James Loving - National Radio Text Service - Thursday May 15, 2008

Who really made a greater impact on the improvement of their team? The 29-year-old Bryant could be a sentimental choice. After twelve seasons in the league the best he has done in the award voting was finish third. An argument is that Garnett is more deserving. It could be said that the award is voted on too early and it could be a better choice to do so after the playoffs

Read-em And Weep

Excuse me, I don't want to rain on anyone's parade but is Kobe Bryant really worthy of being named the NBA's MVP? The point of concern is that if one were to base the award on the criteria that it should go to the player who has done the most for his team and improve it perhaps the Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett is more deserving.

The award is voted upon by a panel of 126 sportswriters and broadcasters throughout the United States and Canada. Players were awarded 10 points for each first-place vote, seven points for each second-place vote, five for third, three for fourth and one for each fifth-place vote. The sportswriters gave Bryant 82-first-place votes and a total of 1,105. The New Orleans Hornets Chris Paul followed with 28 first place votes and a total of 894 points. Garnett was third with only 15 first place votes and a total of 670 points.

Garnett helped the Celtics to league-best records of 66-16 (.805) overall and 31-10 (.738) on the road. Boston held opponents to just 90.3 points (second in the NBA) after allowing 99.2 points per game a season ago. Garnett led the Celtics to the biggest one-year turnaround in NBA history as the team won 42 more games this season than in 2006-07 (24-58), surpassing the previous record of 36 games, set by the San Antonio Spurs in the 1997-98 season.

The 12-year NBA veteran Garnett won the NBA Defensive Player of the Year Award. The 6-11 forward led the Celtics in rebounds with a 9.2 average (7.3 defensive rpg), to go along with 18.8 points, 1.2 blocks and 1.4 steals.

One could argue that Boston's success was also due in large part to the acquisition of Ray Allen and the presence of Paul Pierce. True but there is no question the Garnett is the leader of the team through his strong play and example. He is their holler guy and gets them going without speaking but through his tireless effort on the court.

The fact that he had to blend in with two other super stars adds more value to his impact. Bryant couldn't get along with one being Shaquille O'Neal. Because of that Bryant still carries the stigma of not being a very good teammate at that time. Shaq was the last Laker to win the award in 2000.

Bryant's led the Lakers to a 57-25 record this season that was only 15 games better than last when they posted a 42-40, .512 record. The 6-6 guard finished second in NBA scoring with a 28.3 ppg average trailing LeBron James. Overall Bryant averaged 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.4 assists and 1.84 steals while playing in all 82 games. He was the NBA's second best in scoring behind Cleveland's LeBron James.

The 29-year-old Bryant could be a sentimental choice. After twelve seasons in the league the best he has done in the award voting was finish third after the 2002-03 season, when he averaged 30 points for the first time, and last year when the Mavericks Dallas' Dirk Nowitzki took the honors. Garnett previously was the recipient of the award for the 2003-04 season while a member of the Minnesota Timberwolves. With Bryant taking the honors this season the results are the two 12-year NBA All-star players have each won the league MVP prize.

If this were Las Vegas you could say after reading your cards, read-em and weep. The facts are there and there is an argument that Garnett is more deserving. It could be said that the award is voted on too early and it could be a better choice to vote after the playoffs. In doing so it would give more time to see who really makes a greater impact on the improvement of their team.

Should Garnett lead the aging Celtics to the NBA title and his first it would prove that the voting is too premature for the honor. Ironically notwithstanding from both being great players they have something else in common…. They both made the transition from high school to the NBA.

As the sayings go it's done and dusted and the results are in. You can't cry over spilt milk. Yea, yea, sure, sure….. BUT….. THINK ABOUT IT.

2007-08 MOST VALUABLE PLAYER AWARD VOTING RESULTS

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