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You couldn't post this in the other 100 Kobe < MJ threads?
I hate when people make this statement as if it is an indisputable fact. As of now, I would say Lebron James, Chris Paul, and Tim Duncan can make a case for the best player in the game.
When has Kobe been the best player in the game?
2002 and before, he wasn't even the best Laker... from 2003-2007, how can this le not go to Tim Duncan who has won 3 les and has recorded, according to Hollinger's PER methods, some of the best Finals performances of all time. Kobe on the other hand, made 1 finals trip and by Hollinger's methods had one of the 10 worst played Finals of all time.
I guess Kobe can make a strong case this year, but so can the aforementioned Duncan, Paul, and James.
He's a great player, I'm not denying that... and this post isn't simply a knee jerk reaction to the lakers 1-3 deficit... and I will eat ALOT of crow if the Lakers come back but I doubt it... but I get annoyed when people say he is the best player in the game as if it is an indisputable fact. This has arguably NEVER been true, due to Shaq's dominance and Duncan's dominance from 2000-2007.
You couldn't post this in the other 100 Kobe < MJ threads?
I agree and I'm a Laker fan. Yes, Bryant is an exceptional player but the greatest Lakers in my book are Kareem,Magic,Shaq,Jerry West,Elgin Baylor and Wilt despite having only won once vs. the dominant Celtics of the 50's and 60's. Apart from the scoring les and an MVP award, he has not really proven that he can deliver the ultimate price to Los Angeles. This year cemented that criticism despite being favored by the bookies and the media to win it all despite not having HCA.
Duncan in my book is above Bryant in terms of overall achievement. In fact, I even rate him a tad higher than Shaq since he has more total MVP awards and All-NBA and All-Defensive team selections.
Overall skill and talent, Kobe's the best right now.
He said Kobe Bryant is the best player in the game not "Kobe is better than MJ" Get your facts straight.
You couldn't post this in the other 100 Kobe < MJ threads?
Tony Parker has 3 rings and a Finals MVP
Tony Parker > Kobe
Agreed. I don't think anyone got to the Finals with this little help in the history of the game.
You're saying that last year's Cavs team was better than this years Lakers team?
nice post.
i agree 100%
I'll never let Kobe off the hook for quitting on his team in Game 7 of the opening round of the playoffs versus PHX two years ago. Never. Anyone who follows and loves basketball should be disgusted at him for doing this. Funny how everyone seems to forget this, yet up until this week folks have been hailing him as arguably the greatest player of all time - even ahead of MJ.
I think the problem is that "best player" has come to mean to most writers "most like Jordan" and therefore often we only appreciate only the skills of wing players. That is why Kobe gets labeled as the best player (and last year the other people being mentioned were LBJ and Wade). He is, and has been for some time, the best wing player. But even for that LBJ is closing really fast on him.
As far as best overall player, I really think it was Shaq in the early part of the decade, and Duncan in the middle part. Duncan has probably fallen off a bit; even though it was an extremely high peak to fall from, best PF of all time, and a Top 5 big men of all time as well; and that might open up the debate for these last 2-3 years.
Most will call me a homer, but according to Hollinger's PER there was no one better than Dirk in 2006 and 2007. Hollinger himself has actually said this, that he couldn't say that Kobe had had better seasons than Dirk, and that Duncan was also higher in his eyes. Before you blast Dirk for lacking defense, well Kobe hasn't shown any during this series as well, and the 06 Mavs were a top notch defensive team with Dirk playing some great help defense while these Lakers are a weak one.
If there is one thing that we can admit, is that Kobe has the most extensive skillset in the league today, and probably has had this for quite some time. But that's doesn't translate into being the best overall. Sometime all you really need is to be dominant in some areas of the game, where no one can stop you and that is good enough (Shaq being prime example of this).
Ultimately this is a big men's league, and the top big man in the league, should be considered the top player or at least be very close.
must not think so 100% or you would not want to make sure people agree with you
unsecure laker homer
I remember that game too. They had a shot and it seemed like he was trying to show management how important he is. I think he knew they had no shot that year if they made it past phoenix. Either way, seeing LA play phoenix a lot I can tell you it's easy to tell when LA is toast, Kobe tries to take over and forgets about team bball. He's won a few playoff games doing that, but it won't win you a le.I'll never let Kobe off the hook for quitting on his team in Game 7 of the opening round of the playoffs versus PHX two years ago. Never. Anyone who follows and loves basketball should be disgusted at him for doing this. Funny how everyone seems to forget this, yet up until this week folks have been hailing him as arguably the greatest player of all time - even ahead of MJ.
The phrase "in the game" means both the past and present. Not only "RIGHT NOW". Otherwise the le would have said "Kobe Bryant is the best player in the game RIGHT NOW"
Besides, saying kobe is the best overall is even subject to debate. Lebron is a one man team and he reached the finals without another star player by his side - Kobe never did that in LA. Pau gasol is the reason why LA is in the finals, and to prove my point, now that Gasol is irrelevant in the finals - the lakers is eating against Boston.
chris paul is no where near the best player in the league, with all the talent he had on that hornets team he still could not get it against the spurs, who in that series were basically player 3 on 5
I would say Lebron is better then Kobe. For the last few years he has proven he can go far with garbage which is something Kobe can't do. His first time int he playoffs he got out of round 1 and pushed the Pistons to 7 games. Last year took a terrible team to the finals and lost. This year he pushed the celtics to 7 games with a weak supporting caste which is pretty damn good considering Kobe is going to get to a game 7 with his current caste which is lot more talented then what Lebron had. I really do believe if you put Lebron on the Lakers and take Kobe off that the Lakers would win the le easily. Lebron would know how to utilize guys like Gasol and Odom to his advantage. he would know how to use Vuja as a weapon out there.
kobe IS the best individual player in the nba. his basketball skills, his killer instinct, makes him the deadliest ind. player hands down.
but the most valuable to your team, i wouldnt agree that kobe is the best.
Hornets are actually not that talented. West is not an elite Power forward, Peja isn't a good #3 option, their bench is weak, they have no shooting guard...Hornets aren't very talented at all.
David West might not be an elite PF, but he's a borderline elite PF and at least a top 10 PF. Peja is a perfect #3 option, especially on a team that has a point guard like Chris Paul. Peja is perfect for transition jumpers when Paul pushes the ball up the floor and for kick-outs when Chris Paul breaks down defenses off the dribble in the half court set. With David West at least a very good low post option on offense and with Paul breaking down defenses with dribble drive penetration, Peja is not only a good #3 option, but he's about as good as you can get without it being a superstar go-to player that is a #3 option.
Fair enough, but still not an extraordinarily talented team.
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