MVP...Who Deserves it?

MVP equals what we like to say is the Most Valuable Player. In the NBA this discussion holds true for only a select few. The NBA season is a long daunting one and puts pressure on it's stars to produce constantly over an 82 game season. As a long time Laker fan I like to see Kobe Bryant in the discussion every year, and he usually resides in it. But this year I must admit there are plenty of good candidates. Here is my list of potential candidates and the order I've placed them in at the moment. This may not result in the top three players in the league, but they're respectably in the conversation. You can make an arguement for a few other players, but this is only my opinon.

Courtesy of NBA.com

1.) Derrick Rose (Chicago Bulls..53-19)

2010-11 Statistics

PPG 24.9

RPG 4.20

APG 7.9

EFF + 23.00

 

 

 

 

 

2.) Kobe Bryant (Los Angeles Lakers..53-20)



Courtesy of
onemanfastbreak.com



   2010-11 Statistics

    PPG 25.2

    RPG 5.20

    APG 4.8

    EFF + 21.58

                                                        


                                                                        3.) Dirk Nowitzki (Dallas Mavericks..52-21)

Courtesy of Shattertheglass.com



        2010-11 Statistics

            PPG 23.2

            RPG 6.90

            APG 2.5

            EFF + 23.72

15-1 Since the Break....Whoa!



Bryant has been averaging 36 points a game
over the last three.
Courtesy of NBA.com



Since the All-Star break the Los Angeles Lakers have been on a tear throughout the league. Posting a leagues best, (15-1) record since the break, the Lakers are in playoff mode. With the lone loss to the Miami Heat 94-88 on the road, the Lakers have completed their schedule against the Eastern Conference. The Lakers during the streak moved in second place in the Western Conference and four games behind San Antonio with nine remaining. It seems like a long shot for first place, but the driving mode has been to post the best record possible before the season's end. At (53-20) they have the league's third best record and only one game behind the Chicago Bulls (53-19) for second place. If they could swap places, it would leave the Lakers with Home court advantage barring they make it to the Finals. With improved play from Ron Artest, Andrew Bynum and a new surge from Kobe Bryant the Lakeshow is in Full effect.

Lamar Odom has but great
numbers up, as he makes
his case for 6th Man of the
Year.
Courtesy of NBA.com

Andrew Bynum has put up out this world
rebounds and blocks since the break.
Courtesy of NBA.com



How Valuable is Lamar Odom?



Odom and Bryant sharing a laugh
onthe bench.

Courtesy of LAobserve.com



Arguably the best sixth man in the league Lamar Odom, has been a gem off the bench for the Los Angeles Lakers. The versitle Odom has been playing his best basketball of his life this year. At 6'11 Odom can play off the ball, under the rim, you name it. The Lakers are the tallest team in the NBA with Pau Gasol and Andrew Bynum also on the roster and the depth of Odom adds another tree inside. In 2009 Lamar signed a 33 million dollar four year deal and since then his worth has shown even more. Helping the Lakers to three straight finals appearances and two rings, he is poised to do it again. Coach Phil Jackson has recently came out in public and calls Odom, "invaluable" to the Lakers. He can play the any position on the court offensively and with a player like his caliber, he would be starting for any of the other 31 ball clubs. He is third in scoring on the team with 14 points per game, third in rebounds with almost nine, and is shooting (53.8%) from the field. Now who wouldn't want that kind of player on their team?

Bynum Suspended

Bynum awaiting the referee's decision.
Courtesy of L.A. Times

Andrew Bynum was suspended Friday for his Flagrant 2 against Minnesota Timberwolve, Michael Beasley. Late in the fourth quarter Beasley made a move to the basket across the baseline. The mild tempered Andrew Bynum then sent Beasley a message with a flagrant 2 foul. He clearly came up without making a basketball move and seemlessly throwing an elbow which ended in Beasley hitting the floor. Beasley was able to get up due to his adrenaline but soon left the game with a bruised hip. The NBA gave Bynum a two game suspension without pay, he was set to make about 250,000 dollars in salary over the stretch. Lakers play the Trail Blazers and Suns in his absence. A Laker fan should look at it in a different sense, taking that it will give Bynum a rest, taking he recently stated he had felt fluid in his knee. He will continue play Friday against their in city rivals, the Los Angeles Clippers.

Post All-Star Break Equals Good Vibes

With Andrew Bynum's inproved play, the Lakers have been
able to go (9-1) since the All-Star break.
Courtesy of L.A. Times


 

Kobe after rolling his ankle. Lakers

fans were left holding their breath.

Courtesy of L.A. Times

The Los Angeles Lakers had themselves a trying week as they played teams like, San Antonio, Atlanta, Miami, and Dallas but coming out with only one loss is impressive. The Lakers have been on a tear as of lately winning nine of the last ten games after the All-Star break with their only loss to the hands of the Heat on the road. The Lakers had won eight in a row until Thursday's loss, but with a quick turn-around in Dallas, the Lakers were able to win against the Mavericks in a crucial game for seeding in the Western Confernce. After the win the Lakers are now a half game behind Dallas and seven and a half  behind San Antonio for first place. Los Angeles (47-20) have a game at Staples Center Monday night against the Orlando Magic who beat them a couple weeks ago.

 Questions concerning a "human" Kobe Bryant as of late have risen. After his post-game workout in Miami shooting the ball, the media has jumped in on trying to get inside and see his "human factor." But the next game against Dallas he proved again as some kind of basketball god rolling his ankle horribly in the third quarter, and returning in the fourth to knock down a big turn-around jumper.




Second Half Push has Started...Can it last?

Ron Artest distrupting Kevin Durant.
Courtesy of L.A. Times

Andrew Bynum blocking Serge Ibaka's drive to the Hoop.
He finished with five blocks for the game.
Courtesy of L.A. Times

With the second half of the season in full affect, the Lakers (42-19) have been able to go on a nice four game run to start it off. In their latest win against the Oklahoma City Thunder 90-87, the Lakers now have a new found confidence in themselves. On the road in arguablly one of the toughest arenas to play at, they were able to steal a win. Kobe Bryant finished with only 17 points but he was able to move up once again on the All-Time scoring list to number seven passing Moses Malone. Andrew Bynum finished with 16 points and 11 rebounds while also contributing five blocks. The biggest story for the Lakers Sunday was the play of Ron Artest against Kevin Durant. Durant had 21 points while shooting (8-20) for the game. Next up for the Lake Show on the road is the Minnesota Timberwolves (14-46). The Lakers are 2-0 against them on the season so far and looking for another win Tuesday night as they gear up for some tough competition soon. Friday night the Lakers play 

Tony Parker will be out
for 2-4 weeks.
Courtesy of Inflexwetrust.com



host to the Chalotte Bobcats (26-34), then Sunday afternoon against the best team in the league record-wise, the Spurs (49-10). So Tuesday night's game is crucial for some fine tuning.The Spurs will be with out their starting point guard Tony Parker for a few weeks as he's suffering from a calf injury. This could be a good sign for the Lakers as he has always been a torn in the side.

First Three Down..All in a Good Way!

Kobe pulls up for the game tying shot with
4.7 seconds remaining against Portland
sending it into overtime.



Andrew Bynum coming up big Defensively,
he had 16 and 11 on the night against the
Clippers



As the season comes to its critical second half, teams in the NBA with a chance for the playoffs are all in and ready for the final push. The Los Angeles Lakers who went into the All-Star struggling and losing to a team the likes of the Cavaliers, is in the same boat pushing towards the playoffs. The first week for the Lakers looked tough on paper with teams such as, the Hawks, Trail Blazers, Clippers, and Thunder. The Lakers though seem to of had one hell of a break winning the first three games of the second half. A commanding 24 points win against Atlanta seem to of sparked interest in the team. Then traveling to Portland where the Lakers had lost eight of their last nine games, they would win in a comeback fashion 106-101 as Kobe Bryant scored 28 of his 37 points in the second half (eight in overtime). Ron Artest also had his best night of the year scoring 24 points. Winning in Portland meant a lot to the team and the fans and would hopefully go a long way in gaining some confidence. Next for the Lakers, they would play their fellow Staples Center friends, the Clippers in a Thursday night showdown of L.A. In a game where the scarest moment that could happen, happened. Kobe Byrant left the game in the second quarter. The funny thing was, he was hit on his funny bone. Bryant was able to come out in the second half scoring 18 of his 24 points in the third quarter alone as the Lakers cruised past the Clippers 108-95. With a game against the Oklahoma City Thunder Sunday, the Lakers hope to make it a clean sweep for the first week of the second half. The Lakers are now (41-19) for the season with a 10 game lead in the Pacific Division and a game and a half behind Dallas for second place.