Say Kobe goes Ape Crazy

[phxspurfan]

First, it's impossible for him to have a game like that.

Second, he'll be viewed as a guy who won three les because he was on Shaquille's team, and two more les because he was on Pau Gasol's team. He will be viewed as the guy who got away with taking more bad shots for more years than any other NBA player, and as someone who was famous for two reasons: 1) he squeaked out of a rape case because the victim chose not to drag herself through the case, and 2) because the NBA shoved him down our throats for 13 straight years.

Bryant was the beneficiary of playing in a marquee city. that's about it. Oh, one more tidbit...there's another guy who would have five rings for the same reasons listed above...Derek Fisher.

[VBM]

Top 10 for sure (I'd say 7-10 range) with a couple of years to get into the top 5 status. I expect a big-time performance from him tonight...it'll take a 2008-like Pierce performance to keep this game interesting.

[BadOdor]

As long as the lakers win, it really doesn't matter.

[SomeCallMeTim]

Why discuss something that won't happen?
Its like started a thread saying "what if Pierce scores 50 while gettin teh triple double!!!!"

I wouldn't put it past either Kobe or Pierce putting up at 40/8/8 game... the buzzer beater is a little melodramatic, but both are fully capable of monster games. At this point, more expected from Kobe but Pierce could do it too.

[Giuseppe]

the buzzer beater is a little melodramatic

I dread that thought like a loose booty hole.

[HarlemHeat37]

It depends what you're talking about here..if you're talking about the casual fan and the media, then Kobe is going to have an advantage against those guys, he benefits from playing in LA and the aesthetics of his game..

You can make an argument for all those guys against Kobe, just like you can in Kobe's favor against them..just a quick recap without getting too into it..the problem is that the media keeps talking about Kobe being in the top 5, so people get it in their minds, but when you look at his stats/accolades, he doesn't really have a good argument, even if he wins IMO..he'll have years to make it through though, his longevity has been very good so far..

Hakeem?..undoubtedly had a better peak, top 3 defender of all-time, same amount of MVPs, same amount of Finals MVPs, one of 2 players in NBA history to win a le with his #2 option averaging less than 15 PPG, much weaker supporting cast, significantly better advanced stats, better performer in the Finals/playoffs, more efficient as an overall player..

Kobe is the much more memorable player, better scorer, much better volume scorer, more les by a significant margin, better longevity, more all-NBA teams, fared better in MVP voting, more Finals appearances, better closer..

Duncan?..comparable peak, better defender, 1 more MVP, 1 more Finals MVP, around the same amount of all-NBA teams on both ends, one of the 2 players in NBA history to win a le with his #2 averaging less than 15 PPG, won without team ever spending luxury tax, slightly better advanced stats, #1 option for all his les, better Finals performer, fared better in MVP voting..

Kobe is the much more memorable player, better scorer by a significant margin, much more explosive scorer, got a repeat which Duncan couldn't do, 1 more le, more Finals appearances, beat Duncan's teams 4-2, better longevity, better closer, much better FT shooter..

Shaq? undoubtedly had a better peak, same amount of MVPs, 1 more Finals MVP, 3 les as the #1 option, won les with multiple teams, MVP and Finals MVP in the same season, significantly better advanced stats, significantly better Finals performer, much more efficient, fared better in MVP voting..

Kobe has 1 more le, more explosive scorer, better defensive player, better closer, much better FT shooter, more overall all-NBA teams, better longevity, much better work ethic and determination..

This is just an example, a quick review, nothing in-depth..

Even if Kobe wins tonight, I don't see how anybody can say there's a clear separation between these guys, the only clear advantages that Kobe has is that he has more les(1 more than Shaq/Duncan), he's a better closer and he's a more explosive scorer..people keep repeating that Kobe is going to be top 5 and all that, but they don't really have a good argument IMO..the only thing they keep pointing to are les, which is something they were completely dismissing back in 2006 and 2007..

Bryant was a #1 option for 2 les(assuming they win tonight), the #1a for 2 les, and the clear #2 for 1 of them..this seems to be forgotten now..

Anyways, I don't mind anybody putting Kobe ahead of Shaq/Duncan/Hakeem, I just don't see how anybody can possibly say he's clearly ahead, it's pretty obvious that you can make a good argument for all of them..

I hate Kobe, but he's probably the most explosive scorer I've ever seen, he makes the most difficult shots I've ever seen anybody make, and he's one of the top 5 most feared players in NBA history..

[Giuseppe]

How's it goin', Har, how is your booty hole, gettin' tight?

[phxspurfan]

It depends what you're talking about here..if you're talking about the casual fan and the media, then Kobe is going to have an advantage against those guys, he benefits from playing in LA and the aesthetics of his game..

You can make an argument for all those guys against Kobe, just like you can in Kobe's favor against them..just a quick recap without getting too into it..the problem is that the media keeps talking about Kobe being in the top 5, so people get it in their minds, but when you look at his stats/accolades, he doesn't really have a good argument, even if he wins IMO..he'll have years to make it through though, his longevity has been very good so far..

Hakeem?..undoubtedly had a better peak, top 3 defender of all-time, same amount of MVPs, same amount of Finals MVPs, one of 2 players in NBA history to win a le with his #2 option averaging less than 15 PPG, much weaker supporting cast, significantly better advanced stats, better performer in the Finals/playoffs, more efficient as an overall player..

Kobe is the much more memorable player, better scorer, much better volume scorer, more les by a significant margin, better longevity, more all-NBA teams, fared better in MVP voting, more Finals appearances, better closer..

Duncan?..comparable peak, better defender, 1 more MVP, 1 more Finals MVP, around the same amount of all-NBA teams on both ends, one of the 2 players in NBA history to win a le with his #2 averaging less than 15 PPG, won without team ever spending luxury tax, slightly better advanced stats, #1 option for all his les, better Finals performer, fared better in MVP voting..

Kobe is the much more memorable player, better scorer by a significant margin, much more explosive scorer, got a repeat which Duncan couldn't do, 1 more le, more Finals appearances, beat Duncan's teams 4-2, better longevity, better closer, much better FT shooter..

Shaq? undoubtedly had a better peak, same amount of MVPs, 1 more Finals MVP, 3 les as the #1 option, won les with multiple teams, MVP and Finals MVP in the same season, significantly better advanced stats, significantly better Finals performer, much more efficient, fared better in MVP voting..

Kobe has 1 more le, more explosive scorer, better defensive player, better closer, much better FT shooter, more overall all-NBA teams, better longevity, much better work ethic and determination..

This is just an example, a quick review, nothing in-depth..

Even if Kobe wins tonight, I don't see how anybody can say there's a clear separation between these guys, the only clear advantages that Kobe has is that he has more les(1 more than Shaq/Duncan), he's a better closer and he's a more explosive scorer..people keep repeating that Kobe is going to be top 5 and all that, but they don't really have a good argument IMO..the only thing they keep pointing to are les, which is something they were completely dismissing back in 2006 and 2007..

Bryant was a #1 option for 2 les(assuming they win tonight), the #1a for 2 les, and the clear #2 for 1 of them..this seems to be forgotten now..

Anyways, I don't mind anybody putting Kobe ahead of Shaq/Duncan/Hakeem, I just don't see how anybody can possibly say he's clearly ahead, it's pretty obvious that you can make a good argument for all of them..

I hate Kobe, but he's probably the most explosive scorer I've ever seen, he makes the most difficult shots I've ever seen anybody make, and he's one of the top 5 most feared players in NBA history..

tl;dr