afobisme

But people who say Kobe has more help than Chris Paul are out of their minds.

If we had a fully healthy roster for most of the season (like Chris Paul), then yeah, I would say kobe's had more help. But that's not true, and we've been injury plagued all year. If anything, Chris Paul has had more help than Kobe.

Their top 3 guys besides Chris have played 63-66 games out of a total 69 possible.

Peja Stojakovic - 64 out of 69 games
David West - 63 out of 69 games
Tyson Chandler - 66 out f 69 games

That's 193/207, or 93% of their games. They have played with their complete roster healthy for most of the season up to this point.

Our top 3 guys:

Andrew Bynum - 35 out of 71 games
Lamar Odom - 66 out of 71 games
Pau Gasol - 19 out of 71 games

That's 120/213, or 56% of our games. Also note: We have not yet played with a completely healthy roster.

Bottom line: People who are saying Chris has less help than Kobe are either 1) Kobe/Laker haters or 2) Uninformed. We have a deeper bench, but how important is the bench compared to your top 4 guys? Not nearly as much. But worst case scenario, Kobe and Chris should be at about "even" as far as "help" goes. If Lakers win the conference or have a better record than the Hornets, then in my mind, there's no question that Kobe should win over Chris as the MVP.

The Lakers vs. Hornets game on 4/11 is possibly going to decide who the 2007/2008 NBA MVP is going to be.

Bartholomew Hunt

Kobe lover.

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8.....

Plastic Man

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

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Malik Sealy (February 1 1970 - May 20 2000)

"Always in our hearts." Rest In Peace

Basel57

Kobe didn't help his MVP campaign tonight.

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“The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena; whose face is marred by sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs and comes short again and again because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; who knows the great enthusiasms, the great devotion, spends himself in a worthy cause; who at best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement; and who at worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who have never tasted victory or defeat.”

Eternal

Especially if he gets one more T.

CubanLaker

I really could care less if he gets the MVP (although it would be nice). He needs to focus on tuning his game for the playoffs. This type of play wont get it done.

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"I HATE being scored on, even by players who some say are "un-guardable." I don't believe it when they say "Oh, that player is just hot today."
F*** that! Cool his a** off then."
Kobe Bryant

B-Roy

Who cares? Lebron has even LESS help and he's putting up better numbers than both of them.

Is he going to get MVP? Probably not.

Point is, it doesn't matter. Just let things play out.

ceejaynj

I recently read that we have only played 3 effing games with a full and healthy 12-man bench this season. It doesn't get much worse that that.

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Kaas

The lineup argument is a great point. Nice find.

23AJ

The Lakers just need to be the Hornets when NO comes to LA. Short handed or not, and Kobe needs to have a good game in this showing. Because you know CP3 will be trying to go nuts on our PG's.

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’Love me or hate me, it’s one or the other. Always has been. Hate my game, my swagger. Hate my fadeaway, my hunger. Hate that I’m a veteran. A champion. Hate that. Hate it with all your heart. And hate that I’m loved, for the exact same reasons.” Kobe Bryant

afobisme

lebron has less, and his team is.. less.