NBA MVP

Everyone basically presented good reasons for Kobe and Chris Paul. I see both leading their teams solidly for the next three months. But with the Lakers getting Gasol, they have a more solid team that Kobe can lead, and yes there's more talent, but Kobe's dazzling ability and mental acumen are what make this team great. I think the Lakers hold up better post-All-Star Break. As of this second, yes, it's literally 50/50 between Paul and Kobe for me. I just think the Hornets might not be as resilient after the weekend in New Orleans. I see them slipping up a little; I see the Lakers surging.

So if it's a toss-up, does the vote swing in favor of the guy who has utterly blown our minds for the past couple of seasons, or the feel-good story of the blossoming young superstar? Both lures. I wouldn't be able to choose easily. Usually, people debate over how MVPs should be chosen. Best player on one of the best teams? Flat-out greatest single-season performance? But usually, it ends up a mix of both. A helluva great season helping along a great team. I think that's fair. And in this case, both do what they do.

But Kobe is just too darn good in literally every single way. Best defender in the NBA? Probably. Best offensive explosion in the NBA? Yes. Smartest player in the NBA? Yes. And some say these absolutes should not necessarily be factors. They are secondary to their single-season performance. But when the call is this close, these things have to come into the picture. Kobe is simply a stunner in every way, and that element has to count for something. He's just too unbelievable. Right now, since New Orleans is outperforming LAL, I throw it up in the air. But I see them becoming even, and the Hornets possibly even falling a bit below LA. So by the end of the season, Kobe.

The thing is, the MVP Award isn't generally given out to players on teams below the 5th or 6th seed in a conference. But this year, if this keeps going, is it really that egregious to give Kobe or Paul the award if their team ends up fifth? No, especially since the gap between fifth and first is hovering around 3 games. I'd even consider eighth place. And considering the Lakers squeaked into the playoffs at borderline .500 last year and Kobe was still in MVP murmurs, I say Paul and Kobe have legitimate shots if their teams make the playoffs and the West dogfight stays this nasty and thrilling...no matter where they end up on the list of 8. I just think the make-or-break will be that one team ends up a few seeds higher than the other. I think the Lakers are that higher-ranked team.

And since I'm a Rockets fan and we're closing in fast on the heart of the West, I'll say this.
We're the 10th seed in the West, but...
6 games out of the first seed.
5.5 away from being first in a division that is led by the Hornets and also includes Dallas and San Antonio.
4 games out of the 4th seed.
3 games behind the Spurs.

That's when you know things are weird. I'm not saying we'll necessarily catch the first seed or anything. I'm just pointing out that first place and tenth place in the west are separated by 6 games. That says something about the west. By the way we're clicking, I see us landing a sixth seed ahead of Denver and Portland.

Anyways, my point was...I'll throw in the big fella Yao Ming into the talks to get about one vote. :)

Alright this is absolutely ridiculous that Kobe is always forgotten from MVP talk!! He has deserved it for sometime and i think this is the year people stop shunning the best basketball player in the NBA!! Kobe Bryant is the best player in the NBA period. No arguments there cuz not only of the stats because LeBron might edge him out there. But he is the complete NBA player: skills, heart, intelligence, athleticism, and killer insitinct. No one could even match him category for category and he fianlly needs to be recognized for his efforts. The Western Conference is absolutely ridiculous cuz it's stacked with talented teams 1 - 10. With the talent that Kobe has to work with, i'm ecstatic and quite surprised that the Lakers are in 5th place. Don't tell me Kobe is a ball hog or a pure scorer because if anything he has been the main facilitator for the Lakers this year. He has helped Andrew Bynum, Jordan Farmar, Ronny Turiaf, and Trevor Ariza develop and reach their potentials. His conscious efforts to be more of a team player and allow his teammates to do a lot of the "lifting" has made the Lakers more of a team this year. Ill give Kobe-haters a fair argument in that he was not trusting in his teammates for the past few years but how can you make that same argument this year?! The guy has taken hits in his scoring statistics to become more of a facilitator for this team and he was able to sacrifice for this team to grow up and develop. Yes, they might not have the W - L record to push him through as the MVP but he needs to be recognized especially this year for his effort. Most likely CP3 and KG are the popular choices to win the MVP awards because of their immense impact on their team's W - L record. Not taking anyway from those guys but Kobe needs to be finally recognized as the MVP 2008. The only thing missing from his trophy case...

While I think Kobe will win the award simply because writers seem bad for not voting for him earlier I believe that CP3 should win the MVP, because of his effect on fellow players and the team in general. Without Paul the Hornets are a lottery team and if you put Kobe, LeBron or other scorers on the Hornets than the players around these superstars like David West and Tyson Chandler do not mature, grow and improve because these players need a play maker to make their job easier. I know that without Kobe or LeBron their teams would be lottery teams but CP3 has got his team to the top of the Western Conference rather than a 5 seed like LA or a 4 in the Leastern Conference.

I'm going to have you agree with you here, Chris Paul has just been unbelievable, getting almost 20 points and 11 assists a game to go along with 4 rebounds, and a couple of steals. Even more importantly is how well he's having his team play, no one would have said that midway through the season the Hornets would be leading the west. I see Paul as doing what Nash did when he won he's first MVP, leading his team to an unexpectedly high finish while putting up big numbers. The only others that I think are in it right now are Lebron James, just because of the insane numbers he is putting up, and KG, because of how Boston is playing. I doubt that Paul that will actually win it, I don't think that NO gets enough national love for him to win, along with the fact that he is a small point guard which has hurt in the past. I think that he should win, but that KG will win, expecially if Boston gets 60+ wins.

Chris Paul is, in my opinion, 2nd only to Steve Nash at the PG position. He can give you 25 pts, 12 ast, and 7 or 8 rebounds, a few steals, and is a great leader on/off the court.

Who would have thought that the New Orleans Hornets have a 32-12 record (as of 29 Jan).

It's pretty much him, David West, and Tyson Chandler out there, but there's no doubt he makes his team better. To go into San Antonio and dominate that team in their home stadium is something even our Phoenix Suns have trouble with. Hornets have Defense and a solid Offensive game.

Byron Scott is a great coach, and I'm still wondering why he was fired from New Jersey.

CP3 for MVP no doubt.