Kobe or LeBron? Tight MVP race fires up the masses

LeBron James has been spectacular lately in boosting his MVP credentials. Al Bello/Getty Images

MAILBAG Marty Burns will periodically answer questions from SI.com users in his mailbag. Your name: Your e-mail address: Your home town: Enter your question:

There's nothing quite like a good MVP debate to get NBA fans' blood pumping. Last week I argued that Kobe Bryant would be my choice if the vote were held today. Not surprisingly, the mailbag overflowed with reader responses.

Ryan Jay Pacuma from the Philippines summed up the feelings of many LeBron James backers when he asked, "How is Kobe ahead of LeBron, when Kobe has more help and James has only himself?"

Brian from Cleveland echoed that sentiment, while adding a plug for LeBron's leadership qualities: "Who had his team in the Finals last year?!"

Then there was a lengthy missive from Jonathan of Queens, N.Y., who quibbled with my contention that Kobe does more on the defensive end. "Can we stop the Kobe-as-great-defender and Lebron-as-a-poor-one myth yet?" he wrote. "Lebron averages just as many steals, twice as many blocks and more defensive rebounds."

Of course, we heard from just as many Kobe supporters arguing that an MVP award for the Lakers star would be long overdue. Some pointed out that Kobe must deal with playing in the tougher Western Conference. "The clincher is that there are 10 teams in the West over .500 while only five in the East," wrote Harry Shore from West Hills, Calif. "Thus [Kobe] is challenged more often."

We also received a surprising number of advocates for Hornets point guard Chris Paul. Chris D'Andrea asked how I could have dismissed CP3's chances when "Steve Nash won [MVP] twice, with better teammates, a worse assist-to-turnover ratio, fewer points per game and far fewer steals than Paul." Bill Donohue of Winston Salem, N.C., also predicted CP3 would be heard from again."Let's see how far the Hornets get in the playoffs before you completely write Chris Paul off," he wrote. "Each victory will have his initials on it in some way, and you may want to rethink your vote."

Fair enough. As I wrote in the piece, there is still a lot of basketball left to be played. Kevin Garnett is sure to be in the mix as well. Let's see how it shakes out over the next five weeks or so.

In the meantime, let's get to some questions:

I just read where the team that finishes ninth in the West could win 50 games and still be eligible for the lottery, while three teams from the East could make the playoffs and not be eligible for the lottery. Is the NBA looking at reworking the order of the draft lottery to prevent this in the future?
-- Rod, Detroit

Don't count on it. David Stern has been reluctant in recent years to tinker with the draft lottery system. If he didn't do anything after last year's debacle, when the Grizzlies and the Celtics got shut out of the top two spots despite having the worst records, he's probably not going to do anything about this year's weird situation.

Remembering Chris Webber's return to a successful Kings team in 2004 and the bad results, what do you think will happen when Andrew Bynum returns to the Lakers?
-- Mary, La Habra, Calif.

I think the situations are different. Webber was over 30, coming off major knee surgery and had not played with the Kings for about a year. Plus, he demanded the ball. Bynum is much younger, should be in far better shape physically, and he'll be familiar with his teammates from having played with them earlier this season. With Kobe, Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom to carry the load, he won't expect to play a big role.

What or the chances of the Hornets making the playoffs and possibly winning the NBA championship?
-- Harris J. Danos, Cut Off, La.

First, Harris, let me say that your e-mail sent me scurrying to Google Maps. I had to see if Cut Off was a real place. Not only does it exist, but it's located way, way down there in Bayou Country. Amazing. Anyway, I love what the Hornets have done this year. Paul has been sensational. I think they're in the playoffs, and could pull off a surprise in the first round if they get the right matchup. But they're probably too inexperienced to get through the rugged West and make it to the finals this season.

1 of 2