Coach of the Year and Most Valuable Player. What exactly does that mean and what is the criteria? Of all the awards of all the sports these two awards seem to be more of a popularity contest or political in nature. Maybe I am a homer, or a hater. Byron Scott. I can't exactly disagree with this decision, but what exactly has he done that Jerry Sloan didn't do this year or in years past? In the 1997 or 1998 seasons when the Jazz had the best record in the NBA, why did he not get it? Or in 2002 when the Jazz went 500 on the season with ZERO superstars after coming off of a season with only 23 wins. How about last year. Carlos Boozer and Darren Williams were not yet "SuperStars" and the Jazz had over 50 wins. This was the criteria when Hugh Brown won the award - 50 wins. This then brings me to Kobe Bryant. He has been labeled the "Best Player" in the NBA. By what standard? He is surrounded by a veteran and All Star Cast. Pau Gasol, Derrick Fisher, Lamar Odon, and a very above average bench. His stats in every catagory are below that of Labron James, who is surrounded with who??? National media say it is because of what was done this year with all of the turmoil at the beginning of the season. Well shouldn't that credit go to Phil Jackson - the Zen Master? Kobe was the one that didn't want to play nice and wanted to be traded. Phil Jackson said it wasn't going to happen and he got Kobe to buy in to his philosophy and was able to get great talent, like Lamar Odon, that hadn't played up to his talent, to play like a superstar. He was able to get Kobe Bryant to do what no one thought was possible - PASS THE BALL. This was Phil Jackson, not Kobe, so shouldn't Phil Jackson get coach of the year. Oh wait, that's right he has already received that award, so he is not allow to be considered (unspoken rule), even if he is most deserving. This brings us back to Kobe. ESPN announcers and MVP voters have openly said that THIS year it is more of a "life time" achievement award. Saying that Kobe might not be the most deserving this year, but if you look over the last 8 years at who hasn't received it, Kobe is most deserving. Okay, so we now have a criteria set by the voters for this year. Based on this criteria. The "Life Time" achievement award. Which active coach in the NBA that is having a good year is more deserving than Jerry Sloan???
Giving the award based solely on #'s the Doc River and King James should get the award. Based on what was accomplished with the least talent or supporting cast, Byron Scott and King James / Chris Paul. Based on what was done based on the turmoil or status of the team on opening day. Phil Jackson and Chris Paul.
Let's have an award that has a set criteria, even if some of that criteria is subjective it will atleast give a standard.
5 comments:
Amen Brother! I am bored to tears about hearing how great Kobe is. He hasn't done anything too spectacular in the Playoffs. Yeah, they may have swept the Nuggets but, that should be attributed more to Carmelo Anthony losing it for his teammates than Kobe engineering the wins. I'll admit it. I'm a Kobe hater! I hold him in a similar light as Dennis Rodman. Great Talent, loose cannon, and emotionally unstable. But for some reason, Phil Jackson can get him to play nice.
I totally agree with ya bro. Phil and I were listening to sports radio and they always seem to talk about Kobe. Also, sidenote, what do you think about all of the talk with Darren Williams? They are giving him crap about putting his family first. What say ye? I hope I'm ok with leaving a comment about this. I don't know too much about sports. :)
I mean derek fisher
Very well said. I have always thought the coach of the year award was kind of a joke. They might as well have the ballot say, "Vote for the coach that you think is really Neato!". And as for Kobe? Don't get me started...He should be excluded from awards the basis of morality alone if nothing else (of course then we would probably have to exclude 2/3 of the players in the NBA). If we give Kobe the benefit of the doubt, he is at best a unfaithful husband and at worst a rapist. Now I know that Charles Barkley said professional athletes are not role models, but give me a break. There is no question he is one of the top 3 or 4 players talent-wise in the league, but there are at least three players that I think are more deserving of the MVP based on traditional voting criteria. If you are basing it off personal stats, Lebron James is the no brainer. If it's who made their team better, it's KG. Chris Paul is the best combination of both. We can only hope Stern will be someday be inspired to make changes that actually give the awards consistent criteria. Of course, the reality is that it won't change any time soon if ever, just like the playoff format won't probably change anytime soon. I mean, Did anyone actually want to see the Raptors play anybody in the playoffs? Don't worry NBA teams, it doesn't matter if you are a sub-500 team. If you are in the right division, you can still make the playoffs.
Jennifer, you are more than welcome to comment! Jer-man, we will be sending you an invite to be able to post. Thanks for the comments. We need some east coast insite.
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