2013: A Tumultous Year in Review

MVP of 2013

Lopez – Although this award should almost always go to Kobe, I’m going to take a little bit of a different angle. Steve Blake to me has been one of, if not the most consistent Lakers in 2013. After Kobe went down late last season, Blake stepped up in a huge way, taking all of the big shots and helping carry the scoring load. If not for his great play, the Lakers were in danger of missing out on the playoffs all together. This season, prior to his injury, Blake had been having perhaps the greatest season of his career, scoring 9.8 points, dishing out 7.7 assists and snagging 3.3 rebounds all while shooting 40% from beyond the arc.

Nov 26, 2013; Washington, DC, USA; Los Angeles Lakers point guard Steve Blake (5) shoots the ball as Washington Wizards point guard John Wall (2) defends in the third quarter at Verizon Center. The Wizards won 116-111. Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports

Booth – Do we really need to ask? Kobe Bryant. No question, no doubt. He single-handedly carried the Lakers into the playoffs last year, and before he was injured, was having one of the best statistical seasons of his illustrious career. He did absolutely EVERYTHING in 2013. Enough said. Next question.

Morales –  Kobe Bryant

After the Memphis team meeting Kobe took over the offense. The Lakers played the Jazz on Jan. 25th. Kobe had 14 assists. 8 of his 14 assists were to Dwight Howard and Metta World Peace. The next game the Lakers played the Thunder. Kobe had 14 assists. 9 of his 14 assists were to Steve Nash and Pau Gasol. The next game the Lakers played the Hornets and Kobe had 11 assists. Five games later against Brooklyn the score was tied 80-80. In a clear out Kobe dribbled and had a monster dunk over Gerald Wallace. The Lakers won by 9. Against Portland on the 22nd of February Kobe had 40 points and 7 rebounds. Against the Hornets on March 6 the Lakers were trailing by 16 to begin the fourth quarter. Kobe played the entire period. He began with a two point shot then a free throw. He made another two point shot. He fed Jodie for a three. He fed Howard for a two. He fed Jodie again. He made a three. He made a shot at the rim. He fed Jodie for another three. He made a 2 point shot. He made a 10 footer and a shot in the paint. He made 2 free throws. He was responsible for every shot in the quarter except for one 3 to Jodie. The Lakers scored 33 points in the quarter and the Hornets 9. Two days after that game, against the Raptors, the Lakers were trailing in the 4th quarter by five with less than two minutes left in a must win home game. Kobe hit a three to bring the Lakers within two. With thirty seconds left and the Lakers down by four he hit a corner three. With the Lakers trailing by three with five seconds left he hit a ridiculous step back three to send the game into overtime. With 30 seconds left in overtime he dunked on Aaron Gray to give the Lakers a two point lead and then got the rebound after a Rudy Gay miss. But that 41 point game was not his best performance. It would come a month later, at Portland. He played every minute and had 47 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, three steals, 4 blocks and 1 turnover. The next game against the Warriors he tore his Achilles. With three minutes left and the Lakers trailing by 2, Kobe made two free throws on his ruptured tendon. It would give the Lakers the momentum to win the game and to make the playoffs as he predicted they would. Some eight months later he fractured his knee and played an entire fourth quarter. Yes, he was the Lakers best player. But he was their toughest player and their most determined. In the last 17 games of the season, he played forty minutes or more 10 times.

Rude – He has played but just six games in the 2013-14 season, but the answer here is Kobe Bryant. For all he did in early 2013. Have we ever seen a performance like the one he pulled off down the stretch of the 2012-13 season? He put the team on his back early in 2013, then pulled out a cape and went full Superman to finish the season. His final seven games? 45.5 minutes, 28.9 points, 7.3 rebounds, 6.7 assists, 2.1 steals, and the Lakers went 6-1. In absolute, must-win, critical games to secure playoff berth, the Lakers turned to Bryant, who put on quite possibly his last great show of his career. Bryant was the MVP of 2013.

Hicks – The MVP of 2013 has got to be Nick Young. He has made this Lakers team watchable and entertaining even in a loss. He’s been a breath of fresh air. His herky jerky style is mesmerizing to watch. Everyone knows he’s going to shoot the pull up 17 footer but he always somehow gets the shot he wants. Young has improved defensively, and I could see him becoming a valuable weapon off the bench whenever the Lakers can put together a contender again.