Rolling Stone: Kobe Bryant is 'the third-best guy' behind Durant
By Trey Kerby
Ball Don't Lie
Can we all agree that LeBron James is the best player in the league? No, we can't? Fair enough. But let's just pretend like he is for the time being, even though it wouldn't really be pretending.
Anyways, if we're saying LeBron is the best player in the league, that means there's a battle for the next in line. And while it doesn't have the allure or cache of gunnin' for that No. 1 spot, it's still pretty intense.
A lot of people will say it's Kobe Bryant. And there'd surely be votes for a healthy Chris Paul. But according to Rolling Stone's Matt Taibbi, it's Kevin Durant, and it's not even close.
Kobe in reality has been no better than the second-best player in the league for about 18 months now — LeBron James passed him somewhere back in '08. He still had a legit claim to Alpha Dog status coming in to this year because he'd just won a championship. But there's a big difference between being "in the conversation" for the top-dog status and being the third-best guy — and one who's getting older. And that's where he is, third, because Durant is suddenly poster-izing the whole league.
Could it be true? Has Kevin Durant really passed up Kobe Bryant in just his third year in the league? Durant scores more on higher shooting percentages while taking less shots. He's also a better rebounder. Not to mention, he's the biggest reason for the Thunder being a playoff team. That's a pretty strong case.
Of course, Kobe's biggest contributions don't always show up in the box score. He's been unstoppable in the clutch this year, and he's rededicated himself to defense. And he's done all this while remaining the main offensive force for the Western Conference's best team. Oh, and he has four championships. That's also a pretty strong case.
When asked about the article by Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register, Kobe was deferential.
The "old Kobe" laughed when he was told about the comparison.
"It's an honor," was Kobe's first response. He then called it "entertaining."
"It's a huge honor. It shows a sign of respect for all the work I put in," Bryant said Monday.
Something tells me Kobe isn't too keen on letting Kevin Durant pass him by, and I'd imagine he's not going to agree that he's even fallen as far as No. 2. Nonetheless, the future's in good hands.
*********************
From The Orange County Register. The Rolling Stone piece is in mogrovejo's post, #9.
Move over, Kobe… Kevin’s here
by Janis Carr
OCRegister.com
Everyone has an opinion, and Rolling Stone writer Matt Taibbi’s is this: Oklahoma City’s Kevin Durant has surpassed Kobe Bryant as the second-best player in the NBA (behind King You-Know-Who James).
Taibbi writes in an article led, “The New Kobe” that Bryant has been “no better than the second-best player in the league for about 18 months now” but his status is in jeopardy because Durant is “suddenly poster-izing the whole league.”
Guess four championships don’t mean much.
Taibbi went on to say:
“(Durant’s ability) to challenge demented three-faced narcissist Kobe Bryant and the Laker hegemony has been the highlight of the year … The now-inexorable climb down the dominance ladder for a megalomaniac like Kobe is a tale every sports fan outside L.A. can’t help but appreciate …
“Kobe has always been smart and predatory and pathologically driven, and he’s going to maximize every last drop of ability in an attempt to stay on the throne, so the Lakers will hold off the Thunder for a few more years. But the moment is coming when Kobe is going to throw everything he has at Durant, and this wide-eyed, lanky, respectful kid – nothing personal, Mr. Bryant – is going to kick his @$& anyway. That’ll be a delicious moment, and it might even happen this year.” (Sorry, Rolling Stone Magazine doesn’t provide a link to this story).
Don’t count on Durant coming anywhere close to Bryant. Even at 31 years old and with the mileage that comes with 12-plus NBA seasons, Bryant still has more talent and more drive to kick more than one up-and-comers rear end. And do you really think with the Lakers in position to defend their NBA le, Bryant worries about Durant?
Last edited by duncan228; 03-25-2010 at 05:20 PM.
We've heard the whole Kobe is losing a step and all for a few years now.
But reality is Kobe just got #4 and is going for #5 ... and he'll probably get it.
The most important "stat" is that Kobe knows how to win, that's what puts him, Shaq and Duncan above any other player of this generation.
Until somebody can stop Kobe from winning, this debate will continue.
This is beautiful. "...predatory and pathologically driven..."
That's your boy, Laker fans.
Durant is nice. 6'11" and just long. Great shot. Dude is well on his way .......
Laker fans scream BLASPHEMY from the roof tops
Is Kobe a Republican or something?
It's an interesting proposal. I don't agree with it, but it's not unreasonable.
Durant has been a beast this year...so you can make an argument for him being no. 2 in the league. But, in the end, who really gives a damn if someone's the supposed alpha dog and such? Other than the MVP, there is little to no importance whatsoever to this mythical ranking system. All I care is that Kobe plays well for my favorite team even if he's the 5th best player in the league.
The New Kobe: Kevin Durant challenging is the highlight of the NBA.
By Matt Taibibbi
It's been a dank NBA season on the whole, with more teams dumping salaries than contending for a le, but a young Oklahoma City Thunder team, built around the amazing Kevin Durant, rising to challenge demented three-faced narcissist Kobe Bryant and the Laker hegemony, has been the highlight of the year.
For the sheer schadenfreude factor alone, this story blows away even Peyton Manning coughing up the SuperBowlwith a game-ending pick, because Manning's only real crime is that he's infuriatingly awesome and does too many commercials. But the now inexorable climb down the dominance ladder for a megalomaniac like Kobe is a tale every sports fan outside LA can't help but appreciate.
Kobe in reality has been no better than the second-best player in the league for about 18 months now - LeBron James passed him somewhere back in '08. He still had a legit claim to Alpha Dog status coming into this year because he'd jsut won a championship. But there's a big difference bbetween being "in the converstaion" for the top-dog status and being the third-best guy - and one who's getting older. And that's where he is, third, because Durant is suddenly poster-izing the whole league. A departure from the Jordan-Kobe high-flyer model, Durant is more like a mutant deadly spider, killing prety with his freakishly long arms, quick feet and deadly stroke. Kevin McHale calles him "the Icicle - long, skinny and coldblooded."
Nobody in the league can guard Durant; a young Kevin Garnett might have had a chance, but even the Pistons-era Dennis Rodman would have had a tought time with this kid, who drains 30-foot threes with the release point of a Hakeem Olajuwon.
Kobe, meanshile, has been playing above the rim less and less for years - has long ago moved into that late-stage Jordan strategy of volume scoring via post-ups and running off picks, anything that doesn't involve rising up and having to land on those knees again. But Kobe has always been smart and predatory and pathological-ly driven, and he's going to maximize every last drop of ability in an attempt to stay on the throne, so the Lakers will hold off the Thunder for a few more years. But the moment is coming when Kobe is going to throw everything he has at Durant, and this wide-eyed, lanky, respectful kid - nothing personal Mr. Bryant - is going to kick his ass anyway. That'll be a delicious moment, and it might even happen this year.
Writers and fans overrating scoring. Yawn.
Howard and Wade are the guys in the tier bellow LBJ. Kobe, Durant and Anthony are better scorers but don't impact the game as deeply as those guys.
Take the damn homer glasses off and its plain to see. Durant is leading a group of second and third year role players with an unknown coach in the playoffs. They are on pace for a 50+ win season in the West! He's dropping better numbers than Kobe.
Kobe in his prime never led a team to a 50+ season and nothing higher than an 8th seed. Durant is the truth.
I agree on the Howard part but Wade is not doing a lot this year. He seems to be just coasting and is just looking ahead for the offseason.
LOL Lebron is making his case DEFINITELY ...
Durant is agreat scorer but come on ...isnt that the knock on Kobe? Lebron's "overall" game is better?
So why does Durant who is mostly a scorer... get put in #2 status and even if we say Kobe is bottom of teh top 5 why does Durant pass Wade and Melo?
Silly stuff and you guys that are cosigning this ...morons.
It's not just Durant's scoring. Part of it is, but that's not the only thing that has made him so good this season. He doesn't only score more than Kobe but he scores more efficiently. Has better shooting percentages across the board, FG, 3PT, FT. He rebounds better. And his defense has actually been pretty good this season. The Thunder are one of the top defensive teams in the league and Durant's defensive rating is the same as Kobe's. His impact also shows in his better PER and win share statistics. I know those stats aren't perfect but they do give some perspective. At least based on this season, it's not an unreasonable claim. And it certainly isn't only based on overrating his scoring.
That's exactly my point. I'm not co-signing the author POV. I think he overrates both Durant and Kobe. None of them is the 2nd best player in the game.
You misunderstood my post.
And when this is referencing basketball the problem is...?
Thing is, it's accurate. It also describes to a T players like Jordan, Bird, Magic, etc. I.e. "winners." These guys destroy, they are built to destroy, that's why they helped win so many championships. A lot of adjectives like "nasty," "cold-blooded," "ruthless," and labels like "killer" and "assassin" get thrown around about all these guys... I can't see how this is inaccurate nor offensive.
Sorry. That's my fault.
But you can replace Kobe's name with Dwyane Wade and it would still apply.
As for Dwight Howard, I won't say I completely agree but I can understand that argument because his profound impact on the defensive end. But then you weigh his liabilities on offense even though he still scores 18-20 ppg, he offers no play-making and his free throw shooting has often hurt his team, bringing some negative impact to his team.
And, look at PER and win shares (again I admit not the perfect barometer but at least it's some tangible statistical evidence rather than just saying "because that's what I see when I watch the games") and Durant has better PER and win share stats than Dwight Howard.
I think you underestimate Durant's impact on the game and see only his scoring, strangely the same criticism you are making of others with regards to Howard and Wade.
Invest in a dictionary ...predatory and Pathologically driven are not negative words by themselves. I know this guy slammed Kobe and that's his right.
But a "mamba" is predatory and in a killer I want that trait. IF Kobe is "pathologically" driven to be the best and get more les that is great Im all for it.
Now the ego thing is true and the only real negative listed. Kobe's ego helps him be the best closer but also leads him to take and make and miss some tough shots ....
Kobe is the Kanye west hated loved rubs some the wrong way HUGE ego ...but cant deny his talent or drive ...
Article doesnt upset me it's an opinion. Lost in teh negative focus Kobe was the best player before the last 18 months ...so if you buy this horse you must accept that as well ...
Won't happen this year... Durant could average 40 against LA in a possible PO matchup, but OKC has but a slim chance of the upset.
Besides, they would seldom be matched up, it would be Kobe/Thabo and Artest/Durant most of the time. Not that they still wouldn't be judged head-to-head, but it kinda takes some of the shine off the story.
Of course we are morons, eventhough Durant has the better stats, all around game and is leading a young team to the playoffs.
Ill just ask you this question and answer this with all honestly.
Can this year's Kobe Bryant lead the Thunder to a 50+ win team?
Durant's defense has improved ... amnd he is having a great season but if you guys really believe he is #2 well you can eat some #2 ...
But i like Durant great kid wayyy more likeable than Kobe to the masses. Im glad the league at least has another player to rally behind rather than ALL swinging from LBJ's nuts. Yes Lebron is the best player ...he only needs to win a ring to validate that....
And Kobe can only head down ...is these mythical rankings ...
I am just saying Melo, Wade deserve some respect too and OKC has talent if they keep drafting and trading well (maynor was a steal) I think their future is brighter than the Blazers ...
Thanks for posting the piece mogrovejo.
So now advance statistics are yoour friends? How convenient
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