MVP Distraction Thought?

Question

Maybe I am the only one, but does anyone else get the feeling that all of this Kobe MVP talk and hoopla that has taken place the past few days might serve as a distraction for the Lakers in tonight&#x27;s game.  I think it&#x27;s probably thrown Kobe and the rest of the team off their normal schedule, and I see this as a similar situation that usually happens in the bowl games for Heisman winners.  They usually don&#x27;t play up to their potential the game after winning the award.  Maybe it&#x27;s a bit of a stretch, but call it a gut feeling.  Does anyone have any statistics on how past MVP winners have performed in the game after they won the award?

Mitchdews · Answer

Maybe I am the only one, but does anyone else get the feeling that all of this Kobe MVP talk and hoopla that has taken place the past few days might serve as a distraction for the Lakers in tonight&#x27;s game.  I think it&#x27;s probably thrown Kobe and the rest of the team off their normal schedule, and I see this as a similar situation that usually happens in the bowl games for Heisman winners.  They usually don&#x27;t play up to their potential the game after winning the award.  Maybe it&#x27;s a bit of a stretch, but call it a gut feeling.  Does anyone have any statistics on how past MVP winners have performed in the game after they won the award?

jmw59 · Answer

CP3 should have gotten the MVP IMO

Mitchdews · Answer

I totally agree, but this might be even more of a reason why Kobe might be pressing tonight.  Since cp3 has been playing so well and many felt he should have won the award, Kobe might feel like he needs to prove some doubters wrong, and he might push the action a little too much.

Pama · Answer

A few MVP&#x27;s have lost the game they actually received the trophy. I don&#x27;t have a good gauge on the ATS in though.

Bruiser08 · Answer

Kobe seems very distracted this week and I&#x27;m sure this has also affected the team. &#xA0;From what I&#x27;ve seen, there has been little talk about their opponent, Utah Jazz, and everything has been centered around his MVP award. &#xA0;My gut also feels like Kobe and the Lakers will be less prepared for this game tonight, and on the flip-side Utah has been working hard and preparing for the pivotal game 2 tonight. &#xA0;Any other thoughts?

andarmac99 · Answer

I think you are severely over thinking this. I never fully understood the "distraction" theory. I mean really how bad is it? Does it have an effect as to where Pau Gasol is on the line and he suddenly thinks about Kobe winning the MVP and it causes him to miss the FT?

What about if Lamar Odom is on a 2 on 1 fast break, will he suddenly think OH MY GOD KOBE IS THE MVP!!! and will it cause him to miss the shot?

andarmac99 · Answer

"and on the flip-side Utah has been working hard and preparing for the pivotal game 2 tonight."

$OC$ · Answer

Jazz ML tonite.Kobe goes for 50 pts on 12 of 36 shooting with ZERO assists.

NeimanMarcus · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by jmw59] &#xD;&#xA;CP3 should have gotten the MVP IMO&#xD;&#xA;[/Quote]&#xD;&#xA;Its a good thing the sports media doesnt care what you think Kobe is a beast are you guys forgetting he had rape charges against him at one point? He still flew between colorado and LA on game day after a full day of court and put up 50 like 3 games straight he will be fine.

Mitchdews · Answer

I said it might be a bit of a stretch, and I agree it might not effect the rest of the team as much, but I think my primary concern would be how it effects Kobe.  I do think Kobe has been distracted by all the MVP talk this week, and he might not be as focused or prepared as he normally would, and if Kobe is distracted, then I definitely think that will effect how the rest of the team plays, as far as how the flow and the tempo of the game are played.

actionjaxon22 · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by andarmac99] I think you are severely over thinking this. I never fully understood the "distraction" theory. I mean really how bad is it? Does it have an effect as to where Pau Gasol is on the line and he suddenly thinks about Kobe winning the MVP and it causes him to miss the FT?What about if Lamar Odom is on a 2 on 1 fast break, will he suddenly think OH MY GOD KOBE IS THE MVP!!! and will it cause him to miss the shot?&#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;[/Quote]&#xD;&#xA; &#xD;&#xA;Totally agree with this comment...&#xD;&#xA;The lakers have proven time and time again in this years playoffs that they are focused! I think KOBE of all people has his focus on one thing and one thing only and thats a CHAMPIONSHIP RING! Not saying they cover tonight or win the championship but I just think this idea of being distracted is a lil overrated!

Smokeythebear · Answer

KG said when he won the award it really threw him off his game because of the routine and hoopla surronding it. The press and everything he said he hated it.

Mitchdews · Answer

True, and I agree Kobe has proved to be resilient time and time again, so maybe this is a non-issue, but nonetheless, I was just trying to get a gauge as to whether this should be a concern when capping this game tonight.  So far the consensus seems to be no. Thanks for your input guys.

andarmac99 · Answer

Well for you believers, it might be a good excuse to fade the Lakers tonight as I think Utah gives them a run anyways. MVP "distractions" and crap aside, the real story is as someone already mentioned is that Utah has had 2 full days of hard practice to iron out the kinks and come out focused and fired up tonight. Jerry Sloan isn't dumb and he knows this might be the best shot his team has at stealing a game in Los Angeles.

The bottomline is that Utah "should" have won Game 1 had they made a few damn shots. Game 1 was an 8 point lead late for the Lakers before all the fouling crap started and if you look at the Game stats, the Jazz really could have had a chance. The Lakers won for 2 reasons. #1 Utah didn't make their shots!! As a team they shot a horrific 37.9% and the only player to shoot 50% or better was Paul Millsap who was 2-4. The Jazz were also just 4-19 from 3 (21%). #2 is the FT's for the Lakers. The Lakers got to the line a whooping 46 times, making 38 of them, which was an extra 16 points over the Jazz at the line. However a huge positive for Utah is that they smashed LA in the glass outrebounding them 58-41 despite them being the team shooting 37%. In fact Utah had a whooping 25 offensive rebounds!!! and that resulted in them actually getting off 22 more shots than the Lakers if you can believe it. Yes they got off 22 more shots but still lost because the shots just weren't going in. If the Jazz come out focused on offense tonight and play a similar way as they did in Game 1 they should keep it real close and maybe even win SU as it's hard to imagine them shooting as horrific as they did in Game 1 and it's also tough to see the Lakers getting 38 points at the FT line again (21 for Kobe) on 46 attempts when they averaged just 21 points on 30 attempts at the line in Round 1 and 21 points on 28 attempts on the regular season.

NeimanMarcus · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by andarmac99] . Jerry Sloan isn&#x27;t dumb &#xD;&#xA;&#xD;&#xA;[/Quote]&#xD;&#xA;No championship in like 20&#x2B; season&#x27;s I&#x27;d say he is dumb. Plus dont forget Phil jackson has already out coached him several times in the playoffs before. I.E. NBA Finals Bulls vs Jazz

Ap1Bfreetorun · Answer

The thought did cross my mind briefly.  I have the Lakers ML tonight instead of minus the points.  What do I know, essentially, nothing.  Good luck on your plays.  Remember how bad Utah has been on "away" games in the playoffs.

$OC$ · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by NeimanMarcus]  &#xD;&#xA;No championship in like 20&#x2B; season&#x27;s I&#x27;d say he is dumb. Plus dont forget Phil jackson has already out coached him several times in the playoffs before. I.E. NBA Finals Bulls vs Jazz  [/Quote]Are you kidding me?  I bet you didnt even watch that series.  Phil Jackson was outcoached that entire series and again (but not so much) the next year by Sloan.  Almost every analyst will say, and have said, that in the 97 championship Jackson made a bunch of stupid coaching moves but was bailed out time and time again by the play of Jordan.You remember game 1 of that series?   Game tied, 7 seconds left and Jackson ordered the double team on Malone with Pippen sagging down and slapped malone across the arm.  MALONE MISSES BOTH freethrows. Jordan promptly comes down and pushes Bryon Russell away with his off hand and nails a 15 footer to win it.  Jackson admits after the game that the double team that he called almost cost them the game.  They hadnt doubled MAlone all game and just let Rodman, Dickey Simpkins and Gay Brian Williams guard him straight up.Game 2?  Jordan goes off for like 40 pts, 15 boards and 10 assists.  Malone struggles with maybe 15 pts.    Bulls up 2-0Game 3 back in SLC.  Malone goes for close to 40.  JAzz up by 20 in the 4th quarter and JAckson sits his starters.  Complains later that the Altitude is unfair.   The scrubs actully pull the game to within 7 pts with 2 minutes left but JAckson leaves Pippen, Jordan, HArper and Steve Kerr the bench.  JAzz win by DD.Game 4 the Jazz are down by 5 with less than 3 minutes to go.  Jackson has Steve Kerr go "under the Pick and Roll" to protect Malone driving to the basket.  Stockton nails 4 straight elbow jumpers and the Jazz outscore chicago 12-2 in the last 2 minutes and win by 5.Game 5 is the jordan "i got the flu" game.   Jordan claims to have gotten a stomach virus in some Park City restaurant and is so weak that he can barely walk into the arena for the game.  But for some miracle it doesnt affect him during the game and goes for 35 pts and hits a game winning 3 pointer after trailing by 17 pts earlier in the game.  Jackson kept trying to pull jordan out of the game but MJ refused.Game 6 is more of the same.  Jordan goes off for close to 40.  Game tied at 86 with 5 seconds left.  Jordan actually passes the ball to Kerr who drains the 3 pointer.  Bulls win by 4.  Win the championship.Bulls win 4-2Game 1 was a last second shot (and foul) by JordanGame 2 Jordan went for 40-15 and 10Game 3 Malone went for 40 and won by DDGame 4 Jazz outscored bulls by 10 in last 2 minutes to win by 5Game 5 Jordan goes for 40 and hits winning 3 pointer with 7 seconds leftGame 6 Jordan passes the ball with 5 seconds left and Kerr hits series winning 3 pointer.Phil Jackson has positioned himself with some incredibly talented teams.

andarmac99 · Answer

[Quote: Originally Posted by $OC$]  Are you kidding me?  I bet you didnt even watch that series.  Phil Jackson was outcoached that entire series and again (but not so much) the next year by Sloan.  Almost every analyst will say, and have said, that in the 97 championship Jackson made a bunch of stupid coaching moves but was bailed out time and time again by the play of Jordan.You remember game 1 of that series?   Game tied, 7 seconds left and Jackson ordered the double team on Malone with Pippen sagging down and slapped malone across the arm.  MALONE MISSES BOTH freethrows. Jordan promptly comes down and pushes Bryon Russell away with his off hand and nails a 15 footer to win it.  Jackson admits after the game that the double team that he called almost cost them the game.  They hadnt doubled MAlone all game and just let Rodman, Dickey Simpkins and Gay Brian Williams guard him straight up.Game 2?  Jordan goes off for like 40 pts, 15 boards and 10 assists.  Malone struggles with maybe 15 pts.    Bulls up 2-0Game 3 back in SLC.  Malone goes for close to 40.  JAzz up by 20 in the 4th quarter and JAckson sits his starters.  Complains later that the Altitude is unfair.   The scrubs actully pull the game to within 7 pts with 2 minutes left but JAckson leaves Pippen, Jordan, HArper and Steve Kerr the bench.  JAzz win by DD.Game 4 the Jazz are down by 5 with less than 3 minutes to go.  Jackson has Steve Kerr go "under the Pick and Roll" to protect Malone driving to the basket.  Stockton nails 4 straight elbow jumpers and the Jazz outscore chicago 12-2 in the last 2 minutes and win by 5.Game 5 is the jordan "i got the flu" game.   Jordan claims to have gotten a stomach virus in some Park City restaurant and is so weak that he can barely walk into the arena for the game.  But for some miracle it doesnt affect him during the game and goes for 35 pts and hits a game winning 3 pointer after trailing by 17 pts earlier in the game.  Jackson kept trying to pull jordan out of the game but MJ refused.Game 6 is more of the same.  Jordan goes off for close to 40.  Game tied at 86 with 5 seconds left.  Jordan actually passes the ball to Kerr who drains the 3 pointer.  Bulls win by 4.  Win the championship.Bulls win 4-2Game 1 was a last second shot (and foul) by JordanGame 2 Jordan went for 40-15 and 10Game 3 Malone went for 40 and won by DDGame 4 Jazz outscored bulls by 10 in last 2 minutes to win by 5Game 5 Jordan goes for 40 and hits winning 3 pointer with 7 seconds leftGame 6 Jordan passes the ball with 5 seconds left and Kerr hits series winning 3 pointer.Phil Jackson has positioned himself with some incredibly talented teams.  [/Quote]Ahhhhh, someone who knows what their talking about.

MVP Distraction Thought?

Hot Forum Topics