Prime Drexler vs Present Kobe?

I love Clyde, great player at UH, took Portland to the Finals, won it all with the Rockets. However, Kobe is better at this stage of his career. Clyde had to work hard to get his jump shot going in the NBA; he was mostly a "dunker" in college. If Kobe doesn't get hurt, he will be incredible before he is done. He is an amazing talent, maybe on Jordan's level.

 

Nor would he have been compared to a player who had carried his team to two Finals...

 

Kobe is scary. Clyde was great, but his game was never as complete as Kobe's. Dude is just unstoppable. Just ask the Kobe Stopper. Plus he is clutch. When the Laker's need a basket late in the game, they go to Kobe, and he hardly ever misses.

 

What was Clyde considered coming out of college? He just happen to play with a guy named Kiki who helped him with his shot.

 

kidrock8, I said that both the Kings and the Blazers of the 80s had many multi-talented players (Robinson, Porter, Kersey, Drexler), and that their offense didn't run through just a few players. That's all. I never said they ran the same offense, I only said that in both systems there is no emphasis on the point guard setting everything up himself because there were too many good passers. No one on Sacramento is even close to Maravich, either. Everone on the Kings (even the big guys) are passable handlers, but we have no great ones (Kobe, Jason Williams, etc.).

By the way, I live in Sacramento. I am perfectly aware of Caril's background. Also, you say that Christie "might be considered a below-average athlete." Really? You're on crack. If that's your assessment of him, you haven't seen him play many times. He's more athletic than any of the Lakers who aren't named Kobe. He should have won defensive player of the year last year (he was fourth in the voting). How many great defenders do you know who are "below-average athletes?"

 

Being a great defender doesn't mean you're a great athlete. Is Mutombo a great athlete? Bruce Bowen?

Christie is a very smart player, who anticipates as well as anyone in the NBA. That is how he draws so many charges, and is able to be a step ahead of his man.

For a SG, he is a below average athlete. You won't see him doing 360s anytime soon.

Moreoever, I never said the Lakers were an athletic team. Kobe is athletic, and Shaq is athletic for his size. After that, it's average to below average.

 

Christie is very atheletic its just that he's about 30 or 31 now. Christie when he was with la,ny,and tor was as atheletic as anyone. He's strong, has quick hands and jumps very good even now. Did you see him run Kidd down and block his shot against the backboard last yr? He was drafted by Sonics, held out and was traded to la for Perkins. After one season he was traded to the knicks where the knicks, pat riley didn't even let him off the bench.

 

Kobe Bryant will probably be as good or better than Jordan. I'm not saying he will be the greatest player either, because I think Wilt Chamberlain is.

 

kidrock8, I am obviously excluding shotblocking centers. Mark Eaton was about the most unathletic guy in the history of the game, but he made two all-star teams because he blocked a lot of shots. I know that. They're impact defenders, but that's not what we're talking about.

Bowen is at least average, if not slightly above average athletically.

I asked you this question: "How many great defenders do you know who are 'below-average athletes?'" Take a look at that question for a minute. You will notice that in no way does it say you have to be a great athlete to be a great defender. All it says is that there aren't any great defenders who are below-average athletes. That means AVERAGE athletes CAN be great defenders. Bowen is average, not below-average. You are reading into my posts far too much. You are trying to refute things I never actually said. Think a little more before you argue.

 

Anyone remember the Houston/Louisville game during the semi-finals in '83? At the time, Louisville was considered the favorite to when it all. That was the greatest college game I've ever seen. The Cougars played a style of basketball that stunned the nation, and there was a dunk that Drexler did during that game, in the second half, where he was running down court (with his head down, lol!) and took off somewhere beyond the freethrow line. He elevated so high that it seemed as if he was level with the basket and threw down the most viscous dunk I've ever seen. Everyone was completely and totally blown away. We take all this (the style of play) for granted now. Wish I had it on video tape. Yes, I think Clyde was better, and I'm biased. He turned out to be much better in the NBA than I thought he'd be. And he was better in his prime than Kobe. Kobe is a great player and may surpass him one day, but not yet.

 

Deckard, athletically speaking, Drexler was incredible and every bit the man Kobe is.

 

I can one up you. Against the lakers he got a steal and took off with his heal on the ft line in a game. Byron scott though about jumping but just moved out of the way. Clyde was the example of a great athelete becoming a great player. This is the same reason coaches will take an "athelete" over a more polished player. Its probably about 50/50 but if those superb athletes have a good work ethic and strives to improve, you can have a Clyde Drexler. An example of a hit would probably be Marion, but then you look at Billy Owens or Augmon and they're the reason you don't.

 

Give me Clyde any day. Kobe plays with better players than clyde did in 91-92 (even though I think that Porland team could beat the Lakers). Kobe is withpout a doubt a better shooter but Clyde has him in every other category in my opinion.

 

Being that most of the Bryant fans are all still in high school, I doubt they remember that one.