What a funny thread and indicative of how todays fans think. Let's see, who is in the MVP discussions right now? Tmac Who's team has a better record? Tmac Who's TEAM whipped another pro team into submission by 50!!!!!!!!!? Tmac's Who led their team for a long stretch of games with no sidekick and Rafer on his team? Tmac Who will the NBA shove down your throats in the 2nd round? Tmac It's like the lady reporter who asked Steve Nash "What do you think about Kobe scoring 50 on your team" Nash says "doesn't he always do that? We had like what 8 players in double figures? I don't care as long as WE WON THE GAME. Enjoy the scoring streaks because no other player approaches the game thinking they'll take as many shots as possible to make the media stop calling them names, except Kobe. The same think he criticized Arenas for which is hypocrisy in itself. I won't say Mcgrady is diminished as he has matured beyond a scorer. Give me the man who makes the right play 100% of the time over the guy chucking for his own personal gain. I feel sorry for this organization. Shaq must be laughing every night.
I think you can definately say that Kobe is a better scorer, just like you can definately say Tmac is a better player. Without Yao, the Rockets were at one point 20-8 before they ran out of steam. There is no way you can tell me that a Rockets team without Yao is more talented then the Lakers, yet Kobe, for all his scoring prowess, has not been able to get the wins the Tmac lead Rockets have, even without Yao. So Kobe can have his 50 points, I'll take the homecort advantage and playoff suceess that comes from having a team not based on one guy shooting as much as possible. There is no way the Lakers will win against a good playoff team if their offense is Kobe and only Kobe, hell, he scored 50 something and they only beat the worst team in the NBA by 2...
I am surprised that some fans gave yes. I wouldn't agree on that, simply because T-Mac would not score 50+, he is not the same type of player as Kobe. Instead, he will lead his team to have everyone better to win the game.
No one is as good a scorer as Kobe in the league right now. If you asked the same question about Lebron, Wade, Melo or even AI people would probably answer the same way. It's no knock on McGrady, but at this stage of his career he isn't as good a scorer as Kobe, but he's on the level of Lebron, Melo, AI, Wade, Pierce and other guys in the league in terms of ability to score the ball. However, all those guys are a notch below Kobe in scoring. Now, as an all-around player and a team player? He's better than Kobe in that aspect of the game, just like Lebron and Wade are better at that aspect of the game than Kobe is. Is he the best player in the league, as in the guy with the total package? No, he isn't. As I always say, best scorer does not make the best player, or AI and T-Mac a few years back would have been the runaway best players in the league. When Duncan was averaging 19ppg a couple of seasons back, would you have taken Zach Randolph or Elton Brand over him? Don't think so.
Heres my opinion... Is Tracy as good as Kobe Bryant in scoring? No. Is Tracy as good as Kobe Bryant in everything else? Yes - even better. Unlike Kobe - Tracy passes the ball. He drives and dish - he's better than Kobe in everything beside scoring. Props to Kobe though - he's a monster. But here's another question... Will he ever win a championship by himself? No.
four years ago he was every bit as lethal. He isn't that guy anymore. How much of it is mental vs. physical only Tracy knows.
Tmac can do what Kobe is doing on a physical level. He is just as physically able. Right now he lacks the motivation and mental edge. Kobe is on a whole other psychological plateau where he wants to "kick azz" like JVG said Tmac is playing comfortably and respectfully which are not the best thing when it comes to winning. You never see Kobe chatting or joking with other players. That's why he doesn't have any friends among his peers. Kobe is your guy if you want to humiliate somebody and make them beg for mercy. Tmac is your guy if you want to beat somebody but still have them like you. That being said, Tmac will turn it up a couple of notches in the playoffs. Most of you are underestimating Tmac.
I think he is capable of it, if he were fully healthy, believed he was fully healthy, and got hot for a few games with the team needing it. Sure, that's a lot of "what ifs," but McGrady is an amazing talent. He doesn't need to do it on this team, and he still has that little voice in the back of his mind telling him to be a tad careful, and save it for the playoffs. It's a bummer, but his health simply isn't what it once was. Tracy also just doesn't trust his body to hold up. He's still young, but he's had that feeling of "immortality," that the young have, knocked right out of him.
T-Mac used to be a good scorer, but that's not his role anymore. Why ask it? As of now, only 1 other player in the entire history of the freaking NBA has accomplished what Kobe has, and he is a basketball legend at that. Wilt is the only other one. Maybe other players have been capable of doing what Kobe is doing but they chose not to, but most people probably just can't do it. I'm not sure T-Mac could have done 50+ 4 times in a row. However, it is true that these were pretty bad teams and that they were single covering him. Either way, it's still pretty darn impressive. Kobe is definitely a better scorer. T-Mac is definitely a better playmaker/facilitator.
Tmac in Orlando could.. but not because he chose to.. because he HAD too.. just like Kobe is now. Some people forget how prolific he was when he led the league in scoring a few years in a row. Tmac has the ability to improve his game in Houston instead of just relying on scoring.. he added being a facilitator to his repertoire.. as well as being a good defender. plus Kobe has scored all these points against scrubs.. if it continues.. I will make a bet the streak will stop in Houston.
Scoring: Kobe>>TMac Tenacity: Kobe>>TMac Mental Toughness: Kobe>>TMac Defense: Kobe>>Tmac Health: Kobe>>TMac But... Being a good team player, passing, helping his team become more of a team rather than the Kobe-show, and not molesting hotel clerks... TMAC>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>KOBE
the performances speak for themselves. kobe is playing on an inferior team. if he actually had to be a team player, i don't think he would do so well. i know he tried to be but it seemed like he was just going through the motions. not much intelligence in his team play. he never had that fire and enthusiasm when being a team player. i think who he is as player right now is who he was meant to be. good or bad.
Well, he still has time to get past the first round without being Shaq's secondary. McGrady and Yao will finally get their shot this season. If the Rockets don't make it past the first round, both players will deserve to be chastised for being 'softies' who lack the necessary leadership and mental toughness to get it done in the playoffs. I will withhold judgement until then...
T-Mac's better then kobe and he proved it when Yao was out. Anyone could score as much as kobe if they shot as many shots as him. Kobes overrated.
Damn I just have to say that's pretty deep man. The only thing I wish T-Mac still had or took from Kobe's book is the relentlessness in attacking the basket. He usually brings that out around playoff time so we'll have to wait and see for that one.
I disagree, T-Mac is on the same level as those 3 Guys. He is as clutch as those three, definitely more clutch than Lebron. Also, only Kobe can catch fire like McGrady can. I also believe T-Mac is the better leader/playmaker out of all the three. Look at how bad the Heat were without Shaq, and look how T-Mac kept the Rockets afloat without Yao. Outside of Steve Nash, no other "Superstar" does a better job setting up his teammates.
t-mac's not the scorer that kobe is, but atleast this year, he's done a better job of leading his team through adversity. better playmaker.
i agree with most of what's been said--t mac is a better teamate, but not a better scorer than kobe for two main reasons: 1. killer instinct/ body--T mac may have lost some faith in his ability to do certain things when he was hurt. Given that most great shooters say the most important thing for a shooter or scorer to have is confidence, he may have lost just half a step or so. This isn't to say t mac is some kinda bum, just that he's not as good (in terms of scoring) as kobe, who is undoubtedly one of 5 or 10 best offensive players of all time. 2. The Shot--T mac doesn't shoot as well as kobe. His shot is flat a lot of the time, it seems like, and his certainly has more ugly misses then kobe does. Kobe's shot is just textbook, at any angle, falling away, whatever, he still maintains balance and gets under the ball fires with a consistent release and follow through. I think T-mac's shot may have suffered from a hurt lower back and resultant overcompensation. The lower back is so critical for core strength on turnarounds and quick pull ups when your legs may not be settled, and just for getting under the ball in general. Now with his better back, shooting work in the offseason should allow him to fine tune his shot and get it back to where it belongs. Will he be able to score like kobe then? probably not. But i'd still pick him first, because he neither needs to nor tries to score like kobe--T mac is an underated creator and playmaker, and only getting better in that regard as he experiences more and more basketball. T mac is also just a nicer guy and far better teamate--the chemistry of the rockets this season reflects that.
Don't you guys know, T-Mac does not care about individual stats now...........he has been there done that. It's all about staying healthy, winning games--especially close games, getting out of the first round and ultimately winning a a championship. Kobe has done the championship thing, but I doubt he will win another in LA--unless they can find a dominant shaq-like center to pair him with. Phil is trying to win via MJ/Bulls style, but I do not think that will ever be recreated.
