Kobe Bryant likes Carmelo Anthony's MVP chances
Lakers coach Mike D'Antoni talks with Kobe Bryant during a timeout in a game against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. (Dec. 13, 2012) Credit: Jim McIsaac
Perennial MVP candidate Kobe Bryant believes Carmelo Anthony is a leading candidate to win the award this season.
"I don't think there's a question about it," Bryant, the 2007-08 MVP, said Thursday. "I've seen him when he was in Denver. He's played this way before. It just depends on how well your team is playing, really, the type of recognition you get. What he's doing to me is not a surprise."
"We were in the hunt, but he made the decision to go to L.A. so we had to go a different route," Mike Woodson said.
Plan B -- better known as Jason Kidd -- has worked out nicely for the Knicks.
Nash, who is out with a leg injury, didn't talk to the media before the game.
Anthony is second behind LeBron James in Eastern Conference All-Star frontcourt balloting. Kevin Garnett is third. Tyson Chandler is fifth. The top three start.
Former Knick Jeremy Lin is third among West guards after Bryant and Chris Paul. The top two start.
Woodson's advice for Amar'e Stoudemire, who was married Wednesday: "Just listen, keep your mouth shut and keep it moving." . . . Former Yankee Bernie Williams performed the national anthem on his guitar . . . During tomorrow night's game against Cleveland, longtime TV and radio analyst John Andariese, who retired before the season, will be honored with the Dick McGuire Legacy Award.
