Sunday, May 4, 2008

Kobe wins MVP

Something feels wrong about Kobe Bryant winning the MVP award this year. In year's past he has been more dominant, as recently as a season ago. He has also had better numbers, like in 2002-03 when he averaged 30 ppg or 05-06 when he eclipsed 35 ppg.

For this season, Kobe hasn't been the most dominant player, that distinction is left for Chris Paul. He also hasn't put up the biggest numbers, that honor goes to LeBron James (30 ppg, 7.9 rebounds, 7.2 assists). LeBron has risen to be the best driver of the basketball and is doing it as the only real scoring option in Cleveland. Without James, I doubt Delonte West and Ben Wallace would rise to the challenge and carry Cleveland to the Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Kobe wasn't even the player to spark the most improvement on his team, also going to another MVP contender in Kevin Garnett. Garnett led the Celtics from 24-58 to 66-16, an improvement of 42 games! Garnett also provided the spark on defense Boston needed while letting his more selfish teammates shoot more on offense. Garnett's scoring decreased, but he was more efficient with the ball as he improved his fieldgoal percentage 13% from a year ago, increasing to .539. Meanwhile, the Lakers never really got better until the team acquired Pau Gasol from Memphis. Without Gasol, Kobe was trying to keep the Lakers together as a playoff contender.

Thankfully two weeks from now Los Angeles will be out of the playoffs and this will all be forgotten as Kobe watches someone else hoist the trophy he so desperately wants to win without Shaq.

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