Stockton’s Legacy: Small In Stature, Big In Heart

[Culburn369]

I'm really excited about this team, because we easily won last season with our bench having a poor year. If they bounce back like the year before, its not going to be even close.

I think Culburn came again.

[Lars]

We're gonna find that out this year. What made the Bulls defense so good was allowing Pip to guard the other teams best wing player, and allowing MJ to roam. We have that in Ron if he comes to camp in shape. Now Kobe can roam and not worry about guarding guys like TMAC, WADE, JAMES, MELLO, and so on. I'm really excited about this team, because we easily won last season with our bench having a poor year. If they bounce back like the year before, its not going to be even close.

rofl, you should probably watch some tape of Artest trying to guard people last year.

[Culburn369]

rofl, you should probably watch some tape of Artest trying to guard people last year.

You said the same thing last year when Artest played for you!

[Hornets1]

Remember that game in LA last season when Paul held that ball too long and Fish stepped in for the crucial charge? Paul does that all the time, its just not noticeable to the untrained eye.

Really? By all the time, you might mean that one game. Paul was soo upset at himself after that game, and even admitted he was at fault directly after that play. I remember being shocked b/c it was so unexpected.

Not noticeable to the untrained eye? I watch every hornets game from beginning to end and attend about 25 games a year, b/c we have season tix 10 rows behind the Hornets' bench. The only way your arguement is valid is if you watch the Hornets play in games that aren't vs. the Lakers. I'm guessing you didn't watch more that 7 Hornets games last year......

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

No No, Im saying this season. I agree Pip and MJ was a special duo, and outside of Rodman, the rest of the team were scrubs. Grant saved his best for Orlando. If we're playing with yesterdays rules, I really like our chances because Artest could put his hands on MJ, and Kobe would torch the of of Pip. That's how it would go down. PJ would have Pip guard Kobe, and MJ would be on Artest, and vice versa. The Bulls had no big men posting up at all. That team had some holes, they just were not exploited. MJ was smart by taking off during Hakeems reign.

They don't get Grant, I'm talking about the 96-98 Bulls, so Horance Grant isn't a factor.

And that team had more than scrubs outside of Rodman, MJ and Pippen. Ron Harper had perfected the hand check and was one of the league's most clutch shooters and best perimeter defenders. Toni Kukoc was the scoring punch off the bench that complimented Jordan and Pippen perfectly. Similar to Lamar Odom on LA, when Toni Kukoc was playing well, Chicago was unbeatable.

And why would Kobe torch the out of Pip? Pip is arguably the best perimeter defender of all time.....it's pretty impossible to argue that Kobe would be more productive with Pippen guarding him than Jordan would be with Artest guarding him.

[jazzypimp]

You cant compare non- le teams with multiple le teams. Just be a good boy and live vicariously through teams that won it.

You can indeed compare two teams from different era's. 90's basketball>present days any day of the week. IMO teams now arent as good as those teams. I think the second best team in jordans prime years would have indeed one a championship or two in this era of basketball.

[mavs>spurs2]

Those Jazz teams >> today's Laker team. In terms of both team chemistry and defense. Regardless of how much you like or dislike Stockton, all the smart basketball minds in this thread can agree on this

[jazzypimp]

Those Jazz teams >> today's Laker team. In terms of both team chemistry and defense. Regardless of how much you like or dislike Stockton, all the smart basketball minds in this thread can agree on this

well said!

[balli]

Those Jazz teams >> today's Laker team. In terms of both team chemistry and defense. Regardless of how much you like or dislike Stockton, all the smart basketball minds in this thread can agree on this

Today's Lakers team and yesterday's Lakers team.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1997_NB...Angeles_Lakers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1998_NB...Angeles_Lakers

[ambchang]

Me personally?..You can take all the records, MVPs, COYs, ROYs, all that happy horse and keep it. I tote up one accomplishment: NBA Champion. That's it. There is nothing else.

---

And I find fault with Stockton because that is the last word in success: NBA Champion. That is how it's been represented for the past 30 years, since Magic & Bird came onto the scene. It is how Media wanted it, and that is how it was dealt out. Well, if that is the first & last judgment for my people,,,then just because Stockton is white and he's from Utah does not excuse his utter failure.

And that's just the way its gonna be on this Forum.

No consideration for teammates, coaching, opposition, era, and dozens of other variables. Don't fault you though, because that is all the variables you can handle with your simplistic view of the world.

BTW, since when is that the way it is gonna be on this Forum? Did you define this? How do you enforce it?

[Culburn369]

BTW, since when is that the way it is gonna be on this Forum? Did you define this? How do you enforce it?

Since I lit.

Yes.

Mere presence.

[Culburn369]

Those Jazz teams >> today's Laker team. In terms of both team chemistry and defense. Regardless of how much you like or dislike Stockton, all the smart basketball minds in this thread can agree on this

Yes, the only difference is: those Jazz teams failed chronologically to ring.

That is the boiler plate requirement and only the Lakers accomplished it.

Gentlemen, it is what it is.

[Lars]

Bottom line is 90s Sonics, Spurs, Rockets, Bulls, Jazz, Suns were all better than Kobe's current team. A fair comparison would be the Heat or Knicks of the time. Lakerfan is especially entertaining today.

[ambchang]

Since I lit.

Yes.

Mere presence.

Can't fault you though, there are more fools in this world than competent people, and sir, are the leader of their pack.

[Culburn369]

Can't fault you though, there are more fools in this world than competent people, and sir, are the leader of their pack.

Uh,,,,,,,,,thank, you.?

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

The 1996 Bulls would have Pippen guarding Kobe, and Ron Harper guarding Artest.
Jordan would still get to roam and focus on help D.

[Lars]

You are really salty at Kobe's new dynasty, huh?

Dynasty

You must of watched doin work this morning.

[jazzypimp]

Careful, I've been nice to you Mavs fans lately. The Jazz were a good home team, and that's it. This Laker team will surpass the three-peat team in greatness.

The jazz were a good road team also back then ... Theres no shame in admitting most 90's teams could beat the current lakers team of today. It doesnt change the fact that they are the CURRENT best basketball team.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Then you would hear Mike Breen saying... BANG!!! Derek Fisher with the dagger. Listen, I know that second Bulls team was great, and I think this current Laker team is going to be special, and you'd have to admit, they both would match up with each other.

I have no idea how this current Laker team is going to be. There are too many question marks for me to be comparing it to arguably the best team of all time. Artest could be as good a fit as Lakerfan thinks he will be, and he could be as bad a fit as Spurfan hopes he will be. Kobe could be good for several more years, or we could see a decent sized drop off in play from him this year. We don't know yet.

[jazzypimp]

I have no idea how this current Laker team is going to be. There are too many question marks for me to be comparing it to arguably the best team of all time. Artest could be as good a fit as Lakerfan thinks he will be, and he could be as bad a fit as Spurfan hopes he will be. Kobe could be good for several more years, or we could see a decent sized drop off in play from him this year. We don't know yet.

DoK speaking with some logic. Color me impressed.

LoL at lakersfans recruiting DoK.. Then again if you recruit DoK you get Goran also.

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

Then again if you recruit DoK you get Goran also.

Phil Jackson tried to trade for Goran last year. If that ever happened, then I'd somehow have to be a Suns/Lakers fan. LA would be smart to get Dragic, a Dragic/Brown combo at PG would be a perfect triangle fit.

[jazzypimp]

Phil Jackson tried to trade for Goran last year. If that ever happened, then I'd somehow have to be a Suns/Lakers fan. LA would be smart to get Dragic, a Dragic/Brown combo at PG would be a perfect triangle fit.

Dragic can't hold a flame to a fart of most nba point guards.

[hater]

LA would be smart to get Dragic, a Dragic/Brown combo at PG would be a perfect triangle fit.

I really wish they would get dragic though

[DUNCANownsKOBE2]

DoK, what the are you still sitting on the sidelines for. Come on over to where its good, man. You owe it to the Suns for ing over their fan-base so many times. It would only be justice. For the life of me, I cant figure why you and sook are not Laker fans.

Lakaluva, I'd simply have no reason to cheer for LA (other than the fact they win a lot). I don't live and have never lived in SoCal, and there's no player on LA I'm a huge fan of. People have the freedom to cheer for whatever team they want, but I simply can't get genuinly cheer for a team passionately unless I have a connection to the city/area the team's in, or if I'm a huge fan of a player on that team.

The one thing I will say though, is I respect the mentality that 30th place and 2nd place are the exact same thing.

[angelbelow]

There are only a few players in the NBA that are hard to hate, no matter how hard you try. I think John Stockton is one of them. Extremely hard worker and a class act, I can't think of a good reason to hate on him.