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Damn I just want to punch Jemele Hill right in her fat face.
Hollinger is a dummy.
Here's the rankings each ESPN writer gave Kobe for MVP:
#1
J.A. Adande – To watch Kobe during the Lakers' wins over New Orleans and San Antonio over the weekend was to see his full value on display. The way he directs his teammates, the way he's in sync with coach Phil Jackson, the way he initiates the offense, his help defense ... it's all the subtle parts of his game that deserve mention. They've helped more than his scoring outbursts in the past.
Maurice Brooks – This is the season when the Swiss Army Knife -- best versatility, dependability, and quality in the NBA -- finally gets his due. Kobe is a shut-down defender and has been the best offensive weapon in the league since MJ departed. He is a coach on the floor, has learned to trust other players and has led the Lakers to the top of the most compe ive conference in the history of the Association without an All-Star teammate.
Chris Broussard – This is not a "Lifetime Achievement'' vote. This is based on Kobe playing outstanding team (and individual) ball while carrying an injury-plagued club to the top of the West. Andrew Bynum has played only 35 games and Pau Gasol just 25 with the Lakers, yet Kobe's brilliance has kept L.A. soaring. All due respect to CP3, but his two best teammates, David West and Tyson Chandler, have each played at least 74 games.
Jemele Hill - I know I recently wrote that Chris Paul deserves the MVP, but the Hornets appear to be slipping a bit and the Lakers are still surging. Besides, if Kobe doesn't win this one this year, he may go down as the greatest player to never win an MVP. That's as bad as giving Steve Nash two MVPs.
Mark Jackson - Great all-around year. Has trusted his teammates and made them better.
Scoop Jackson - He finally deserves to get recognized for what he is: the best, most complete, thorough-est basketball player breathing. In the end, the haters will have their say, making it three years in a row where he's been overlooked like a balcony. And even though this year will make less sense in him getting it than ever before, Phife's Law is still in effect: "I never need a statue to tell me how nice I am."
Jalen Rose - Has been acknowledged as the best player on both ends of the floor the last couple of seasons. But his maturity this season, his ability to allow teammates to grow while still being able to play well through turbulence -- whether trade rumors, or several injuries to teammates -- makes him the definition of Most Valuable Player.
Marc Stein - Lifetime Achievement Award? Stop it. Kobe is playing the team ball of his life at both ends for a team everyone in the West deeply fears. He's also playing in an individual stratosphere only LeBron can touch, all while playing through a hand injury that still requires surgery because Andrew Bynum and Pau Gasol combined to miss more than 60 games. Add it all up and the game's best player has had the best season, too.
David Thorpe - Kobe's numbers are terrific, and he is the only perimeter player in the league you would want both with the ball and defending the ball in the final two minutes of a close game. The Lakers are on the cusp of being the best team in perhaps the best conference ever, despite playing many games without their other key players. He's played in every game this season, inspiring his teammates like never before.
#2
Chris Palmer - I'm in favor of giving Kobe a lifetime achievement award, but that's not why he deserves the MVP should voters actually give him the nod. There were long stretches where Kobe played nearly flawless basketball while the Lakers endured one injury after another. And Los Angeles didn't fade as expected. Outside of Paul, who had a better year in the leadership department? Bryant is the greatest player of his generation. Giving him the award would restore its credibility.
Chris Sheridan - Another one of my beefs: the "lifetime achievement award" argument that some are making to support Bryant's candidacy. Yes, he's the game's best player, but also give credit to Andrew Bynum, Sasha Vujacic and Jordan Farmar for improving on their own, to Lamar Odom for staying healthy, and to Mitch Kupchak for signing Derek Fisher and acquiring Pau Gasol.
#3
Henry Abbott - I bet Kobe is going to win it. And if he does, I'm fine with that because of how he is simultaneously among the hardest-working, the smartest, and the fiercest of players. James and Bryant both appear to coast for stretches of games in the early season. But now that it's prime time, this man is a beast at both ends of the floor.
Chad Ford – Kobe's have a great season, but it's not been his best. The Lakers are winning and I know some will want to give it to him as a lifetime achievement award ... but he's neither the best player on the best team nor the best individual player in the league. So how do you give it to him?
Tim Legler - One of his best all-around seasons. He's had higher scoring seasons, but he has managed this team, helped the younger guys and been embraced by his teammates. He grew up a lot and he's still the best all-around player in the game.
#4
John Hollinger - A favorite because he's never won and the Lakers are likely to finish first in the West. But he didn't have his best season individually -- and the first half of the season, when he was still feeling out whether he wanted to get with the program or not, still sits on his record. I'd draft him ahead of Chris Paul in a heartbeat, but over this 82-game body of work, Paul, Garnett and James were better.
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Damn I just want to punch Jemele Hill right in her fat face.
I'm 100% against abusing women but that ing absolutely deserves to be smacked around.
Ford says LeBron is the best individual player in the league. KG is the best player on the best team. And, that's why Kobe can't be MVP, and then he proceeds to vote for Chris Paul.Chad Ford – Kobe's have a great season ... but he's neither the best player on the best team nor the best individual player in the league. So how do you give it to him?
LMAO! But hey she voted Hedo Turkoglu fifth on her ballot so she must like white people now.
Didn't they lose to the Bobcats, Blazers, and Rockets without Yao during that key stretch??? What's he talking about?Chris Palmer - I'm in favor of giving Kobe a lifetime achievement award, but that's not why he deserves the MVP should voters actually give him the nod. There were long stretches where Kobe played nearly flawless basketball while the Lakers endured one injury after another.
I like Marc Stein's response the best.
I love how Kobe is suddenly a "leader" a "finisher" and a "coach on the floor" when he has two all star caliber players on the floor with him and one of the best benches in the league. A vote for Kobe is a sentimental vote, pure and simple. If he were in Cleveland, they'd be in tenth place, looking for a new coach and shopping Kobe to anyone that answers the phone.
That part is also true. I do think Kobe deserves it this season as much as CP3, it's pretty much a toss up. But the fact that people are all of a sudden praising him for his leadership and on the floor coaching is exagerated. If he had acted like this the past two seasons, when he had a struggling team, then I could understand. It's easy to be a leader and floor coach when you're winning.
Ask Lebron James. If Kobe were on that team instead of Lebron, you think he still wouldn't be preaching his "Trade me/Do something to make us a contender,etc" routine?
Kobe deserves the MVP this season because he's been the most consistent player on both ends of the floor this season and he's playing at a high level and involving his teammates more instead of jacking up so many ill-advised shots as he has in the past.
Very True.
And if Lebron was in L.A., the Lakers would be even scarier IMO.
The last two years, Kobe's had a substantially worse team than LeBron's had the last two years and yet he got them to #7 and #8 respectively in a much more compe ive West. Kobe in the East with LeBron's team would have a #2, #3 seed without this struggle right now.
Remember that mild hand sprain LeBron had and sat out a bunch of games? , Kobe would NOT have sat out 7 games like LeBron while his team took on 7 losses. Hand sprain vs broken finger and Kobe's gonna finish up playing ALL 82 games this year.
LeBron's the next great generation player but in this generation, Kobe is still hands down better because winning means more to him than LeBron. LeBron's more physically talented but does not have the compe iveness of a Kobe or even Dirk.
With the amount of games missed by both Bynum and Gasol, the Lakers should not be in first place in the Western Conference, period.
I think you have to separate the off-the-court Kobe from the on-the-court Kobe. The off-the-court Kobe has been an extremely selfish person unconcerned with teammates while looking out for his own best interest. The on-the-court Kobe even in previous seasons has frequently and consistently tried to be a leader with his teammates and has always been about winning. Now taking too many shots, not passing the ball, and not trusting his teammates have been a product of him wanting to win. But, even before this season, you would see Kobe talking to teammates on the bench trying to let them know what they are doing right or wrong and directing them in the game. That's leadership on the court. He's obviously a fiery personality and he'll yell at teammates when they up. But, this isn't the first year since Shaq's trade you would see Kobe talking to teammates on the bench or while someone's shooting free throws trying to help teach them to understand something or telling them what to do.
Now in the locker room, Kobe has not been a leader. That's for sure. But, on the court, he's very often been a leader and a coach on the floor. And, he's almost always been a finisher with that one exception in that playoff series against the Suns when he refused to shoot the ball in the second half of the series deciding game.
If Kobe were in Cleveland, I think it's a very good likelihood he would have taken the Cavs just as far last year in the East. And, if LeBron were on the Lakers, I think they would be right around where they are now. Kobe and LeBron are the two best players in the league. While LeBron puts up better individual stats, I don't think he would be a mind blowing difference if he were on the Lakers.
I agree Jamstone ...there isnt much diffence ...Kobe better shooter Lebron stronger finisher ... both best 1 on 1 plyers in the league.
I guess David West isnt an all star and Peja is crap...and lets not factor in that NO has been healthy all season.
Now that Kobe has the best all around cast and bench in the league, he is the model citizen now.
No more throwing the team, Phil, front office, and teammates under the bus huh Kobe? No more demanding a trade, huh Kobe?
He will always be that guy in my eyes. The whiney prima donna.
Silly how most voters consider things on the court rather than off the court when determining who the MVP is.
Off the court, Kobe is a jerk. On the court, he's the best player in the league.
She is pretty horrible.
Im not a voter, I consider him as I please.
Lets not take away the fact that the Lakers team success is highly more skewed to a really great collection of players, rather than one really gifted player.
Similar to what I see in Detroit.
Lol..these same players last year was crap..then all of a sudden..a collection of great players.
Yup a collection of great players from last year.....oh yeah we got rid of Smush and added Fish and we were the best team in the West when Bynum went down. What is the media going to do when there's a healthy laker team with Fish, Kobe, Odom, Bynum and Gasol on the team.....hmmmmm.....
LOL, cause thats the only change the Lakers made. Forget adding a huge piece in Pau and getting rid of Kwame Brown. Oh and forget that the young talent on the Lakers squad has improved the way a team hopes young talent can improve. Never mind the key addition of Fish and the improvement of Odom.
Nevermind, forget all that.
It's all Kobe.
Kobe was there with "these same players" last year too. If they are exactly the same, I'm not sure how Kobe suddenly gets credit for making them better when he didn't do it last year. I seem to recall he was demanding a trade and throwing Bynum under the bus not too long ago.
He did get credit the previous seasons but didn't get to the magical 50 win mark that determines the MVP. Kobe did a tremendous job of getting an NBDL team to the Playoffs in the West. This is the same reason why LeBron's done a fantastic job but is not a contender for MVP because of team record.
Kobe throwing Bynum under the bus is absolutely true...at the same time, he stopped that as soon as the season started. From day 1, he gave the team a chance despite his misgivings. Kobe's been consistent through the entire season, trade or no trade. He could have just as easily been a cancer to the team but he wasn't.
The next time things go south for the Lakers, I expect to see Kobe show his true colors once again.........Its just a matter of time
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