Monday, January 28, 2008

No-no, Wojo!

I am gonna go a little FJM here. Yahoo sports columnist Adrian Wojnarowski sez Kobe Bryant is the choice so far for this year's NBA MVP, basically because it's his turn:

"Most Valuable Player: Kobe Bryant, Los Angeles Lakers

Sometimes, there are superstars due to win the Most Valuable Player Award. It is the year owed them. No one wants to hear this, but it’s true. Once Shaquille O’Neal left, Bryant was considered an unworthy candidate because the Lakers were still losing.

Well, they’re winning again now. Until Andrew Bynum went down, they were on the brink of the Western Conference’s best record.

Sorry, but just because the Boston Celtics have the NBA’s best record, it doesn’t make them its best team. They play in the Eastern Conference. What KG has done with Boston has been impressive – even inspirational – but it isn’t on a level plane with Bryant transforming the Lakers back into Western Conference contenders. Early in the season, it looked like LeBron James. Before he’s done, James will win four or five MVPs. But unless the Lakers collapse, I’ll make the Cleveland Cavaliers star wait a little longer.

To think that Garnett could have two MVP trophies before Bryant gets his first is unfair. To become an MVP, people told Kobe to win without Shaq. He’s doing it. This time, it’s his trophy."

People this is whack. Lebron James has NO ONE ELSE ON HIS TEAM. NO ONE!! When Lebron hurt his hand and sat out 5 games, the Cavs lost all 5. After a very slow start, they've won 10 of 12 so far in January.

Plus LeBron has beaten the Lakers twice this year already (including yesterday on national TV) outdueling Kobe both times (and the Cavs have won 5 straight against the Lakers over the last 2+ years).

Overall, LeBron is averaging 29.7 points on 48.2% shooting with 7.6 boards and 7.4 assists per game while Kobe is averaging 27.7 on 44.9% shooting with 6.1 boards and 5.1 assists per game.

No one is more valuable to their team that Lebron is to his, so if that's the definition, he's the mvp. His stats are better than Kobe's and he's outplayed Kobe twice head to head in games his team also won, so if it's who's having the best season, the answer is still Lebron.

The argument that someone is "owed" an MVP is ludicrous.

By the way, KG is averaging 19 points (on 55% shooting) and 9.9 boards. I don't see him in the MVP conversation. I don't even expect to see him in the NBA finals.