If Kobe can’t win with 35 points per game, why is he going to win with 29?
MITCHELL BLATT

According to a recent poll by the Cleveland Plain Dealer of 45 MVP (from now on referred to as Most Valuable Player) voters, Kobe is the probable choice. Kobe took the most Most Valuable Player points and the most first place votes.

The thinking behind voting for Kobe is he is leading one of the best teams in the West, and he was really good in the past–he actually deserved the award in the past–so why not give it to him now?

Because he isn’t the Most Valuable Player this year? Is that a good enough reason?

Placing second, close behind Kobe, was Chris Paul, who is averaging 21 points, 4 rebounds, and 11 assists a game for one of the other best teams in the West.

Aside from the fact that some people think he is the Best Player on the Best Team, other reasons for his Most Valuable Player candidacy would include the fact that Nash Won With a Lot of Assists, As Well.

So, both players running for Most Valuable Player are supported for illogical reasons.

If people didn’t vote for Kobe in the past because they were vengeful against him for being perceived as a jerk and a ball hog, that doesn’t give them the right to change their mind now and vote for him based on the past. Those voters were stupid in the past, and now they can’t change that.

Same with Nash’s Most Valuable Players. Just because one undeserving player got Most Valuable Player for passing doesn’t mean another undeserving player should get Most Valuable Player for passing.

It’s not like Kobe hasn’t lead a good team in the past. In his past two seasons, he made the playoffs both times, averaging 35 points per game and 31, respectively.

Why is his team better now? Because of Andrew Bynum, Pau Gasol, and Lamar Odom. It’s not as if Kobe did something to help the team more. The rest of his team is simply better, making his past two season’s accomplishments even more impressive.

Chris Broussard, of ESPN The Magazine, basically acknowledged that he is only supporting Kobe because of the past:

I also take history into account, because this award affects how players are viewed historically, what their legacy is. And it would be a travesty if Kobe retired without an MVP.

Right. Travesty.

It would also be a “travesty” if the rightful winner didn’t win.

Players don’t shouldn’t win Most Valuable Player because they are a great player who the press thinks should have a legacy. It’s supposed to work the opposite way. Players develop a legacy because they win Most Valuable Player. They also develop a legacy by scoring 81 points in a game.

Now, who should win Most Valuable Player?

LeBron Freakin James.

He might also be the Best Player.

But, for the sake of this argument Most Valuable Player refers to the player who is Most Valuable to their team.

Kobe’s supporting cast is now better than LeBron’s. A testament to that is the fact that, with LeBron hurt early this season, the Cavs went 0-8, while the Lakers went 3-3 during a stretch of games that Kobe missed. Clearly, LeBron is More Valuable to his team.

Somewhere along with line, a bunch of other qualifiers got thrown into MVP like a.) must be on a 50+ win team b.) must be one of the best teams in the NBA c.) must be old enough d.) must have enough of a national following.

Because the Cavs only have 42 wins now, and are the #4 seed in the East (by definition, a top team and a playoff team, but not in the media’s eyes), he has already been disqualified.

There are only eight teams with 50+ wins to choose from, and even though five of them are within two games of each other for the Western Conference title, only two are being considered, the ones of the two best teams.

So, credit Kobe with an MVPOFPWT (Most Valuable Player on Fifty Plus Win Team). You know he deserves it.

Popularity: 2% [?]