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From: <NOBR>Henry-the8th</NOBR> Sent: 4/5/2008 2:20 PM I take that back.   Cleveland is in the playoffs,,, currently the 4th position. But having a 550 win/loss record will take away,,, or should take away from an MVP spot.

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From: <NOBR>opaleux</NOBR> Sent: 4/5/2008 3:13 PM I personally don't think Kobe will get it again this year....that dubious honor usually went to MJ....that's just my opinion.

 

In an NBA season defined by big trades, Boston’s rebirth, New York’s prolonged plunge as well as a scramble for supremacy in the wild, wild Western Conference, James has become an almost unstoppable force. He’s on a short list of front-running MVP candidates along with Kobe Bryant, Chris Paul and Kevin Garnett.

James, though, seems to be regarded by most media voters �?ballots are due on April 17 �?as no higher than the third choice. Bryant and Paul have led their teams to better records and are locked in a Obama-Clinton-like race to the wire. Garnett has orchestrated the Celtics�?impressive turnaround.

But it’s hard to imagine any of them being as “valuable�?to their team as James has been to the Cavaliers.

Humbled and motivated by getting swept against San Antonio in last year’s finals, James has taken his game to a higher level in his fifth pro season. Since November, he has silenced critics, the ones who wondered if he could consistently make 15-foot jumpers, the ones who argued that he couldn’t finish games, and the ones who doubted his leadership and focus over an entire season.

 

 

really,,,, Boston Celtics having fallen on their faces previous season, it seems to me that  Kevin Garnnet was MVP to his franchise.      But I've been saying for years that Kobe couldve been the next Michael Jordon - altho Kobe doesnt take the same chances as Jordon (he'd rather look good then effective).    In some ways, Kobe has more potential then Jordon but potential means squat unless its being used.    Shaq sort of  prevented Kobe from being all that while he was a Laker.   2 years to adjust without Shaquile,  its reasonable to say Kobe is on track at this point.

http://www.nba.com/features/player_rankings.html

Well, you can probably guess the Los Angeles Lakers' Kobe Bryant didn't slip to No. 11. Even a Kobe hater wouldn't have the heart to do that. Considering I'm not a hater, let's look at why, if I had a vote in the MVP race, I would have Bryant No. 1 on my ballot.

For the second time in his career, played a full 82 games, and the last half of the season with a pinky so mangled that they'd need the team that put the Bionic Man back together to get it fixed (or so I've been told)

Subjugated his numbers to incorporate and integrate not one (Andrew Bynum) but two (Pau Gasol) key post players to the triangle offense

Led a team with few expectations to the No. 1 seed in the ultra-competitive Western Conference

Matches the intangibles that KG brings and does so on both ends of the floor

Finally learned to trust his teammates

LeBron likes him

Adrian Wojnarowski mentioned that it's Kobe's time. It is. But not because he scored 81 in a game two years ago, not because he's never won it before, not because he's been the most talented player, not because this "may be his last chance to win it" (Really? Dude's 29. You think he's going to fall off the MVP cliff once he turns 30? What kind of fan are you?) and not because you have four posters in your room and "I (Heart) Kobe" etched into your school locker.

hmmm.   still no decision.

Its Kobe, Mr. 2008 MVP.

I'm a little disappointed that Kevin Garnet was not really in the conversation.

Where it comes to the criteria of how any 1 player effects the rest of the team, well - thats KG. 

 

Chris Paul seems amazing now, but it took him till half way thru the season to show up.

 

however, Kobe isnt surrounded by stars like he was when the Lakers finished first - 3times in a row. 

not only that, but he lost his teams trust and then got it back - which didnt come so easily.   

3 thumbs up for a 2007-2008 season out of Kobe Bryant. 

 

Regarded as the NBA's best player for several years but never its most valuable, Bryant earned the honor at last on Tuesday after leading the Los Angeles Lakers to the best record in the Western Conference.

He called the award a blessing and an honor and emphasized that he wants another trophy this year.

"It's Hollywood, it's a movie script. The perfect ending would be for us to hold a championship trophy at the end of it," Bryant said at a news conference attended by his teammates, club officials, his wife and two daughters.

"This is an award I couldn't have won on my own. I can't thank these guys (his teammates) enough. These are my guys, these are my brothers. Let's get ready for tomorrow."

The Lakers try to take a 2-0 lead against Utah in their conference semifinal on Wednesday night. Bryant will receive the MVP trophy from commissioner David Stern before the game.

Bryant entered the season as the league's two-time defending scoring champion. He had finished as high as third in the MVP voting twice �?after the 2002-03 season, when he averaged 30 points for the first time, and last year when Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki won.

"I don't know anybody who's ever deserved this trophy more. I don't know anybody who's ever worked as hard to accomplish what he's accomplished," said Lakers coach Phil Jackson, who had five-time MVP Michael Jordan with Chicago and was at the Lakers' helm when Shaquille O'Neal won the award in 2000.

but can he win the championship ? ? ? ? ? ? ?

 

NEW YORK, May 12, 2008 �?Forward Kevin Garnett of the Boston Celtics and Kobe Bryant of the Los Angeles Lakers headline the NBA All-Defensive First Team, the NBA announced today. Garnett, who earns his ninth All-Defensive Team selection, and Bryant, who earns his eighth selection, each received 52 points overall including 24 first-place nods