MVP Power Rankings: Kobe or LeBron?

Whenever the mood strikes, FanHouse will break down the current leaders in the race for league MVP. Ground rules: injuries matter, and so do recent events.

1. Kobe Bryant: Recent events are important in these rankings, so Kobe's 52 against Dallas and his 41 in Shaq's first game in Phoenix pushes him to the top for now. In addition to being dominant over the strong teams, Kobe has completely stepped aside and facilitated his teammates' production in blowout wins against bad teams like Seattle, Miami, and the Clippers. Kobe has the sense this season to involve his teammates when he can, and to take games over when he has to. That, along with the Lakers' rise to the top spot in the West, is why I have Kobe number one.

1.5. LeBron James: These are my rankings, and I can number them any way I want to. Besides, the race is so close between Kobe and LeBron at this point that they're not even really a full position apart. LeBron has been just as dominant as Kobe, and if not for the Cavs' being fourth best in the East, he might have the one spot. But even as great as LeBron has been, he just hasn't been able to elevate his team to that elite level yet. And although Cleveland's management did what they could to give him some help, the fact remains that the Cavs are really no better than the fourth best team in the horrendous Eastern Conference. But fear not, Cavs fans. With Cleveland playing Detroit four times in the last month of the season, LeBron will definitely have the opportunity to retake the lead in these rankings.

3. Kevin Garnett: Now that he's returned form injury, KG can once again be invited to the table of MVP discussion. But just because he's playing doesn't mean he's back to being the favorite. Since he's been gone, both LeBron and Kobe have done amazing things to carry their teams to victory, while Garnett has simply ... played. He's the defensive leader on the team with the best record in the league, but he's going to have to show me a little bit more than that to get into the lofty territory that LeBron and Kobe currently share. Tonight against the Pistons would be a good place to start.

4. Chris Paul: The Hornets are still among the top teams in the West, yet something tells me that this club will have issues come playoff time. Paul has been outstanding though, and has even recently overcome his career long problems with the Jazz's Deron Williams. Leading the Hornets to an unexpected home court advantage in the first round of the playoffs will likely keep Chris Paul in the top five until season's end, but he'd have to work miracles to end up in the top two.

5. Chauncey Billups: Someone on the Pistons has to be mentioned here, and since Billups is the point guard and on-the-court leader, he gets the nod. It's tough to name just one Piston because the team works so cohesively together, but Chauncey's averages of almost 18 points and seven assists per game -- on the team with the league's second best record -- are good enough to get him into the discussion.

And just for fun, the Anti-MVP: Shaquille O'Neal, whose arrival in Phoenix single-handedly knocked Steve Nash out of the conversation. Nice job, my man.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

3-05-2008 @ 10:55AM

DM said...

Steve Nash already has two MVP titles. As for " knocking him out of the conversation ", I'm sure he can live with that.

3-05-2008 @ 11:18AM

black death said...

Greatest person in the history of the universe:

1) Kobe Bryant
1.5) God
2) Malcom X
3) Mohatma gandhi

By Brett Edwards

Hottest body:

1) Kobe Bryant
2) Jessica Alba
3) Scarlett Johansson
4) Pau Gasol

By Brett Edwards

3-05-2008 @ 11:26AM

jctowns said...

LeBron James is better than Kobe Bryant. He deserves the MVP. James is the best player in the NBA right now
http://pocketpresence.blogspot.com/2008/03/kobe-or-lebron.html

3-05-2008 @ 11:41AM

Dead Weight said...

You have just entered the Xander Zone. Things are about to become surreal.

3-05-2008 @ 11:58AM

Buvi Duvi said...

How can Kobe be MVP over LeBron? I think you need to get off of Kobe's jock Edwards. Who knows how many little girls have already been there before you.

3-05-2008 @ 12:16PM

Head-to-Head matchups alone, Lebron beats Kobe everytime.

3-05-2008 @ 12:53PM

Even FreeDarko could not keep the vultures from this carcass. I fear that on this topic any attempt at a rational intellectual discuss is a waste of time. It's almost like tossing out a bone and releasing a pack of wild dogs.

3-05-2008 @ 1:23PM

Ryne Nelson said...

Dead Weight, I hear you. But there's a certain pleasure in watching wild dogs go after that bone again and again and again...

3-05-2008 @ 1:39PM

Richard Weissfeld said...

Head-to-head match-up Nash v. Kobe?

Put a dress on Nash, smear on some lipstick, too. On his worst day, Kobe would take in a back alley and do him as many times, in as many positions, as he wants.

Head-to-head Kobe v. LeBoring?

LeBoring can't hit free-throws, can't hit three's, doesn't play defense, won't take the last shot, disappears in the big game.

Like the commericals, however. Especially, the Grandma one, he kinda looks like Hillary Clinton.

3-05-2008 @ 1:46PM

LeBron disappears in big games Richard. You obviously didnt watch him single handedly take his team to the NBA Finals with less talent around him than Kobe has ever had. Kobe hasn't won anything in the playoffs without another superstar to do the real work. Thanks for being ignorant it looks really good on you. Honestly I am a Sonic fan, SAVE OUR SONICS! I think Kobe is one of the top ten greatest player of all time. I hate on him because it is fun, ill admit it. But LeBron is going to be a top 5 greatest player. With MJ, Wilt, Magic and Byrd. LeBron does more with less.

3-05-2008 @ 1:58PM

Alejandro de Castro said...

First off, enough with the whole "Lebron took his team to the finals with less" argument. Do you even remember who he played to get there? Wizards without Gil and then the freaking nets before playing Detroit. Secondly, getting to the finals and getting swept is not something to celebrate. Kobe took Kwame and Smush to the playoffs in the east while averaging 35 a game. Now he is on pace for somewhere between 55 and 60 games, and avg 28 6 and 5. One last point, Lebron is a superior Athlete who happens to play basketball. Kobe was born to play this game and it shows. Anyone who can't see the difference doesn't understand the game and perhaps just buys into Nike's marketing campaign for the self proclaimed chosen one.

3-05-2008 @ 2:10PM

I mean he took them in the west. One last point, Lebron can't shoot and doesnt play defense. Kobe could be the defensive player of the year this year. Bron just drops his head and because of his athleticism gets to the basket. Call me when he can make jumpers.

3-05-2008 @ 2:12PM

Buvi: I guess if I were a Sonics fan, I too would live in the past rather than the here-and-now.

Couldn't give two-shits what LeBoring did last year, except I looked at the Finals one time and he looked like a chicken being chased by three Cubans with knives and a pot.

Around and around he went, running here and there and doing nada.

The Cav's are the third best team in the East, that's all.

Talk to me after they've beaten Boston and Detriot in back-to-back games.

3-05-2008 @ 2:14PM

Richard Weissfeldblowsgas said...

Buvi Duvi. Weissfeld the gas blaster didn't see Lebron play in the playoffs. His neighborhood Circuit City Store was closd so he had no TV to watch the games. There is not a more obnoxious human on Earth than this Putz. I hope they revoke his Parole.

3-05-2008 @ 2:20PM

When you guys watch the games, do you simply watch the ball constantly? Are you not able to see the intricacies of the game? Of how and when Kobe takes over. Of how well he is playing in the flow of their offense. When the offense is in a rut, momentum on the other teams side, he simply takes over. I really believe people are just so used to him doing it that it is nothing special anymore. Stop believing the hype for Bron and actually watch the games. And to a previous commenter who mentioned that Kobe only won a championshio with another superstar. Look at every team who has won a title, and tell me there werent 2 legit superstars or even 3 guys combined together who made their teams ridiculously good. I think most people just hate Kobe so much, with their ad hominem attacks, that they would only give him credit if he got to the finals with a bunch of high school scrubs.

3-05-2008 @ 2:54PM

brittney said...

Check this link out and then tell me who the MVP is. www.respectkobe.com/

You will then come to the conclusion I have and know and that is Kobe, not Lebron and they are not as close as whoever wrote this article puts them.

3-05-2008 @ 2:56PM

Kobe of course over Lebron, any day and every day and maybe my words won't help prove facts so all you have to do is check this link out and read. You will then come to the same conclusion if you are not a hater and you have a head on your shoulders and you aren't closed minded to crowning Lebron King when he's not there yet or even close to Kobe as whoever wrote this article said they were. http://www.respectkobe.com

3-05-2008 @ 2:55PM

Alejandro, You call others out for not watching games, and in the same breath say that Lebron can't hit 3s and doesn't play defense. This year, he has been draining 3s, most from at least 12 inches behind the line, it's scary. Not only can he play defense, but he shuts down Kobe everytime he is covering him. Lebron is unstoppable. It's true and I don't even like the Cavs. When Lebron drives to the bucket, he's trying to throw it down. When Kobe drives the bucket he's trying to draw a foul.

Laker fans will say Kobe is the MVP, fans of the other 29 teams will say that Lebron is (possibly chris paul).

ps. Lebron got to the finals with a bunch of scrubs, Kobe couldn't get out of the first round without playing beside a Hall of Famer.

3-05-2008 @ 6:03PM

alejandro de Castro said...

I do watch Lebron play, and in my mind, shooting 30% from the 3 pt line is not "draining 3's". Lebron got to the finals with a bunch of scrubs after facing the wizards and the nets before playing the pistons. Let me say that again. WIZARDS sans hibachi and then then NETS!!!! And then got swept. And simply saying that the only reason why Kobe has won championships is because of Shaq is such a fallacious argument. Go back and look at his stats for those years, re-watch the playoff games. Or how about when Shaq refused to have surgery until the season started, so Kobe had to carry the team for the majority of the year and in the playoffs. Yes, Kobe wouldnt have won without shaq but in my mind there was no way Shaq would have won without Kobe. And dont start with me on that gift wrapped championship the Heat won a few years ago. The simple fact is that Basketball is not a stat driven sport, so stop reading John Hollingers PER ratings. If anyone watched the game last night against the Kings, you saw why Kobe is MVP this year.

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