Putting Kobe in perspective

<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Wade lit him up on Christmas and Kobe seemed pretty "back" to me, and Arenas lit him up also. He's a good defender I just don't know if he's what I'd call "the best perimeter" defender in todays game. I'd say Shane Battier gets that title.</div>

Well yeah he's not the "best perimeter defender in the game", and I also didn't make any excuses for his game against Wade, but the Arenas game isn't nearly as bad as you think. Arenas hit mostly perimeter shots that game, and Kobe was in foul trouble (and in OT Arenas scored 16-17 points).

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">
But my main point is that I don't think we should get too wrapped up in this scoring streak (although it's amazing and fun to watch) because Kobe still has a lot to prove being the "guy" on his team.</div>

I have no idea what this means.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I have no idea what this means.
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lol, my fault for not clarifying myself. "Guy" meaning the focal point or the leader of his team. Getting out of the first round would be a good start.

 

<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">lol, my fault for not clarifying myself. "Guy" meaning the focal point or the leader of his team. Getting out of the first round would be a good start.</div>

That's not up just to him. He doesn't play against the Chicago Bulls or 41-41 Wizards like Wade has.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">That's not up just to him. He doesn't play against the Chicago Bulls or 42-42 Wizards like Wade has.
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Yeah but there comes a time where you have to make it out of the first round and this year will be year number 3 without a first round win (assuming S.A. wins).

 

<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah but there comes a time where you have to make it out of the first round and this year will be year number 3 without a first round win (assuming S.A. wins).</div>

I don't understand why people keep judging Kobe on first round playoff wins. Look at the talent around him. Nobody in the league can take this roster past the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Nobody

Last year, if it wasn't for 1 lucky rebound, the Lakers could have upsetted 7th seed Phoenix Suns in round 1

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't understand why people keep judging Kobe on first round playoff wins. Look at the talent around him. Nobody in the league can take this roster past the first round of the Western Conference Playoffs. Nobody
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I disagree....

 

<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I disagree....</div>

Okay? Then who? Dwyane Wade? Wade had a hard enough time trying to get his team above .500 in the Eastern Conference. Don't tell me he can magically take this Laker roster and help them advance to the 2nd round.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Okay? Then who? Dwyane Wade? Wade had a hard enough time trying to get his team above .500 in the Eastern Conference. Don't tell me he can magically take this Laker roster and help them advance to the 2nd round.</div>

Kobe has a lot more to work with than Wade did when Shaq wasn't healthy.....he had no Williams, no Shaq, and his head coach wasn't there.

So he was working with Walker(who was miserable during this stretch),Haslem,Mourning, and Kapono.....I'll take Odom,Walton, etc. over that any day of the week. He was the scorer,creater, and the finisher when all those injuries came along

I just think Kobe and the Lakers should put themselves into decent position (4 or 5 spot) to the point where they can get out of the first round, and they've yet to do it in these past 2 seasons.

 

The thing I don't understand is how people can argue that Kobe isn't the best player in the NBA. Who is better than him?

 

I still say Wade, and a couple months back when they matched up a couple of times some would agree with me on this board...lets not forget about him and what he's capable of doing.

 

<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I still say Wade, and a couple months back when they matched up a couple of times some would agree with me on this board...lets not forget about him and what he's capable of doing.</div>

So you're not making excuses now? The Lakers have dealt with a bunch of injuries as well.

You keep mentioning Jason Williams as if he was a semi-all star. The fact is Wade plays in the East and his team was around .500 when he played. Luke and Odom have won with Kobe when they've been on the court.

Wade has beaten who in the first round by himself? That's not a good point. Anyway, the Heat have shown they have a lot of talent around them this year too.

 

<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe has a lot more to work with than Wade did when Shaq wasn't healthy.....he had no Williams, no Shaq, and his head coach wasn't there.

So he was working with Walker(who was miserable during this stretch),Haslem,Mourning, and Kapono.....I'll take Odom,Walton, etc. over that any day of the week. He was the scorer,creater, and the finisher when all those injuries came along

I just think Kobe and the Lakers should put themselves into decent position (4 or 5 spot) to the point where they can get out of the first round, and they've yet to do it in these past 2 seasons.</div>
I was having a good time drinking some lemonade, and as soon as I read this post, damn...it spilled right out of my mouse

 

<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe has a lot more to work with than Wade did when Shaq wasn't healthy.....he had no Williams, no Shaq, and his head coach wasn't there.

So he was working with Walker(who was miserable during this stretch),Haslem,Mourning, and Kapono.....I'll take Odom,Walton, etc. over that any day of the week. He was the scorer,creater, and the finisher when all those injuries came along

I just think Kobe and the Lakers should put themselves into decent position (4 or 5 spot) to the point where they can get out of the first round, and they've yet to do it in these past 2 seasons.</div>

Even with Shaq and Williams out, Wade could have at least held the Heat close .500. Don't forget that the Lakers have also experienced tons of injuries this season as well.

As you saying how the Lakers could be top 4? Top 5? How? Last season, the Lakers were 7th seed, barely making the playoffs, yet you think they could have been a top 5 team? That's ridiculous. This season, the Lakers were in the top 5, but all of the injuries to key players have knocked them out. Like I said before, nobody in the league can accomplish any more than what Kobe has accomplished with this squad. I'm not saying that if you switch Dwyane Wade with Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would be out of the playoffs. The Lakers would still be in the playoffs, but they won't be any better than they are now. Don't forget that last season in the playoffs, nobody even gave the Lakers a chance against the Suns. But the Lakers took them to 7 games, led by Kobe Bryant

 

I also don't see how anyone denies he's the best guard in the game right now. In terms of best player, I have more of a bias towards big men. So, I still go with Tim Duncan.

 

I also don't know why ppl judge someone by focusing on whether he wins the first round in the playoff or not especially in the West where you got the top 3 teams in the NBA, the Mavs, the Suns, and the Spurs. It is very very hard for the team ranked 5-8 to get pass the first round when you have shitty talent in your team. It is truly amazing already when you can force game 7 against those top 3 teams.

 

who cares? wade isnt ever going to play for the lakers so why even ask the question, maybe kobe is better, maybe wade is, who knows, you could only tell if you played both of them in an nba season, then you would be able to judge because you expierienced what it is to play both.kobe has been in the league like 11 seasons and wade like 4, so you cant really compare, wade went to college for something like 2 or 3 years, kobe came right out of high school, their games are completely different i cannot see any similarities, therefore there is nothing to compare between the two so you still cant decide who is better because they do different things. oh yeah this article is stupid, just stupid. and THE DREAM, wade plays in the east, THE EAST, do realise that the east is really not very good, and that it is alot easier to win and get a higher playoff seed than it is in the west, where kobe plays. kobe is really really good, wade is really good, but he isnt really really good although he will be in like 3 or 4 seasons time if not less.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Chutney Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">I also don't see how anyone denies he's the best guard in the game right now. In terms of best player, I have more of a bias towards big men. So, I still go with Tim Duncan.</div>

I agree; I love D.Wade but I seriously cannnot see him propelling this type of Laker team to a 6th seed in the West, much less the playoffs. However, Wade is still a phenomenal talent, although I wouldn't say his game is as polished as Kobe's (for now). I think people tend to overlook how weak this Laker roster is, and if this team faces the Spurs in the first round, it's going to be that much harder to get past them. If Bowen pesters and annoys Kobe with his defense and Kobe struggles, even for a half, the game is most likely lost.

But, to the point. I'm sorry, I can't put Wade ahead of Kobe knowing that Kobe has single-handedly given this Laker team a 5 game winning streak when they were fading into oblivion more than a week ago. Has anyone seen the likes of who play on this team? Smush as the starting guard? To put that into perspective, Smush would probably have a difficult time cracking the Spurs BENCH.

I don't know if it's just me, but Kobe seems like the type of athelete that will only be appreciated for how great he was after he retires or his game starts dwindling. People should really just watch him play, and enjoy it for the moment because I don't think we'll see this kind of player again for a long time.

 

Why are people even comparing Wade and Kobe yet? Kobe is way better then Wade is. In a couple of years i can see Wade being at somehwat of Kobe's level. I would put Lebron over Wade at this point.