Post by kmatrixg on Feb 13, 2011 10:10:29 GMT -5
Kobe Wins Third MVP Trophy Following a True Battle for the Ages
Toronto, ON (SSBL Times) -- Kobe Bryant took home his third MVP award of his 10 year career Saturday Night as the SSBL finished off yet another exciting season of play. Bryant and fellow SG turned PG Joe Johnson of Portland were the front runners to take home the trophy, and the nominations were almost split 50/50 among the voters who are comprised of primarily the national press.
Joe Johnson made an incredible case for himself over the course of the 2006-2007 season, averaging a league best 29.3 points per game while dishing out nearly 10 assists on top of it. However, defense was certainly the key to Kobe's eventual win as he led the league in steals, averaging a career best 2.9, and 0.8 blocks per game.
In what could only make the MVP race more exciting, their teams squared off in Toronto for the final game of the season. Before the game, Kobe sat down with reporters in a rare pre-game interview. "I'm definitely excited. We're two great players leading two great teams. Both of our squads are set to play for the "real" trophy given out at the end of June - the only one that matters to either of us. I'm not focused on winning this award. I'm focused on winning this game because we all know that they're a great opponent, and JJ can go off for 50 points on any given night."
Sure enough, neither player disappointed a sold-out Air Canada Centre, combining for 62 points, 18 assists and 8 steals in an old fashioned cut-throat battle. It was a tight game all the way down to the wire - featuring 14 lead changes and 17 ties. At the end of the first half, the Raptors held a small lead 44-43, with Johnson scoring 19 points on 6-9 shooting as Kobe had trouble guarding his 6'7" counterpart. In the second half however, Bryant made his case as to why he and Dwyane Wade are two of the top defenders in the league - holding Johnson to 7-21 shooting.
The two credited the change in pressure to a pep talk given by wily veteran Scot Pollard in the locker room during halftime. "He simply stressed the importance of ending the season on a high note, and going into the playoffs with a head full of steam. Scot's been a part of it all. He's won his ring, and he's trying to help us win our first. He got us focused. That's why we won the game" explained Wade. Pollard finished the game with 6 points and 22 rebounds.
After 3 quarters, the Raptors still held a small three point lead, but at the start of the 4th is when Bryant took control. Scoring 12 points in the final stanza, Kobe helped his team shoot 49% in the quarter (39% for the game) by dishing out 4 assists without turning the ball over once (2 for the game). Dwyane Wade struggled in the first 3 quarters, however hit his stride when Kobe turned up the heat, shooting a perfect 2-2 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc for 10 points.
The key for the Raptors in the win was free throws. Toronto came out incredibly aggressive in the second half, getting to the line 20 times and 28 for the game. Derek Anderson went a perfect 10-10 from the line, finishing with 19 points, and Yao Ming who went 10-12 finishing with 16 points.
Toronto Head Coach Buster Bluth told reporters it was the tenacity of Anderson and Yao that gave Toronto the edge down the line. "Derek is a veteran and he'll find ways to win a game. [Derek] proved that tonight by getting 10 free points and the same with Yao. Both guys really stepped it up and made their shots . That importance is something a coach cannot stress enough during practice and games...Get to the free throw line, make those shots because the game is tossing you free points so you better accept them or it's your ass on the line."
After the game when Bryant was informed of the voting decision, he simply looked up to the ceiling with his eyes closed and lips barely moving, and said a prayer.
"I'm honored to win the award" explained Bryant. "I really thought Johnson would be given this trophy next week. Neither of us have ego's. We just come out and do our thing, play our game. I'm sure if he had the choice he'd give it up for a ring, just like I would. Like I said before the game, that's all that is on my mind right now and I'm going to stress that to my teammates. We have some young guys and we have some seasoned veterans, sometimes their minds are in different places. Come tomorrow at practice, we all need to be on the same page. we have to put the ego's aside and take care of business."
Toronto is set to square off against Steve Francis and the Atlanta Hawks when the playoffs begin next week.
Toronto, ON (SSBL Times) -- Kobe Bryant took home his third MVP award of his 10 year career Saturday Night as the SSBL finished off yet another exciting season of play. Bryant and fellow SG turned PG Joe Johnson of Portland were the front runners to take home the trophy, and the nominations were almost split 50/50 among the voters who are comprised of primarily the national press.
Joe Johnson made an incredible case for himself over the course of the 2006-2007 season, averaging a league best 29.3 points per game while dishing out nearly 10 assists on top of it. However, defense was certainly the key to Kobe's eventual win as he led the league in steals, averaging a career best 2.9, and 0.8 blocks per game.
In what could only make the MVP race more exciting, their teams squared off in Toronto for the final game of the season. Before the game, Kobe sat down with reporters in a rare pre-game interview. "I'm definitely excited. We're two great players leading two great teams. Both of our squads are set to play for the "real" trophy given out at the end of June - the only one that matters to either of us. I'm not focused on winning this award. I'm focused on winning this game because we all know that they're a great opponent, and JJ can go off for 50 points on any given night."
Sure enough, neither player disappointed a sold-out Air Canada Centre, combining for 62 points, 18 assists and 8 steals in an old fashioned cut-throat battle. It was a tight game all the way down to the wire - featuring 14 lead changes and 17 ties. At the end of the first half, the Raptors held a small lead 44-43, with Johnson scoring 19 points on 6-9 shooting as Kobe had trouble guarding his 6'7" counterpart. In the second half however, Bryant made his case as to why he and Dwyane Wade are two of the top defenders in the league - holding Johnson to 7-21 shooting.
The two credited the change in pressure to a pep talk given by wily veteran Scot Pollard in the locker room during halftime. "He simply stressed the importance of ending the season on a high note, and going into the playoffs with a head full of steam. Scot's been a part of it all. He's won his ring, and he's trying to help us win our first. He got us focused. That's why we won the game" explained Wade. Pollard finished the game with 6 points and 22 rebounds.
After 3 quarters, the Raptors still held a small three point lead, but at the start of the 4th is when Bryant took control. Scoring 12 points in the final stanza, Kobe helped his team shoot 49% in the quarter (39% for the game) by dishing out 4 assists without turning the ball over once (2 for the game). Dwyane Wade struggled in the first 3 quarters, however hit his stride when Kobe turned up the heat, shooting a perfect 2-2 from the field and 2-2 from beyond the arc for 10 points.
The key for the Raptors in the win was free throws. Toronto came out incredibly aggressive in the second half, getting to the line 20 times and 28 for the game. Derek Anderson went a perfect 10-10 from the line, finishing with 19 points, and Yao Ming who went 10-12 finishing with 16 points.
Toronto Head Coach Buster Bluth told reporters it was the tenacity of Anderson and Yao that gave Toronto the edge down the line. "Derek is a veteran and he'll find ways to win a game. [Derek] proved that tonight by getting 10 free points and the same with Yao. Both guys really stepped it up and made their shots . That importance is something a coach cannot stress enough during practice and games...Get to the free throw line, make those shots because the game is tossing you free points so you better accept them or it's your ass on the line."
After the game when Bryant was informed of the voting decision, he simply looked up to the ceiling with his eyes closed and lips barely moving, and said a prayer.
"I'm honored to win the award" explained Bryant. "I really thought Johnson would be given this trophy next week. Neither of us have ego's. We just come out and do our thing, play our game. I'm sure if he had the choice he'd give it up for a ring, just like I would. Like I said before the game, that's all that is on my mind right now and I'm going to stress that to my teammates. We have some young guys and we have some seasoned veterans, sometimes their minds are in different places. Come tomorrow at practice, we all need to be on the same page. we have to put the ego's aside and take care of business."
Toronto is set to square off against Steve Francis and the Atlanta Hawks when the playoffs begin next week.
