You seem to forget that basketball is a team sport, and you can't win without a great team. Lebron can waste away in Cleveland or seize a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to do something really special. That doesn't make him any less competitive. Isn't the ultimate goal of competition to win?
I would actually for the first time pull for kobe in a Finals Series with Miami, and IF the won I would consider entertaining a conversation about MJ and Kobe.
I agree with everything except your last statement. Without Kobe, the Lakers drop into the group with Portland, OKC, Houston, Denver, Dallas & SA. Why??? Kobe's the only Laker that gives 100% all the time. Don't get me wrong, I think overall, the Lakers have the best talent in the league. They JUST DON'T BRING IT!!
pretty much, kobe/gasol slightly better than wade/bosh, lebron is obviously better than artest, but artest can do an ok (ie no 50 point games) defending him, then you're playing the everyone else's against eachother which is stacked absurdly in la's favour.
