http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/0604141. Kobe BryantYou don't know how much this kills me. Actually, you probably do. But Mamba passes all three MVP questions ...Question No. 1: When remembering this season 10 years from now, which player will pop into your head first?Answer: Kobe. The dude scored 62 in three quarters against Dallas, then 81 against Toronto a few weeks later. He's about to become the fifth player in NBA history to average 35 points a game (along with Wilt, MJ, Elgin and Rick Barry). He made up with Shaq. He made up with Phil. He made up with Nike. He appeared on the cover of Slam Magazine with a Mamba snake wrapped around him. He did everything but make the obligatory cameo on "Will and Grace." No player took more abuse from writers, broadcasters and radio hosts this season, but Kobe seemed to feed off that negative energy. It was almost Bondsian. And just when it kept seeming like he might wear down, he'd toss up another 50 just to keep you on your toes. Kobe was relentless. That's the best way to describe him this season.Question No. 2: In the proverbial giant pickup game with every NBA player waiting to play, who would be the first player picked this season?Answer: Kobe. He's the best all-around player in the league, the best scorer, the best competitor, and the one guy who terrifies everyone else. Plus, if you DIDN'T pick him, he would make it his mission to haunt you on the other team.Question No. 3: If you replaced every MVP candidate with a decent player at their position for the entire season, what would be the effect on their teams' records?Answer: If you replaced Kobe with a decent 2-guard (someone like Jamal Crawford) for the entire 2005-06 Lakers season, they would have won between 15 and 20 games. I can say that in complete confidence. Terrible team. When Smush Parker and Kwame Brown are your third- and fourth-best players, you shouldn't even be allowed to watch the playoffs on TV. Throw Kobe in the mix and they're headed for 45 wins. So he's been worth 25 victories for them. Minimum.In a weird way, Kobe ended up getting what he always wanted: The Lakers completely revolve around him. He gets to shoot 25-30 times per game. He gets to take every big shot at crunch-time. He gets all the credit. Nobody else on the team dares to challenge him. And even better, because he lucked out with the only possible coach who could make this cockamamie situation work, his supporting cast kills itself to make him look good.Basically, he's Elvis and everyone else is Joe Esposito. And it's working! That's the crazy thing.Now they're a sleeper in the West -- seriously, do you think Phoenix wants any part of them in Round 1? -- and have the only player in the league who can win a playoff series by himself. He's the Black Mamba, he's Kobe Bryant, he's the 2006 MVP, and since we finally have that settled, I will now light myself on fire This is bill simmons.... The same guy who all season was saying kobe could not win the mvp and there were more credible people. The guy who said he openly hates the lakers.
I agree with that, Kobe is one of the greatest players in history, he has awesome talent, and he is the one responsible for that playoff berth in LA
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:serif"><u></u></span></span> http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story...=simmons/0604141. Kobe BryantYou don't know how much this kills me. Actually, you probably do. But Mamba passes all three MVP questions ...Question No. 1: When remembering this season 10 years from now, which player will pop into your head first?Answer: Kobe. The dude scored 62 in three quarters against Dallas, then 81 against Toronto a few weeks later. He's about to become the fifth player in NBA history to average 35 points a game (along with Wilt, MJ, Elgin Baylor and Rick Barry). He made up with Shaq. He made up with Phil. He made up with Nike. He appeared on the cover of Slam Magazine with a Mamba snake wrapped around him. He did everything but make the obligatory cameo on "Will and Grace." No player took more abuse from writers, broadcasters and radio hosts this season, but Kobe seemed to feed off that negative energy. It was almost Bondsian. And just when it kept seeming like he might wear down, he'd toss up another 50 just to keep you on your toes. Kobe was relentless. That's the best way to describe him this season.[/b]</div> Scoring 81 points or 62 points and having people remember this year because of him isn't a good enough excuse for him to win an MVP. I'll remember last year's NBA season because of Ron Artest and Ron <span style="color:red"><span style="color:#000000">Artest only. Should he be MVP? 2 years ago I remember the NBA season because of Shaq and Kobe fued and their dismantling by the Detroit Pistons. Should either of them be the MVP? That is a lame reason.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><u></u></span></span> <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>Question No. 2: In the proverbial giant pickup game with every NBA player waiting to play, who would be the first player picked this season?Answer: Kobe. He's the best all-around player in the league, the best scorer, the best competitor, and the one guy who terrifies everyone else. Plus, if you DIDN'T pick him, he would make it his mission to haunt you on the other team.</div> <span style="color:red"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:serif"><u></u></span></span></span>Ummm. . . .So the MVP should be picked based off of pickup game skills. Last time I checked Rafer Alston was a playground legend. Where is he in the NBA? Decent PG. I would take LeBron or Wade a few other players in a heartbeat if I didn't pick Kobe. Again lame reason. Equating playground basketball to NBA is ridiculous. <div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'><span style="color:red"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:serif"><u></u></span></span></span>Question No. 3: If you replaced every MVP candidate with a decent player at their position for the entire season, what would be the effect on their teams' records?Answer: If you replaced Kobe with a decent 2-guard (someone like Jamal Crawford) for the entire 2005-06 season, they would have won between 15 and 20 games. I can say that in complete confidence. Terrible team. When Smush Parker and Kwame Brown are your third- and fourth-best players, you shouldn't even be allowed to watch the playoffs on TV. Throw Kobe in the mix and they're headed for 45 wins. So he's been worth 25 victories for them. Minimum.[/b]</div> I sort of agree with this except Nash. I don't think I could put a mid-level PG in Nash's spot and still have the Suns be as good as they are. You think if we replaced Nash with say Kirk Hinrich they'd be as good? Not even close. Kobe has played great and deserves strong MVP consideration but not for the reasons Simmons says. Simmons should continue rooting for the Clippers and leave real basketball to the rest of us. - Yes I'm kidding. . .
:HAHAHA: fell off my seatanyways yeah i sort of agree with simmons but not because of the remembering thing does kobe deserve the MVP.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ender @ Apr 15 2006, 09:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Scoring 81 points or 62 points and having people remember this year because of him isn't a good enough excuse for him to win an MVP. I'll remember last year's NBA season because of Ron Artest and Ron <span style="color:red"><span style="color:#000000">Artest only. Should he be MVP? 2 years ago I remember the NBA season because of Shaq and Kobe fued and their dismantling by the Detroit Pistons. Should either of them be the MVP? That is a lame reason.</span><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><u></u></span></span> <span style="color:red"><span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%"><span style="font-family:serif"><u></u></span></span></span>Ummm. . . .So the MVP should be picked based off of pickup game skills. Last time I checked Rafer Alston was a playground legend. Where is he in the NBA? Decent PG. I would take LeBron or Wade a few other players in a heartbeat if I didn't pick Kobe. Again lame reason. Equating playground basketball to NBA is ridiculous. I sort of agree with this except Nash. I don't think I could put a mid-level PG in Nash's spot and still have the Suns be as good as they are. You think if we replaced Nash with say Kirk Hinrich they'd be as good? Not even close. Kobe has played great and deserves strong MVP consideration but not for the reasons Simmons says. Simmons should continue rooting for the Clippers and leave real basketball to the rest of us. - Yes I'm kidding. . .</div>Great breakdown :winkglasses:
