Steve Kerr- "MVP Award Is Locked Up"

I also agree, he shouldn't be the front-runner just yet, and it has everything to do with his team's record. Scoring 81 points should surplant his place as a top 5 canidate though. Steve Nash, Chauncey Billups, & Dirk Nowitzki should also be in the running. The Mavs just caught the Spurs in their division, which is very impressive. I still have Chauncey #1 though, because the Pistons have the best record in the NBA, and IMO he's the main reason why.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news;_ylt=Ak41...=yhoo&type=lgns

Respect to Kobe but one game doesn't make him the MVP. If the Lakers go on a big run then It may happen but would 6th seed and just under 50 wins make him deserve MVP over or guys who led their team to better records?</div>

MVP means most valuable player. You take Dirk away from his team, the Mavericks are still better than the Lakers without Kobe. Take Nash off of Phoenix, they're still better than the Lakers without Kobe. Take Billups away from the Pistons, they're still a championship contender, that leaves both Kobe and Brand as the true definition of their team's Most Valuable Player.

Now trust me, I know that the award tends to go to someone who has led their team to a top 3 record in the league, and it's always well-deserving.

But this year, Kobe is playing on another planet. He's unreal, it's incredible. Beyond incredible. If the Lakers get a 6th seed, and Kobe is consistent in his play from here on out, there is no reason why he should not be the MVP of the leauge. If you take him away from the Lakers, you have basically an NBDL team.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting illmatic:</div><div class="quote_post">AllNet, it's not JUST ONE GAME, open your eyes.

Steve Kerr means the 81point game just put the icing on the cake for those who had doubts of his MVP-status.

Imo, it should be Kobe or Dirk, no one else. Nash got it last year, that's enough for him, Chauncey doesn't convince me, I still don't think he should have it. I'd like to see Kobe and Chauncey swap teams and see how good the Lakers with Chauncey would do.</div>


Allnet is argueably the best poster on this site, he doesn't need to open his eyes.

Just because Nash got it last year don't mean jack. MJ got it more than once? Nash has been instrumental in the Suns success without Amare. I do agree with your Chauncey point though. He doesn't convince me either, in the clutch, yes he hits big shots. But if you take him away from the Pistons, put Arroyo in his spot you still have a very capable PG, Rip, Sheed, Prince, and of course, Big Ben. Chauncey is expendable on that team.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Steve Kerr is great at stirring up controversy. Last year he had the Jazz at the top of his preseason power rankings. I'd have to agree with Allnet and Shape here, it IS just one game.



Well Kobe and Chauncey don't play the same position so that doesn't really make sense. I do think that if that was to happen Lamar Odom would be having a better season, and the Lakers would be about the same defensively, just giving up more points to opposing sgs rather than pgs.</div>

Well it's not just one game that Kobe has been dominating. The unfortunate part is the way his teammates are performing. His teammates are too, inconsistent right now to get the Lakers to better overall record. Even if the Lakers can be 10 games over .500 at the end of the season, there is no way the writer's vote him as the MVP. They will give the majority of the credit to PJax and find every excuse in the book to not give it to Kobe.

There used to be an un-written rule for writers who vote for the award. It's like the first year you breakout, you open the door for winning the MVP the following season. Most recently this was the case for Kevin Garnett. The year prior to him winning the MVP, he was more dominant, but he showed it wasn't a fluke by being solid and winning more games the next season. Kobe Bryant is in a similar situation IMO. He's made his mark this year that he's a legit MVP canidate.

Last year Steve Nash broke the mold, but there was only two legit canidates, him and Shaq. This year there's 5 or 6 guys who are in the MVP race. With Amare being injured and the Suns still winning, it really justifies Nash winning the award last year.

I don't buy the argument about Chauncey Billups being in a better situation and holding that against him. He's having his best year as a pro and the Pistons have the best record in the NBA. Their 33-5 record 86.8% winning percentage is amazing. He's the leader of that team and is counted on to win the close games for the Pistons.

Jurassic I completely disagree with you about Odom having a better year if you swapped Billups and Kobe. Lamar Odom would be doing the same thing he is now, which is show up 1 out 4 games. He's been doing it his entire basketball career dating back to highschool. Around, 16/8/5 are the averages you can expect from Odom at the end of the year regardless of who he plays sidekick next to.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NbaBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">His team is barely over .500. How does he become an MVP? When Kidd took the Nets to the finals twice, he didn't recieve nothing during that great run in the regular season or the playoffs. Who knows if he brings his team to the playoffs? Kobe is incredible but his team doesn't have a great record, even with his individual performance. Im not hating on Kobe because I love his offense ability but come on. I know at least one person is gonna say, im using Kidd as an example because im a big fan.</div>

Kidd not winning the MVP was the biggest sham ever for the award. Taking the Nets from worst to first and into the Finals in a single season should have cemented him as MVP. Even though the East was relatively weak that season, the difference Kidd made for the Nets was incredible.

 

For those who don't think Chauncey should win it. What about Shaq O'neal winning it when he played with the Lakers? Let's not forget he played alongside another All-Star, Kobe Bryant, and was surrounded by solid role players. How about Magic Johnson or Larry Bird? They played alongside some great company when they won MVP.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe is the most talented scorer in the league, quite possibly and in my opinion, ever. This year, noone can argue that with a straight face unless it's the pound for pound argument that AI might win. The only person that can stop Kobe is Kobe and there isn't one player in the league that has the ability to take over a game better. That's the truth.

But he is not... I repeat, NOT the MVP. Yet.

He has not learned how to make his team better, and in fact, in some ways, makes them worse. Don't believe the hype... there is alot of talent on that team, but you never see it because they never touch the ball. There is great leadership and coaching in Phil Jackson. If you think they are where they are all because of Kobe, you're mistaken. Nash drives his team by making them better and controling<u></u> the offense. He did the same in Dallas, but everyone was paying so much attention to Dirk, they didn't see where the heart of that teams success was. Any team Nash is on, he will make better or alot better. THAT's why he was MVP. They won with him, they lost without him.

Need I remind you that Kobe's on this "talentless" team because of Kobe, and his inability to lead... truly lead. In my mind, that alone excludes him from the race.

j</div>

I don't think you can group Nash and Kobe, because they have contrasting leadership styles, and completely different roles on their team.

Kobe Bryant tries to lead by example and challenging his teammates. If you look at the people who have led Kobe, you'll understand why he leads this way. Phil Jackson leads this way, Shaq O'neal leads this way, Jerry West leads this way, Derrick Fisher leads this way, and Michael Jordan led that way.

We Laker fans are quickly learning this approach doesn't work for this group of players. They don't respond to the challenges and until Mitch Kupchak finds the right pieces who do respond to being challenged, Kobe is going to have this stigma around him that he doesn't make his teammates better.
This is why PJax has been open to the idea of bringing in Ron Artest, a player who is highly competitive, and consistent. If PJax was confident in this team, he wouldn't even entertain the idea of bringing in Artest.

It's completely unfair, because when he defers to teammates they have failed this season. The team played poorly when he was suspended, and when he goes to the bench, the team is -5.8 (+/-) differential. This differential would be even higher had he not missed those two games against Utah.

The talent level in Phoenix trumps the Lakers talent level. There a few if any teams Smush Parker would be starting at PG, Kwame at PF, or Mihm at C?

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
Yes... but not an entire starting line-up of All-Star or near All-Star caliber teammates.

j</div>

Magic played alongside ... Kareem Abdul Jabbar, James Worthy, Byron Scott, A.C. Green, Michael Cooper
Bird played alongside ... Rober Parish, Kevin McHale, Dennis Johnson, Danny Ainge

I'd say most of those players qualify as All-Star or near All-Star caliber teammates.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Greazy9:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe is the most talented scorer in the league, quite possibly and in my opinion, ever. This year, noone can argue that with a straight face unless it's the pound for pound argument that AI might win. The only person that can stop Kobe is Kobe and there isn't one player in the league that has the ability to take over a game better. That's the truth.

But he is not... I repeat, NOT the MVP. Yet.

He has not learned how to make his team better, and in fact, in some ways, makes them worse. Don't believe the hype... there is alot of talent on that team, but you never see it because they never touch the ball. There is great leadership and coaching in Phil Jackson. If you think they are where they are all because of Kobe, you're mistaken. Nash drives his team by making them better and controling<u></u> the offense. He did the same in Dallas, but everyone was paying so much attention to Dirk, they didn't see where the heart of that teams success was. Any team Nash is on, he will make better or alot better. THAT's why he was MVP. They won with him, they lost without him.

Need I remind you that Kobe's on this "talentless" team because of Kobe, and his inability to lead... truly lead. In my mind, that alone excludes him from the race.

j



Yes... but not an entire starting line-up of All-Star or near All-Star caliber teammates.

j</div>


How can you say Kobe doesn't lead? He's in the thick of the playoff race. And DO NOT tell me he has talent on his team. From who? Let's analyze this roster:

Kwame Brown: Kwame is good for one thing. His defense. His offense is next to nothing and his head isn't in every single game. Like many of the Laker players, Kwame Brown is very, very inconsistent. You never know what you're going to get from him. One night, he'll give you 10 points and 12 boards, the next game you get 2 boards and a point.

Andrew Bynum: The future of the Lakers, not an impact at all right now. Barely gets any burn.

Brian Cook: Probably the Lakers most effective bench player, but doesn't bring any defense with him. He also settles for outside jumpers, he has no post game. When Cook is in the game, Kobe does look for him, beleive it or not. He isn't a reliable option for Kobe to look for though.

Devean George: The most disappointing role player the Lakers have. He's not earning his contract right now. He knows the triangle, yet he's inconsistent every night. One night he'll come in on fire, the next night he'll come in and blanket the box score with goose eggs.

Devin Green: No Comment.

Aaron McKie: Injured.

Slava Medvedenko: Injured and worhtless.

Chris Mihm: A good option to go to every four games or so. Mihm has a nice hook developing, but he's is too inconsistent to be relied upon. He also can't stay out of foul trouble. Also, to add to that, he's a liability on defense. You can't always count on him when you want him. Therefore, like I said before, makes him inconsistent.

Smush Parker: Smush Parker has had his good and bad nights this year. He's had games where you're just like "damn, that was a nice addition," and games where you have no clue why he's on the team. He's lackluster on defense, and on offense if he misses his first couple of shots, don't let him shoot anymore. He isn't very aggressive, which translates into a lack of free throws for him. Like Mihm, George, and Kwame, Parker is very inconsistent.

Lamar Odom: The only consistent thing that Lamar brings is his assists and rebounding. His defense at times is attrocious and the Laker are something like 0-8 when he shoots more than 15 times. We don't need him being the primary scorer, something he needs to be to be an effective offensive weapon. One night he'll give you 14/10/and 7, the next four games he'll give you 7/7/7. You can toss Odom on the list of inconsistent Lakers.

Ronny Turiaf: Love the kid, has gotten no burn. Glad he's on the team, can't wait to see what he can do next season.

Sasha Vujacic: The kid is a scrapper on defense. Not a good defender, but he'll give it his all. His offense is nearly non-existant also. His "shot" has disappeared since coming to the league, but his free throw shooting is incredible. He's only missed two free throws his whole career, to bad he doesn't get to the line enough.

Von Wafer: This rookie is a gunner. Barely gets any burn, and he has proven it. He shoots anything he can gets his hands on, no wonder he kills it in practice. He probably shoots 9,000 times.

Luke Walton: Luke's offensive gime is shot. His jumper is flat. His midrange game is flat. He doesn't even have anything close to a post game. His defense is ok when he's not in the post. He has exceptional court vision, but I think it's vastly overrated. He's not a key component to this team. I don't know why Phil like the kid so much.

You take Kobe away from this team and they're not in the playoff race, they're in the top pick race. They'd be drafting Rudy Gay when the draft rolls around. Give Kobe his props, he's leading this team to the playoffs. If he had more consistent players, this team would be in the race for the 5th seed, I understand where you're coming from, but don't be oblivious to what Kobe is doing here in Los Angeles with LITTLE CONSISTENT HELP.

<div class="quote_poster">Quoting NbaBaller:</div><div class="quote_post">Ok so if next season, Kobe scores 100 points in all 82 games, and the Lakers lose all 82, he still deserves the MVP. Can it still be an exception?</div>

That's a horrible example. If Kobe scored 100 in every game, there is no way in hell the Lakers would lose even 20 games.