Cat was right...Kobe IS suck without Shaq

Damn...and he didn't even play in the 4th quarter...amazing. The guy took 34 shots, and didn't commit one single turnover. While i realize it is just one game, and was agains the Grizzlies, that is still amazing, and Kobe has convinced me that he is for real.

 

Kobe is pound for pound the best player in the NBA.

Then McGrady.

 

Yes, Kobe had a great game. Does his great game (against the Grizzlies) show me he can carry a squad all on his own like McGrady and Carter?

NO!!

I would still take him over Catrer, but not T-Mac.

Good game though.

As a side note, Stevie looked like he was headed to a 50 [;us game last week (against a better team), but that dosen't make me think he's better than T-Mac.

 

Agreed! Charlotte definitely got a great deal with Vlade for Kobe! BTW, what did Charlotte get for Vlade when he left?

 

Last night Kobe was in one of those rare zone, the kind of zone where others on the court cease to exsist. If, every night, he were to fall into that kind of zone, then yes; he could carry the lakers with or without shaq. If.

 

He played the Grizzlies. Enough said.

By the way, David Robinson scored 69 points in a game against the hapless Clippers in 1994. Did you consider him above Hakeem's level?

 

Your logic is faulty. Enough said.

 

Point out the flaws, if they are different situations.

 

I'll point out a flaw. David Robinson actually scored 71 points.

 

First off, when robinson scored 69, if I remember correct - and my memory isn't what it use to be, but wasn't robinson being feed every time down so as to pad his final point total. Wasn't that the year when he was trying to hold off shaq for the scoring title. Yes, yes that was it. In addition, if the grizzlies themselves - and other poor teams like the grizzlies - were the sole reason why kobe scored 50 +, then shouldn't he score 50 or more every time he plays them or teams like the grizzlies. Yes! But of course he don't. The fact of the matter is the zone he was in - and not the grizzlies - was why he went off.

 

Clutch, your correction beat my correction. That was clutch.

 

Does anyone remember how many shot attempts Robinson got on that night? It didn't seem like an extreme amount, even for 71. Also, since the Lakers game was in hand at halftime, do you not think that Kobe's teammates were passing him the ball more to keep putting up points?

The fact of the matter is the zone he was in - and not the grizzlies - was why he went off.

Agreed. But one game in a zone doesn't prove a player's overall worth.

 

And what exactly have those 2 accomplished except lead their team to a .500 record in a weak conference. In Carter's case he has an All Star bigman in Antonio Davis, A capable center with size in Olajuwon, Another very talented bigman in Keon Clark, they're so overloaded with big guys Jerome Williams can't even get on the court. McGrady has a weak frontcourt, but he has Mike Miller and Darrell Armstrong, both more than capable of being great second options, more talented than anyone on the Lakers bar Shaq and Kobe.

Then you look at the Lakers without Shaquille. You are starting a 6-8 center who isn't very good in the first place in Samaki Walker. The rest of the frontcourt is headed by Robert Horry, who doesn't even turn up before the playoffs, and scrubs. Walker, Horry, Madsen is the worst frontcourt in the history of the NBA, undersized and underskilled. The play at SF and PG is nothing special either. Purely role players.

Now you look at the Lakers record, if you include that Seattle game where Shaq played 1 minute, the Lakers have been 4-2 this season without Shaq. That to go with their 6-2 record last season without Shaq. Did I mention last season's Lakers were even sorrier than this season's(Shaq missed all his games before Fishers return), so the Lakers were starting Grant, Madsen, Fox, Kobe and Ron Harper, with no bench to speak of. 10-4 over the span of 2 seasons, not bad, the Lakers are a wonderfully coached team, they can afford having one of their two stars out and still be very competitive.

 

Clutch, whereas I agree with your arguments for the most part, you dont often contradict yourself so obviously. From your first statement, it seems like they both should be considered amazing feats. But, just as easily as you dismiss Robinson's performance, Kobe's can be dismissed. It was the Grizzlies and Kobe was often guarded by a rookie in Battier, known as a good defender, but he just got posterized time after time. I mean, how many times does a player do a spin move on you without you figuring out how to defend it. Plus, Kobe is helped in the fact that he got more shots as Shaq wasnt there. He is a shot-happy player. Francis was shooting just as well that night in Utah, for example, but would never keep putting them up at that clip.

Regardless, it was a simply amazingt performance, the type of performance not seen in quite a while. But to compare it to Wilt goes a little far. Wilt averaged over 50 points a game that year. Let's wait to see what happens next game. As of now, in terms of "wow-factor," I do think a fair comparison is Robinson's 71 point game or Jamison's back-to-back 50 point games last year.

 

I hope this is a sign of Kobe finally getting healthy again. Kobe of the last ten games hasn't been a pretty sight to watch. Sad watching someone like him struggle so much and turn himself into purely a jump shooter

 

Are you arguing that Kobe can carry a team, or that Kobe can carry the Lakers in particular? Hypothetical: Switch Kobe with Carter or McGrady, each from the beginning of their careers (not just right now), how do you think it would turn out. I think Kobe is the best player of the bunch, followed real closely by T-Mac and Carter. If you put Kobe on the Magic or Raptors, though, I honestly dont think theyd be much better than they are now. Put Carter or T-Mac on the Lakers, even without Shaq, of course theyd still be a winning team. As Kobe is probably the best player, though, you are right in that they might not win as much. Although, with a T-Mac groomed his entire career in LA's system, they might even be better.