Even Kobe knew it. He was nervous. His ego couldn't let him hide his excitement when the announced he was MVP. I'm certain the MVP was more important than the title to him.
Without Kobe, the Lakers are still contenders. Without Pau, the Lakers struggle to make the playoffs.
Without Kobe the Lakers don't even get out of the first round. He averaged 29 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals a game in the finals. That is MVP.
Gasol was certainly in the discussion but in my opinion not as important as Kobe.
Pau averaged 19 pts, 12 reb, 4 asst, 3 blk.
Pau shot 48% compared to Kobe's 45%, only 2 TO's compared to Kobe's 4, Pau had to compensate for an injured Bynum and a lackluster Odom as well. Never mind the fact he had to guard a versatile big man like KG while Kobe was on a one dimensional shooter in Allen. Even down the stretch in game 7, the biggest game of them all, Pau was the go to guy.
Pau was the MVP. It was clear to most people who could see past the hype.
Co-MVP for Pau at best.
In the lakers 4 wins
Gasol
72pts
55reb
20 asst
10blk
29-55
Kobe
108pts
40reb
15asst
35-94
Kobe's shooting was bad, but he stepped up his rebounding big time when it mattered. Plus, he's Kobe....if the MVP was even a debate between him and Pau by whoever decides it, its really not a debate, it goes to Kobe.
Put the average starting 2 guard on the Lakers over Kobe and they are still a playoff team.
Put the average starting big man on the Lakers over Pau and there not in the playoffs
CRBMoney14 - Put the average starting 2 guard on the Lakers over Kobe and they are still a playoff team.
Put the average starting big man on the Lakers over Pau and there not in the playoffs
Pau is an outstanding basketball player, but you're delusional and obviously trolling.
Kobe took Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, and Lamar Odom to the playoffs in '06-'07. During that season he scored 65, 50, 60, and 50 in 4 consecutive games respectively.
Pau will never do that. Ever.
pretty hilarious how the only Laker hater recourse at this point is to give praise and accolades to our Power Forward.
so awesome and hilarious.
LOL
I hate you Lakers so much! Your team is so pathetic that Pau Gasol was the best player in the Finals. Not Kobe.
Take that!
LOL at taking Pau off and they struggle to make the playoffs. That's one of the funniest things i've heard in awhile.
Kobe had more game winners THIS SEASON than Pau or almost any other player will have in his career.
^^^^ That is one of the benefits of playing next to a quality big.
deus ex machina -CRBMoney14 - Put the average starting 2 guard on the Lakers over Kobe and they are still a playoff team.
Put the average starting big man on the Lakers over Pau and there not in the playoffs
Pau is an outstanding basketball player, but you're delusional and obviously trolling.
Kobe took Smush Parker, Kwame Brown, Luke Walton, and Lamar Odom to the playoffs in '06-'07. During that season he scored 65, 50, 60, and 50 in 4 consecutive games respectively.
Pau will never do that. Ever.
I bet a 23 year old Pau could never lead a team whose second best player is JAMES POSEY to 50 wins either right...
oh wait..
I'm not a laker hater at all.
All I'm saying, is down the stretch, in game 7 of the finals, Pau delivered, Kobe struggled. And with the C's missing so many shots in game 7 somebody had to get rebounds, so don't hand me that. Pau was dominating the boards the whole series.
Game 7 was Kobe's worst of the series yet he still scored more than Pau.
Not to mention that he chipped in with 15 rebounds too.
and alot of those rebounds were key during critical moments, as was the shot with 2 minutes to go to put the lakers ahead for good and sealing it with the assist to Artest.
but one of the main stats is that he SHUT DOWN Rondo throughout the series. Rondo being the key to the Celtics success throughout the playoffs really puts this argument to rest.
PoundforPound - Game 7 was Kobe's worst of the series yet he still scored more than Pau.
Not to mention that he chipped in with 15 rebounds too.
That must have had nothing to do with Kobe taking 8 more shots
Pau outrebounding him, having more assists and fewer turnovers must not have happened too
again, it is absolutley hilarious how praising Pau has become the goto recourse for Laker haters Just LOL
Pau played a great game but if there is a game 7 mvp that award goes to Ron Ron.
for the series though, there was no doubt Kobe was the most valuable player.
this is coming from a guy who predicted Pau would be the finals MVP at the begining of the series.