First - Kobe now is a much better player than he was back then - the championship era Kobe would not have taken this Lakers team anywhere near the finals. Second - I still believe that a very good talent like Ray Allen in his prime would have won at least 2 of these championships next to a prime time Shaq - he was Dominant with a capital D.
Kobe is better now than he was in the Lakers first championship year. He's about the same as the Kobe of the next two years. Kobe isn't at his peak right now, either. By PER, there's not a lot of difference and I'd say there's not a lot of difference defensively, either.
I'd actually like to see Roy create more for his teammates given his skill set. His assist numbers really aren't that great for a person who dominates the ball as much as he does. Maybe I am quibbling. I also don't like some of the things he says as far as his role on the team. More to the effect that it is his team(his role being the most important). I don't think he has earned that distinction yet and I find it a bit presumptuous given 1) the talent surrounding him and 2) the real lack of team accomplishment so far in his career. The bench, after all, has been just as important to our team's success thus far. Yesterday's game against the Knicks is a perfect example.
Isn't that like a boorish New Yorker to call All-Star Brandon Roy "That Guy", like he was Chris Duhon on something. Learn his name Knicks fan - That Guy is going to crush your team for years.
roy is the leader of the team and is the most important and best player. no question about that and i don't see any problem in him acknowledging it in the way that he has.
Plenty of players are "talent that helps teams win a lot". However, there are a select few that can lead you to a championship. David Robinson was the former; Tim Duncan was the latter. Kobe hasn't shown he's the latter.
Only twice a year, unless they get 3 miracles and get to the Finals. But it would be sweet to Crush the Knicks a few times for a champrionship.
Can we shift the Laker discussion over to another topic, or does it have to fill up all of the threads on our board?
Too simple a statement to have much meaning, since the quality of teammates around one and the quality of competition for the championship are massive and unaccounted-for variables. Garnett was claimed to be "the former." Then he lands with a team that has actual talent around him and now he's considered "the latter." Shaq has shown he can't win without an elite perimeter teammate. Kobe led the Lakers to the Finals last year without a superstar teammate and he's leading the title favourite this year, again without a superstar teammate.
My favorite things about Brandon: 1. His poise. I even heard a story today that in a recent game where we were losing, McMillan was getting upset and frustrated. Then he heard Brandon at the end of the bench telling the guys "we're OK, we're just missing some shots. No problem." Nate said that he then relaxed too, stating "if Brandon says we're OK, then we are OK." Roy even calms down the coach! 2. His ability to get to the rack at will, anytime, whenever he wants. I've never seen a player do it so easily and consistently. He reminds me of Jerry West.
