who cares? i want tmac the rocket to be better than kobe. is it reality? no. but that's all i care about.
Exactly, what was it, 3 years? And T-Mac was actually a good defender at the start of his career. He just doesn't care anymore since his last Orlando season. In their primes, it's hard for me to answer. Now, obviously Kobe is way better.
tmac's prime is his first yr in orlando to his first yr in houston so i say 5 years. he avg around 28, 7, 5 during those years on 45% shooting and 36% from 3s. the last few yrs, injuries have taken his toll and it has affected his shooting % and aggressiveness. hopefully, he can avoid injuries for 1-2 years and help us win.
I don't know during that time it was pretty much splitting haires to decide who was better. I remember, during that time, asking this same question and no one acted like some of the people here. It was not easy to answer. That was then though. If the question is comparing Tmac in orlando to Kobe now then there is no comparison. Kobe now is arguably the best player since Jordan, no need for debate.
For two hall of famers, the answer is anything but obvious. Kobe also handles the ball when his team needs him. Tmac is the better team player but its a difficult comparison, because Kobe had another hall of famer on his team. Game 7 was a team lost. Yes Yao didn't get those rebounds, but Tmac stopped driving the ball and shot bad shots at the end.
Anyone who says T-Mac is being a homer, and this is coming from one of T-Mac's biggest fans. In their respective primes (Kobe from 2006-present, T-Mac 2001-2005), Kobe was the more efficient player in all aspects except Ast:TO ratio, the much better clutch player and much better defender. Rebounding goes to T-Mac, and passing ability/playmaking ability is pretty even (an area which T-Mac now has the edge in). Scoring goes to Kobe because of the efficiency, specifically the 7-10% difference between Kobe in his prime and T-Mac is his prime at the FT line. There is a reason why people are calling Kobe the second best SG of all time and why some believe he may one day surpass MJ as the GOAT...he is simply unstoppable offensively and can lock down superstars like T-Mac on the defensive end. In the clutch he simply has the killer instinct that few others in NBA history have had. Kobe in his prime>T-Mac in his prime.
i agree with you completely. but people also compare kobe to MJ b/c of the 3 rings he won at such a young age. that triggered the MJ comparisons more than anything. when you win, it's a whole 'nother ballgame.
No this did: http://youtube.com/watch?v=0RLysV1TPAs (Not the best mix, some better ones out there comparing the 2...Kobe is virtually a carbon copy of MJ....same swagger, same motions after a GW shot, same fadeaway, same intensity). Kobe was being compared to MJ years before he won his first ring.
just like any other young SG/SF that came into the L (grant, penny, vince...). the reason kobe was predicted to be one of the best of all time not only b/c of his game, but b/c of the rings he won so early in his career. people thought he could surpass MJ's 6 rings total. that's the main reason why.
Kobe has been in his prime for what...8 years now? T-Mac had a prime for about 4-5 years, now he is on the decline.
Kobe was different...none of those guys had the talent Kobe did, none had the swagger the Kobe did, none could play both sides of the ball, and nobody TRIED to copy MJ like Kobe does (seriosuly...their fadeaways are identcal, footwork is identical, fist pump after game winning shot, reverse layups, etc...). You are right, people took the Kobe comparison more seriously after he won the rings, but he was being seriously compared to MJ long before the rings. In game 4 of the 2000 Finals (first LA ring in the 3 peat) one of the announcers called Kobe identical to MJ. That was before he developed a consistent fadeaway, before he ever led a team anywhere, before he started winning scoring titles, etc... The guy is just so similar to MJ it is scary.
But...but...T-Mac is the most talented player ever!!! I don't see how copying someone points to greatness. It is lame as hell. Especially if you start copying emotions.
T-mac's best years were in Houston...athleticism does not mean better. Didn't Larry Bird teach you that? IQ & the right play at the RIGHT TIME makes the better player. The guy who has those qualities in today's game is Chris Paul...
I suppose from a "winning" standpoint you'd be correct. However, look at the teams he played. There was a point in time when T-Mac was the most electrifying baller in the NBA.
Yes, but look at why he played for those teams. Realistically why did he make the move to Orlando? Don't tell me he really believed he and Grant Hill could transform that team. Tmac needed to be humbled a little bit, ironically now he's got his wish, he is in control of this team because Yao can't make it down the stretch. I think Tmac can't even come close to Kobe in skill range, attitude or anything else. I still love the guy and wouldn't trade him, but come on, is this even worth discussing?
I never said it did...we were arguing why Kobe is compared to Jordan so often. t-mac_1 said because of the rings, and I am saying because Kobe is so similar to MJ in virtually every aspect of the game.
Coming up second to Kobe in talent ain't so bad, you're still amazing. I think the margin increases once you factor in defense, health, killer instinct, and winning experience.
great video by sook.. am I the only one who thinks that Tmac's handles were waaay, and I mean waaaay better back in the Orlando days? I mean, the obvious difference is the high flying and the quick first step, but it seems like Tmac is always awkward with the basketball nowadays .. if you watch the video, Tmac had the smoothest handles ever.. gosh, all I want is ONE season with THAT Tmac and a healthy Yao.. that's all I need
This is just a dumb thread. Of course Kobe is better. Competitiveness, desire, will, consistency in shots and free throws. I bet you EVEN Tmac would admit inside that Kobe is better than him! Too bad Morey didn't want to do the trade back then.
