The Most Valuable Column
Posted on August 6, 2008
A few of you have already discovered this, but for those of you who have not, I have a new announcement for you. As of two weeks ago (apologies for the delayed announcement), I am a regular contributor at Hardwood Paroxysm. My MVP column, entitled the Most Valuable Column, will appear on HP every other Wednesday.
If you haven’t yet seen my introductory column from two weeks ago, click here to check it out.
Once you’ve read that, click here to read today’s column, which addresses the issue of the 50-win standard (which I have referred to here at Respect Kobe as the Bryant-Nash Rule). As Henry Abbott pointed out on TrueHoop, it’s a long post — but if you wonder at all about the 50-win standard, and whether or not we should adhere to it in determining the MVP, then I think it’s worth your time. So head on over to Hardwood Paroxysm and check it out.
Click the Continue reading… link below for excerpts and more information.
Filed Under Hardwood Paroxysm, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, MVC, MVP, Most Valuable Column | 1 Comment
Kobe Bryant: Whatever It Takes
Posted on June 5, 2008
Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Kobe Bryant has completely dominated these Playoffs.
More significantly, however, is how he has done so — in nearly every way imaginable. He has dominated the best teams in the NBA as a scorer. He has picked teams apart with his passing. He has played the role of decoy. He has taken over late in games. He has created for his teammates.
Simply put, he has done whatever was needed from him at any given moment.
Filed Under Boston Celtics, Kobe Bryant, Lakers, LeBron James, MVP, Michael Jordan, Nuggets, Playoffs, San Antonio Spurs, assists, big games, clutch, leadership | 2 Comments
MVP, But Not Without Weakness
Posted on May 15, 2008
Kobe Bryant is good at most things on the court. He has, without a doubt, the most complete and well-rounded basketball skill set currently in existence. He is, and has been for the last half-decade, the best player in the world, and he is this season’s MVP — and he is completely deserving of that honor. But he is not without weakness, even on the hardwood court that he so thoroughly dominates.
There will be time — very soon, I promise — to celebrate his MVP season. But right now, I want to focus on four of Kobe’s on-court weaknesses: complaining to the referees, “lost ball” turnovers, jumpshooting when cold, and inconsistent assisting.
Filed Under Kobe Bryant, Lakers, LeBron James, MVP, Statistics, Teammate, assists, complaining, officiating, poor shooting, referees, turnovers, weaknesses | 18 Comments
An Ironic Chris Paul Day
Posted on May 6, 2008
This first part is painfully obvious, so let’s get it out of the way right now: I love Chris Paul. He is simply incredible. That sound you sometimes hear when watching Hornets games? That’s my mind blowing (from halfway across the country). He has accomplished things few point guards have ever managed in the history of the game, and he’s one of several factors that have breathed new life into the NBA during this season.
But one day, either before or after a Lakers game that my wife was watching with me, I turned on a Hornets game (probably because I was tracking them closely, in hopes that the Lakers could take over the #1 spot in the West by season’s end). Can you guess my wife’s first comment when I pointed Paul out to her?
“He looks like Carlton Banks from Fresh Prince.”
Filed Under Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant, LeBron James, MVP, Playoffs, Statistics, Western Conference | 14 Comments
Kobe Dominates — Even When He Doesn’t
Posted on April 24, 2008
And that, folks, is why Kobe Bryant deserves more credit for Sunday’s Game 1 than his 9-for-26 stat line would seem to indicate.
Yes, he shot poorly in Game 1. Yes, at times he failed to run the offense. And yes, he did finish with only one assist. On the other hand, however, he was the reason that Pau Gasol, Lamar Odom, and Luke Walton were nearly unstoppable.
He made them pay, tallying 49 points and 10 assists on 18-27 shooting, directly contributing to 71 of the Lakers’ 122 points. His performance was exactly what the Nuggets were afraid of — and what they did their best to prevent — in Game 1. It is why they willingly left other Lakers unguarded…
Filed Under Kenyon Martin, Kobe Bryant, Lakers, MVP, Nuggets, Playoffs, Statistics, big games, leadership | 4 Comments