I wouldn't worry too much about what other people on the General Board think regarding these two players. Most of them dislike Kobe to the extent that they'd be happier if Chris Paul got it (regardless that they wish James would), because that would mean that Bryant was once again over-looked.
Here's another interesting fact that is burried in one of those X vs. Y for MVP or if X does Y, does he win the MVP threads.
The starting line-ups for the Lakers include 16 different ones. The most games a starting line up has played together is 13 and 11 games.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...008_start.html
The Hornets have had 12 different starting line ups and the most games the first couple have played together is 50 and 4.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...008_start.html
Of course people countered this fact with:"The Lakers obviously have a deeper team."
At this point of the season I honestly don't care what I read anymore. I love this team and how the players evolved, but it's clear that having a relatively injury-free roster at your disposal for the entire course of the season is better than having your teammates miss over 160 games combined and does not mean you've had lesser help. People are just putting down Pauls teammates to strengthen his case. I'm pretty sure that no one in the right mind believes that an All Star, one of the best rebounders in the league and a former MVP candidate who happens to be one of the best 3-point shooters in league history equals a terrible supporting cas... let alone worse than a washed point guard, an chronically inconsistent 2nd option, a 20 year old injured center and a former All-Star. I obviously don't mean what I've said about our players, but we could just the same make the same case for Bryant's supporting cast as Paul's fans do.
What's impressive though and I don't think enough is said about this, is that both of these teams are tied for 1st in the mighty West. Who would've thunk it
.
peace