Chalk up one strong argument for Kobe as MVP. But apparently, everyone can stop lobbying for the NBA’s second-leading scorer – according to two informal newspaper polls, Kobe will defeat Chris Paul to capture the award. The LA Times and the Cleveland Plain Dealer decided to poll voters and find out who they were casting a ballot for. Both papers had Kobe winning. (UPDATE: It’s because he can jump over moving cars!)

Here’s what we don’t get: Kobe is universally referred to as the best player in the league. How? Why? We realize this is a subjective argument and there is no right answer, but we have a sneaking suspicion that this is because Kobe’s in his late 20’s and it’s time to anoint him as such. No need to get bogged down with individual stats, but how about the mere fact that in the last three seasons, Kobe has not gotten the Lakers out of the first round of the playoffs? And its not like he lost to a team (Suns both times) that went to the Finals. (Spare us the “supporting cast” argument: One player took down the Pistons last year, and it should be noted that the Pistons had, statistically, the 2nd best defense in the NBA.) Sorry, but for our money, LeBron James is bigger, faster, and stronger, and he possess a slightly better skill set at both ends of the floor than Kobe does.

And not that it matters, but this is coming from a longtime Lakers fan (1985ish, when we went to our first game … to the day Shaq was traded).

Photo: Icon Sports Media