ClutchFans Game Thread: Rockets @ Lakers 12/18/2005

It's not 'ludacris', and here's why I said that:

1) Scoring wise, they both cancel each other out.

2) Passing: McGrady is hands-down a better, sharper passer than Kobe is.

3) Versatility: McGrady is a better one-on-one defender because of his lengthy body/arms and his ability to shut down players in multiple positions (PG, SG, SF, PF); Kobe can NOT do that, he's limited by his size and his shorter arms, Kobe is more of an ideal SG type, while McGrady can play multiple positions.

4) Team player: Kobe does NOT make his teammates better (not that he's incapable of doing so, but he just hasn't shown it), while McGrady clearly makes his whole team better, and every player on the team feeds off him and play a 'notch' up from their norm when he's on the court.

5) Character: McGrady is coachable, wants to learn, and much more than willing to defer at moments if it means he will win more, he won't step on any toes and his teammates actually LIKE him, which makes it easier to retain players/sign players.

As I said, the reason why I said that McGrady is more 'complete' is because while Kobe doesn't hold any edge over McGrady, T-Mac is better than him at doing certain things, including the intangibles.

With THAT being said, however, I agree that they're the closest two players in the league talent-wise, but I still submit to you that McGrady is a more complete player.

The only player that I would currently include in the 'complete' player category with MCGrady is Garnett because of his rediculous consistency and all-around freakishness as an athlete.

 

Good points. I definitely agree that when it comes to basketball character, Tmac has the upperhand in that regard.

Kobe is not as long Tmac but Kobe plays pretty darn good D. I personally think Tmac is the most talented player in the league (call me biased, just my opinion).

As far as taking over a game, it really is a toss up between kobe and tmac. I can honestly say that it wouldn't matter to me which one of the two were to take over the game for me.


On a side note, Garnett is looking like he's getting old. I'm not saying that he is not the BIG TICKET anymore, I'm just saying that after watching him this year and last, it looks like wear and tear is really catching up to him now due to age. Therefore, Tmac IMHO is the BEST player in the league. There really isn't another player out there I would trade TMAC for.

 

Come on, to be fair, T-Mac should be fouled out midway into the 4th quarter when he slapped the hand of George in that loose ball. Even commentor of NBATV acknowledged that.

 

I dont like being a homer. Let be fair. Kobe is slightly ahead of Tmac.
Tmac should drive more instead of settling on long-jumpers.

 

Oh Please. If that was the case, then KOBE should have gotten 3 free throws on that Three point attempt earlier in the game and on the replay he clearly got hit on the wrist BEFORE the ball was partially blocked.

The commentators were actually quite biased on that play saying it was a good block. But objectively, it was all wrist.

And for all the BS calls Yao endures over the season, I don't feel bad about "no-calls" in favor of the Rockets.

 

EDIT: Sorry I mean TMAC should get 3 free throws. lol

 

That may be true but Tmac's jumpshot is definitely more money than Kobe's

But I do agree that Tmac should take it to the hole more often. Tmac seems so effortless and smooth.

 

I agree for the most part.

KG and T-Mac might be 27 and 29, but they're both 'old' in terms of mileage on their bodies and years of experience. No doubt wear and tear is already showing on their bodies, and that will be the case for any players who were forced to carry their teams single-handedly for so long, it just wear on you sooner or later. KG is a soldier for having to play like that his entire career pretty much (minus 1 or 2 years with Cassell there to help him with the burden), but sooner or later if KG knows what's good for him -- and he really wants to win a ring in this league before his time is up -- he will demand a trade to team up with another superstar and finally get a 'fair' shot at the title, which he never had IMO.

 

I guess we can include KOBE in this as well, being that he and Tmac are virtually the same age and both entered the league at the same time.

The thing with Kobe and Tmac, I see their "aging" situation to be analogous to MJ. In MJ's later years, he didn't dunk or explode hard to the basket like his younger years, but he relegated to pure finesse and BBALL IQ.

And let me say this, MJ looked the best in his later "older" years because he was more seasoned and truly had the complete package.

I see Tmac and Kobe in that mold in the next few years of their careers because they are well rounded swingmen.

A bigman like KG will be rendered less effective as his age progresses more so than kobe or tmac.

 

We were in the first row of the upper section near the middle. Had a great time and enjoyed the heckling by Lakers fans, even more so since we won with a last second shot. The trip up was well worth it! Dramatic ending with the Rox on top...ugly game otherwise but a fun time!

 

You do remember we were up by 2 with 25 seconds left and T-Mac brought up the ball and Kwame stole it and ran the court for a dunk, right?

And you're praising T-Mac for not respecting Kwame as being an inside force right?

And you're defending Swift after Kwame clearly played decently and Stro was terrible, right?

Fascinating.

 

You could, but I don't think he's had as much wear and tear because he didn't have to carry his team by himself all those years, he had Shaq to take the beatings off him. It's not only physical stress, it's emotional as well (when you're the sole superstar, you're responsible for the team's success or lack thereof, fairly or not -- it's mostly unfairly since basketball IS a team game, but still, in today's media, blame must be assigned, and I am sure it wear down those guys sooner or later -- remember KG crying like a kid in front of Coach Thompson last season when he talked about how badly he wanted to win?)

 

Well let's hope that Yao can relieve Tmac of the load moreso in the upcoming years.

 

Best coaching move of the night was JVG NOT calling a timeout on that final possession - would have given the Lakers a chance to switch Kobe on TMac. I was pleasantly surprised that he didn't.

 

He did the same thing in game 2 of the playoffs last year vs. Dallas.

 

There's no bias toward any player, and I don't like Kobe too, You don't have to agreed with me that Kobe is better than TMAC, and not only that, I still think he's the best player in the NBA, and Tim Duncun as the best team player. But, just take a look at the NBA owner/manager poll done by NBA.COM, almost every one of them pick Kobe as the man.

And Phil Jackson, yeah, he's just a person, but 9 rings, count it, 9 rings, also said that he belived that Kobe is the best.

Team wise, you can argue between the two, but as for individual player, KOBE wins. 3 rings, yes, Shaq is there, but without he's incredible play late of the game, they can't win anthing.

As for clutch, he has hit some of the most amazing shot I ever seen in my whole life, you can't argue that.

 

Haha, it seems Yao's injury helped us a bit in this win. LOL at the Lakers.

 

And I was there in Dallas sporting all out Rox gear as the crowd went from roaring to hear a pin drop after Tmac knocked down the 21 footer oh how sweet it is. Tmac Greater than KOBE F KOBEeeeeeeeeeeee

 

We'll never know. Both of their coaches are reining them in.

Phil tried to get Odom involved and the Lakers paid dearly. Tmac had foul trouble this game, but JVG's system obviously isn't tailormade for him

 

If KG is traded to a team where he can really contend for a title he will be rejuventated. I think now apathy is starting to settle in.