Once Lebron a le this June, he will officially surpass Kobe

[Giuseppe]

True that. Whoda thunk that the Lakers would lose by 30+ in a Finals deciding game, then go out like punks in the 4th game of a sweep, throwing cheap shots?

Or, who'd a thunk the Celtics would pull the Sonics pants down only to see their horse get slabbed & tagged?

[Ryan Fitzpatrick]

The Lakers are probably the easiest team to root for. Besides winning every other year, they very rarely give their fans false hope and heartwrenching "what-if" moments. When they lose, they lose soundly.

We'll use the last 15 or so years as an example:

1997: Lose 4-1 to Jazz
1998: Swept by Jazz
1999: Swept by Spurs
2003: 28 point loss in Game 6
2004: Finals beatdown
2005: No playoffs
2006: Game 7 blowout
2007: 4-1 loss to Suns
2008: 39-point clinching loss
2011: Swept by Mavs

Their losses (although rare) are usually so bad that the front office can't sit idly by in the offseason, (like the Spurs do) just hoping for their luck to change. Even when they lose it's in such spectacular fashion that change is called for and they inevitably end up winning in the end.

[LnGrrrR]

Or, who'd a thunk the Celtics would pull the Sonics pants down only to see their horse get slabbed & tagged?

I would answer this, but you've gone too esoteric even for me.

[Giuseppe]

Ok. so, who'd a thunk you'd beat us like a drum on Memorial Day only to turn around and let us steal your cookie in your own backyard in broadlight on the Sabbath?

[Tinystarz]

Ok. so, who'd a thunk you'd beat us like a drum on Memorial Day only to turn around and let us steal your cookie in your own backyard in broadlight on the Sabbath?

o cubby..

[Giuseppe]

o cubby..

o Tiny...

[mindcrime]

No way does Lebron pass Kobe for career achievements with one ring. That's laughable.



Shallow and misguided.

Those of us that know what really happened know that Kobe put up huge performances against the toughest teams the Lakers faced each year of the Lakers threepeat.

In Game 7 of the 2000 WCF against the Blazers Kobe was the MVP of that game with a tremendous all around performance 25/11/7 and guarding Pippen into a 3-10 shooting performance in what was the real NBA finals. Blazers > Pacers that year.

Kobe dominated a great Spurs team in the WCF in 2001 and was the MVP of that series in what was again the real NBA finals . Spurs > 76ers that year.

In 2002 the Lakers/Kings WCF was the real NBA finals. Kings > Nets that year. In game 7 Kobe put up 30/10/7 .

Lets be honest with ourselves here. Kings > Lakers that season. Proof that you need more than talent to win. When your 6"2 PG is the only player with a pair then you're in trouble. I hope Peja has learned from the past and doesn't air ball any 3's in crunch time.

[Giuseppe]

^All you had to do was win, Mind.

[Spursfan092120]

[LnGrrrR]

Ok. so, who'd a thunk you'd beat us like a drum on Memorial Day only to turn around and let us steal your cookie in your own backyard in broadlight on the Sabbath?

Who'd a thunk Marc Gasol would be better in the postseason than his older brother?

[picc84]

Lets be honest with ourselves here. Kings > Lakers that season. Proof that you need more than talent to win. When your 6"2 PG is the only player with a pair then you're in trouble. I hope Peja has learned from the past and doesn't air ball any 3's in crunch time.

Christie's was worse. I'd rather hit air than the top of the backboard. That boys nerves were plum shot and no amount of fingers to the air could calm them.

[namlook]

Also, pretty hilarious that you try to equate Parish/McHale with Shaq. Shaq was much more dominant than either of those two.

Sure Shaq was better than either one of them individually but Bird didn't play with only one of them. Bird had two Hall of Famers for ring #1, three Hall of Famers for ring #2 and four Hall of Famers for ring #3.

At least you aren't trying to say McHale was overrated. LOL. McHale was a bad mofo (as was Worthy) and he was hard nosed and tough too. I wish Pau had McHale's disposition.

Shaq was dominant for a decade (from about year #2 to year #11). Shaq was dominant in Orlando but he was never able to win with just any great player next to him. Penny was a 1st team all-NBA guard when Shaq was dominant and they never won a ring.

But I digress. Point is only one guy in NBA history has won 5 rings with no more than one Hall of Fame caliber player (or potential HOF player) playing with him on those championship teams. Everyone else with 5 rings had multiple Hall of Famers helping them out. So the propaganda that haters disseminate that Kobe had more talent around him than all the other great players in NBA history is quite frankly total bull .

[Giuseppe]

Who'd a thunk Marc Gasol would be better in the postseason than his older brother?

Reggie Lewis

[TheNextGen]

If Lebron surpasses Kobe cuz he won one ring, then Lebron also surpasses Jordan.

[ChrisRichards]

If Lebron surpasses Kobe cuz he won one ring, then Lebron also surpasses Jordan.

[TheNextGen]

dont be mad cuz its true.

You going by stats or accomplishments?

Stats. Lebron > Jordan and Kobe

Accomplishments. Kobe and Jordan > Lebron

Cant have both without making a case for the other.

[Killakobe81]

Then you should have said his goal should be the Bulls of that era, not Jordan.

MJ's mental game was not underrated. Him and Rodman were able to get into the head of the opponent, all the way up to the coach. The difference is that no one could do anything about Michael.

Look we all know bball is a team game and you can not win without help. But some players are transcendant and it's not IF they win a le but more like "when". I think Lebron is one of those as I thought Kobe and Mj were before him. But his "gifts" are so much better then either one of those guys ESPECIAlly Kobe. So now he has help. he only needs to win. sure, some will put an asterisk because of the decision. Not only does he have Wade but Bosh has played better than Wade the last 6.5 games at least ...but for me that doesnt matter. he wins I wont make excuses. and if he loses I wont allow him any either ...

[DMC]

Look we all know bball is a team game and you can not win without help. But some players are transcendant and it's not IF they win a le but more like "when". I think Lebron is one of those as I thought Kobe and Mj were before him. But his "gifts" are so much better then either one of those guys ESPECIAlly Kobe. So now he has help. he only needs to win. sure, some will put an asterisk because of the decision. Not only does he have Wade but Bosh has played better than Wade the last 6.5 games at least ...but for me that doesnt matter. he wins I wont make excuses. and if he loses I wont allow him any either ...

The bottom line is that you said he should go after Jordan. That's player mentality, not team mentality. Had Jordan not won a ring, he would be just another volume shooter with good stats. Going after Jordan means being a volume shooter with good stats. Going after the Bulls means trying to get your team to the ring, even if that means you have to pass up on a shot or an MVP award to get there.

You won't have to allow him excuses. He's going to use them regardless. Being in Miami, surely the crabs have gotten to him (both kinds).

Teams have a dynamic that's hard to reproduce, and one player cannot simply be good enough to reproduce the entire team dynamic needed to replicate a 6 ring team. It doesn't matter how talented he is, he needs more than that.

[Killakobe81]

The bottom line is that you said he should go after Jordan. That's player mentality, not team mentality. Had Jordan not won a ring, he would be just another volume shooter with good stats. Going after Jordan means being a volume shooter with good stats. Going after the Bulls means trying to get your team to the ring, even if that means you have to pass up on a shot or an MVP award to get there.

You won't have to allow him excuses. He's going to use them regardless. Being in Miami, surely the crabs have gotten to him (both kinds).

He did this already or havent you been watching? I dont think we disagree here. For me, MJ's legacy is tied to his 6 rings . Without them he is Karl Malone or Charles Barkley. Sure a better scorer and a better athlete. But I am not one who crowned MJ BEFORE the 6. I also dont buy all teh leadership stuff. By many accounts much like Kobe Mj was a ty team-mate and not some faultless mythical leader. But he was so mentally tough and his drive was unmatched (in my lifetime). In some ways, I think Duncan, Lebron and other were better lead by example players. But I can appreciate all leadership styles as long as it leads to winning. so far Lebron's has not. But if and when it does I will give him full credit. Just disappointed he did not do this in Cleveland.

[DMC]

He did this already or havent you been watching? I dont think we disagree here. For me, MJ's legacy is tied to his 6 rings . Without them he is Karl Malone or Charles Barkley. Sure a better scorer and a better athlete. But I am not one who crowned MJ BEFORE the 6. I also dont buy all teh leadership stuff. By many accounts much like Kobe Mj was a ty team-mate and not some faultless mythical leader. But he was so mentally tough and his drive was unmatched (in my lifetime). In some ways, I think Duncan, Lebron and other were better lead by example players. But I can appreciate all leadership styles as long as it leads to winning. so far Lebron's has not. But if and when it does I will give him full credit. Just disappointed he did not do this in Cleveland.

My point is that Lebron will never be considered the GOAT if he goes out and tries to be that. He has to play his game and hope for some good fortune along the way. He may be the GOAT one day, but he cannot chase it. He can only chase the ring. The GOAT is bestowed later down the road when the entire game is re-examined.