Lakers: What is it about playing in Los Angeles that gives Timmy a massive

[Mugen]

The most boring hall of famer in my life time, we can't deny what he accomplished and the numbers he put up while doing so of course, I would be heading into the full ignorant road, but in terms of flashiness he brought nothing to basketball, but in terms of fundamentals he did. That's why I view Bryant higher then him, Kobe had/has everything.

There's no way you're older than 17 and there's no way you're going to a 4 year university tbh.

[midnightpulp]

The most boring hall of famer in my life time, we can't deny what he accomplished and the numbers he put up while doing so of course, I would be heading into the full ignorant road, but in terms of flashiness he brought nothing to basketball, but in terms of fundamentals he did. That's why I view Bryant higher then him, Kobe had/has everything.

So I take it you'd prefer Dwight Howard over prime Tim Duncan on the Lakers?

Howard's got the flashiness thing down to an art. The dunks, blocking shots into the 5th row, the megawatt smile.

Dwight does bring a lot to the game of basketball, except a rudimentary post game, above average freethrow shooting, and championships to his team.

[midnightpulp]

There's no way you're older than 17 and there's no way you're going to a 4 year university tbh.

Ah, don't be too hard on him. We were all kids once. And kids love their dunks, fadeaway jumpers over 5 players and the 6th man, overdribbling, and all that And-1 bull that has infested the modern game. I bet Relevancy is an Allen Iverson fan.

The Lakers' historic analogue to Duncan is Kareem. For all intents and purposes, a "boring" player in the age of the highlight. But you'd never hear a Laker fan call him that, because winning isn't boring.

[Relevancy]

So I take it you'd prefer Dwight Howard over prime Tim Duncan on the Lakers?

Howard's got the flashiness thing down to an art. The dunks, blocking shots into the 5th row, the megawatt smile.

Dwight does bring a lot to the game of basketball, except a rudimentary post game, above average freethrow shooting, and championships to his team.

No way, every time I watch Dwight in the paint I know from that instant he'll likely do his "hook-shot" if you can even call it that, and miss most of the time, Duncan could post-up, take a mid-range shot and drive to the hoop as a big, which is amazing. I just meant in terms of flashiness, Dwight has one but is missing the other one, which is the fundamental part.

Like I said, Bryant is just a way more skilled player then Duncan, doesn't take away the fact that Duncan is alongside Bryant in the HoF category.

[Relevancy]

Ah, don't be too hard on him. We were all kids once. And kids love their dunks, fadeaway jumpers over 5 players and the 6th man, overdribbling, and all that And-1 bull that has infested the modern game. I bet Relevancy is an Allen Iverson fan.

The Lakers' historic analogue to Duncan is Kareem. For all intents and purposes, a "boring" player in the age of the highlight. But you'd never hear a Laker fan call him that, because winning isn't boring.

I'm giving Duncan his dues, I'm not saying he's overrated or anything like that, I'm just saying I prefer Bryant over him because Kobe was the perfect model for basketball really, I don't see a problem with what I said.

[Relevancy]

There's no way you're older than 17 and there's no way you're going to a 4 year university tbh.

I wish I could, but I'm from a very modest family and you better believe we don't view money as a high priority, that's what Universities are for, to have a career and gain knowledge, but I can still be knowledgeable by walking to my nearest public library.

[midnightpulp]

No way, every time I watch Dwight in the paint I know from that instant he'll likely do his "hook-shot" if you can even call it that, and miss most of the time, Duncan could post-up, take a mid-range shot and drive to the hoop as a big, which is amazing. I just meant in terms of flashiness, Dwight has one but is missing the other one, which is the fundamental part.

Like I said, Bryant is just a way more skilled player then Duncan, doesn't take away the fact that Duncan is alongside Bryant in the HoF category.

Kind of an unfair comparison. Guards will always be more "skilled" than bigs, since the sheer size of a big prevents them from developing many of the skills you see in wing players.

To each his own. Flashiness has never been important to me watching basketball, even before the "boring era" of the Spurs was ushered in. As fan, I just want to see the ball go into the hoop, and I couldn't care less how it's done.

[Mugen]

I wish I could, but I'm from a very modest family and you better believe we don't view money as a high priority, that's what Universities are for, to have a career and gain knowledge, but I can still be knowledgeable by walking to my nearest public library.

Always a sob story with this one! Damnit, Rel!

[midnightpulp]

I'm giving Duncan his dues, I'm not saying he's overrated or anything like that, I'm just saying I prefer Bryant over him because Kobe was the perfect model for basketball really, I don't see a problem with what I said.

From a marketing standpoint, I agree. Kobe's game is the right mix of substance and style.

[Relevancy]

From a marketing standpoint, I agree. Kobe's game is the right mix of substance and style.

Come on Mid, it's not only from a marketing standpoint, it's from every basketball standpoint, Bryant brought many controversies to himself and managed to thrive, that's what I'm gonna take from his career, speaks volumes of his strong will.

[Relevancy]

Always a sob story with this one! Damnit, Rel!

I can't help it, its my instinct

[midnightpulp]

Come on Mid, it's not only from a marketing standpoint, it's from every basketball standpoint, Bryant brought many controversies to himself and managed to thrive, that's what I'm gonna take from his career, speaks volumes of his strong will.

What I meant by that is you can sell Kobe to both basketball purists (and yes, his game does have flaws, but he is one of the most fundamentally sound perimeter players ever) and the casual fan, something you can't do with players like A.I., Dwight, etc. I interpreted your "perfect model" comment as Kobe being able to merge both of those worlds, the fundamental with the flash, which not many players can do. They're either one or the other (all substance/no style or vice versa).

I'm not sure how Kobe's controversies serve to enhance his legacy and contribute to this "perfect basketball model" you speak of. The controversy he brought on himself from '04-'07 (shooting the Lakers out of the Finals, the Colorado situation, the trade talks he fueled) was anything but ideal. He indeed did "thrive" by winning two more rings, but I think that speaks more of the Lakers organization than it does of his "strong will." You can say the tantrums he threw at the beginning of the '07 season forced the Lakers to make a move, but the Gasol trade was fomenting long before Bryant stamped his feet, as evidenced by the drafting of Marc Gasol, who became the key component in the acquisition of Pau Gasol.

[Relevancy]

What I meant by that is you can sell Kobe to both basketball purists (and yes, his game does have flaws, but he is one of the most fundamentally sound perimeter players ever) and the casual fan, something you can't do with players like A.I., Dwight, etc. I interpreted your "perfect model" comment as Kobe being able to merge both of those worlds, the fundamental with the flash, which not many players can do. They're either one or the other (all substance/no style or vice versa).

I'm not sure how Kobe's controversies serve to enhance his legacy and contribute to this "perfect basketball model" you speak of. The controversy he brought on himself from '04-'07 (shooting the Lakers out of the Finals, the Colorado situation, the trade talks he fueled) was anything but ideal. He indeed did "thrive" by winning two more rings, but I think that speaks more of the Lakers organization than it does of his "strong will." You can say the tantrums he threw at the beginning of the '07 season forced the Lakers to make a move, but the Gasol trade was fomenting long before Bryant stamped his feet, as evidenced by the drafting of Marc Gasol, who became the key component in the acquisition of Pau Gasol.

Yes my bad, I thought you meant Bryant was just marketing scheme and that's all he was, I might have over exaggerated when I mentioned the thriving things, but my point still stands, people said Bryant couldn't win without Shaq, he did, not to mention the media never really did him every favors, but Kobe was always himself even after the the rape case, which I would assume would mentally strain many people. So to put it all in a very short sentence, he was accused of rape and after that he never looked back, that's what I meant about his strong will.