Kobe showed last night why he is on another level than Wade. What he did to Wade last night killed me inside being a big Wade fan, but it clearly showed Kobe's brilliance. In 1st half Wade dominated, going for around 20. Kobe switched onto him in the 2nd half and Wade couldn't get anything at all, and mostly all the points he got was on the break or when Kobe was out/on bench. In waning minutes, as Wade tried to force and such, Kobe then took over offensively and carried the Lakers. Wade showed a lot of guts going to guard Kobe (and didn't do a bad job, had a few steals and contested all of his shots well) and he also went right at Kobe on offense. Much better than the LeBron/Kobe matchup last year where Bron dissapeared and was nowhere to be found.Nontheless, Kobe showed why he is the best player in the league,
Kobe is the best player in the league for the next couple seasons IMO. He has more of an all around game than Wade does. He is better at shooting from the outside, he is a better defender, he has shown that he can lead his team to a very good record as of late without a reliable 2nd option. Wade hasnt been able to do much since Shaq's absence. Everyone claims that Wade is the best at getting to the rim, but I think that Kobe would be just as good if he didnt feel that his jumpshot was good enough. Since Kobe is more rounded, he doesn't have to get to the rim as much as Wade does to score. Wade is a great player, and he amazed me last year in the playoffs, but Kobe is the best for now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Jan 16 2007, 03:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe is the best player in the league for the next couple seasons IMO. He has more of an all around game than Wade does. He is better at shooting from the outside, he is a better defender, he has shown that he can lead his team to a very good record as of late without a reliable 2nd option. Wade hasnt been able to do much since Shaq's absence. Everyone claims that Wade is the best at getting to the rim, but I think that Kobe would be just as good if he didnt feel that his jumpshot was good enough. Since Kobe is more rounded, he doesn't have to get to the rim as much as Wade does to score. Wade is a great player, and he amazed me last year in the playoffs, but Kobe is the best for now.</div>Hasn't been able to do much in Shaq's absence? He is putting up 28/8/5 on 48% shooting and the team is like 5 or so games above .500 with Wade and without Shaq (what has killed Miami was Wade's injuries with wisdom teeth and the wrist). Kobe is a far better jumpshooter, but Wade is much better at going to rim. More explosive, stronger, better using the spin move and crossover, and better at drawing contact and getting the whistle. Kobe doesn't drive as much because of fear of getting injury moreso than feeling comfy with his jumper.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jan 16 2007, 05:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hasn't been able to do much in Shaq's absence? He is putting up 28/8/5 on 48% shooting and the team is like 5 or so games above .500 with Wade and without Shaq (what has killed Miami was Wade's injuries with wisdom teeth and the wrist). Kobe is a far better jumpshooter, but Wade is much better at going to rim. More explosive, stronger, better using the spin move and crossover, and better at drawing contact and getting the whistle. Kobe doesn't drive as much because of fear of getting injury moreso than feeling comfy with his jumper.</div>Hmmm...I didnt know that Wade and the Heat had been doing as well as of late. When you look at the Lakers, they have been keeping up their record since Odom has been out and with the heat, it hasnt been the same thing. Also, the Heat are in a MUCH worse conference where they get to play easier teams on a more consistent basis. The Lakers have to play more games against teams like Dallas, SA, and Phoenix, who ARE the best 3 teams in the NBA. The Heats toughest compeition is with Detroit and Cleveland. That doesn't seem as intimidating now does it...Especially since Detroit is very unhealthy right now. Now about the players skill sets. Your right Wade is better at getting to the basket, but not by as much as you are saying. How do you know that Kobe doesn't go the hole because he is "afraid to get hurt". I wouldnt think any player in the NBA would have that mentality as a player. Especailly one with Kobe's ego. I believe that Kobe doesn't go to the basket as much because he doesn't need to. His jumpshot is very effective, and he likes shooting the 3 ball. And he isnt too bad at it either. Kobe is a far better jumpshooter, Wade is better at driving to the basket, but not by THAT much. Now lets talk about the defensive side of the ball. Kobe is easily a better defender than Wade. Last year, Kobe was selected to as a 1st team All Defender. I dont see Wade as a first team all defender.
Wade is much quicker than Kobe and combine that with the refs giving Wade every call inside it is impossible to guard Wade. I'll take Wade for this.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ballerman2112 @ Jan 16 2007, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Hmmm...I didnt know that Wade and the Heat had been doing as well as of late. When you look at the Lakers, they have been keeping up their record since Odom has been out and with the heat, it hasnt been the same thing. Also, the Heat are in a MUCH worse conference where they get to play easier teams on a more consistent basis. The Lakers have to play more games against teams like Dallas, SA, and Phoenix, who ARE the best 3 teams in the NBA. The Heats toughest compeition is with Detroit and Cleveland. That doesn't seem as intimidating now does it...Especially since Detroit is very unhealthy right now. Now about the players skill sets. Your right Wade is better at getting to the basket, but not by as much as you are saying. How do you know that Kobe doesn't go the hole because he is "afraid to get hurt". I wouldnt think any player in the NBA would have that mentality as a player. Especailly one with Kobe's ego. I believe that Kobe doesn't go to the basket as much because he doesn't need to. His jumpshot is very effective, and he likes shooting the 3 ball. And he isnt too bad at it either. Kobe is a far better jumpshooter, Wade is better at driving to the basket, but not by THAT much. Now lets talk about the defensive side of the ball. Kobe is easily a better defender than Wade. Last year, Kobe was selected to as a 1st team All Defender. I dont see Wade as a first team all defender.</div>Ultimately the Heat were designed to be built around Shaq, whereas Lakers are built totally around Kobe. Lakers have a much better offensive scheme with the triangle that they run with Kobe and without Lamar, vice versa, and with both in the lineup. What the Lakers do ultimately doesn't change much at all. They have gotten HUGE contributions from Bynum, Cook, Walton, Smush, among others. All of them being good young players. Kobe doesn't need to have big nights for his team to win, and without him earlier this season, and with him injured for those 1st 10 games or so, they won.Now let's look at the Heat. They miss a huge chunk in Shaq, but what has haunted them this year is their role players. GP is shooting under 40%, Walker is shooting under 40% from the line and under 30% from 3. Williams hasn't played much this season and is still hurt, and Posey has been in and out. They are an old team that is ultimately built around Shaq, and without him their offensive is totally different. Their coaching position even has been shaky this season. Wade has a MUCH bigger role for his team this season than Kobe, and without him going for 28/8/5 on 48% shooting this team doesn't win. Kobe doesn't have the body to go at the basket like Wade does, and ask most Lakers fans and they will tell you a good reason he doesn't go at the basket a lot is because of a much bigger chance of injury. Wade is much better at getting to rim simply because he is far more explosive off the dribble, bigger and stronger body, better spin move and crossover, and because he is better at getting contact and getting the whistles blown. Kobe is a much better shooter, far far better. Kobe is also a much better defensive player, but don't forget Wade did make all defensive 2nd team 2 years back. He has improved his on ball defense, and off ball he is amazing at getting into passing lanes and going up for blocks.
I have to disagree with you saying Kobe is a much better defensive player. I don't see it. Wade definitely did a good job against Dallas on defense whoever he guarded.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 16 2007, 04:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I have to disagree with you saying Kobe is a much better defensive player. I don't see it. Wade definitely did a good job against Dallas on defense whoever he guarded.</div>When Kobe is on another superstar he locks them down. He did it to AI whenever he was put on him in the NBA Finals, did it to T-Mac (Orlando days) after T-Mac dropped over 30 on Devean George through 3 quarters, did it to Wade last night, etc... Wade is not a lockdown defender by any means.
Kobe is not a lock down defender. I totally disagree with that. Wade got 35 last time. Kobe is overrated on defense and always been overrated. The reason is Kobe has too many defensive lapses.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 16 2007, 05:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Kobe is not a lock down defender. I totally disagree with that. Wade got 35 last time. Kobe is overrated on defense and always been overrated. The reason is Kobe has too many defensive lapses.</div>Over 25 of those points were either in the first half when Kobe wasn't on him or on fastbreaks. When KObe was on him, especially towards the ending of the game, Wade got NOTHING. He couldn't drive on Kobe, and couldn't get off a jumpshot in his comfort zone. It isn't the first time Kobe has done this to players. Best example is the game against Orlando a few years back. He does this all the time when Phil lets him play the other teams best player.
Ok Kobe's great for one quarter of defense. He couldn't do that the whole game. I remember instances where he was forced to guard somebody for the whole game and couldn't do it. For instance when he faced Detroit and had to guard Hamilton or Billups. They took him to school and Detroit won in 5 games.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 16 2007, 05:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Ok Kobe's great for one quarter of defense. He couldn't do that the whole game. I remember instances where he was forced to guard somebody for the whole game and couldn't do it. For instance when he faced Detroit and had to guard Hamilton or Billups. They took him to school and Detroit won in 5 games.</div>He's done it before for whole games. But for this arguement's sake, one quarter of all-defensive first team level defense is still better than what Wade is capable.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Nitro1118 @ Jan 16 2007, 04:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>He's done it before for whole games. But for this arguement's sake, one quarter of all-defensive first team level defense is still better than what Wade is capable.</div>One reason why I agree with mavsfan that Kobe gets too much credit for his D is because he's rarely that good. He did it against Wade and did it against Kevin Marting this year but I don't remember him doing it to any other player this year and you are also bringing up examples from 3 years ago...
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ASUFan22 @ Jan 16 2007, 06:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>One reason why I agree with mavsfan that Kobe gets too much credit for his D is because he's rarely that good. He did it against Wade and did it against Kevin Marting this year but I don't remember him doing it to any other player this year and you are also bringing up examples from 3 years ago...</div>I am bringing them up because they are the very best examples that I can think of off the top of my head. Talk to big time Lakers fans and I'm sure they'll tell you of many instances he has done it.Even if he is rarely THAT good, he has still shown he can up his D to elite lockdown status when need be, while Wade has never shown anything like that.
If anyone noticed, kobe was getting back to his lockdown status before he injured his ankle. Kobe adjusted in the 2nd half and it worked wonders.
Wade locked down Harris and Terry when they matched up. If Wade didn't play defense Dallas would be champions right now.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 16 2007, 06:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wade locked down Harris and Terry when they matched up. If Wade didn't play defense Dallas would be champions right now.</div>He didn't lockdown Terry, who played amazing ball in the Finals. And even if he held both under average, it's still a lot different than locking down the like of Wade, T-Mac, AI, and VC liked Kobe has.
Wade guarded Harris most of the time and kept Harris in front of him which isn't easy. All of the time I've seen Wade he has been solid on defense. Kobe has his moments but most of the time he gets lazy on defense. For example I believe Michael Redd went off on him big time.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mavsfan1000 @ Jan 16 2007, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>Wade guarded Harris most of the time and kept Harris in front of him which isn't easy. All of the time I've seen Wade he has been solid on defense. Kobe has his moments but most of the time he gets lazy on defense. For example I believe Michael Redd went off on him big time.</div>Devin Harris? Bleh, that's not like stopping the players Kobe has. Kobe doesn't get lazy on D, I don't know where you get that. Sometimes he doesn't play his best D to conserve energy on offense, but when he wants to he can lockdown ANYONE his size. Michael Redd? Hehehe....http://youtube.com/watch?v=AIR6ObY1PKc
Well Gilbert Arenas went for 60 against Kobe. So much for shutting him down. Michael Redd went for 45 so Kobe isn't that good of a defender.
