BILL WALTON. Don't list him as a credible source, he's comic entertainment. He's famous for overstating things - even worse than Clyde.
Lol....try harder genius: Bryant tried to keep the Lakers in it in the first half by scoring 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. The league's leading scorer, Bryant netted 50 points in Game 6. But in a puzzling disappearing act, Bryant deferred to his teammates in the second half Saturday, taking just three shots and scoring one point on a technical free throw. http://www.nba.com/games/20060506/LALPHX/recap.html
He only shot 3 times because he didn't play most of the 4th when it's garbage time. And they lag 15 points after first half and behind 20+ soon after start of 3rd quarter. Yes, he gave up. But it's not like they were up 5 points with 5 minutes to go. They're down 20+ with 18 minutes and they couldn't make any stop that's when he gave up.
Which two all-star players did the Lakers bring in to play with Kobe and Odom? Gasol and who? They already lost in the finals once and won a championship before they brought in Artest, so he doesn't count for your argument.
Agree on the "other level" part. I know what all this stuff is about, which is why I stay out...its individuals saying "Dont lump ME into that category". I myself am NO religious zealot about player attributes at all. I never said McGrady KILLS such and such in a particular aspect. But its not even worth trying to explain, reason or differentiate. Circular stupid biased bickering is all it turns into, I know better than this... If someone goes into a Lakers forum extolling McGrady's defense and lowering Kobe's defense down to earth so it "levels" out, and top of that Kobe's defensive play is a myth, that person would get immediately served something harsh. Thats all its about.
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That's very bad that the best player in the league just "gave up." If people think that's okay, then that justifies Tmac not trying in the infamous Toronto game.
Umm...Andrew Bynum is not exactly a bench warmer. But if the argument is that would the Lakers with Bynum, Odom, Gasol and a younger Tmac win the championship? Prolly not. No Tmac is not, nor ever was as good as Kobe. But that does not mean that Tmac was bad or that Kobe single handedly won championships.
i remember this game way back about six or 7 years ago (time sure fly's) i remember thinkin 'tracey is trying to make a point to LeBron that he is still the top player in the league along with Kobe and hes not the best yet' great game Tracey in his prime and the playoffs Tracey was on par with ANY player in the history of the game undoubtedly.. also Tracey in his prime was a better all around player than Kobe cuz of his rebounding and passing/court vision.. Kobe was simply an Offensive assassin Ive say all the time that Kobe isnt the greatest player ever but he is the best offensive player in the history of the game
im not a tracey fan but dude u mustve not watched him enuf back in the day EVERYBODY knows that when Tracey played defense he was a shut down defender.. I remember he D'd up Kobe and block his shot TWICE on post moves by Kobe when Tracy played D u were locked up
Kobe has all these all D team selections to back up his much better defense. What TMac has to back up his being a better passer?
If you can't make stops, it's just futile. Kobe got 23 points in first half and they lag 15 points. He could as well get another 23 points in 2nd half, lost by 30, and people would call him selfish even more. It takes a team to play defense. Kobe had those big comeback, like 28pts single quarter comeback against Mavs. He would try if there's a chance. At the end of the day, winner writes history. TMac was disappointing coz he had no playoff success at all, if he brought a ring to Houston, people can live with him in lottery every other season.
Not a whole lot. Just that McGrady does the same passing with less turnovers. McGrady has always had a low "turnover rate" compared to how much he handles the ball. Though I always like to say it doesnt count as a turnover when you clank a shot off the rim.
Thats because yao didn't get any rebounds, they had like 3 offensive boards in the last minute by the time the game was over.
In 2004 they brought in Karl Malone and Gary Payton. For Kobe and Odom they brought in Gasol. Kobe demanded that Bynum be traded for J. Kidd but was overruled by Lakers administration. Just 2 years of having a mediocre team around him pissed him off.
Andrew Bynum played 35 games that year and missed the entire postseason. He was having a breakout year before he got hurt, but that didn't help the Lakers in the playoffs. And you said the Lakers brought in two all-stars to pair with Kobe and Odom. Gasol has been an all-star. Bynum has not. I know what happened in 2004. I was responding to the statement that the Kobe-led Lakers didn't win a playoff series until the front office brought in two all-stars to team with him and Odom. That's just false.
