Quote:
Originally Posted by Plastic Man
LOL. Even Mitch Cupchak has complimented Bryant in his recent interview that he is impressed how he was able to put all the trade talk and things that were going on off the court to the back on his mind and play for the best of the franchise and the ball club and give it a 100%, so forgive me if I believe him rather than your "coasting through the first few months of the season" accusations. He gave his best in the very season opener for Christ's sake. Overcame the boos of his home crowd (justified I might add, since he demanded the trade) and turned them into cheers and chants again.
Anyway, all the things you say are completely irrelevant to him being or not being the MVP and have no base whatsoever. I'm surprised you didn't bring the "fact" that he drove Shaq out of town or the rape trial into the discussion as well.
"but he's not the MVP now just because he realized his team didn't suck as much as he thought it did so he started giving 110% again."
No you're right. He's not the MVP because of that, he's the MVP because he's lead his team to the 1st spot in the WC with only 18 games to play and has put up great numbers across the board. That's why.
p.s.: not that I condone "the tape", but it was blown way out of proportion. He said:"Ship his *** out." Oh, dear Lord, he really trashed him with that. I mean, who would possibly want to trade a future HOF poing guard for a backup center with flashes that he might become something in 5 years. He didn't say Bynum is stupid, ugly or doesn't know how to play basketball and is the next coming of Kwame Brown. He said... trade him. Get over it. By the way, did you happen to think about the possibility that the results (albeit being surprising) have came because the team overcame the off season distractions and played as a group. Yeah, I didn't think so.
p.s.: don't take this the wrong way, I'm just as eager to criticise Bryant when it comes to pointing out flaws he has on the court and why he should (not) win the award. Bringing totally unrelated stuff into the argument fires me up a bit though.
peace
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Although I do not believe Kobes actions reflect his MVP status in the off season to me personally. (If anything, his anger at management, lack of moves, etc coming into the season didn't affect his level of play or effort. That should always be remembered. Kobe doesn't quit, will never quit and will want to win no matter what situation he is in).
Reality, if Kobe was the GM of this team we would suck. Kidd and Kobe? Future HOF'er, maybe we could get Kareem to come out of retirement to.
Seriously, that trade would have been awful. The Lakers were not going to trade Bynum, because they believed in his potential. Kobe's comments may have directly influenced Bynum to work harder in the off season, so Kudos. But it's not like Bryant had a master plan envisioned from the start. "Ok, I'm going to call the Buss family idoits, and tell them to ship Bynums *** out. That out to light a fire of trade moves, and player growth!".
Kobe trash talked because he was a cry baby. He desires his legacy to be higher than Jordan's one day, and knows if this team didn't get better and soon, that wouldn't have a chance. (I did agree with his complaints on lack of trades over the last few years, especially passing up potential deals like Baron Davis, etc).
Kobe has also been for lack of the better description, anti-social years previous to this. He has grown a little each year. I do commend him for that as he is truly looking like he is having fun out there. Something that he didn't seem to be doing before. He's also becoming that guy that hangs with the players after practice, and encourages them throughout the games. This is the Kobe the Lakers have needed the last four years.
For me his MVP status is valid because he is playing some of the best defence he's played in years. He's taking better shots for the most part, and distributing the ball well, and he also admitted that if he were the GM of this team, it would have resulted in bad moves. Kobe has grown up a lot this year, and deserves more respect.
Thats just my opinion of course.