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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 11, 2007
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Great topic on Dan Patrick radio show this morning
Do you think Kobe got his MVP because of a great 2007-08 year (statistically he's had better years) or do you think the voter finally gave it to Kobe as a lifetime achievement reward for all the years he didn't receive it?
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 11, 2007
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A ready set go bump for the Kobe fans and Kobe haters out there ...
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Reputation:97
Level:Superstar
Since:Nov 17, 2006
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I think he got the nod because of his reputation but he had an amazing season and definitely deserves it.
I push.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:May 4, 2007
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A combination of both. You can't deny the fact that he deserves it, he clearly does. But you also have to think that if he already one or two MVP trophy's, Chris Paul would have won it.
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Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 14, 2008
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The main reason he won the MVP was because the Lakers finished first in the West. He has had far better statistical and dominant seasons but the team was not as successful. If Kobe averaged 30-7-7 and the Lakers not finished 1st, Paul would've won it. I would't call it lifetime achievement or just a great individual season. It was definately a mix of great season and team success.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Apr 11, 2007
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great point baggedmax about team success
BUT I do remember in the Shaq/Kobe era when they were winning titles and Shaq himself lobbied hard for Kobe to get the MVP, but never got it then either even with Laker Championships under his belt.
Also another point made on the radio, one can argue the 1st half the best individual player of the season had to go to KG of the Celtics (before injuries) , the 2nd half had to go to Chris Paul of the Hornets (both debatable of course). Kobe being more consistent as a player all year has something to do with it as well ... and yes also equates to Laker success.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 26, 2007
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Exactly BaggedMax-The race was tight until CP3 lost down the stretch and the Lakers kept winning to take the west. A week or two leading up to the end of the season writers and other media people were saying that the winner of the West might get it. The Horners were on top, and it seemed as if the nod would go to Paul. One of their last two losses were to the Lakers, hard to give it to him at that point, along with not winning the West.
The sad thing would have been since this was the talk towards the end if Kobe didn't get the award; then that meant the Haters would have mud on their faces. I think over the last 4-5 yrs they've molded the award to what they ALL thought Kobe wasn't--so more reason to not give it to them. They had to eat those words this season...
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Reputation:92
Level:All-Star
Since:Jan 14, 2008
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During the "Shaq/Kobe" era, the team was too stacked to single out one player as the most valuable player because you could always argue the team would still succeed if one of tehm went down.
I believe that was the case with Kevin Garnett. He had 2 other perennial all stars on his team and it was very debateable whether he was even the most valuable player on his own team. I think each of the big three had an important role. Ray Allen was the shooter/clutch player. Paul Pierce was the go-to guy when you needed a basket and also a clutch player. Garnett was the heart and soul of the team as well as the post presence and defensive center piece. When the game was on the line, Garnett was the 3rd option. As a result, I never really thought of him as the MVP, despite popular opinion early on in the season.
As for Chris Paul, he had a fantastic season. I would say he had a slightly better second half of the season then Kobe except for the last two weeks. I also think he received a lot of this credit because at the beginning of the season, no one expected it. Everyone already knew Kobe was going to average about 30-6-5. I think this added a lot to Chris Paul's case for MVP. At the end of the day, either player could have easily won MVP with minimal controversy, however Kobe stepped up at the end of the season when it mattered the most, and Chris Paul didnt.
On a side note, Chris Paul is playing out of his mind and it looks like they are definately going to advance to the next round. If Chris Paul can keep it up, he may be able to get a finals MVP, which IMO is much better then the regular season MVP. If they can take out the Lakers and win the championship, I think it will show who really had the better year.
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Reputation:96
Level:Superstar
Since:Feb 22, 2008
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I gotta agree with Bagged here, I think that either one of these players could of got it. If the Hornets were the #1 seed in the west then Chris Paul would of won it. I think this is what most voters used as their deciding factor since both can be considered the MVP of the league this year.
The Lakers made it to the top so congradulations Kobe Bryant. You finally got one.
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Reputation:99
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 26, 2007
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I think it was definitely a lifetime achievement award because I've heard many voters imply that very fact. Guys who's opinion counted in the selection of MVP said he's been the best player in the league for years and finaly has the record to go with it so you have to give it to him. But it's not a Kobe thing. Karly Malone's first MVP was in a season that Jordan should have won it but he had enough and people knew Malone was coming toward the end of his career. They gave one to David Robinson instead of giving Hakeem his back to back MVP's that he deserved and the Dream showed the Admiral what was up for real in the playoffs that year. It's definitely a factor with the voters and it was this year. To me, Chris Paul was clearly MVP, but even if this ends up being his best statistical season, he'll win an MVP award for the same reasons he lost this one somewhere down the line. All he has to do is wait for Lebron to get his and he'll be next in line.
I know that sounds critical but again, I don't fault Bryant. He has had an MVP caliber season by the historical criteria the voters follow so he deserves the award. But no one will ever be able to convince me that someone had a more impressive season than Chris Paul this year.
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Reputation:79
Level:Pro
Since:Nov 13, 2007
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I think he got it because the Lakers finished first in the Western Conference. I think that Chris Paul had a better year as an all around team player and I think that LeBron James means more to his team than Kobe Bryant does to his. You can't take away from Kobe the fact that without him Pau Gasol would not have come to the Lakers and they would be a sub .500 team so he does mean alot to his team. I think that even with winning the West if he already had been awarded the MVP it might have gone to Chris Paul. The Hornets posted their best season in franchise history and he averaged a double double. So Kobe got his life time achievement trophy now we can move on in the next couple of years and give it to the other guys who deserved it this year. Laker fans should have no problem with that since they have argued that Kobe deserved it the last couple of years. Finally the crying can stop and we don't have to hear bout Kobe and MVP anymore.
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Reputation:95
Level:Superstar
Since:Mar 26, 2007
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Without West and Chandler CP3 is garbage...so tired of the "if this wasn't like this or that" Every excuse is made for a reason Kobe shouldn't get an award. When he gets his next title it will be because Stern and others gave it to him (garbage).
The postings were going well until Mgicethegreat showed up...
LA_till_I_Die...
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