<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Two years ago, Kobe's average was 30 PPG, and McGrady BARELY edged him out for the scoring title...correct</div> Well if scoring 32.1 to 30.0 even is just barely edging him out I guess so. But I totally agree on everything realdealbneal said after that. I doubt T-Mac would be able to average that many points when he's not the no.1 option. And if T-Mac had 3 other future HOF's on his team while having a court case to worry about, I'd be surprised if T-Mac could average 20 points even a game.
Kobe at 3? I will reserve judgment on this one. We will see If Kobe lives up to the hype by making the Lakers to be one of the best teams in the west and leading them in the playoffs or be just an overhyped above average shooting guard (although there's nothing wrong with that) but for a guy who has been compared to MJ It would be a big letdown. No more hiding behind Shaq on defense, no more saving his energy for the 4th quarter like he has done with Shaq in the line-up. Everything changes for Kobe now. The Lakers have a DECENT roster, not great but decent. If Kobe wants to be remembered as an all time great then he needs to make this average roster a contender, like what Duncan, Garnett, Shaq, Kidd have done for their teams. Kobe has alot of pressure on him to carry the Lakers to the playoffs, If he doesn't then this top 3 ranking will not be valid.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">Okay, time to end this BS. Let me ask you something, since you base your opinions solely on stats. Two years ago, Kobe's average was 30 PPG, and McGrady BARELY edged him out for the scoring title...correct? How? Shaq's average was 27 PPG...nearly the same. Tell me this...based on those stats, how many points will Kobe pour in this season without Shaq? Come on...McGrady's stats are inflated because he's the only option on the Magic. In other words...put Shaq on McGrady's team in Orlando. McGrady's average would drop pretty far. He wouldn't average 30 PPG like Kobe did two years ago, with Shaq STILL on his team. Does McGrady have an All-Star MVP? Kobe has started in four consecutive All-Star games, been in 6 total...but McGrady didn't even start in 2002. Kobe...All-Defensive 1st Team in 2000, 2003 and 2004. All-Defensive 2nd Team in 2001 and 2002. All-NBA First Team in 2002, 2003 and 2004. Slam Dunk Contest winner in 1998. Tallied 31 points in the Rookie game. Gatorade National Player of the Year in 1996. Youngest to ever play in a game...youngest to reach 10,000 points...12 threes in a game (record) with nine consecutive (record). Has three championship rings. McGrady...scoring champ. All-Star game a few times. Most Improved Player award. A couple of All-NBA teams. A-mazing. So, now what's your argument? In fact... Kobe Bryant (24 PPG, 5.5 RPG, 5.1 APG) shot 44% from the field (a month with a re-injured shoulder, but still played), 85% from the line, 33% 3PT...with better stats also in steals and turnovers, in less minutes. Tracy McGrady (28 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 5.5 APG) shot 42% from the field, 80% from the line, 34% 3PT...with better stats also in blocks, but in more minutes. Now, this is Kobe with Shaq...rebounding better than anyone else on the Magic, and also sharing the point total with Malone AND Payton. Come on...what's McGrady's excuse? LOL...he's not even close to Kobe. EDIT: I might as well do this before someone else does. </div> If you read previous posts you would know that i said Kobe's numbers will go up this year without shaq, just as mcgrady's numbers will decrease with yao. We all know that the ALL-Star game is a joke, a popularity contest, not a true measure of who should be on it or who should start, and who receives the MVP is one of two things 1 the guy who's hometown it is in or has been set up to win it. Tom Chambers, Glenn Rice, Magic (in his comeback) etc 2 the guy who is the most selfish and takes the most shots, gets the most minutes etc. the slam dunk champion is a joke as well. Obviously J-rich won last year but instead of accepting the worthless award he tried for an impossible dunk giving the title away. Anyone who watched the slam dunk contest the year Kobe won it knows full well that Darvin Ham deserved the win. But the NBA needs to promote it's young talent, so Kobe got the nod. as for T-Mac vs Kobe. T-mac had no one around him so it is remarkable he put up those numbers, as he was double and triple teamed. And it took him a lot of shots to get there. All i am saying is that Kobe is in a similar situation with little talent surrounding him (odom, the exception) and his numbers will blow up because of it. I think the numbers will flip flop in kobe's favor this year. But i see more wins for T-mac as he has yao to share the burden. If T-mac played in LA those years with SHAQ he would be wearing 3 rings and if Kobe were in ORlando he would be scoring champ. And all the hype david stern creates for the NBA would be centered around T-MAC. Funny if Kobe is so great, why on the new direct tv brochure is their not one mention of Kobe, not one!!!! they show shaq in a heat uni, yao and t-mac, lebron and mellow, even walton, rush, and george, but no Kobe. Why? Because direct tv and the nba are trying to anything they can to distance themselves from the guy.
There's obviously no need to argue about this anymore, because we both won't give up defending either player...but as for your last statement about DirectTV...what does that matter? What did McDonald's do? What did Sprite do? It has nothing to do with how great Kobe is as a player...it has everything to do with his reputation, which was tarnished not because of his on-court style or skills, but because of the accusations. People are quick to cut down Kobe's accomplishments, his heart, determination, skills, and his hard work NOW because of his name. I haven't seen this many people hate on a guy since Charles Barkley was spitting on fans...but this all started last summer, and since then, everything has been a slap in the face to Kobe. Say all you want about his off-court issues (although he's not guilty)...what he did was bad though, so that's not an issue I'd support him for, but there's no need to bash his game and doubting the guy, when he hasn't even had the opportunity to prove himself yet.
Um AllNet "hiding behind shaq on defense" i dont think Kobe could have got first team all defense by just letting the defender drive past him to get to shaq. Kobe is fully capable of leading a team since hes done it the past 4 years. Shaq cant even lead himself right now. And i think kobe is an above average shooting guard. cutino mobley is an above average shooting guard and i think kobe is just a little above that. Also Kobe braynt will average over thrity points this season because hes trained all summer (unlike last year) and he no longer has to give the ball up to shaq as often. I also think his assist will go up because he will be the main focus of the defense and his teammates will have open shots (just like against the pistons but no could hit a jumpshot for their life) In the long run kobe, the team, and the lakers in general are better off without shaq, but shaq is better off without them too.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">There's obviously no need to argue about this anymore, because we both won't give up defending either player...but as for your last statement about DirectTV...what does that matter? What did McDonald's do? What did Sprite do? It has nothing to do with how great Kobe is as a player...it has everything to do with his reputation, which was tarnished not because of his on-court style or skills, but because of the accusations. People are quick to cut down Kobe's accomplishments, his heart, determination, skills, and his hard work NOW because of his name. I haven't seen this many people hate on a guy since Charles Barkley was spitting on fans...but this all started last summer, and since then, everything has been a slap in the face to Kobe. Say all you want about his off-court issues (although he's not guilty)...what he did was bad though, so that's not an issue I'd support him for, but there's no need to bash his game and doubting the guy, when he hasn't even had the opportunity to prove himself yet.</div> There you go perfect.... i agree with you on all points, except his character. The guy is an adulterer who now has recently admitted to another woman, a mistress his wife did not know about either. What a guy! A guy like this would not be in my circle of friends. Personally he is a scumbag. But like OJ you can't take away what they did on the field or court. But the guy brought it on himself, bottom line. And your last statement is what i agree with most. He has not done anything on his own! Let this season speak for itself, everything he has done in the past is due in part to the big fella taking the pressure off of him. His true greatness or lack thereof will show this season. SO i won't bash as long as the rose tinted touters stop it as well til he does something this season on his own worth mentioning. Kobe should be motivated more than anyone else he has a lot of mountains to climb not only with his image but running shaq out of town to claim the lakers as his own. Now let's see if he can step up and take the team to the championship again. From everything i read here, people say this is an improved team from last year. Therefore, anything less than reaching the championship is a failure.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting KB23:</div><div class="quote_post">Um AllNet "hiding behind shaq on defense" i dont think Kobe could have got first team all defense by just letting the defender drive past him to get to shaq. Kobe is fully capable of leading a team since hes done it the past 4 years. Shaq cant even lead himself right now. And i think kobe is an above average shooting guard. cutino mobley is an above average shooting guard and i think kobe is just a little above that. Also Kobe braynt will average over thrity points this season because hes trained all summer (unlike last year) and he no longer has to give the ball up to shaq as often. I also think his assist will go up because he will be the main focus of the defense and his teammates will have open shots (just like against the pistons but no could hit a jumpshot for their life) In the long run kobe, the team, and the lakers in general are better off without shaq, but shaq is better off without them too.</div> Kobe gets all team defense purely down to having a big man downlow that has his back. Shaq cloggs the line which makes it harder for players to go to the basket hard. Kobe often gets burnt by basically every guard in the NBA. He is an overrated defender and is not a top 5 defender no matter how much hype he gets. Kobe has lead the Lakers for 4 years? thats totally disrespecting the most dominating force in the NBA, Shaq has been the guy that has led L.A not Kobe. Kobe has been the 2nd option. No doubt he was very important but Shaq was the man who took them to 3 NBA titles. There's a reason why the Lakers were not successful in the finals, Kobe was the main option and refused to pass the ball to the big man. Kobe could very well average over 30 a game but all that would be pointless If the Lakers aren't successful. Obviously his team has more talent than T-mac's Magic team of last year but the great player stats and no success will likely stay the same.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> No more hiding behind Shaq on defense, no more saving his energy for the 4th quarter like he has done with Shaq in the line-up. Everything changes for Kobe now. The Lakers have a DECENT roster, not great but decent. If . </div> You GOT to be kidding me. Hiding behind Shaq? Oh, maybe that's why he was on those All-Defense teams? You guys seem to forget that it took Michael Jordan SIX YEARS to get to the level where he could lead his team to a championship and make others around him better. Many media personnel and fans (or Laker-haters, which ever you perfer) such as yourself will consider Kobe just a cocky player who "is nothing without Shaq", no matter what or how far they get. In your eyes, it's like if he doesn't lead the Lakers further then they were last year, he's a failure. And that's TOO MUCH of a burden to place. I expect this team to make it to the playoffs but not past the first/second round. That's my honest predictions for them. You guys are acting as if everyone expects a championship. No one expects anything. The only thing Laker fans expect is that Kobe will prove the many haters wrong and lead his team to the playoffs to compete. But, even if he does that, the many haters will still think of an excuse to discredit him such as "oh he made the playoffs, so what? He won't win a championship" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> If Kobe wants to be remembered as an all time great then he needs to make this average roster a contender, like what Duncan, Garnett, Shaq, Kidd have done for their teams </div> Okay. Out of those players you named, only Duncan and Shaq are considered "all-time greats" as we speak. Kobe ranks as high as Kidd & Garnett. MANY teams would consider him the number 1 option. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> We will see If Kobe lives up to the hype by making the Lakers to be one of the best teams in the west and leading them in the playoffs or be just an overhyped above average shooting guard (although there's nothing wrong with that) but for a guy who has been compared to MJ It would be a big letdown. </div> What hype are you talking about? Last I checked, the majority of people expect the Lakers to FAIL this year. I'm pretty sure you believe yourself that they won't make the playoffs. The thing is, people WANT them to fail and I think that's where the burden is heaviest on the Lakers. And that's where Kobe will shine through. One more thing. OVER-hyped shooting guard? Once agin, your statements never cease to amaze me? Kobe is arguebly THE best Sg in the game today and you say he is overhyped. How many other shooting guards would you place over him? One (Mcgrady) MAYBE. That's it. There's no one at his level. Just like Shaq is the best center in the NBA today, Kobe is (arguebly) the best SG in the game today. And finally.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Kobe has alot of pressure on him to carry the Lakers to the playoffs, If he doesn't then this top 3 ranking will not be valid. </div> I see. So, If 2 years ago, KG had been ranked #3 behind Shaq or Duncan, it wouldn't be valid? You're saying that if Kobe doesn't carry them to the playoffs, he isn't worthy of a #3? So in that case, I gues Mcgrady isn't worth whatever he was rated as since he can't lead his team past the worst record in the EAST. Also, on another note: Vince Carter #12, Paul Pierce #13? No way. And finally, my big laugh comes from this statement: <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> ranking...based on last year .....and overall..... 1 garnett 2 duncan 3 shaq 4 mcgrady 5 o'neal 6 yao 7 kobe </div> I see. So if this list is based on last year....Why is Shaq at #3 when he averaged the lowest points of his career? Jermaine should be there instead, according to your logic. Yao over Kobe????
AllNet the lakers will be better in the long run. And basically any NBA guard can get past their defender. And you said he gets burnt by everyone. Okay well lets go back to the NBA finals, Kobe would usually start out guarding hamilton fisher on billups and that old stuff. Billups would get hot, kobe would guard billups and hold him virtually scorless. Then Hamilton would get hot and they would switch again. He held him down and this went on and on. If you dont belive me then go watch the tape. What youll also see is a large number of uncontested layups by chauncy billups. Your right, maybe i was wrong when i said Kobe led them for four years cause shaq had a definate input but these finals are proof that shaq is getting old and he is no longer the dominant defensive force he used to be. Kobe will stay a good perimeter defensive player for a long time.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Kobe gets all team defense purely down to having a big man downlow that has his back. Shaq cloggs the line which makes it harder for players to go to the basket hard. Kobe often gets burnt by basically every guard in the NBA. He is an overrated defender and is not a top 5 defender no matter how much hype he gets. </div> You don't get all team defense that way. If that was the case then Cuttino Mobely should have made it once by now. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Kobe often gets burnt by basically every guard in the NBA. He is an overrated defender and is not a top 5 defender no matter how much hype he gets. </div> Everyone is entitled to thier own opinions but the fact that you will do ANYTHING and everything possible to discredit Kobe as much as possible still amuses me. Atleast give credit where it is due. Kobe is a great perimiter defender. Now, whether you believe he is overhyped or whatever, is YOUR opinion. But the all nba defensive teams speak for themselves.
Listen...here are the facts. 1. Shaq has never won a ring without Kobe. Kobe has never won a ring without Shaq. Shaq has had the chance to in Orlando (with Penny) and don't say he was too young, because he was already considered one of the best centers in the league (scoring 29 PPG his second and third years). Kobe has yet to attempt this feat, by himself...so give the man a chance, too. Don't cut him short yet. 2. Shaq was responsible for 75% of the first title. For the second and third, Kobe averaged 28 PPG and 25-26 PPG, with 5 RPG and 5 APG (respectively). Kobe became a star, and when he did, it was in 2001...where Shaq and Kobe were both responsible for the championship. After the third title, Shaq gained alot of weight and lost focus, and this put everything on Kobe's shoulders...but without a center who wants to play 100%, how do you win a ring then? 3. Kobe and Shaq didn't get rid of each other as far as asking the organization to do so, or whine about a trade. Buss and Kupchak saw what I did...that the duo was fighting, arguing, bickering at each other...and they weren't going to win anymore. All great things must come to an end...and it did, this last season. 4. Kobe is responsible for losing Sprite and McDonald's...it was his fault for doing what he did, but the accusation of rape was what made everyone hate him. If it wasn't for the girl crying rape, this may never have made news...and nobody would've known about it. That's why I mentioned that it was mainly the accusation that ruined his off-court life, but yes...his decision to cheat was a big part of it too. 5. Kobe won...wait...earned his All-Defensive 1st Team awards, his NBA First-Team awards, etc. all by himself. I think the analysts look at it from all angles, whether or not Shaq was helping him earn these awards. If that was the case, Kobe wouldn't have gotten them. 6. Don't assume that the Lakers will do bad. All it takes is team chemistry, one leader, a damn good coach and the will to win. Doubting the Lakers is something that hasn't been done since the early 90's, but then those that doubted us soon were witnesses to a dynasty.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Shaq has never won a ring without Kobe. Kobe has never won a ring without Shaq. Shaq has had the chance to in Orlando (with Penny) and don't say he was too young, because he was already considered one of the best centers in the league (scoring 29 PPG his second and third years). Kobe has yet to attempt this feat, by himself...so give the man a chance, too. Don't cut him short yet.</div> Statistics are overrated. Mentality, experience, heart and all these other type of factors can't be determined on what you see on the stat sheet. The older Shaq (Championship day) was by far more dominant opposed to his peak statistical days. So despite the statistical differences, the statistical Shaq doesn?t compare to the dominant Shaq. As for Kobe, you said it yourself "Kobe has yet to attempt this feat, by himself", so I say why make so much hype about him? I for one say give him a chance, but the fact is that he has yet to embark on such a role, so I don't how anyone can make so much hype about him when he is going to be stepping in a whole new world. This is saying just because a student does great in H.S, they will do great in College. I don't know if it's the fact that he is just a flaout very talented player, but that has nothing to do with where his heart and leadership mentality is going to be when the Lakers goes through a slump. Yes a player like Kobe can be surrounded by the hype because he is the complete package, however I?ve heard fans and not groupies saying that the Lakers will be WC contenders and will have a 50+ win season. I believe Kobe is arguably the best player in the NBA, however he is overrated because some people are too optimistic about his success he will have this season. Everyone should have faith in their player and team, but WC Contenders, 50+ Win season is farfetched for a player that will be placed in a whole new world. And that is the primary reason why I think he's overated. Like I mentioned above he has yet to be in the position where a franchise is solely placed in his hands. For his whole career he's been pretty much a sidekick to Shaq. Despite the fact that they were correspondent to each other in terms of their value to the team (00-01 season for example), Shaq overshadowed him and Shaq singled him self out as being the leader, which but Kobe at option 1a and not option 1. But now that there has been some changes this offseason Kobe is going to be option 1, and it's from that point on where we can make a rightful assumption about him. Like AllNet said, Kobe can no longer save his energy for the 4th quarter. He will no longer have the chance to take players one on one because they're won't be nobody in the paint drawing attention. Kobe is the only player on the team that demands a double team and that's what he will get for the full 48 minutes. This year is going to be a test for him and which will in a way determine how he will turn out in years to come. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Don't assume that the Lakers will do bad. All it takes is team chemistry, one leader, a damn good coach and the will to win. Doubting the Lakers is something that hasn't been done since the early 90's, but then those that doubted us soon were witnesses to a dynasty.</div> You're making it sound like it's nothing or something that can be accomplished with ease.Team chemistry, and sometimes that one leader and a damn good coach are what championship teams are made out of. So in actuality you are in a way calling the Lakers championship contenders. Honestly, what team out there that has team chemistry, good coach and one leader and isn?t considered Championship contenders? The Spurs have all of thee above, and they're championship contenders.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You GOT to be kidding me. Hiding behind Shaq? Oh, maybe that's why he was on those All-Defense teams? </div> Yet you think he deserved those awards? Kobe is an average defender, not terrible but not great either. The media loves to ride the guy and think he is the next MJ and give him credit for defense when he doesn't deserve it. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">You guys seem to forget that it took Michael Jordan SIX YEARS to get to the level where he could lead his team to a championship and make others around him better. Many media personnel and fans (or Laker-haters, which ever you perfer) such as yourself will consider Kobe just a cocky player who "is nothing without Shaq", no matter what or how far they get. </div> It took MJ a while to win a title but he still led his team to wins and took the Bulls to the playoffs with a weak roster. As for your 2nd point, I'm not a Kobe hater but I don't like the fact he is thrown down our thoats 24/7 and being considered the best player in the league when he has never proven he can carry a team. I have never said Kobe is nothing without Shaq, I have stated many times we will see how good he is without Shaq, I have asked many questions which will be answered soon but I have never said he is nothing without Shaq. No one knows at this stage, It's stupid to say he can't win without the big fella until he is given a chance. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">In your eyes, it's like if he doesn't lead the Lakers further then they were last year, he's a failure. And that's TOO MUCH of a burden to place. I expect this team to make it to the playoffs but not past the first/second round. That's my honest predictions for them. You guys are acting as if everyone expects a championship. No one expects anything. The only thing Laker fans expect is that Kobe will prove the many haters wrong and lead his team to the playoffs to compete. But, even if he does that, the many haters will still think of an excuse to discredit him such as "oh he made the playoffs, so what? He won't win a championship" </div> You have got It all wrong, Kobe won't be a failure If he doesn't lead them to what they were last year, It's If he doesn't lead them period. He has to carry them to victory while being able to deal with the triple teams he will face every single play down the floor, Shaq is not there for him to go to. He now has to rely on his abilty to win games. Things will be alot more harder for him this year. For a guy who has been hyped as the next MJ when his career ends he needs to have won a championship or at least gone deep into the post season for many seasons to come. Lakers getting 48-50 wins while either taking two games would be a respectable start as the lone star but he must keep getting further each year otherwise he will be just like Tracy Mcgrady. Make the playoffs but lose in round one every year. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Okay. Out of those players you named, only Duncan and Shaq are considered "all-time greats" as we speak. Kobe ranks as high as Kidd & Garnett. MANY teams would consider him the number 1 option. </div> The players I mentioned have proved they can carry their teams throughout a season, It's not all about titles. Most cases It is but not in this sense. Garnett although lost in the playoffs for 7 straight years carried a team with not much talent to the post season every year. Even though KG needed to do what he did last year to gain respect he had already proved he can carry a team through an 82 game season. Thats what Kobe also needs to prove. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What hype are you talking about? Last I checked, the majority of people expect the Lakers to FAIL this year. I'm pretty sure you believe yourself that they won't make the playoffs. The thing is, people WANT them to fail and I think that's where the burden is heaviest on the Lakers. And that's where Kobe will shine through. </div> Most people expect Lakers to do badly compared to last year but there are so many Kobe fans who think he is god and can do no wrong, alot like some of the media. The hype in which is being called an all-time great and being compared to Jordan. That is what hype is and he needs to prove all that was valid talk. I myself think L.A will get the 8th seed but If Kobe is as great as many think, he should get them to a much higher ranking. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">One more thing. OVER-hyped shooting guard? Once agin, your statements never cease to amaze me? Kobe is arguebly THE best Sg in the game today and you say he is overhyped. How many other shooting guards would you place over him? One (Mcgrady) MAYBE. That's it. There's no one at his level. Just like Shaq is the best center in the NBA today, Kobe is (arguebly) the best SG in the game today. </div> Yes overhyped shooting guards, guys who are expected to be the next Jordan but only their expections never live up to the billing. Guys like Vince Carter, Jerry Stackhouse and even Ray Allen for their talents, have not done as great as expected. They are still very good shooting guards but when given the chance to jump to that level, they never took it. Kobe is the best shooting guard in the NBA but If he doesn't prove he can win without Shaq then he is overhyped. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I see. So, If 2 years ago, KG had been ranked #3 behind Shaq or Duncan, it wouldn't be valid? You're saying that if Kobe doesn't carry them to the playoffs, he isn't worthy of a #3? So in that case, I gues Mcgrady isn't worth whatever he was rated as since he can't lead his team past the worst record in the EAST. </div> No, Garnett already proved way before 2 years ago he can carry a team on his own in the tough west. Not only could he lead them but also get homecourt advantage. The situation is completely different. As for T-mac, again.. he already proved he can carry a team into the playoffs and did It for 3 straight years, and had 500 record through that time. The teams he had were weak, he got them as far as he could. Mcgrady also never got the hype Kobe has through fans and the media. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">And finally, my big laugh comes from this statement: </div> You do realise I didn't post that, right? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> You don't get all team defense that way. If that was the case then Cuttino Mobely should have made it once by now. </div> When you play for L.A in the big market and are hyped to be the next great, It happens. Kobe is not a lock down defender like some seem to think. Funnily enough Mobley is actually a good defender but is very underrated due to his lack of marketabilty. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Everyone is entitled to thier own opinions but the fact that you will do ANYTHING and everything possible to discredit Kobe as much as possible still amuses me. Atleast give credit where it is due. Kobe is a great perimiter defender. Now, whether you believe he is overhyped or whatever, is YOUR opinion. But the all nba defensive teams speak for themselves.</div> I'm hardly discrediting Kobe, I have stated what he needs to do and show what he can do with his own team. Kobe is not a great perimetar defender, he is good but certainly not great as many make him out to be. It seems everyone but the media and Laker fans seem to think Kobe is an average defender
Kobe gets shat on by every elite guard. The only people he gets up for are Tmac and AI, and even then he only tries to outscore them. Ask Ray Allen (game-winning lay up scored by driving past Kobe last year), ask Cuttino, ask Finley. Kobe does not stop people. Shaq really did contribute to Kobes defensive status, and I will tell you why. When a defender beats Kobe he knew not to take it in on Shaq. So sure, he got the open mid-range J, but shooting is a lost art, especially from mid-range. That's why Rip was so successful in the finals, he is one of the few good mid-range shooters left. The average guard will miss that shot a lot of the time, even if the help defender is late on the rotation. Still Allnet, you are not giving Kobe the credit that he deserves. There isn't a single aspect of Kobe's game (other than sharing), that is average. I really hope you will retract that comment. Especially in a league where there are teams like the Mavs, any individual defender may get more credit than he deserves, but Kobe deserves a lot of the credit he gets. Yeah, making Kobe all defensive is about politics. Because lets be real, nobody outside of Sac-town wants A Doug Christie jersey. Kobe sells.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Still Allnet, you are not giving Kobe the credit that he deserves. There isn't a single aspect of Kobe's game (other than sharing), that is average. I really hope you will retract that comment. Especially in a league where there are teams like the Mavs, any individual defender may get more credit than he deserves, but Kobe deserves a lot of the credit he gets. </div> I have always said Kobe is a great talent and player while he is great at many things but defense is not one of them. He is an average to good defender and gets way too much credit for his defensive abilties.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> You do realise I didn't post that, right? </div> Yeah I know, I just felt like responding to it. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> As for your 2nd point, I'm not a Kobe hater but I don't like the fact he is thrown down our thoats 24/7 and being considered the best player in the league when he has never proven he can carry a team. </div> He's thrown down our throats because he is the closest known thing to MJ in the league right now. And I absolutely hate that because they (Media) start comparing young players to a legend before they have yet to prove themselves. I agree, Kobe yet has to prove that he is/will be "an all time great" but there is no doubt that he is in the Top 3 player range as we speak. I don't believe that he will win a championship for atleast 3-5 years down the road but he will win atleast one by myself. This year, IMHO, will be somewhat of a sturggle for him. Somewhat. He will have to adjust to playing without Shaq, a brand new roster plus a brand new coach and as time passes on, he will gain more experiences and hopefully, like always, he will take his weak areas and make them stronger. If his work ethic stays true, he will be known as one of the greatest, there is no doubt in my mind about that. This is a player who has been riddled with nothing but doubt his whole life and now he has finally climbed the ladder and will be able to prove himself. He will not disappoint. He knows what's in his way and i'm sure he knows what he's doing wrong. It's all a matter of putting your ego aside for the better of the team. And that is one skill kobe will soon learn as he grows from these experiences that he will soon face as the leader. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Lets end this by saying Kobe likes to cheat on his wife! </div> I hate it when posters do that. Please keep this a basketball discussion because there is no reason to bring off-court antics into this.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Mr.Wade:</div><div class="quote_post">Lets end this by saying Kobe likes to cheat on his wife!</div> And that was supposed to be funny ?? Im thinking maybe immature.
