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A swift kick in the nuts to all Kobe haters!
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| A swift kick in the nuts to all Kobe haters!
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| Vernon Dozier |
Article Link----->http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page...a&POLL282=80000
Quote: Putting Kobe in perspective
By Jemele Hill
Page 2
Kobe Bryant is better than Michael Jordan.
Not more successful.
Hasn't had a bigger economic impact.
Hasn't won more MVPs.
Kobe Bryant
Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images
Kobe Bryant did something Michael Jordan never
did -- score 50-plus in four consecutive games.
Hasn't won more titles.
But he's a better player.
Kobe can do everything Michael did, and even a few things Michael couldn't do.
Kobe is just as good a defender. His killer instinct is just as pronounced. He can shoot, finish and explode. And just like Jordan, the more he's pissed off, the more unstoppable he is.
At the very least, Kobe's scoring spree over the last week should put to rest any lingering doubts that he's the best player in the NBA. Yes, better than Steve Nash, who is the best point guard, but not the lethal force that Kobe is. Yes, better than Dwyane Wade, who is certainly closer to the Kobe-Jordan level than LeBron James, but D-Wade's game is not as polished as Kobe's.
Kobe's streak of four straight 50-points-plus games is something none of those players can do, and it's something that hasn't been done since Wilt Chamberlain, who had an NBA-record seven straight 50-point games. Truthfully, Kobe should have tacked another 50 on Golden State on Sunday night.
Of course, the idea that Kobe is better than Jordan -- or even the best player in this league -- is as repugnant to some folks as a rectal exam. Even though Kobe has proven himself under pressure countless times, he gets the A-Rod treatment.
Kobe can't please anyone. And it doesn't help that most people suffer from revisionist history when it comes to Jordan, forgetting that he was just as poor a teammate and a ball hog and that he ran off coach Doug Collins like Kobe ran off Phil Jackson the first time.
In fact, you could argue that Jordan was even worse. Far as we know, Kobe hasn't jacked up any of his teammates the way Jordan punched out Steve Kerr and Will Perdue at practice.
Kobe will never be forgiven for Shaq's departure, but you're delusional if you think Jordan wouldn't have had any ego issues playing alongside a player with Shaq's star power.
The best-player argument shouldn't be determined by personal dislike. But if you want to take it there, fine. Jordan was hardly the ideal husband, but only the tabloids were brave enough to venture into his personal life. And what about those gambling issues? If Jordan's life had been covered like Kobe's, we would have an entirely different opinion of His Airness.
Besides a different level of media scrutiny, there was definitely a difference in the level of competition during Jordan's heyday compared to now.
Kobe Bryant
AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill
We ask you to step back and take an objective look. Isn't Kobe the best player in the NBA?
Yesterday's NBA player certainly was more fundamentally sound, but there's no question that today's player is bigger, stronger and faster. When Jordan played, he was a singular force that could not be equaled. Jordan was guarded by the likes of John Starks and Joe Dumars, who were fine players but weren't nearly as skilled or physically imposing as LeBron, D-Wade, Tracy McGrady or even Vince Carter.
The NBA is tougher now.
Kobe, like Michael, is surrounded with mediocre to below-average talent, and Phoenix, Dallas and San Antonio are all better than the Utah, Portland and the Charles Barkley-led Phoenix team that Michael met in the NBA Finals.
Hakeem Olajuwon, David Robinson and Patrick Ewing will be among the best centers ever, but none of them affected the league the way Shaq and Tim Duncan have. There are two two-time MVPs in Kobe's own conference (Duncan, Nash), which is a problem Jordan never faced during his championship runs. Seven-footers weren't launching 3s back then. Magic Johnson and the Lakers were on a downward spiral, and the Pistons were on their last legs. It was Michael and everyone else. That's not the case for Kobe.
The shame of it is that Kobe might finish his career without a MVP, even though his ability can be compared only to that of Jordan and Wilt Chamberlain. All this time we've been looking for a player who is better than Jordan, but most of us can't get beyond whether we like or dislike Kobe as a person to recognize his contributions to the game.
Ultimately the MVP award will go to either Nash or Dirk Nowitzki, who are deserving this season, but neither are as good as Kobe. Dallas and Phoenix are strong enough to make the playoffs without their stars. The Lakers, however, are a lottery team without Kobe.
Now that's a valuable player.
Jemele Hill, a Page 2 columnist and writer for ESPN The Magazine, can be reached at jemeleespn@gmail.com. |
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| Drunk Luigi |
| How many championships without shaq? |
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| Player 1 |
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| Petey Arms |
| he is better than mj |
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| fatroider4 |
| Damn the kool-aid down there in cali must be gooooooooooood |
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| Vernon Dozier |
| How long you been watching the Blazers play? |
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| Bobby Booey |
Dude, Kobe posts in two forums at the same time?
Nash is MVP for a reason....teamwork. |
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| Vernon Dozier |
Dude if Kobe had Amare , Marion , Diaw , Barbosa , Bell and the rest of that ridiculously talented roster they would never lose a single game and there wouldn't be a question or doubt who the Champion was going to be come June...
You know it , I know it , and everyone with an unbiased clear headed mind knows it! |
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| beetledouche |
| 11 seasons? That makes me...old. |
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| Bobby Booey |
We go round in circles...he had the most powerful big man in history. Two of the top ten players in history on the same team at the same time either in their prime or close to it. The dynamic duo. Heck add three role players (a shooter, a point, and a garbage man) and rewrite the record books.
Championship parades for years to come.
Kobe threw it away so he could jack up 40 shots a night, lead the league in scoring and get no more rings.
He actually did the league a favor because the Laker dynasty would have gotten real old so...Thanks Kobe! :) |
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| Kayotic1 |
Not even close. Take a look at the guys Jordan played with. He was and always will be better than Kobe!!!
Player Championships
Michael Jordan 6
Scottie Pippen 6
B. J. Armstrong 3
Bill Cartwright 3
Horace Grant 3
Stacey King 3
John Paxson 3
Will Perdue 3
Scott Williams 3
Randy Brown 3
Jud Buechler 3
Jason Caffey 3
Ron Harper 3
Steve Kerr 3
Toni Kukoc 3
Luc Longley 3
Dennis Rodman 3
Dickey Simpkins 3
Bill Wennington 3
Craig Hodges 2
Dennis Hopson 2
Cliff Levingston 2
Bobby Hansen 1
Chuck Nevitt 1
Mark Randall 1
Rory Sparrow 1
Ricky Banton 1
Joe Courtney 1
Jo Jo English 1
Rodney McCray 1
Ed Nealy 1
Trent Tucker 1
Darrell Walker 1
Corey Williams 1
James Edwards 1
Jack Haley 1
John Salley 1
Robert Parish 1
Matt Steigenga 1
Brian Williams (Bison Dele) 1
Keith Booth 1
Scott Burrell 1
Joe Kleine 1
Rusty LaRue 1
David Vaughn 1 |
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| beetledouche |
| Please don't speak poorly of Will Perdue. The man is a legend. |
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| guinness6 |
| It really is like a kick in the nuts. |
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| michaelmurry |
| how many without shaq????? fuck that stupid argument, KOBE WILL WIN 3 TO 4 more championships near the end of his career, the way Phil coaches once they figure out the triangle and get the right role players he is known to do strings of championships. although NOEONE will ever be better than mike because of his timing and impact to the league and his sheer dominance against th whole league, KOBE WILL be the next greatest player of our generation. not Dwayd not LeBron NOBODY. All shaq secures is an immediate win, but think about it what player in the history of the game has ever started his career with 3 IN A ROW experience losing and then climb the perverbial mountain and conquer it once again. IF ANY OF YOU DUMBFUCK KOBE HATERS EVER SIT DOWN AND WATCH A COUPLE OF GAMES YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE 1 OR 2 PEICES AWAY FROM DOMINATING. BRING GARNETT HERE AND GIVE HIM AND THE TEAM A YEAR TO PERFECT THE TRIANGLE AND THE ARGUMENTS OVER SHAQ VS. KOBE WILL BE OVER. |
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| guinness6 |
Quote: Originally posted by michaelmurry
IF ANY OF YOU DUMBFUCK KOBE HATERS EVER SIT DOWN AND WATCH A COUPLE OF GAMES YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE 1 OR 2 PEICES AWAY FROM DOMINATING. BRING GARNETT HERE AND GIVE HIM AND THE TEAM A YEAR TO PERFECT THE TRIANGLE AND THE ARGUMENTS OVER SHAQ VS. KOBE WILL BE OVER. |
So Garnett will be the perfect missing piece when Kobe, Shaq, Malone and Peyton weren't enough? |
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| Kayotic1 |
| Not a Kobe hater here. The guy is an absolute stud. But that doesn't make him better than Jordan, which was the basis of this thread. Garnett may help, but once again you are having to add a superstar to Kobe to get him a championship. Jordan was the only superstar on everyone of his teams. |
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| mobsmith |
Quote: Originally posted by michaelmurry
how many without shaq????? fuck that stupid argument, KOBE WILL WIN 3 TO 4 more championships near the end of his career, the way Phil coaches once they figure out the triangle and get the right role players he is known to do strings of championships. although NOEONE will ever be better than mike because of his timing and impact to the league and his sheer dominance against th whole league, KOBE WILL be the next greatest player of our generation. not Dwayd not LeBron NOBODY. All shaq secures is an immediate win, but think about it what player in the history of the game has ever started his career with 3 IN A ROW experience losing and then climb the perverbial mountain and conquer it once again. IF ANY OF YOU DUMBFUCK KOBE HATERS EVER SIT DOWN AND WATCH A COUPLE OF GAMES YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE 1 OR 2 PEICES AWAY FROM DOMINATING. BRING GARNETT HERE AND GIVE HIM AND THE TEAM A YEAR TO PERFECT THE TRIANGLE AND THE ARGUMENTS OVER SHAQ VS. KOBE WILL BE OVER. |
Ride Kobe's dick much? |
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| otherone4life |
| and I take the word of some twat who works for ESPN why? |
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| guinness6 |
Quote: Originally posted by otherone4life
and I take the word of some twat who works for ESPN why? |
I agree, but, it is his job... |
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| Bobby Booey |
Kobe, MVP.....NOT!! Nash showed him why he is the man
I LOVE watching the Lakers lose. Especially in the playoffs. |
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| SparkyInVegas |
Quote: Originally posted by Bobby Booey
Kobe, MVP.....NOT!! Nash showed him why he is the man
I LOVE watching the Lakers lose. Especially in the playoffs. |
I am glad people hate watching us lose... greatest show of respect in sports |
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| caliman |
A. Jordan played in a way more dominant era. There's like 4 good teams now.
B. Teams actually played defense back then. Now, you can play a zone and you can't hand check.
C. Jordan played with Luc Longley and that other stiff who I can't remember as his center. |
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| SparkyInVegas |
Quote: Originally posted by caliman
C. Jordan played with Luc Longley and that other stiff who I can't remember as his center. |
wennington? |
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| cheech and bong |
Quote: Originally posted by michaelmurry
how many without shaq????? fuck that stupid argument, KOBE WILL WIN 3 TO 4 more championships near the end of his career, the way Phil coaches once they figure out the triangle and get the right role players he is known to do strings of championships. although NOEONE will ever be better than mike because of his timing and impact to the league and his sheer dominance against th whole league, KOBE WILL be the next greatest player of our generation. not Dwayd not LeBron NOBODY. All shaq secures is an immediate win, but think about it what player in the history of the game has ever started his career with 3 IN A ROW experience losing and then climb the perverbial mountain and conquer it once again. IF ANY OF YOU DUMBFUCK KOBE HATERS EVER SIT DOWN AND WATCH A COUPLE OF GAMES YOU WILL SEE THAT WE ARE 1 OR 2 PEICES AWAY FROM DOMINATING. BRING GARNETT HERE AND GIVE HIM AND THE TEAM A YEAR TO PERFECT THE TRIANGLE AND THE ARGUMENTS OVER SHAQ VS. KOBE WILL BE OVER. |
Exactly. Nobody ever turns that argument around on Shaq. How many titles has Shaq won on his own without another superstar. Shaq had Penny, Kobe and now Dwayne Wade.
People always say, you can switch Kobe with Paul Pierce or Ray Allen and Shaq still wins a title. No Shit, but if Shaq was switched with Hakeem or Ewing, Kobe would also win a title without Shaq. |
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| cruz1785 |
| Kobe gets my vote. MJ never got 81. |
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| otherone4life |
| WGAS ...Kobe is a soloist who will never win another title b/c Buss won't cough up the money to get some talent around him. W/o Shaq Kobe is just a glorified Dominique Wilkins |
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| caliman |
Quote: Originally posted by SparkyInVegas
wennington? |
Bill Cartwright. |
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| caliman |
Quote: Originally posted by cruz1785
Kobe gets my vote. MJ never got 81. |
What's more impressive, scoring 81 points in a meaningless regular season game against the Raptors, or scoring 63 points on the road in the playoffs against one of the greatest teams, the Celtics, of all time? |
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| Kayotic1 |
Quote: Originally posted by cruz1785
Kobe gets my vote. MJ never got 81. |
He could have. Never asked to. Jordan wasn't about jacking up 50 shots. |
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| redndirty |
Kobe is great, but he's no Michael Jordan. The article that started this thread said that Kobe had the same killer instinct that Jordan did. I think that's wrong. I also don't agree that Kobe is as good on defense. Offensively, however, he is probably Jordan's equal. But if you take everything else into account, I have to go with MJ.
I think in the next 10 years that the next guy to make this an argument is LeBron. He's not near there yet, but he also just became able to buy beer legally. Let's see what he can do before it's all said and done. Just my two cents. |
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