Mean_Streets wrote:My final thoughts on this wonderful project.
- Kobe should have definitely been #1 for 2008
- I also think Jerry West should have been #1 in 1969.
- McHale should have been #5 in '86 over Barkley & #5 in '87 over Dominique.
- I think 1982 is the hardest year to determine the #1 player.
He was the MVP that season. That award alone by title, should give some merit to Kobe having a very good case for best player in the league. Plus great playoff series:
TS% = Points / (2 * FGA + FTA * 0.44) Note:
Will bold TS%, not for emphasis, but to be able easily differentiate from formula.2008 1st Round Playoffs Kobe Bryant vs Denver Nuggets33.5 ppg 5.3 rpg 6.3 apg 50%fg 33%3P 74%FT
59%TS = 134/(2*(96+38*0.44))
2008 2nd Round Playoffs Kobe Bryant vs Utah Jazz33.2 ppg 7.0 rpg 7.2 apg 49%fg 21%3P 83%FT
62%TS = 199/(2*(116+96*0.44))
2008 3rd Round Playoffs Kobe Bryant vs San Antonio Spurs29.2 ppg 5.6 rpg 3.8 apg 53%fg 33%3P 91%FT
58%TS = 146/(2*(120+11*0.44))
Kobe's series against the Spurs that year was phenomenal. Considering how poorly Pau Gasol performed in that series.
2008 3rd Round Playoffs Pau Gasol vs San Antonio Spurs13.2 ppg 9.6 rpg 3.6 apg 45%fg 0%3P 73%FT
47%TS = 66/(2*(65+11*0.44))
People always mention how poorly Kobe played in the 2008 Finals. It wasn't up to par with the rest of the series he played earlier, but it wasn't that bad.
2008 NBA Finals Kobe Bryant vs Boston Celtics25.7 ppg 4.7 rpg 5.0 apg 41%fg 32%3P 80%FT
50%TS = 154/(2*(131+49*0.44))
Overall 2008 Playoff Numbers for Kobe Bryant30.1 ppg 5.7 rpg 5.6 apg 48%fg 30%3P 81%FT
58%TS = 633/(2*(463+194*0.44))
Kobe has a damn good case for being the best player in the league that season.1. Kobe seeded #1 in the WC with higher W-L record over Paul.
2. Kobe got further in the playoffs than Paul.
3. Kobe beat the Spurs with Pau Gasol only averaging 13.2ppg on 45%FG and 47%TS(Very poor percentages for a big man). Kobe averaged 29.2ppg on 53%FG and 58%TS. Best Player in the series outplaying Gasol, Duncan, Parker, and Ginobli.
4. Kobe only had Gasol for 27 games.
5. Paul had David West for 76 games.
6. Kobe won MVP, that is an argument for best player in the league.
7.Kobe 1st Team All-NBA
8.Kobe 1st Team All-Defense
9.Out of the 2008, 2009, and 2010 Lakers. The 2008 Lakers were easily the weakest supporting cast that Kobe led to the Finals.
10.Kobe beat 3 50+ win teams to get to the Finals, one of the most impressive individual led runs by a perimeter player of the decade. (Sorry to use this argument, but putting this into perspective, Lebron has only beaten 1 50+ win team in the playoffs for his entire career).
11.Lebron's Cavs were only 45-37 this season. Kobe's team had 12 more wins at 57.
12. Kobe played better than Lebron in the playoffs:
2008 1st Round Playoffs Kobe Bryant vs Denver Nuggets
33.5 ppg 5.3 rpg 6.3 apg 50%fg 33%3P 74%FT
2008 2nd Round Playoffs Kobe Bryant vs Utah Jazz
33.2 ppg 7.0 rpg 7.2 apg 49%fg 21%3P 83%FT
2008 3rd Round Playoffs Kobe Bryant vs San Antonio Spurs
29.2 ppg 5.6 rpg 3.8 apg 53%fg 33%3P 91%FT
13. Lebron played equally as bad or worse than Kobe did against the Celtics. Yes Lebron scored 47 points in game 7, but shot 2/18 with 10 To's in game 1.
Lebron shot 35%fg(48%TS) 5.3 TO's/G
Kobe shot 41%fg(50%TS) 3.8 TO's/G
14.Kevin Garnett had the best supporting cast in the league that year. He didn't win Finals MVP over his teammate Paul Pierce. He missed 11 games that season, and the Celtics went 9-2 over that span while he was gone.
I am not saying Kobe is the clear choice. Garnett, Lebron, and CP3 are good choices as well. But they're not clear either. They all have strong arguments, and I don't have a problem with someone picking another player than Kobe. But to say its clearly Lebron or CP3 is just asinine.
But to me I pick Kobe. In terms of overall individual awards, individual success, team success, and improvement(leadership). He had most well-rounded season considering all of those out of the 4 players.