Why Nash is MVP - And Kobe is Not

The Lakers were so looking forward to the "hallway series" against the Clippers. But alas, that was not to be. The Suns, springing back from a 3-game-to-1 defecit, put the Lakers away last night in the seventh game of their first-round playoff series by a score of 121-90 [recap], thus earning the right to advance to the semi-final round.

Credit Steve Nash, who has just picked up his second consecutive MVP award. Nash is a class act. He not only plays the game well, but encourages his teammates to do the same. He knows that his team's success depends on team effort.

Then there's the Lakers' Kobe Bryant, constantly throwing elbows at his opponents and complaining every time he gets caught - which is not as often as it should be. It's unfortunate that Raja Bell had to serve a one-game suspension for clotheslining Bryant in game 5; the NBA was certainly within their rights to impose that. However many NBA fans (especially here in Phoenix) believe Kobe got what he deserved. To put it bluntly, Kobe is a dirty player. That's why he doesn't win the MVP, regardless of his awesome play on the court.

After a hard-fought series, it's not uncommon for members of the losing team to go and congratulate the winning team. Many of the Lakers players simply went into the locker room. That's just poor sportsmanship. Maybe they should take lessons from Steve Nash, a true team player - and two-time MVP!