I love Tracy McGrady but I'm not going to argue that he's better than Kobe Bryant. There is no point in arguing who is more durable. It's Kobe. There's no point in arguing who's more mentally determined. It's Kobe (although he's had his share of hissy fits). There's no point in arguing who can score more. It's Kobe. But who's the one on our team? It's T-Mac. Kobe may be able to score 81 and score 62 in 3 quarters and drop 52 when he's coming back from knee surgery but he can't keep the most dominant center ever on his team and he can't get past the first round with the most dominant center ever. Kobe got lucky many times more than T-Mac IMO: 1. He doesn't have the back problem to deal with. 2. He's not a nice guy, he's a killer (on the court, maybe off it? haha jk) 3. He had Phil Jackson as a coach, twice. 4. He had Shaq on his team. 5. He never had to deal with so many deaths (from what i've heard) and don't say the rape thing was mentally tough because Kobe brought that upon himself whether he did it or not. Kobe (without Shaq) has gone only a little farther than T-Mac, and that's only in the individual aspect of the game. Honestly, with T-Mac's playing style/attitude now with the athleticism in his athletic prime, if he had Shaq on his team for as long as Kobe, would he have won 3 rings? Maybe even more becuase we wouldn't have driven Shaq away. Ask that to yourself. Same thing goes for Kobe, would he would have led the league in scoring if he had to do the same thing T-Mac did in Orlando. All I know is Kobe's never going to be the youngest player to ever lead the league in scoring and T-Mac is never going to get the chance to play with Shaq when he was in his athletic prime. I also think T-Mac is not out of his prime as a player yet, just his athletic prime. For whatever reason, his back has really cursed his career. T-Mac was just as athletic in his first season in Houston as he was in all of Orlando. I feel so sorry for him...but if only he didn't feel so sorry for himself. When T-Mac was needed to score a lot, he did. Kobe has not gone farther without Shaq than T-Mac. In fact Kobe's lucky he had Shaq to give him all that playoff experience. Right now T-Mac's rusty as hell and Kobe's on fire. Different paths have led them to this point. I still love T-Mac. Still respect Kobe's game.
I agree with a lot of what you said but bringing Shaq into it is just wrong. It really annoys me when people say Kobe drove Shaq away. Let me remind you of Shaq in L.A. before he was traded. Shaq is the guy who waited until the season started to have surgery because he said since he got hurt on company time, it should be fixed during company time. Shaq is the guy who demanded a trade if he did not get MORE money. 30 million a year. That would have crippled the Lakers. Heck, look at Miami right now. Shaq is making ONLY 20 million but they will be crippled for the next few years. The only reason they are ANY good at all is because of Wade, who is in his rookie contract. You think the Lakers can afford paying both Shaq and Kobe max contracts? The Laker's GM picked Kobe over Shaq because Kobe is younger and getting better while Shaq is getting older and crappier. Kobe wasn't the biggest factor. You think the Laker's GM would trade away Shaq if Shaq agreed to 15 million a year. I don't think so. Shaq is the guy, who for the last couple of years with the Lakers weighed way more than 350. He got fat. Really, really fat. And at the same time, he was demanding a raise. Cocky as hell. Shaq is the guy who would claim an injury and play half-heartedly during the season because "regular season doesn't matter" and because he's "saving himself for the playoffs." He averaged 67 games for his last three seasons with the Lakers missing 15 games a season and it looks like he's doing it again with the Heats. As a Laker GM, who are you going to pick? The guy who keeps getting fatter and demanding a raise during games. Or the guy who works his ass off every game, regular or otherwise. Let me end this by saying I hate Shaq. He's cocky as hell. Who the heck gives himself nicknames? He whines like a b**** and eats too much crap. I used to hate Kobe after the rape case. But after seeing all the blind Kobe-hate, I realized it was stupid. The guy is professional on and off the court. He plays with a passion that is rare in today's game.
Ahhh, another Shaq hater...be creative for a change. Shaq is the guy with four rings and working on his fifth. Shaq is the guy that Wade is struggling to keep Miami afloat without. Shaq is the guy that brought Payton and Malone to the Lakers for pennies (in NBA terms), and saved the Lakers tons of money in the process. Mitch Kupchack told Shaq before his last season in LA that he would get whatever he wanted in a new contract, because the Lakers' GM understood that as long as Shaq was on his team, everyone would want to play for the Lakers and would take a paycut to do so. Shaq wasn't just their uber-franchise player, he was their GM, he was lobbying behind the scene to get players to the Lakers who wanted nothing but that elusive opportunity to win a championship. He was promised Jordan-like compensation for his efforts, it didn't happen, he felt stabbed in the back, and one thing Shaq doesn't tolerate is backstabbing and being disrespected, so he packed his bags and demanded a trade out of LA, landing him in Miami where he just continues to rack up more hardware, while his former partner in crime is struggling just to make the playoffs or make it past the first round, all the while playing the best he ever has in his entire career...yet it wasn't enough.
The most important point is the first one...it should be cross referenced throughout the entire analysis: Exagerration? Now why on earth would you make such a serious "exaggeration" of the poster child of your beloved rockets?? Seems more like a very careful way of recanting a grossly overstated position 4 pages and about 20 rebuttals into a thread. If you were a journalist I would call you irresponsible but then again you quote the Chronic as your primary source of expertise on these matters so anything goes. But anyway my whole point was about you calling him heartless...you can poll the bbs about this if you want. Bonzi Wells is heartless. TMac isn't heartless. Okay, if you really think in your head that tmac asked to be removed from the game then I don't why you would be rooting for him in the first place. If I really believed that I would of wanted his ass traded immediatley. Secondly, we're talking about a professional sport here where players are multi-million dollar investments. No sense in Gundy leaving superstar players in the game where its a guaranteed loss. That's why this entire board was furious when yao broke his foot last year in a meaningless game....its just stupid. Youre still not proving your position by negating mine...youre just making everything a moot point. Its fine if the lakers were outmatched as well but how does that prove that hes a cold blooded assasin and tmac is heartless?? Cross reference my first point here. Secondly, if you are telling me both those performances were about equal then I'm certain that your analysis is lacking pure objectivity to begin with. Kobe's play goes down in history as a shameful game 7 performance while tmacs was mediocre at worst. I guess I wasn't sure what the discussion was about...Cross apply my first point here. Calling him heartless isn't exactly giving him the benefit of the doubt. The word has extremely harsh connotations you know? Even if Tmac is mentally weaker relative to kobe it still does not justify such an absolute claim that you made of Tmac. He's not heartless. Refer to my first point. Whatever, all I'm saying is that there is no one in this league that is at that level including Kobe. Would you agree? If so then read the next point. If not then again, I think youre lacking some objectivity here. It just isn't gonna happen because no player including Kobe is on that level. I'm sick and tired of the media and their moms trying to prophesies the next jordan. From Len Bias to Kobe Bryant we've heard 20 years of the "next Jordan" and it still hasn't come. Why don't we give a little respect to MJ (and Bill Russell) and evaluate these players in retrospect after seeing their full body of work?? If you read the statement in the context of my original post I was actually commenting on PJ and an inept coaching blunder of his: Who in their right minds calls a superstar player uncoachable and then comes back to coach them? Not to mention he broke player/coach confidentialities in his book...why the hell should he be trusted? But anyway my whole point was that lakers team was seriously dysfunctional and PJ the savior himself couldnt hold the pieces together. Also for future reference could you repost my entire statements like I'm doing for you instead of conveniently picking and choosing which sentences you'd like to rebut? Thanks. I already conceded to you that he is a great coach but he had the greatest player of all time in MJ...now you'll probably say he's not for the sake of arguing with me but we'll just have save it for another debate. My biggest criticism of him is that he has only taken teams that were already dynasty built teams. Would he have taken the 2001 76ers to the finals like Larry Brown?? It's not so cut and dry anymore. On top of the fact that the west is so strong its ridiculous, but hey if he does it with this lakers team then I will say he's God. Anyway, you tell me that my hypothetical situations can't be proven yet you present your your claims that "they would have definitely bagged couple of rings" as fact. Whats up with that? I can sit here and debate the heart of every player with you if I had the patience to keep typing but I don't. Having "heart" is probably relative but anyway just cross apply everything I said in my first point in this post.
shaq got lazy in l.a. l.a. made a decision to go with kobe as their star, shaq got a ring, but l.a. has the more durable star who will be there longer. adding to shaq not controlling his weight in l.a., he also didn't want to have surgery when the team wanted, instead allowing himself to miss the beginning of a season.
Hmmm... Maybe I shouldn't have said Kobe couldn't keep the most dominant center ever on his team, but I doubt he had NOTHING do with Shaq's decision to leave...It turns out Kobe's more like Shaq then people think. You guys say Shaq would let down his team by not getting surgery before the season or getting fat or lazy but what do you call Kobe's little protest where he only scored 2 points and took like 2 shots in the second half of a crucial game last playoffs? That's not exactly the passion you all say he has. At least Shaq has proven he can get the rings before he had his little hissy fits. Kobe has not. I wasn't saying Shaq was the most humble pesron ever, I'm just saying he was a damn good player and got it done. He's got the title of Most Dominant Center Ever, he's got 4 rings (1 without Kobe), and he's got Finals MVPs. The only reason I brought Shaq into MY post was to point out Kobe was lucky enough to be paired with him, setbacks and all. I wasn't questioning Kobe's passion or anything, just pointing out that Kobe had one of the greatest centers ever on his team while T-Mac had ... nobody. For my arguement (which was really Kobe is luckier than T-Mac), I needed to say SOMETHING about Kobe having the most dominant center ever on his team... Like Tigermission1 said, Kobe is playing the best ball of his entire career but without Shaq has gotten no farther than Tracy McGrady. Like I said originally, I still respect Kobe's game. I agree he's intense and has lots of passion.
Since you are so concious about words, let me rephrase it. Tmac is a great talent and clutch in last minutes of the game but when going gets tough and he needs to bring it for entire series, he lacks the heart to do it. You can sit and pick apart words all you want but Tmac's history speaks otherwise. Since you cant prove otherwise, I cant go by your stand it was all JVG's decision to bring Tmac out. And I will root for him because he is a Rocket. I will not blindly root for him because he is Tracy Mcgrady. He is open to criticism just like any other Rocket even though I am a Rockets fan. Sorry, but I am not going to covert to a TOF after following ROckets for 16 years. That's your opinion. You cant expect me to feel the same way. Sorry but that's just a weak argument at best. I already proved my position in response to tigermission's post without negating anything of your's. My reply to your post was a different one. You keep bringing game 7s collapse by both players when I have already said that's just a small part of the big picture. You keep failing to comprehend that. I was holding it back but I guess I might as well bring it up.... Remember the Tmac who quit an ENTIRE SEASON on the magic? You talk about Kobe quitting in 1 half of a game.... How about the ENTIRE FRIGGIN SEASON?? Seeshh....If that's not a classic definition of "heartless", or, since you are so touchy about words, a player who lacks the heart to fight thru adversity, I don't know what is. QUITTING FOR AN ENTIRE SEASON = HEARTLESS As you can see from replies from this thread...I am not the only one who thinks Tmac is mentally weaker when compared to Kobe. No one because apart from talent, he is mentally tough. He battles out there every game. He does not back down from physical contact and he fears no one. Yeah that's why is in a different league than Tmac. I think, if anyone is lacking objectivity, its you. Its fine to be a Tmac fan. I am his fan too. But I am not a blind fan. Sowwy. If it bothers you then mute it out. You cant force others to put MJ on a pedestal and deem him untouchable for ever. Sheesh... Seems like you need to open yourself to different opinions. What does his personal decision have anything to do with how good of a motivational coach and a psychologist he is. The man is not called zen master for nothing. I will go with the guy who won 9 rings anytime as much you like to nitpick his blunders.... *laugh* those dynasty built teams had won ZERO, NADA, ZILCH before he came on board. Why not? Can you prove otherwise? Again, your hypothetical questions to try to prove a point. Uhh dude. You need to read carefully to what I said. I said since its a hypothetical question you asked, there is no right answer. You asked me for a hypothetical answer and I gave you one. You don't have to agree with me and that is perfectly fine. Just stop trying to prove a point with hypothetical questions. That's what you have been trying to do. I am basing my arguments on what has actually happened. You are basing them on what ifs. I didn't bring those players up. You did. You brought those names up and I broke it down for ya. I am not sure how anyone can compare Tmac to AI when it comes to heart. Cross reference this again. ONE ENTIRE SEASON THROWN AWAY BY TMAC.
Picking apart words? Whatever. Heartless is a strong word and you seem pretty intelligent to understand the overtones and signficance of such a characterization. Don't try to downplay the reaction from me or anyone on the board for the use of the word. The problem is you know his talent and the fact that he has underachieved you hold him to a higher standard but its unfair to call him heartless especially when you have BONZI WELLS on your team. Sorry thats just a weak response at best. This isn't ymca basketball. You play to win but you also want to live to play another day. Obviously we couldn't win so JVG chose the latter. More importantly, why would any rockets fan knowing the heavy mintues that tmac has logged in his career along with his fragile body want him in the game on either side of a blowout situation? Now, I'm sure the pessimist that you are would say he's just whining about his body and lacking heart but its undeniable...you know he has a very fragile body. Why risk it? That is not a weak argument. I guess I can't prove it but you are the pessimist that would attempt to create such a reasonable doubt when no evidence that exists either way. Like I said, there have been players that have landed in Houston that I would have no problem with you calling heartless. Bonzi Wells, Eddie Griffin, and Scottie Quitten(atleast as a Rocket) come to mind. Are you honestly lumping Tmac in this group of players as being "heartless"? Exactly...pessimist. I'm sure you thought he quit last season as well. Well that's your perspective. Why would you supposedly root for him if you thought he quit on his team? Certainly you couldn't trust a player that you thought "quit" would you? How come you give Kobe the benefit of the doubt when he went down in '04 and the fakers missed the playoffs that season? But yet he still fought through the pain and adversity that season... I bring up game 7's because theyre obviously defining moments for their respective teams, careers, and legacies. All the great players rise to the occasion in this situation and niether has been able to. Kobe can score 200 points in a regular season game for all I care. And just to prempt your repetitive argument that "kobe has won 3 championships...blah blah" I'll just say Kobe wanted to prove that he can do it himself and he still has not done it. And? You can also see from the replies in this thread that apparently "youre an ass". Either you have a very poor choice for words or you really believe what you're saying. At this point I am still not sure. And if you believe the latter then I guess we can only agree to disagree. Secondly, I already told you that it is relative...You're still unresponsive to this point. Just because Kobe has more mental toughness doesn't mean that Tmac is heartless or has no mental toughness. It's just like MJ has more mental toughness than Kobe...its relative. MJ wouldn't throw up only 3 FG attempts in the second half in a game 7 playoff series so his team can lose by 30. This thread was originally about Kobe's performance in a regular season game which I commend him for. That still doesn't warrant calling tmac heartless. Again what youre saying might be true...refer to what I said in the previous point about relativity. Secondly, as a fan I am not saying Tmac shouldn't be held to criticism as it is obvious that he has certainly underperformed this season. However, I really do think you are being unfair with your characterization of him being heartless. Cross reference my first and third points here. Huh? What does your response to tigermissions post have anything to do what we were talking about? We were comparing their game 7 performances. You still can't prove your position that tmac is heartless and kobe is an assasin by equating their performances (which is more then a strech by any imagination i might add). You can compare him to MJ all you want but hes still not MJ. And since you care about the consensus of the bbs to back up your analysis why dont you poll the bbs and ask them if he's on that level. Let's open it up and hear opinions. Okay then lets talk about what has happend. The fact is PJ hasn't proven that he can win with a team with subpar talent. He's had the opportunity to do so with his Jordanless bulls and shaqless lakers and has come up short. Actually, you were the one nitpicking that line out of context of my entire statement. The argument i was really trying to make in that statement is touched upon in the point above this one. And you don't exactly motivate your players by stabbing them in the back. What's more important is that you're not responsive to my argument that he was unable to control the egos of that lakers dynasty team for someone that is such a great psychologist. If you ask me, I think the whole mystique surrounding his zen coaching philosophy is overrated. So what? He was one PART of the reason they won. I've also cited the other reasons why his teams won in my other posts. And can you explain to me why after Shaq left he won another championship and called Pat Riley the greatest coach he's ever played for? I dont think its going out on a limb to say Shaq had alot more to do with them winning a championship then PJ.
All this arguing is pointless...at the end of the season when T-Mac gets his confidence back and hits these shots he is missing now (the same ones he has been making his entire career), and the Rockets are in the WC finals, and Kobe is gone fishing, I wanna see all you Kobe lovers (borderline FAKERS fans) seeing who is better. Peace.
Agreed. It is just a regular season game 16 games into the season and kobe seems to be getting all this praise while tmac is being slaughtered. I'm just waiting for him to get back to his old form so all these fans can shut up and jump back on the bandwagon. I'll also be sure to bookmark this thread and bump it up when the rockets advance farther than the lakers in post season. The point I wanted to add on to that is one I made earlier. Phil Jackson is a classic example of being a product of your circumstance. Let's not be naive to think that as a rookie coach he knew the ropes of the NBA and led the Bulls to the promise land. Even if he was that good of a coach as a rookie, he was very blessed in his tenure with the bulls to have such a talented team assembled by Jerry Krause. And given his track record up to that point, he had the leverage to obtain the same opportunity with the Lakers. He has not proven that he can do it with subpar talent given the opportunity. I respect the fact that he has decided to take on a daunting task of trying to lead this lakers team to a championship and prove me wrong, but up to this point he has not done it yet.
I chose to call him that because of his history of declining in playoffs as the series went deeper, failing to get out of first round of playoffs several times AFTER getting excellent series lead, quitting on his team for an entire season, whining and making excuses..... I will stand by what I said. You chose to disagree and that is fine with me. But until Tracy mcgrady proves otherwise, I am not going to change my stance on him. That was a very weak argument and I didn't think i needed to explain it. But since you asked... How come Yao Ming was playing that quarter while Tracy Mcgrady sat out. Are you saying injury to Yao Ming does not matter but injury to Tmac is a big deal?? Like I said, weak argument and an excuse at best. I am not saying Tmac is always going to come up short. I am rooting for him and I am hoping that he comes out on top. Hardly a pessimist. What you call pessimist is what I call critiquing Tmac based on his history of NBA so far. What he does in the furture is up to him. Of course as a Houston Rocket fan, I am hoping he will grow as a player. If you are using Bonzi Wells, Eddie Griffin, and a declining Scotti Pippen as a measuring stick for Tracy Mcgrady, I think you have already lowered your expectations of him. I consider him a top 10 player in this league and I will guage him on those standards. Not the scrubs of the league. Nope. Realist and commenting on what has happened in the past. I said nothing negative about Tracy Mcgrady in the future tense. I would be a pessimist if I said Tracy Mcgrady will never amount to much. As for the quitting part, you are putting words in my mouth. Another one of your assumptions and hypothetical scenarios. No I never criticized him for last year. An injury is out of his hand. Of course *my* perspective on Tmac based on his years so far in the NBA is what I said. Why are you trying to force your opinions on me? I will root for him because he is a Houston Rocket and I will take some negatives that come in the package with a LOT of positives. I will also root for him because his past, although has a trend, does not mean he can not change and improve. it is a fact that he quit on the Magic for a season. That cannot be argued. As for Kobe, if you are alluding to the time he went down with injury, then no i am not blaming it on him. Injuries are out of player's hands. likewise, I dont blame last year on Tmac. There was nothing he could do about it. I can now see why your views are so skewed. Please do look up some facts. Particularly, Kobe's performance in... 1) Game 7 against the Blazers in what seemed to be a sure loss 2) Game 6 and 7 against the Kings facing elimination 3) Several performances against the Spurs in playoffs Again, go and check some of what I asked you to. By your own logic then Tmac hasnt done jack since he has already conceded he cant win by himself! If you are counting one comment from one person who usually comes up with absurd and amusing posts as your proof to "youre an ass", I am not sure what to say. It does not even qualify as "replies" as you claim. Its just one reply, single, uno. On the other hand, the fact that so many people of a Houston Rocket/Tmac fan board have admitted that Kobe is on a different level and has more desire to win, says a LOT MORE! I will stand with what I said about Tmac based on his history so far. You can chose to disagree, and I absolutely have no problem with that. Sure it is relative. But to me, Kobe has far exceeded Tmac when it comes to desire and will to win and force the issue in games. Based on their histories so far, Tmac pales in comparision when it comes to heart. So to me, based on Kobe, he is far behind. Again, I am not even using talent as a guage. Just heart. If it makes you any happier, on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being with most heart, Tmac's rating is 0.25 He has only 1 of the 4 chambers and is missing several key arteries and aorta. Not heartless! 0.25! Happy now? It is quiet clear by now that you hold MJ to a standard that can never be achieved by anyone. Again, I disagree. Once again, you used hypothetical reasonging based on what if. How would you know what MJ would do on that Lakers team? I dont know, neither do you. I am not even critisizing him for this season. I dont know where you are getting that from. Yet another assumption. I am basing the critique on his history so far. You are a big fan of Tmac and I can see why you would thik I am being unfair to him. Looking back on what has happened so far though, I will stand by it until i see it otherwise. I never said I will use *just* 1 game performace in game 7s wot judge the overall picture of the player. Thats absurd. I am looking at what they have achieved so far under different circumstances. Kobe, along with Shaq came back from what seemed like a sure loss in Game 7 against Portland. Kobe, after being down 2-3 to the Kings, has come back to win game 6 ,ad Game 7 in Sacramento (at the time the loudest and one of the toughest arena to play in). Kobe has on several occasion carried Lakers in final minutes of game in playoffs while Shaq sat on bench with foul trouble or just because he was liabaility with his FTS, especially against top notch defense of Spurs. Based on Kobe's playoff performances so far, Tmac hasnt done anything so far. You can call it circumstance, you can make excuses...but thats where it stands. Again, according to your logic, Tmac better win it all this year since he cant blame circumstance on this season. Another one of your MJ lovefest. To me on talent and heart alone, Kobe and MJ are equals. What seprates them is that MJ had better understanding of the game. That's my opinion. you are entitled to yours. if you want a poll go for it. Frankly, I don't see how that would change my opinion that both MJ and Kobe are on a completely different level than Tmac. And my point about bringing the bbs was to point out the fact that it is quiet telling that fans of Houston Rockets and Tmac on their own board are admitting to Kobe being on a different level than Tmac. And ironically, on the same night, Chron writer writes a piece about it. Quiet telling if you ask me. Talk about what has happened you say? Let's see.....9 championships in how many tries? I will take that. By your reasoning, JVG better win a championship this year since he has the best center in the lague playing for him AND one of the top wingman in the game. Let's see what you have to say if he does not win it all this year. How would you know? I think if Kobe was that hurt by the "stabbing" he wouldn't lobby for PJ to come back to coach him. Apparently the point PJ was trying to make got thru to Kobe and he saw some truth in it. Master psychologist if you ask me! What's even more important is that he kept a nut case like Rodman in control for 3 years and 3 championships. That wasn't my point to begin with anyways. My point was that he transformed Jordan-Pippen-Kobe-Shaq led teams into elite teams. Before he came, they had potential but they hadn't done squat. After he got there, they won 9 championships. 9 is quiet a substantial number....you can chose to call it a matter of circumstance. Rockets with Yao and Tmac fit the mold of the kind of teams he has had success with. The fact that he wanted to coach this team speaks volume. I guess he saw the "circumstance" to win another series of rings. And of course the main point... I believe PJ would bring in that intangible for Tmac. To me the psychological aspect of the game is not overrated and I do consider him one of the best if not the best at it. Who said he was the only reason? He would be a part of the reason Rockets would win too. Not entirely because of him. Can you explain to me why Shaq had this to say about Yao ming when he first came into the league? "Tell Yao Ming sho sha fo fi yah....." Just because Shaq said that it automatically makes him better than PJ? It is quiet well known that Shaq has nothing pleasant to say and is quiet bitter at the Lakers organization after they kicked him out for Kobe...no bias there I guess huh? As for the last statement.... Duh! Of course Shaq had to do more with them winning. He was the one playing on the court. As you said they were a "part' of it. Just like PJ would have been a part of it in Houston if they won along with Tmac and Yao. That does not lessen the importance of PJ on a Rockets team as I initially stated. You didnt make any point here.
The argument was never about this season. You keep failing to comprehend that point. I cant speak for others but I already am on the Tracy Mcgrady and Houston Rockets bandwagon. I have been on Tmac's wagon since he came to Houston and on Rockets wagon since 1990. Whether he is having a hard time or is shining, he will have my support and I will wish the best for him. But he is not free from criticism. And I don't shy from giving credit where its due. Judging from all you have written seems like you get too emotional when criticisms are laid on Tmac. It's not the Tmac vs. the World as you make it out to be.
As much as I don't like Kobe as person, maily because of his arrogance, I have to say he right now is really doing a great job of leading the lakers team to victory. Tonight Lakers playing pacers and now up by 20 pts before 3rd quarter finishs, Kobe did it again!
Wade and Lebron have two major advantages over Kobe. They are better at getting to the rim (fouls and iside conversions) and elevating their teamates. In my opinion Wade has AI's tenacity in getting to the rim and leading his team when the scoring gets tough that Kobe doesn't match. That is what lets a swingman dominate, not a superior jump shot. Kobe got 3 rings on the coatails of Shaq. Shaq got a ring on the coatail of Wade. If it wasn't obvious from observation, it is obvious statisticlly in their teams playoff runs. Shaq may have just saw the writing on the wall after the Lakers lost to Detroit when they by and large shut Kobe down and he couldn't adapt (he was hot at the end of game 2 if I recall, but had no other meaninfull impact). Kobe is a great individual scorer and individual player. But as a player to elevate his team and carry them in the 2nd season (playoffs)--what I think is most important in defining greatness, there are for sure 2 better (Duncan, Wade) and probably more (Lebron, Dirk). I look at Kobe more in the line of other great athletic scoring swingman (Wilkens, Miller, Drexler, Gervin, Tmac) than a legendary championship caliber leader (Jordan, Bird). Wade and Lebron have a better chance to be the latter than Kobe--Wade already had 1 playoff run we have not seen out of a swingman since Jordan.
