Excellent news, and a QOTD
The Lakers haven't played 10 games of their allotted 82 for the '08-'09 season, but apparently it's perfectly safe to start buying up/saving money for playoff tickets. Statistically speaking, the Lakers are shoe-ins. Does that mean AK and I can just check out until April?
In other news, Kobe Bryant has officially slipped out of the lead for MVP, behind LBJ! Now, before anyone makes an Office Depot run for the supplies necessary to protest the injustice of it all (and people, it's worth noting that James' production thus far has been fairly otherworldly), please take time to remember that the very notion of an MVP discussion before Thanksgiving (or Christmas, or Penguin Awareness Day) is a fairly ridiculous. But there's a larger question at work, here. As much as the faithful would love 24 to win a second straight MVP, is that necessarily a good thing for the Lakers?
(That, by the way, was the QOTD.)
Through eight games, Kobe is averaging barely 34 minutes a game, fewer than he's had since his second year in the Association. He's down to 24.3 points a night (in part because LA is playing fewer close games, lessening the need for big second halves and creating the aforementioned shortened minutes), his lowest figure since dropping 24 per in '03-'04. Meanwhile, rather than suffer, the Lakers are 8-1, and though they've come down from the unsustainable romptastic pace set in through the first three or four games, LA is still quite obviously an elite team.
In short, less Kobe hasn't hurt.
Best of all, it's not like the dude isn't available. When the Lakers have needed Bryant to be Bryant, he's been there to do it. But let's say that the Lakers can continue to play Bryant at his current pace of 34.3 minutes per contest, over four minutes less than last year, over five less than the '06-'07 season. Over 82 games, that equals about 410 minutes... or 8.5 fewer games of wear and tear and a far fresher Kobe for what is hoped to be a long playoff run.
The Lakers are constructed to be more than simply 24. They have arguably the deepest team this town has seen in a very long time, and more available parts than a Mr. Potato Head. If April rolls around and Bryant's numbers have inflated towards his career highs, things have gone very wrong for the Lakers. However, if all goes well, he might not repeat with league wide MVP honors, but could be far more likely to get the MVP he really wants, from the Finals.
BK
I'm fine with KB not winning the mvp for the following 3 reasons:
1) LJ is playing out of his mind and deserves it.
2) Kobe will be more fired up to prove everyone wrong in the playoffs, "make 'em pay."
3) The award has been meaningless ever since the players no longer vote for the winner.
Posted by: Laker Kev | November 20, 2008 at 04:30 PM
Hi guys
I hope we get a nice win tonight and for the cherry on top I would love to see Kobe have a dunk on Shaq like the one he had on D. Howard so after the game we can all say how my ass tastes shaq.
Go lakers
Posted by: Kayhan | November 20, 2008 at 04:34 PM
Enough talking about MVP awards!
1. Who cares?!?!?!? We've got a Championship to win!
2. It's nowhere near Penguin Awareness Day.
Lakers TONIGHT... Lakers Penguin Awareness Day... Lakers Forever.
GO LAKERS!
Posted by: Jon K. | November 20, 2008 at 04:41 PM
And also, off topic, but Phil HAS to regrow the goatee! He looks ridiculous. I hardly even recognize him. I would walk past him on the street and probably not even notice. Look at the picture of him in the video freeze frame on this page. What the hell is that?!?! haha. C'mon Phil!
Posted by: Gabe | November 20, 2008 at 04:48 PM
If the Lakers finish with the best record in the NBA, Kobe has to get the MVP, or they need to take the three away from Steve Nash and Dirk N. One of the two. Only if Lakers don't have the best record or if Lebron comes out on top of the East can he win it. If they just gave it to the best player who is playing the best, Kobe would already have more than one.
Posted by: Laker Justice | November 20, 2008 at 04:54 PM
Fatty,
Bad case of Karl Malone-itis there. The "I will refer to myself in the the third person" syndrome. A championship is the only known cure which unfortunately Malone never got. Lakers' will get you one this year.
Posted by: p ang | November 20, 2008 at 05:03 PM
I think Kobe could care less about the MVP, he actually looked mildly emabarrassed to accept it last year. He knows who he is. He knows his legacy won't be built on multiple MVPs, scoring titles or All NBA 1st Team selections but on multiple rings.
He's done the Olympic thing and, if healthy, might get another crack at it in 2012.
The MVP was great, you could see how giddy he was, the first time he had looked like that since '03, but it didn't soften the pain of losing to Boston in the Finals. Olympic gold sated his winning hunger...momentarily.
I think that BK was right that, unless his shooting percentage starts creeping towards +50%, scoring should stay in the mid to upper 20s. His assists are right where they need to be, his rebounding is right where it needs to be, his blocks and steals are fine.
It's all about the W. The more we get, the better chance for home court advantage throughout the playoffs.
That gives you a mental edge more than anything else, it gives you the knowledge that if you can just win a game or two outside of Styaples, eventually we'll be back there to seal the deal or wait for the next opponent to roll into LAX. It's crucial for our younger players. Even if Staples isn't the most rocking place to play, it's less games in an extremely hostile place like Boston, Cleveland, San Antonio, or Philly.
The Laker team of the early 2000s was a much grittier bunch that revelled in shutting up a crowd, especially in the Playoffs, as was PJs Bulls teams of the 90s. This Laker team is less sure of itself, partly because of youth issues and also it's just how this team is.
Hopefully we can show some road grit tonight.
GO LAKERS!!!!!
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | November 20, 2008 at 05:05 PM
Charles Barkley is calling out Fat Daddy, and telling him to stop being an A-Hole, and let the Kobe/Phil thing go. It was pretty good.
Posted by: Eric M. | November 20, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Sure Kobe has won an MVP, but has he ever taken a homeless man to the theaters and watched a movie with him? Tony Romo is awesome.
Posted by: EJK | November 20, 2008 at 05:14 PM
Faith,
I"m sure Kobe would rather have RING and the Finals MVP than the season MVP.
Heck some legends like Shaq, David Robinson, and even Hakeem the Dream only won the MVP once.
We win for rings, as much as it is nice to have MVP's, rather have Kobe be the Finals MVP this time.
-blitz
Posted by: kobeblitz | November 20, 2008 at 05:20 PM
This is the game I wanted to see. I'm thinking that Detroit will win by 12 points tonight!! Predict 12 point victory.
Posted by: johnny | November 20, 2008 at 05:20 PM
Dear Lakers ....Please put in a 4 quarter effort tonight .....It would be nice after a win to sit the David Copperfield Crew down in a very small room with the Village People greatest hits on repeat for 10 hours straight......Then only allowing them to leave the room once they all do the YMCA in perfect order......
GO LAKERS
Posted by: Thirty2 | November 20, 2008 at 05:22 PM
Detroit is the better team than Boston. They are only gonna only gonna gel better as the season goes on.
Posted by: johnny | November 20, 2008 at 05:23 PM
I'm watching the Detroit-Boston game and noticed something. I think when AI gets the ball to Sheed its mandatory for him to do a behind-the-back pass.
Posted by: lakers_sth | November 20, 2008 at 05:37 PM
"And then Mike T, Gunner, KL, Let's Go C's, et al can shut
their collective pie-holes."
LTLF, i go away for a while and come back to this? wassup? you still fighting the fight?
how about this? kobe leading a team to a championship [note the singular tone], then we'll talk.
gotta admit, this laker team is looking good...so far. it's still a long season and....drum roll...and...only the playoffs count. anybody remember Dallas? kobe's done nothing yet...
Posted by: KL | November 20, 2008 at 05:37 PM
"Enough talking about MVP awards! 1. Who cares?!?!?!? We've got a Championship to win!"
Jon K, you got your priority's correct my friend.
Posted by: KL | November 20, 2008 at 05:39 PM
Shack has already proved many of you wrong this season:
"He'll be out of shape!" "He's finished!" "The Big Stalker can't keep his hands offa the Mary Jane!"
Well, not sure about the last one, but he's in Miami-title-era game shape right now.
bynum, not quite there yet in his career, Shack in the latter stages of his...both hungry...who will win this battle, do you think, my laker friends?
Posted by: BUTLER | November 20, 2008 at 06:08 PM
" I think Kobe could care less about the MVP, he actually looked mildly emabarrassed to accept it last year. "
Posted by: Jamie Sweet | November 20, 2008 at 05:05 PM ...
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
The embarrassment could have been caused by Vanessa's tutu...
Anna
Posted by: Anna in Bondi | November 20, 2008 at 06:19 PM
I HATE BOSTON AND...
KEVIN GARRNET!!!!
Posted by: keifo | November 20, 2008 at 06:25 PM
Dear Lakers, Win this one for Fatty.
Posted by: Rick Friedman | November 20, 2008 at 06:39 PM
keifo - I don't know if anyone hates Boston more than me. Although I'm sure most of us on here would fight to the death to win that argument.
I HATE THE CELTICS.
I HATE EVERYTHING GREEN.
I HATE BOSTON SO BAD IT HURTS.
THE BILE IS RISING IN MY THROAT JUST THINKING OF IT.
I hope Duh-troit pounds the crap out of them & wipes the smug looks off their punk-ass faces. I will not be happy until the Lake Show hoists the O'Brien, and Kobe hoists his F-MVP and the greenie weenies go home crying to their mommies.
Posted by: justanothermambafan | November 20, 2008 at 06:42 PM
Let's focus on the PHX game guys...
MVP or no MVP ... doesn't matter.. What matters is we battle for Championships...
Posted by: dice8up | November 20, 2008 at 06:44 PM
At the half, they cut to the Funs locker room & showed Shaq dressing for the game - he didn't have a shirt on.
MY EYES!!!! MY EYES!!!!
Oh the humanity....
Posted by: justanothermambafan | November 20, 2008 at 06:45 PM
Garnett
Posted by: keifo | November 20, 2008 at 06:49 PM
"MVP or no MVP ... doesn't matter.. What matters is we battle for Championships... "
diceman...we agree.
Posted by: KL | November 20, 2008 at 07:03 PM
Exhelodrvr,
"AK,
"Putting aside the fact that MVP's rarely get no help and you'd be punishing a guy for having a good GM, it's not like Kobe hasn't proven he can put up the numbers."
The problem with that, though, is you can't (or at least shouldn't) assume that 'Kobe would be scoring X points higher if Gasol wasn't on the team."
Oh, I agree. Kobe's situation shouldn't work as a speculative measure in his favor, just as it also shouldn't work against him.
Like I said, I think a lot of it comes down to common sense. Yes, the stats and team success mjst be considered, but a lot of the voting criteria ultimately is subjective. And that's not even a "problem" (no system is ever "perfect"), except that it requires you to make and defend a justification, which I think a lot of writers/analysts uncomfortable, because they're afraid to be "wrong." Thus, they try too hard to make the numbers "prove" what is being argued without the context/common sense element.
AK
Posted by: Andrew Kamenetzky | November 20, 2008 at 07:09 PM
justanothermambafan
I saw that too. I got a picture of it to share with the blog.
I think Shaq was saying, "Bring me that Kobe for lunch!"
http://tinyurl.com/5snsee
Posted by: Fatty | November 20, 2008 at 07:16 PM
Fatty - I think the drugs are messing with your vision. I don't know what that was in the picture, but Shaq was a lot fatter........and uglier........although not quite as hairy.
Hope you're feeling ok....
Posted by: justanothermambafan | November 20, 2008 at 07:24 PM
In what parallel universe do the weenies beat down Duh-troit this bad??
Mike T - your boy Kwa-mayy isn't looking so good right now.
Even so, I'm not sure Deeee-troit basket-ball is going to survive AI....That dude just doesn't play team ball.
Posted by: justanothermambafan | November 20, 2008 at 07:30 PM
justanothermambafan, I was thinking the same thing about Kwame when I saw the
layup line that Boston was doing to Detroit.
AK, you guys doing the Live Blog thingy tonight??? (I hope I hope)
Posted by: Bzar | November 20, 2008 at 07:35 PM
kobe's done nothing yet...
Posted by: KL | November 20, 2008 at 05:37 PM
HUH?! In your perverted myopic view.
Posted by: Lakergurl | November 20, 2008 at 07:35 PM
LakerGurl,
Tell him to get that weak stuff outta here. lol
All the fools are in the house tonight. Just pray to God tonight goes as planned or it won't be safe for women and children in here after the game.
GO LAKES
Posted by: Eric M. | November 20, 2008 at 07:44 PM
justanothermambafan
"In what parallel universe do the weenies beat down Duh-troit this bad?? Mike T - your boy Kwa-mayy isn't looking so good right now."
THAT SHOULD SAY ALOT ABOUT HOW WE PLAYED LAST FRIDAY. IF BOSTON GIVING DETROIT A BEATDOWN, WHAT THAT SAY FOR US GETTING A BEATDOWN BY DETRIOT.
WE'RE NOT READY FOR THE CELTS JUST YET.
Posted by: Gunner | November 20, 2008 at 07:45 PM
I think Lebron's numbers combined with the fact his team will finish high in the conference easily winning fifty games will secure it for him.If the lakers win over 70 games then Kobe SHOULD get it...doesn't mean he will.Being the clear leader of a team that accomplishes an extraordinary amount of regular season victories should be an automatic MVP and exceptional individual stats should come into it when theres no team performance that establishes a clear winner (ie the celtics...it was too hard to work out who the clear leader was and while they had a great season it wasn't a legendary season...Dirk was the clear leader on a team with a fantastic record by any standards.If the lakers win 68 plus Kobe should get it especially given the former criticisms of him.If the lakers win 65 and ther cavs 55 then it will go to Lebron.
Posted by: Kiwi | November 21, 2008 at 05:21 AM
Hello Lakers fans, This is the year for a championship not a MVP AWARD. Lets keep our eyes on the big picture. "GO LAKERS"
Posted by: big boss | November 21, 2008 at 05:22 AM
MY EYES!!!! MY EYES!!!! Oh the humanity....
Posted by: justanothermambafan | November 20, 2008 at 06:45 PM
ROFLMFAO!!! HAHAHHAHAAHA STOP IT NOW!! HAHAHA STOP IT
I SAY!! AHAHAHAA
Posted by: MAMBA24 | November 21, 2008 at 08:28 AM
***** LAKERS WIN THIS ONE FOR FATTY BANDWAGON ****
(01) RICK FRIEDMAN - Dear Lakers, Win this one for Fatty
(02) JON K. - WIN IT FOR FATTY!
(03) JUSTALAKERFAN - On my way with the defibrillator just in case.
(04) MAMBA24 – Win it For Fatty! Crush the MF’s
Posted by: mamba24 | November 21, 2008 at 08:35 AM
The embarrassment could have been caused by Vanessa's tutu...
Anna Posted by: Anna in Bondi | November 20, 2008 at 06:19 PM
ANNA STOP THIS MADNESS! HAHAHA ROFLMAO!
STOP IT I SAY!
Posted by: mamba24 | November 21, 2008 at 08:37 AM
Then only allowing them to leave the room once they all do the YMCA in
perfect order......Posted by: Thirty2 | November 20, 2008 at 05:22 PM
ARE YOU SAYING WE CAN'T COME CORRECT THIRTY2. hmmm?
Posted by: INDIAN CHIEF | November 21, 2008 at 08:39 AM