Lakers @ Magic

[TheMACHINE]

Kobe passes up the game winning shot, and nobody says anything. Lebron made that same exact play in the 2007 ECF and he was ridiculed for 2 days

#1) this isnt the playoffs

#2) you should check Lakersground.net cuz Lakers fans are divided in if he should have shot it or not. I say he should have.

[JamStone]

he was right under the damn hoop, what are you talking about? atleast get fouled and go to the line

Not that I think the criticism was fair, but I think the distinction is that at that time, LeBron hadn't really proven himself in crunchtime in the playoffs yet (a playoff crunchtime scenario that mattered, I'm not talking about against depleted, inconsistent Wizards teams). Kobe has already done so. The question of LeBron when he made that play is whether he had the killer instinct and the confidence not to fail. That hadn't been proven yet. We all know Kobe isn't scared to take the last shot, make or miss.

Again, not that I think it was a fair criticism of LeBron back then. That's just what distinguishes it.

[Darrin]

This is a low-profile game. A total of one All-Star caliber players in this game (Kobe)

I hear this kid--his name is Dwight Howard--he is pretty good. I think he could make the All-Star Team one day (say February, 2009 as a starter).

Great win for the Magic.

[daslicer]

Not that I think the criticism was fair, but I think the distinction is that at that time, LeBron hadn't really proven himself in crunchtime in the playoffs yet (a playoff crunchtime scenario that mattered, I'm not talking about against depleted, inconsistent Wizards teams). Kobe has already done so. The question of LeBron when he made that play is whether he had the killer instinct and the confidence not to fail. That hadn't been proven yet. We all know Kobe isn't scared to take the last shot, make or miss.

Again, not that I think it was a fair criticism of LeBron back then. That's just what distinguishes it.

He certainly didn't look scared to me when he burned Detroit in Game 5 back in '07. He was clutch at every point in that game.

[Darrin]

He certainly didn't look scared to me when he burned Detroit in Game 5 back in '07. He was clutch at every point in that game.

Yes, but he looked human during and after the game. I don't think that was the transcendant performance. He was tired during the overtimes. Jordan didn't look that until he was in his mid-30s.

My only point is that there is room to grow.

[daslicer]

Yes, but he looked human during and after the game. I don't think that was the transcendant performance. He was tired during the overtimes. Jordan didn't look that until he was in his mid-30s.

My only point is that there is room to grow.

Tired or not he came through under pressure for his team which is the point. I don't ever compare anybody to Mike it simply isn't fair and even Kobe is not in that league. All great players get tired and worn out Mike was just superhuman.

[Darrin]

Tired or not he came through under pressure for his team which is the point. I don't ever compare anybody to Mike it simply isn't fair and even Kobe is not in that league. All great players get tired and worn out Mike was just superhuman.

He changed the game, that is for sure. He slowed everything down because all the teams he faced (Knicks, Pistons, Heat, Pacers, Jazz) relied on tempo to contain him.

For the better, he brought athleticism to the game that is so common in all the successful athletes today. That shows how far his body and game were in the 1980s.

Today, I would compare Jordan and Kobe, but we are way off topic now.

[Kobe™]

CaNNON!

[IronMexican]

Kobe definitely should have taken the shot, but the way he has been playing, I am not surprised he passed on the shot. I never thought Kobe would have his game plummet this fast.

[daslicer]

He changed the game, that is for sure. He slowed everything down because all the teams he faced (Knicks, Pistons, Heat, Pacers, Jazz) relied on tempo to contain him.

For the better, he brought athleticism to the game that is so common in all the successful athletes today. That shows how far his body and game were in the 1980s.

Today, I would compare Jordan and Kobe, but we are way off topic now.

I wouldn't compare MJ to Kobe simply because Kobe is a pussy. He never comes through against physical teams. All the teams he has lost to in the playoffs have all been physical except the suns. He lost to the Jazz back in 97 and '98, 99 and '03 spurs both were physical, '04 Pistons, '08 Celtics. All those teams mangled him badly that he didn't put up a good fight in any of the elimination games and in some crucial moments during those series. Thats exactly why I would never compare Kobe to MJ simply because MJ always came through against more physical teams that he played against during 90's then what Kobe has faced during the last 10 years. Kobe will never be goat and he isn't better then Lebron at this point. Unfortunately we will be hearing this stupid argument for another 3 years and then it will be over when Kobe still hasn't passed MJ's ring total by the age 33.

[cobbler]

I wouldn't compare MJ to Kobe simply because Kobe is a pussy. He never comes through against physical teams. All the teams he has lost to in the playoffs have all been physical except the suns. He lost to the Jazz back in 97 and '98, 99 and '03 spurs both were physical, '04 Pistons, '08 Celtics. All those teams mangled him badly that he didn't put up a good fight in any of the elimination games and in some crucial moments during those series. Thats exactly why I would never compare Kobe to MJ simply because MJ always came through against more physical teams that he played against during 90's then what Kobe has faced during the last 10 years. Kobe will never be goat and he isn't better then Lebron at this point. Unfortunately we will be hearing this stupid argument for another 3 years and then it will be over when Kobe still hasn't passed MJ's ring total by the age 33.

We only keep hearing it because s like you keep talking about it. When all is said and done, then you can compare les. Until then, it's all conjecture.

[TheMACHINE]

I wouldn't compare MJ to Kobe simply because Kobe is a pussy. He never comes through against physical teams. All the teams he has lost to in the playoffs have all been physical except the suns. He lost to the Jazz back in 97 and '98, 99 and '03 spurs both were physical, '04 Pistons, '08 Celtics. All those teams mangled him badly that he didn't put up a good fight in any of the elimination games and in some crucial moments during those series. Thats exactly why I would never compare Kobe to MJ simply because MJ always came through against more physical teams that he played against during 90's then what Kobe has faced during the last 10 years. Kobe will never be goat and he isn't better then Lebron at this point. Unfortunately we will be hearing this stupid argument for another 3 years and then it will be over when Kobe still hasn't passed MJ's ring total by the age 33.

I find it funny how this guy picks and chooses his stats for his arguements.

99 and 04 Spurs were physical...thats why kobe cant beat them..he's a pussy. I guess some where in between those spurs les, the spurs became NOT physical like when they lost 4-1 in 2002. Or maybe in 2001 when the Lakers beat the NON physical spurs in 4. But yah why would you mention that right? Because it throws off ur dumbass arguement.

Dumbest post of the year.

[Darrin]

I wouldn't compare MJ to Kobe...simply because...(h)e never comes through against physical teams. All the teams he has lost to in the playoffs have all been physical except the suns. He lost to the Jazz back in 97 and '98, 99 and '03 spurs both were physical, '04 Pistons, '08 Celtics. All those teams mangled him badly that he didn't put up a good fight in any of the elimination games and in some crucial moments during those series. Thats exactly why I would never compare Kobe to MJ simply because MJ always came through against more physical teams that he played against during 90's then what Kobe has faced during the last 10 years. Kobe will never be goat and he isn't better then Lebron at this point. Unfortunately we will be hearing this stupid argument for another 3 years and then it will be over when Kobe still hasn't passed MJ's ring total by the age 33.

Note**Please Don't Swear (or be crude).

In terms of the player, not his team, he could be compared to Michael Jordan. Kobe is actually more advanced in terms of his offensive arsenal. The fact is that Kobe's team was out of the playoffs but one year is more than we could say for MJ now. The man has played in 5 NBA Finals and won 3 NBA les in 8 years. I would say he has proven himself to be a winner.

Besides, when did this become about his manhood? Why do you have to beat a team by hitting a player? The goal is to be better than an opponent. The teams you mentioned were good defensive teams--they didn't all play the same.

[Indazone]

Superman will p'wn Bynum