Does Gasol have a shot at Finals MVP?

MasterRyu · Post #1 » by **MasterRyu** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:48 pm

I know it may sound like an absurd question, but Pau has been playing great recently. He's gotten a few Player of the Week awards and he has been the most consistent Lakers in terms of productivity. He's been key to several big victories do to late game rebounds, putbacks, or defensive plays. If the Pau and Kobe play like they have the past month or so in the Finals (assuming we made it there and won the series), would Pau have a legitimate shot at MVP?

Yes, Kobe puts up numbers, but he hasn't been very efficient recently, and it's due to ill-advised shots. Pau plays closer to the basket, but he's been consistently efficient.

hermes · Post #2 » by **hermes** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:52 pm

should we cast aside the notion that we're not guaranteed a spot in the finals?

MasterRyu · Post #3 » by **MasterRyu** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 8:59 pm

hermes wrote:should we cast aside the notion that we're not guaranteed a spot in the finals?

Uh..sorry. I meant assuming we made the Finals and won it. I'm just toying with the idea that people will automatically assume Kobe would get Finals MVP. But Pau has raised his play to another level this season. What he lacks in explosive scoring, he makes up in insanely consistent productiviy, and he hasn't noticeably disappeared in the 4th quarter like last year.

lakerz12 · Post #4 » by **lakerz12** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:03 pm

No, unless the voters don't know what they are doing.

Kobe makes Gasol great, not the other way around.

hermes · Post #5 » by **hermes** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:05 pm

well as long as we're throwing caution to the wind, what if sasha went on a crazy 3-spree and hit like 5 a game could he win it?

or say lamar grabs 17 boards a game

MasterRyu · Post #6 » by **MasterRyu** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:10 pm

lakerz12 wrote:No, unless the voters don't know what they are doing.

Kobe makes Gasol great, not the other way around.

See, it's this type of assumption that I'm talking about it. Yes, Kobe definitely makes Gasol great, but if he's putting 20 12 and 5 on 60+% shooting with a couple of blocks each and every night, and Kobe is putting 27 5 and 5 on 44%, I think Gasol would have a strong case.

Yes Kobe gets the double teams, but Gasol has done his part everynight. You can't just attribute his success in shooting, in passing, in rebounding, in blocking all to Kobe. What you probably can thank Kobe the most for is the prep talk and the mental toughening.

MasterRyu · Post #7 » by **MasterRyu** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:14 pm

hermes wrote:well as long as we're throwing caution to the wind, what if sasha went on a crazy 3-spree and hit like 5 a game could he win it?

or say lamar grabs 17 boards a game

Caution? I don't think it's a stretch to say that the Lakers will wound up in the Finals. No guaranteee, but obviously the Lakers have a very good chance. And I'm using an argument with proof. Gasol has been playing great. Sasha hasn't. And if Sasha was playing with Kobe in the backcourt in any significant amount of time, he would definitely wound up with 5 threes a night. But unlike Pau, Sasha won't be playing any defense. He's one dimensional.

That Nicka · Post #8 » by **That Nicka** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:15 pm

1) We have to make it to the finals first
2) We'd have to win the finals
3) If we accomplished all of the above, of course he'd be in the conversation. He's our 2nd best player

lakersfanatic · Post #9 » by **lakersfanatic** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 9:22 pm

Well technically yes he can win the MVP Finals award but of course there are variables and obstacles that the team has to overcome as well as personal greatness.

Well getting there is easier to answer consider we've been there before. But if we judge from last years rout and a no-show from Pau... he really has to turn it on this time around to get the award. That is if Kobe doesn't take it first hehe

laka4life · Post #10 » by **laka4life** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:13 pm

Ignoring the fact that we have to get to the finals first....

1.) Voters aren't that stupid. Look, Gasol has been great of late and has proven me wrong in some areas. But don't get things twisted. Given a healthy Laker team without Gasol, we are still Top 3 teams in West. Given a healthy Laker team without Kobe, teams overload our frontcourt so heavily that our lack of a penetrating point guard finally shows. Kobe is our MVP, please don't question that.

2.) How often does the Finals MVP not go to the best player on the team?

3.) With Bynum back, and Odom playing at this level, Gasol's numbers in the finals assuming we reach that point won't equal what they do now.

laka4life · Post #11 » by **laka4life** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:16 pm

That said though, I really do wish Gasol would get some more credit around the league for his play of late.

The fact that he's not flashy, just goes about his business and is ungodly consistent actually hurts him when it comes to respect from the media.

Boy just deserves some RESPECT

TylersLakers · Post #12 » by **TylersLakers** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:28 pm

Assuming we made the Finals and won the Championship, I think Pau would have to put up some ridiculous numbers to get it.

If Pau averaged 22 points, 12 boards, 5 assists, 1.5 blocks, 58%
and Kobe averaged 28 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal, 45%

I think Kobe would get it. The NBA is kind of a story-driven league and having Kobe come out as Finals MVP after everything that's happened with Shaq, losing seasons, trade demands, etc. would be hard for the NBA and the media to pass up.

Either way, I don't care who gets it. I just want the Los Angeles Lakers to be NBA Champions come June.

laka4life · Post #13 » by **laka4life** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:35 pm

TylersLakers wrote:Assuming we made the Finals and won the Championship, I think Pau would have to put up some ridiculous numbers to get it.

If Pau averaged 22 points, 12 boards, 5 assists, 1.5 blocks, 58%
and Kobe averaged 28 points, 6 boards, 5 assists, 1 steal, 45%

I think Kobe would get it. The NBA is kind of a story-driven league and having Kobe come out as Finals MVP after everything that's happened with Shaq, losing seasons, trade demands, etc. would be hard for the NBA and the media to pass up.

Either way, I don't care who gets it. I just want the Los Angeles Lakers to be NBA Champions come June.

That is the other great point. Put yourself in the voters shoes. Lakers are up 3 games to however many and Kobe is 48 minutes from that over the hump title he so desires. Do you think there's anyway in that deciding game we are not going to see Kobe absolutely own the court?

Passing, scoring, defending, rebounding, leadership, the Bean will be a monster 48 minutes from a title, unlike anything we have seen yet

Polvoron · Post #14 » by **Polvoron** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 10:54 pm

Unlikely, but definitely posible.
Heck, Tony Parker won it over Tim Duncan in the 2007 Finals.

Kobay · Post #15 » by **Kobay** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:02 pm

gasol leeches off everyone. If he was to create a shot by himself it would be a hookshot from ft line and a flop as a pray to get a call.

That Nicka · Post #16 » by **That Nicka** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:19 pm

Kobay wrote:gasol leeches off everyone. If he was to create a shot by himself it would be a hookshot from ft line and a flop as a pray to get a call.

just like he did in Memphis all those years :roll:

dingclancy · Post #17 » by **dingclancy** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:21 pm

^^^ Gasol makes 50% of his offense by his iso's and pure skill to get the ball to the hoop. It just looks awkward and difficult but I always have confidence in him when he takes a man in the post.

Anyway it is possible. What if the Celtics overloaded Kobe and he had to defer to Gasol? Remember our wins against the Celtics in the two games was because of Gasol's clutch play. Celtics have always been baiting Kobe to pass the ball.

But if Kobe shoots us out of the Finals because he wants to get finals MVP instead of giving up the ball for a better shot for Gasol, I will hate Kobe.

magic1fan · Post #18 » by **magic1fan** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:30 pm

to be honest I could caree less who get's it. i would just be happy because if someone from our team wins finals mvp,it would mean our team won the finals. also to be hinest i don't think kobe cares much about awards anymore. i think he along with pau,odom,and fisher just want to win. all the individual stuff is just fodder.

vinnycorleone · Post #19 » by **vinnycorleone** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:37 pm

Actually the Original Poster has a point.

When Miami won the Ship. D-Wade won Finals MVP but you can make the argument that Shaq made Wade great not the other way around.

When the Spurs won the Ship (last time). Tony Parker won the Finals MVP but you can make the argument that Tim Duncan made Parker great and not the other way around.

Shaq and Duncan were the best players BUT the performances by Parker and Wade were just better.

Same with Paul-A Pierce last year. He showed up but KG transformed that team. Without KG and Ray Allen...Paul Pierce's Celtic team had something like 18 wins.

what would jack bauer do? · Post #20 » by **what would jack bauer do?** » Mon Feb 23, 2009 11:41 pm

I thought finals mvp was determined by a fan vote? yes no?