Lakers or Magic?

[Spencer Hawes]

The sad part is, Dwight would have sunk the FT's against the Cavs more than likely...

Just makes you wonder...

That is exactly what he did against the Cavs and he did it for multiple games in long stretches during crunch time. That's why I was sick to my stomach watching the Finals knowing that Orlando's shooters would eventually go cold and choke down the stretch.

 

[Dr. Gymbo]

The anguish of Orlando helps sustain me. Hey, where's Patport? Wonder if he's off on a Lakers board somewhere offering "good game man, may the best team win" stuff.

 

[theSTEREO.]

The anguish of Orlando helps sustain me. Hey, where's Patport? Wonder if he's off on a Lakers board somewhere offering "good game man, may the best team win" stuff.

Ha. Yeah, I was thinking that.

He's probably afraid to come back here after our loss.

 

[TAS]

I doubt that, i think kobe's time is now and will be gone in the next few years. Lebron and wade have already passed Kobe in terms of skill, honestly kobe's getting old and he can only keep this up for maybe 2 - 4 more years. His jumper from about 03 - 06 use to be automatic from within 20ft it was like a layup.

People are always looking towards "what's new" and the day that Lebron wins one he will be on top of the basketball world. It's pretty evident that the next 7 - 10 years are going to be the era of Lebron. But in terms of among all time greats, i think kobe's legacy would have been secured even if the Laker's were to lose this year. 3 championships and 6 finals appearances would have been enough to bolt him into all time greatness among real basketball fans who realize how hard it is to get to the finals not to mention win one. But this does help him in terms of those who will always say he didn't win one without Shaq.

Speaking of Kobe's legacy, where do you ranking him in terms of all time greats(top 5, top 10)?

 

[CHIMOCHIS]

But that's just it, it's how people view it...

Kobe's never had to do what LeBron has done over a period of time... The only year he really did was 05-06, and I believe they lost in the first round to the Suns...

LeBron has only had one teammate truly step up in a big game and produce, and that was Gibson a few seasons ago... Otherwise, there's no Ariza-like moments for the Cavs tonight, or Pau, Odom etc...LeBron being compared as Kobe's equal or better than is pretty impressive considering he's never had the teammates and/or coaching...IMO, Kobe has never really lead a team anywhere of significance when he was the only dominant figure on the court.. Then again, he's never had too many chances at that...

He has done it without Shaq, but the quality of teammates that he has had in aiding him to his titles has been off the charts... In some respects, I would have loved to have seen Kobe start out with the team that drafted him (Charlotte Hornets) and actually see him carry a franchise..

I believe his first team won 55+ games his rookie year and his 2nd team won 60+ games with him as a reserve... So, he's pretty much was born into the league with a golden spoon, as opposed to having to build a franchise, like Jordan did, or what LeBron is trying to do...

Kobe has had an odd career...

It's well documented that kobe only wanted to play for LA (won 53 games season before)..Why? well remember when he asked to be traded because his team sucked.

 

[Balleration]

Kobe has had an odd career...

That's an understatement. He basically rebuilt his career in the span of 4 seasons. I think the hardsip from 04 to 07 helped him out though. Made him realize how it is to come from the bottom like other superstars. Same with Phil Jackson for that matter.

Like he said, he just wanted one championship before LeBron took the #1 spot.

 

[Damien O'Connel]

with all of this kobe stuff, is he reall a better player than jerry west, or elgin baylor? Or Moses Malone? I'm really not sure you can put him in the top 10, even after this year.

 

[Damien O'Connel]

That's an understatement. He basically rebuilt his career in the span of 4 seasons. I think the hardsip from 04 to 07 helped him out though. Made him realize how it is to come from the bottom like other superstars. Same with Phil Jackson for that matter.

Like he said, he just wanted one championship before LeBron took the #1 spot.

oh boo hoo, 4 seasons of rebuilding, then pau gets dropped in his lap.

If lebron played with shaq, he wouldn't have run him out of town like kobe did. Kobe should have 5 or 6 rings right now. It's kobes fault he didn't win more, because he's a sociopath.

 

[Balleration]

If lebron played with shaq, he wouldn't have run him out of town like kobe did. Kobe should have 5 or 6 rings right now. It's kobes fault he didn't win more, because he's a sociopath.

Shaq has run himself out of town on every team he's been on.

Dude had an All-NBA guard in Penny, then Kobe, then Wade. Was able to dominate with all them. So why did he leave? While some of it was Kobe's fault, it's not hard to see a pattern here. Most of the greats stay with one team and establish a career with them. Shaq has been moving from team to team mostly on his own accord.

We really don't know if LeBron would co-exist with Shaq. Who's going to be #2? They are both huge personalities and prefer to have the ball in their hands. I think they'd win 3-4 championships but someone would leave eventually. You also have to worry about Shaq clogging the lane while LeBron drives.

 

[Balleration]

with all of this kobe stuff, is he reall a better player than jerry west, or elgin baylor? Or Moses Malone? I'm really not sure you can put him in the top 10, even after this year.

Providing he wins this year, people will rank him over West and Baylor because he won as the #1 option. Baylor never won a championship and West was winding down his career when he won. He also never won a regular season MVP.

Moses could be rated over Kobe but I don't think he had the impact Kobe had on the game. He was also a player who moved from team to team which kind of lowers his importance.

 

[mAo_mAo]

Kobe is a top 10 scorer that's for sure. I think what separates Kobe from LeBron is a liitle word called TRUST. Trust in his team mates to win the games for him. Michael has it and so is LeBron.

I remembered the botched play in game 3 where Kobe was blocked by Hedo. He is running into a triple team there and he still shot the ball when he can pass the ball to open shooters.

It happened again in game 4. In the ending minutes of the 4th quarter and the overtime period. He is trying to dominate the game by his lonesome. He is lucky that Fisher bailed him for two plays in this game. First is the game tying three and the second was the dagger three which ironically came from Bryant.

 

[BruceBowensFoot]

I remembered the botched play in game 3 where Kobe was blocked by Hedo. He is running into a triple team there and he still shot the ball when he can pass the ball to open shooters

Did you by any chance mean game 2? Cause that's definitely when Hedo blocked him in the final seconds of the 4th, right before OT. If it happened again in Game 3, I must have missed it... or just don't remember it

 

[Shawn817]

Speaking of Kobe's legacy, where do you ranking him in terms of all time greats(top 5, top 10)?

It's really hard to say, because they all played in a different era. some would say that wilt was the best ever, but he played when no one could athletically match him and there were nothing like zone defense. It's just hard to compare era's.

Its hard to tell where to put Kobe. He's not even the best Laker of all time, but he may be the best SG ever. My opinion is gonna be a little bias of course, but i would put him in the top 10 all time players depending on how he finishes his career.

 

[Damien O'Connel]

It's really hard to say, because they all played in a different era. some would say that wilt was the best ever, but he played when no one could athletically match him and there were nothing like zone defense. It's just hard to compare era's.

Its hard to tell where to put Kobe. He's not even the best Laker of all time, but he may be the best SG ever. My opinion is gonna be a little bias of course, but i would put him in the top 10 all time players depending on how he finishes his career.

just....no

 

[Shawn817]

just....no

Wow.... i can't believe i forgot him lol.... Ok 2nd best..