Holy , Shaq was in beast mode
Give Jordan that Shaq, and no other player could even be mentioned in the same sentence as Michael.
I'm not saying Kobe is better than Jordan. There are plenty of dumb Spur "fans" saying it can NEVER happen.
Holy , Shaq was in beast mode
Give Jordan that Shaq, and no other player could even be mentioned in the same sentence as Michael.
Kobe gets 4.6 APG and was still called selfish.
That was 6 championships in 8 years. Kobe is no longer called selfish because he has indeed learned...right at the same age Jordan did, 29.Funny how six championships out of seven years can alter perspectives. When it comes to being selfish, Jordan changed his ways, and Kobe hasn't. One might suggest that Kobe's far too old not to have learned the lesson.
We would never know how Jordan would do with Zone defenses and how good Kobe would have been with Hand checks. Great players adjust to the way the game is played.
Yes, that is true. I think Kobe is finally over the hump and will start steamrolling this year.Jordan beat Barkley every time he faced him. Once Jordan got over the hump he steamrolled the Pistons and everyone else that got in his way for the next 8 years, with the exception of one playoff series.
I don't like to make excuses but if you want one, I can show you an excuse of a starting lineup:I didn't make any excuses for anything. Someone expanded on Jordan's stats to point out that he faced brutal defense from the Pistons, and I posted the little remembered fact that the Pistons were doing the same thing the Sixers had done to them the round before. Jordan lost one playoff series as a Bull after the last loss to the Pistons, and the excuse for that single playoff exit is better than any excuse Kobe's had for the numerous team failures he's experienced since Shaq was traded.
Smush Parker
Kobe
Luke Walton
Lamar Odom
Kwame Brown
I'm not making a case, I'm just saying it's not impossible for Kobe to catch up with Jordan.I'm simply making a really convincing case, basically from memory, how Kobe doesn't belong in the same discussion. Kobe's a better three point shooter, and he's possibly a more explosive leaper. That's about it.
It can't, he's 30 years old already, he has what maybe 4 or 5 years of prime play left? So what you expect him to win 4 or 5 les in a row, multiple more league MVP's, finals MVP's, the works. Basically Kobe and the Lakers have to be flawless for the rest of Kobe's prime. This is coming off a finals loss to the Celtics. You are not even making this push for Kobe, off a le. Plus how much longer before Lebron has a team that can challenge for it all? He has every bit the physical talent that Kobe has, maybe more. Kobe is just not going to hit MJ's level.
It's unfair to say that Kobe has to win 6 les as "the man" when Jordan won his les in a watered down NBA and was pretty much the only player in the League to get "the call" from refs.
Not that I disagree with you, but if MJ was a "once in a lifetime generation player," then couldn't another one come again in another lifetime generation instead of never coming again?
I agree with what your point is, but with the way Kobe conditions himself, barring career shortening or career ending injury, Kobe is exactly the type of player that can play at an extremely high level into his late 30s. I think he probably has up to 7-8 more years in his prime should he continue to play and not get a serious injury.
I think 37 or 38 is really pushing it. Especially for such an athletic position. Jordan at 35 as great as he still was, no longer was the Mike that could dessimate the opposition for 40 full min a night. He needed to go more in spurts by that age and his freakish athletic ability was not nearly on that same level, as he turned himself into more of shooter than a driver. I have no doubt Kobe by that age can still be great but will he be prime Kobe Bryant, night to night by that age, i don't think it is likely.
Maybe if he was your regular 2-4 year college come in to the NBA at 21 kind of player. Instead, hes been playing on average about 90 games a year since he turned 18, your muscles, bones and joints can only take so much before they start to deteriorate. Given that i wouldn t be surprised to see a noticeable drop by the time hes 32.
I never bought that argument about muscles deteriorating earlier because he's straight out of high school.
I look at guys like Karl Malone and Reggie Miller who played at a close to "prime" level well into their late 30s, their 15th-18th seasons, playing 35+ mpg, having played full seasons their entire careers.
Kobe is that type of conditioned athlete. He works on his cardio, weight, strength, diet, and overall conditioning year round. He has a well developed perimeter game so he can limit the amount of hits he'll take because he is still more of jump shooter at this stage in his career. Plus, with Gasol and Bynum, he won't have the constant double teaming or taking the huge hits by power forwards and centers.
Kobe is exactly the type of athlete in the right situation with the right sets of skills to be able to play at an extremely high level well into his late 30s, into his 18th+ season in the league.
Last edited by JamStone; 10-21-2008 at 01:26 AM.
I can see your point. But Kobe should be able to play at a high level at least until 36, especially seeing how the he stays in shape and the league has cut down on hard fouls. I can see him playing in the NBA into 38, although at that time, it might be Bynum's team. , Jordan was still a baller when he was with the Wizards, what was he? 40?
But with the current Lakers squad, getting multiple rings is not a stretch. I think the Lakers are going on a tear starting this year. The Lakers are about 13 players deep, this should also save more wear and tear.
That's 8 years to win 3 rings...if they're as good as I think it will be more.
But this is where it's speculation and fan talk, I think they can and you don't think they can. We'll just have to wait.
Jordan only played seven.
Then perhaps you should tell the Laker fan that mentioned it in the first place.
Yeah, he potentially has a dominating center to carry him again. We'll know in 2014.
It doesn't hold a candle to the Birmingham Barons. Sorry.
There's no case to be made. Kobe does not equal Jordan until he does a of a lot more. Winning half as many regular season MVP trophies as Steve Nash ain't a great start.
You are arguing (along with other "fans" saying he is equal) that he can do it. Just like you argue for 70 wins and Bynum being better than Robinson. Just quit making crazy ass hypothetical statements. Kobe can never be better than Jordan. NEVER. If he was going to be better, he would of already had more of a solid basis for comparison. He can be Kobe Bryant though. Just because he "can" does not mean he "will". Possible vs. Probable.
Last edited by DPG21920; 10-21-2008 at 01:42 AM.
dude...yah stats...right...did you not watch the playoffs? 2001 and 2002 were all Kobe....and anyone who actually watched it, knows it.
Give Jordan Shaq and people will be saying "Jordan is nothing without Shaq".
Last edited by TheMACHINE; 10-21-2008 at 02:02 AM.
thats why u have to consider the timeline brotha. take it all in context.
do we ing think bill shayes, billy cunningham and dave cowen desrves the spot now? no.kg, timmy and kobe can easily replace those fools and anyone who complains needs a in his mouth.
i dont like the fact people are treating pippens career like chopped liver. pip has been one of the best defensive forward in league history. he made the ultimate sacrifice playing the role of mj's robin.
pippen could be just an all star without jordan, but i can assure everyone that mj would not hit GOAT status w/o a sidekick like Scottie.
Even mj himself admitted thats playing w/o pippen is like a slap in the face.
If it came once then your right there is a possibilty it could come again but i seriously doubt it. There have many players linked to become he next M.J and there not even close. Michael Jordan set the bar too high and i can't imagine a player accomplishing more than what M.J. did. It would take something extroadinary and out of this world. As good as Kobe is the closest he'll get is by polishing M.J's 6 Finals MVP trophies.
Laker fans are hilarious.
I feel like I am reading a thread with Britney Spears fans saying she COULD be better than Madonna.
but she already is...get out of the cave you live in
Ah, again, that is your opinion. Why should your opinion be more right than mines?
I think Kobe will catch Jordan in rings, you say he can't, but that's just your opinion, being a Spur "fan" doesn't make you right.
Again you are making excuses. 8 years is eight years.
I'll let you do that.Then perhaps you should tell the Laker fan that mentioned it in the first place.
Nothing wrong with having a dominant center to extend your career. Nobody penalizes Jordan for having the best rebounder ever to carry the rebounding load.Yeah, he potentially has a dominating center to carry him again. We'll know in 2014.
What does this have to do with anything? Did Jordan play on the Barons? You're trying to say Kobe has been horrible since Shaq left but you fail to mention that Kobe's team those 3 previous years were horrible. I would have loved to see your boy Jordan win a championship with Luke, Smush, and Kwame in the starting lineup.It doesn't hold a candle to the Birmingham Barons. Sorry.
Uhmm, yeah, that's what I said all along. Thanks for agreeing with me.There's no case to be made. Kobe does not equal Jordan until he does a of a lot more.
Where did I say he cannot catch him in rings? Rings do not equal better player, as evidenced by the Robert Horry example. I said he cannot "catch" Jordan because there is no such thing. He cannot be Jordan or better than Jordan.
You seem to think if Kobe catches Jordan in Rings that will make most put him up there with Jordan or in the conversation, i can't see that happening. I mean let me ask you being honest. In their 100% primes who was a better player? Jordan has Kobe beat in almost every category except Kobe is a little better jumpshooter, but Mike was no slouch in that area. Late in his career he drove less and was a turn-around jump shooting machine at times. MJ is lightyears better than Kobe on D, better driver to the hoop, better intangibles, better leader. He was Maybe the most compe ive athlete and greatest will to win of anyone in any sport. Getting 6 rings and maybe 3 finals MVP is not putting him with Jordan. Anyone who knows anything about the game knows, Jordan was the better player. If a few morons in the media claim otherwise, they are simply wrong, pure and simple.
Last edited by dbreiden83080; 10-21-2008 at 01:57 PM.
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