVP, like he did in the All-Star game. The guy is lookling to shoot more than he is percieved as a "playmaker."

 

Does anyone have Kobe's stats ing ames against the east?

 

Was it last year or the year before that Kobe essentially took the Lakers to the post-season? If I remember correctly it was the year he went for 81 and put up that ridiculous streak of 40+ games. That is MUCH more impressive than any year Lebron has had thus far. Kobe deserves to be a 2 or 3 time MVP by this point in his career. Too many haters

 

It was the last two years that Kobe took the Lakers to the postseason. That's what LeBron is doing right now, the only difference is he's getting more recogntion and respect for it, whereas Kobe took a lot of burn for playing so-called "Kobe-ball" and being selfish a lot, which in retrospect, he had to because his team was terrible. LeBron is doing the same thing, but he's getting praised for it. God I love media double-standards.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ Mar 13 2008, 10:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't say inflates stats, I would just say is much easier to win in. I thoroughly believe LeBron could average what he is averaging now, in the west.</div>

Then in that case, any shots at LeBron possibly getting MVP is completely unwarranted.

 

Not really. Most people factor in team record into the MVP equation and Lebron shouldn't be rewarded for leading his team to a mediocre record in a shitty conference. Its what's worked against Kobe the past two years, and the same standard should be applied for Lebron.

I don't know about you guys, but I'll be very surprised if Lebron gets the MVP. Biased media coverage and other inconsistencies aside, the voters have been pretty fair when its come to rewarding a player for team success. Its been a really long time since an MVP came from the East and I don't see that trend changing when there are candidates as strong as Kobe and Chris Paul.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Mar 13 2008, 11:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Just to clarify my amorphous comments (sorry for the delay Mamba):

<u>Against the East</u>

Kobe 05-06: 36.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 57.1 TS% (averages 55.9% against both), 40.5 MPG (averages 41.0 MPG against both)


<u>Against the West:</u>

LeBron 07-08: 29.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 54.8 TS% (averages 57.1% against both), 40.6 MPG (averages 40.6 MPG against both)

Kobe plays better against the other conference, LeBron doesn't.</div>
That doesn't make sense then. People are saying how well the West is compared to the East so LeBrons numbers against the West be low as well?

Look at last years All Defensive Team:

Kobe Bryant, Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen. All in the West.

Then look at the East. Kirk Hinrich, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince. Other than Tayshaun who LeBron destroyed in the playoffs, who gaurds the Kobe or the LeBron?

On too honourable mentions.

Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Andrei Kirilenko.

Of course Kobe plays better against the East when they have nobody to defend anyone.

As for LeBrons record, there team is still in the top four in the East while the Lakers were barely above .500 when Kobe 'should have' won MVP.

My vote does not even go to LeBron because Chris Paul has been amazing but LeBron has just as good of chance of winning as those three.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 14 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That doesn't make sense then. People are saying how well the West is compared to the East so LeBrons numbers against the West be low as well?

Look at last years All Defensive Team:

Kobe Bryant, Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen. All in the West.

Then look at the East. Kirk Hinrich, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince. Other than Tayshaun who LeBron destroyed in the playoffs, who gaurds the Kobe or the LeBron?

On too honourable mentions.

Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Andrei Kirilenko.

Of course Kobe plays better against the East when they have nobody to defend anyone.

As for LeBrons record, there team is still in the top four in the East while the Lakers were barely above .500 when Kobe 'should have' won MVP.

My vote does not even go to LeBron because Chris Paul has been amazing but LeBron has just as good of chance of winning as those three.</div>

LOL

You are just making his argument for him. So there are better defenders in the West right. Much better. Scores better. And being in the West Kobe has to play these same defenders four times vs the two times that Lebron has to play them. In addition Kobe only gets to play these lesser defenders in the East two times vs the four times Lebron gets to burn them. Make sense yet?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fiyah @ Mar 14 2008, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 14 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That doesn't make sense then. People are saying how well the West is compared to the East so LeBrons numbers against the West be low as well?

Look at last years All Defensive Team:

Kobe Bryant, Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen. All in the West.

Then look at the East. Kirk Hinrich, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince. Other than Tayshaun who LeBron destroyed in the playoffs, who gaurds the Kobe or the LeBron?

On too honourable mentions.

Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Andrei Kirilenko.

Of course Kobe plays better against the East when they have nobody to defend anyone.

As for LeBrons record, there team is still in the top four in the East while the Lakers were barely above .500 when Kobe 'should have' won MVP.

My vote does not even go to LeBron because Chris Paul has been amazing but LeBron has just as good of chance of winning as those three.</div>

LOL

You are just making his argument for him. So there are better defenders in the West right. Much better. Scores better. And being in the West Kobe has to play these same defenders four times vs the two times that Lebron has to play them. In addition Kobe only gets to play these lesser defenders in the East two times vs the four times Lebron gets to burn them. Make sense yet?
</div>
Meow!

Cavaliers have played 66 games. LeBron has played against the East only 32 times.

LeBron plays against those guys just as much. I was merely stating why LeBrons numbers are down in the West because of the great defenders compared to in the East.

 

You're also bitching about cheap shots Universe.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 14 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ Mar 13 2008, 11:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Just to clarify my amorphous comments (sorry for the delay Mamba):

<u>Against the East</u>

Kobe 05-06: 36.1 PPG, 5.4 RPG, 4.9 APG, 57.1 TS% (averages 55.9% against both), 40.5 MPG (averages 41.0 MPG against both)


<u>Against the West:</u>

LeBron 07-08: 29.6 PPG, 8.0 RPG, 7.3 APG, 54.8 TS% (averages 57.1% against both), 40.6 MPG (averages 40.6 MPG against both)

Kobe plays better against the other conference, LeBron doesn't.</div>
That doesn't make sense then. People are saying how well the West is compared to the East so LeBrons numbers against the West be low as well?</div>

Yes it does make sense, because Kobe did not split the number of games played evenly in 05-06. He doesn't get to pound on them as much as LeBron. If James had the game total split Kobe had a couple of years ago, his stats wouldn't be as impressive.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Look at last years All Defensive Team:

Kobe Bryant, Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen. All in the West.

Then look at the East. Kirk Hinrich, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince. Other than Tayshaun who LeBron destroyed in the playoffs, who gaurds the Kobe or the LeBron?

On too honourable mentions.

Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Andrei Kirilenko.

Of course Kobe plays better against the East when they have nobody to defend anyone.</div>

The East is sad. And? LeBron plays a higher percentage of games against the East.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>As for LeBrons record, there team is still in the top four in the East while the Lakers were barely above .500 when Kobe 'should have' won MVP.

My vote does not even go to LeBron because Chris Paul has been amazing but LeBron has just as good of chance of winning as those three.</div>

This would be a fair point if there was an MVP for the Eastern Conference, and another for the Western conference. The Cavaliers aren't one of the best teams nor will they have a top-tier record.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 14 2008, 11:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Fiyah @ Mar 14 2008, 11:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Universe @ Mar 14 2008, 11:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>That doesn't make sense then. People are saying how well the West is compared to the East so LeBrons numbers against the West be low as well?

Look at last years All Defensive Team:

Kobe Bryant, Raja Bell, Bruce Bowen. All in the West.

Then look at the East. Kirk Hinrich, Jason Kidd, Tayshaun Prince. Other than Tayshaun who LeBron destroyed in the playoffs, who gaurds the Kobe or the LeBron?

On too honourable mentions.

Shane Battier, Ron Artest, Shawn Marion, Josh Howard, Andrei Kirilenko.

Of course Kobe plays better against the East when they have nobody to defend anyone.

As for LeBrons record, there team is still in the top four in the East while the Lakers were barely above .500 when Kobe 'should have' won MVP.

My vote does not even go to LeBron because Chris Paul has been amazing but LeBron has just as good of chance of winning as those three.</div>

LOL

You are just making his argument for him. So there are better defenders in the West right. Much better. Scores better. And being in the West Kobe has to play these same defenders four times vs the two times that Lebron has to play them. In addition Kobe only gets to play these lesser defenders in the East two times vs the four times Lebron gets to burn them. Make sense yet?
</div>
Meow!

Cavaliers have played 66 games. LeBron has played against the East only 32 times.

LeBron plays against those guys just as much. I was merely stating why LeBrons numbers are down in the West because of the great defenders compared to in the East.
</div>

But isn't that still making his point? Because of the West's great defenders, Kobe has to play against them 4 times a year, whereas LeBron has to play them twice a year. Therefore, Kobe is doing what he is doing against better compeitition which he faces more frequently than LeBron does. Saying LeBron scores less against the West because of our defenders is merely making the point that Kobe could be that much better against the East, which he has proven. Also take into account the records. Lakers are 45-19 while playing in the Western Conference, which we play western conference teams more, yes the better teams of this league. Kobe and the Lakers have managed this in a tough Western Conference, and its not just that his supporting cast has gotten better either. Kobe still takes over in the 4th quarter in games, which we've seen against Dallas and Sacramento. My point we managed to do this in the West, where we face western conference opponents more frequently than any East team would. LeBron, while playing more East teams (or at least by the end of the year he will), has managed to get his Cavs to be 37-19 in the EAST. If he was in the West that record would be worse, and even if he kept that record they dont even qualify for the 9th spot in the West. There are 16 games left for the Cavs to improve this record, but I get the feeling that by the end of the year he will muster a record that the Lakers had in the past two seasons that got them 7th in the West, with Kobe doing what LeBron is doing this year. 7th in the West is the equivalent of 4th in the East by this year's standards. So I will say that Kobe was robbed for two years or at least for one year, the 81 year and the 62 in 3 quarters year. (not saying that you don't think he was robbed or not). But I think when it comes down to downright evidence, I'd take Kobe.

And this is also not an arrogant or cocky statement by any means. It is truth, and he spoke his mind about it. No one will refute that statement either.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Mar 14 2008, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Not really. Most people factor in team record into the MVP equation and Lebron shouldn't be rewarded for leading his team to a mediocre record in a shitty conference. Its what's worked against Kobe the past two years, and the same standard should be applied for Lebron.

I don't know about you guys, but I'll be very surprised if Lebron gets the MVP. Biased media coverage and other inconsistencies aside, the voters have been pretty fair when its come to rewarding a player for team success. Its been a really long time since an MVP came from the East and I don't see that trend changing when there are candidates as strong as Kobe and Chris Paul.</div>

How can you consider the voters as being pretty fair when Nash won two MVP awards?

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (cpawfan @ Mar 14 2008, 01:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Chutney @ Mar 14 2008, 11:32 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Not really. Most people factor in team record into the MVP equation and Lebron shouldn't be rewarded for leading his team to a mediocre record in a shitty conference. Its what's worked against Kobe the past two years, and the same standard should be applied for Lebron.

I don't know about you guys, but I'll be very surprised if Lebron gets the MVP. Biased media coverage and other inconsistencies aside, the voters have been pretty fair when its come to rewarding a player for team success. Its been a really long time since an MVP came from the East and I don't see that trend changing when there are candidates as strong as Kobe and Chris Paul.</div>

How can you consider the voters as being pretty fair when Nash won two MVP awards?
</div>

He means fair in the sense that the writers usually vote for a MVP that is a great player on a great (not good) team .