Casey...I understand and respect what you are saying, but ...The lakers may win 40-44 games....Without Kobe, they probably win 28-32..Keep in mind, guys will step up if Kobe was not there. Odom would take leadership and get hungry, Your backcourt would not feel they have to defer or wait for Kobe to do something and they would get more agressive,, etc. They are not a single digit win team with out him. Come on, Phil can find a way to win with any team. Now if you take Nash in Phx, they will probably win 56 games. Take him away and they MAY win 30...That is a plus minus of 26 for Nash and maybe 16 for Kobe...When Kobe learns to make his teammates better, his team will win and he will be a consistent MVP candidate. Until than, he is just the best player. MVP this year is Nash, or Dirk..(Billups has too much help from his teammates...4 all stars)....You gotta be leading an elite team to be the MVP........Under your arguement, Chris Bosh could be an MVP candidate...Toronto prob is a single digit win team without him, but will win mid to upper 20's with him......just my 2 cents...