Kobe Bryant is 2008 MVP!!!!

This is a happy day for Kobe, Lakers fans, and anybody else who was tired of hearing about how much the NBA hated Kobe Bryant. Congrats to Kobe.

 

In terms of the way the league votes, Kobe deserves it this year, but didn't deserve it in past years.
In terms of actual value Kobe deserved it definitely the year he put up 35 ppg.

This year, I'd say Lebron or Chris Paul probably deserve it most, with Kobe at a near 3rd.

The other years it would be Kobe or Lebron.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ May 3 2008, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In terms of the way the league votes, Kobe deserves it this year, but didn't deserve it in past years.
In terms of actual value Kobe deserved it definitely the year he put up 35 ppg.

This year, I'd say Lebron or Chris Paul probably deserve it most, with Kobe at a near 3rd.

The other years it would be Kobe or Lebron.</div>

In terms of "the way the league votes" means focusing on wins and intangibles instead of Stats, that would mean LeBron is not in the discussion this year. Kobe and Paul were about a toss-up but I'd give it to Kobe for being clutch at the end and the plethora of reasons I've stated before in other threads. Kobe has even played better against the superior teams, I'd still be inclined to give him priority.

Please, let's not flood the thread with controversy, this should just be a happy time for Laker fans.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (huevonkiller @ May 3 2008, 03:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Lavalamp @ May 3 2008, 02:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>In terms of the way the league votes, Kobe deserves it this year, but didn't deserve it in past years.
In terms of actual value Kobe deserved it definitely the year he put up 35 ppg.

This year, I'd say Lebron or Chris Paul probably deserve it most, with Kobe at a near 3rd.

The other years it would be Kobe or Lebron.</div>

In terms of "the way the league votes" means focusing on wins and intangibles instead of Stats, that would mean LeBron is not in the discussion this year. Kobe and Paul were about a toss-up but I'd give it to Kobe for being clutch at the end and the plethora of reasons I've stated before in other threads. Kobe has even played better against the superior teams, I'd still be inclined to give him priority.

Please, let's not flood the thread with controversy, this should just be a happy time for Laker fans.
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Well Heuvon does agree that wins takes a huge toll in deciding. Anyway, Mamba to be respectful to Laker fans I won't discuss it here, but if u want I can elsewhere.

 

We already have some interesting threads about this discussion, which occurred a couple of weeks ago.

I'd recommend taking a look at those (using the search feature or whatever) since they were fun for me to discuss and I'd rather not repeat myself.

 

Kobe had a better year than both LeBron and Paul. Thats why the Lakers are #1 in the West.

If LeBron would have taken the Cavs to the top of the East, then it'd be a different story.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Black Mamba @ May 3 2008, 04:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Well you can discuss it here, I just want to know how you have him behind LeBron? I wouldn't have mind Paul winning it this year, in fact, I thought he was in the lead until the final stretch of the season. When Kobe led the Lakers to the top seed and wins over New Orleans and San Antonio, is when Kobe overtook the MVP lead.</div>

100% agree with you, here. That's exactly my thoughts of who should win between Kobe and Paul.

Congrats Kobe!

 

Kobe was the most consistent all year long. He also played all 82 games. He wasn't the best player all year, I reserve that to KG in the 1st half and Paul in the 2nd half. But he was 2nd behind them all year long.

The fact they won the Pacific, the tough West, and beat the Hornets and Spurs just solidified it at the end.

Consistency was the key for Kobe Bryant if you ask me.

 

I think Chris Paul had the edge until the final weeks when Kobe took over and they went 9-1 (not sure about the record here, but it was something like that) to clinch and secure the #1 seed.

Prior to that, Chris Paul was just ballin'.

Believe me Im a Kobe fan, but Paul was just unbelievable until the last stretch of the regular season. Kobe again, was just very consistent.

 

Paul will get his fair share of personal accolades... but for now its Kobe's time...

Who's up for a repeat next year? LOL KB24 back to back MVP's hahaha (thats pushing it)

I think it will be either Lebron or CP3 next year... Still depends on their team's record though... But i think the Hornets will be up there alongside the Lakers

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ May 3 2008, 03:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe had a better year than both LeBron and Paul. Thats why the Lakers are #1 in the West.

If LeBron would have taken the Cavs to the top of the East, then it'd be a different story.</div>

Kobe had a better team around him and that's why they had a better record.
Look at Kobe's numbers this year and last year.. barely any difference save for his scoring going down with his shot attempts. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2008.html
He had less attempts because of the emergence of Bynum, the return of fisher, the huge improvement of Sasha and Farmer and the absolute steal of a deal to get Gasol who's like KG a great second fiddle, just don't ask him to win a playoff series.
Odom plays better when the pressure is off too.

so the Lakers had a better year, IMO LeBron and CP had better individual years. Since writers take team record in to account Kobe did get the award... but let's not pretend he's done anything really all that different than he has in the last few previous years.

p.s. The Cav's finished 4th in the East (regardless of the win total) so that's still a very good year.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Celtic Fan @ May 5 2008, 10:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (CelticKing @ May 3 2008, 03:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe had a better year than both LeBron and Paul. Thats why the Lakers are #1 in the West.

If LeBron would have taken the Cavs to the top of the East, then it'd be a different story.</div>

Kobe had a better team around him and that's why they had a better record.
Look at Kobe's numbers this year and last year.. barely any difference save for his scoring going down with his shot attempts. http://www.basketball-reference.com/teams/LAL/2008.html
He had less attempts because of the emergence of Bynum, the return of fisher, the huge improvement of Sasha and Farmer and the absolute steal of a deal to get Gasol who's like KG a great second fiddle, just don't ask him to win a playoff series.
Odom plays better when the pressure is off too.

so the Lakers had a better year, IMO LeBron and CP had better individual years. Since writers take team record in to account Kobe did get the award... but let's not pretend he's done anything really all that different than he has in the last few previous years.

p.s. The Cav's finished 4th in the East (regardless of the win total) so that's still a very good year.
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First, I don't know what you're talking about, of course the writers take the low-quality of the East into account. The number of wins LeBron had matters to them.

Kobe had a better team than who? LeBron's team was less talented, but then again Bron dilutes his stats by playing in the East, empirical fact.

Bynum and Pau played 62 games together, many games less than NO's frontcourt, they had a better cast around Paul this year due to LA's injuries and the fact that Pau got there late.

The MVP is indeed a team based award though, no doubt.

 

I don't understand the point in having 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th place votes.

 

Kobe getting presented the MVP award:

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MWAH! So cute