Flawed logic, man. You argue against (rightfully so) discrediting Kobe's accomplishments for having Shaq and a stacked team, but then go on to discredit Lebron's accomplishments for being part of the Big 3? First of all, Shaq was the second most dominant player of all time (second only to Wilt) and Kobe is going to be regarded as the 2nd best SG of all time when he retires (second only to MJ) -- can you really say the Heat have more star power than the Lakers did? Secondly, yes, the East was very weak when Lebron led the Cavs to the finals (although, the "washed up" Detroit team you mention went 53-29 that year). But, can you even name 5 players besides LBJ on that Cavs team without looking it up? Who was the 2nd best player on that team -- Ilgauskas? Hughes? Varejao? Lastly, Lebron was clearly the best player on his two championship teams. For Kobe's first 3 rings, Shaq was clearly the best player on that team. Yes, Shaq needed Kobe -- but Kobe needed Shaq just as much, if not more. Also, there's no question a prime Stockton and Shaq would have done a lot of damage. Are you even old enough to remember/have seen just how good Stockton was? He is the best true PG of all time.
Lerbon is a physical monster who could dominate but doesn't seem to have that killer edge to control things on his own. It takes nastiness that isn't needed today. As a guy to chill with, Lebron hands down. Kobe couldn't be Jordan at his own game, Jordan was the ultimate ******* competitor.
We already know how LBJ plays without Bosh and Wade, he took a no-name Cavs team to the NBA finals and league's best record. You can't even say that about Kobe. Saying "they needed each other" is just an excuse, Shaq was so dominant he just needed another superstar, anyone would do whether that would be Durant, Tim Duncan or KG. My point was that if Shaq had LBJ instead of Kobe they'd still win 3 rings. I'm not moving the goal posts at all, what do you mean the Heat have more star power? Shaq and Gasol are locks for the hall of fame, can you say the same about Wade and Bosh? Kobe's 4rth and 5th rings he had Gasol and Odom along with guys like Ariza and Artest, how's that a lack of star power? You throw statements like the Cavs beating teams worse then them, but the Lakers were already seen as contenders, there wasn't anyone better than them as well. That same Cavs team that you're talking about is so weak won 50 game and reached the NBA finals with Bron, the next year after he left that same team minus him and Ilgauskaus drafted the number 1 pick. Kobe's team on the other hand, won a ring with him shooting 40% FG, how's that not a power team? If your best player shoots 40% FG and you still win then your team is stacked, if LBJ had that kind of night the Heat aren't winning anything.
.@realgranthill33 says Kobe hit more 'tough' shots than Jordan and got more 'star treatment' in his view, Jordan more efficient in mid-range — Kobe Legends (@KobeLegends) June 4, 2014 http://www.lakersnation.com/lakers-...it-more-tough-shots-than-jordan/2014/06/04/#2
Kobe is probably the most skilled of the three, but his kryptonite is that he will always have the mentality of a street baller. He would always get into individual pissing contests and would not settle for a foul and two shots. On the street, you don't call fouls for ticky tack stuff and he would always make every attempt to show up his defender by trying to make difficult shots rather than just draw the foul. MJ is the best decision maker of the three and edges Kobe in the will to win category. He's the ultimate competitor and really set the bar vs his time. He was the first to have a military style fitness regimen so he was in better shape than his contemporaries. By the time Kobe was playing, everyone was doing what MJ was doing. MJ has really big hands which gives him better control of the ball than Kobe. He takes his fair share of bad shots like Kobe, but ultimately what makes him more effective is that he makes better decisions and has a higher emotional IQ. Lebron is the most physically gifted of the three. He really should be setting the bar for the next generation like MJ did, but his lack of his will to win is what I think holds him back. He says he only cares about rings and championships, but that's just what he feels he needs to say for the benefit of his brand. I truly believe Lebron cares more about his brand than winning itself. When he has nothing left in the tank and the game is on the line, I don't believe he will push for the win at all costs like MJ or Kobe. That said, he's such a physical specimen that he can still dominate the league today without having to go all out for the win. All three are top 5 in my opinion. I know Kobe gets a bad wrap for being on the same team as Shaq, but "winning time" is when they define greatness and it's Kobe and not Shaq who got the ball during winning time during their three-peat run. As a Lakers fan, I grew up rooting for Showtime Lakers with Magic, Byron, Worthy, AC Green, and Kareem, but I played high school ball during the Jordan era. I always wished the Lakers would get Michael Jordan so, when they got Kobe, he was sort of the player I always wished the Lakers would get. Lebron is sort of in the mold of Magic Johnson in that he's a ball handler that is really the size of a power forward. At the time, Magic was physically more advanced than anyone of his era like Lebron. I put him in the top 5 as well.
correction, the bulls played great centers. but not just in the finals... jordan faced ewing, morning, smits, mutombo, shaq
Jordan has the best tongue sticking out. LeBron plays for the most teams. Seriously, most of those numbers mean little in terms of measuring individual greatness. Some are beauty contest (MVP, All Star, etc.), some are team achievements (championships, Olympic medals, etc.). The individual stats such as points, assists, rebounds, shooting % may show something putting together. LOL @ slam dunk contest!
Shaq/Mourning/Mutombo were all rookies at some point during the Bulls' first 3-peat. Ewing was a great center, but a tier below Olajuwon/Robinson. Look at the Bulls' record against the Spurs/Rockets from 1991-1993. There's a reason I specifically referenced those teams.
I don't really understand people when they keep painting to Miami heat when dissing LBJ, take out MJ Kobe and LBJ and I'm sure Bulls (went to the finals) and Lakers with Gasol or Shaq would have better record than LBJ-less Heat. Maybe Wade and Bosh command higher salaries than Dennis Rodman, prime Lamar Odom and Gasol but when it comes teams LBJ had to do the most work to win a ring.
You've been called out on this incorrect statement several times, yet you keep repeating it. Do you have some sort of mental deficiency?
The thing needs to rate level of competition and the leagues degree of difficulty based on the rules. Kobe and Lebron's numbers would drop if playing in the 90's. I know Kobe was young when he came in but his rookie numbers do reflect the level of difficulty of the league back then. Jordans rookie numbers smoke his as do all his numbers. It wasn't a guard friendly league in the 80's and 90's. It is ridiculously guard friendly today.
Guard friendly league is one factor. Playing vs more athletic defenders and more sophisticated defenses these days is another.
