I was a big advocate of Kobe being the best player in the L. However after last nights effortless looking performmance, I had to do a re-evaluation. Dont get me wrong, as far as swingmen are concerned Those guys are 1,2 no doubt. I think if Kobe is 1 then you gotta give Tmac 2 and vice versa. Here is my breakdwon in various categories, Id like to see what everyone else thinks. Short Range-Tmac-much better at getting to the whole, by just blowing past people for easy score. Mid range- I think kobe has the best mid range game in the league. Long Range- easily Tmac- This is Kobes weak point. Rebounding- Even (though Kobe has the edge statistically). Passing- Even (though Kobe has the edge statistically Defense(off the ball) Tmac- uses his athleticism beautifully to play passing lanes. Defense on the ball-Kobe-Tmac should be a lot better on the ball for all his physical gifts nobody should be able to score on him. But as of now He gets lazy for stretcheds throughout the games. Intangibles/Clutch/Leadership.- Kobe- Theres just something about Kobe, maybe its the "Air Jordan" impersonations. But Tmac hasnt won too many games in the 4th qrtr either. Durability- I dont know if Tmacs back can last over the course of the 82 game season. We will seee come March. I think Tmac is on a different level right now on the offensive end. But when you factor in the on the ball defense, it makes Kobe very valuable. I think it is too early to make a final decision, but like I said, both are great
McGrady has won plenty of games in the 4th quarter, he just hasn't had a Shaq to help him get deep into the playoffs. And I still say that McGrady is a better defender then Kobe. You want to talk about intangibles, McGrady is carrying an entire team on his back, Kobe has never showed that. I think McGrady could hit big shots down the stretch all the time if he didn't have to carry the load of the team all the time. He has Grant Hill to help him, but unlike Kobe, he doesn't have a Shaq that people have to double team so that he can get a wide open shot like Kobe has. Now that he doesn't have Shaq to help him we're seeing what Kobe is really all about in the 4th quarter. Not to many big 4th quarter shots now.
McGrady>Bryant. It's already been debated in tons of posts already- facts: McGrady can carry a team; Bryant can't- McGrady is a better scorer and shooter and passer- McGrady plays a better team game than Kobe- McGrady can take a team to the playoffs by himself; Bryant can't. 'Nuff said.
Carter (healthy) and T-Mac would have been an amazing combo if they could have stuck together...too bad.
It's painful watching Laker games without Shaq in there.. Kobe needs some help out there...Fisher hasn't run a fast break in years, and most the players think team offense is standing around waiting for an open shot.
You guys are morons, if you think a Kobe and Shaqless Laker team is equal to a T-Mac and Hill-less Magic squad. The Lakers have 4 guys in the starting lineup right now, who should be backups.
Rick Fox and even the half-assing Robert Horry are better than their counterparts on the Magic. Also, Kobe Bryant doesn't get double teamed.
Pued: I really hope you just forgot about Darrell Armstrong for a moment there. Not to mention Mike Miller and Troy Hudson. Fox? His best days were in Boston....way past him now. Horry's always been a great complimentary player to a big man. Last time I checked, Kobe didn't play Center.
And if you've been watching the Laker games at all, you'd realize that they're essentially triple teaming Kobe right now...daring anyone else to shoot.
after watching the game yestarday, i would still say kobe is quicker and faster. but t-mac is more explosive.
I got the impression that Les would be doing back flips if he's offered Mike Miller and Darrel Armstrong for free, but some ppl contantly tell me that Les would only do that to Fish(er) and Fox because Les is such an animal lover.
True, this won't be the last Tmac vs. Kobe thread on this or any other forum....especially once Shaq retires. I'm a Tmac fan. I think he's the better player overall, but switch them and there wouldn't be much difference with either the Magic or the Lakers. The Magic would still make the playoffs, and the Lakers would still win the championship.
And Pat Garrity - having an extra offensive threat on the court would make an enormous difference - especially oen who can make the three point shot so consistently as him and so often! I'll go out on a limb and say that if you trade Fisher and Devean George for Armstron and Garrity then you've got the Lakers sitting in the playoff picture right now.
I was hung up over this for a while last year. I changed my opinion back and forth a bunch of times. But I now think that McGrady is clearly better then Kobe. McGrady can win on his own, while Kobe can not.
I'd take Mcgrady. Kobe is now learning the hardships of carrying a team on his back by himself, and he's not faring too well. We can see now that Kobe does benefit from Shaq, no doubt about it. He's putting up impressive scoring numbers, but his FG% has dipped, the wins are not there, his defense doesn't seem to be as good, and he's getting nicked up. He'll adjust in time, but until then, I choose Tracy McGrady. Mcgrady's averaging 30+ points while shooting at about a 50% clip...amazing.
What do you mean by "win"? Win 45 games a year, in the East, and lose in te 1st round? T-Mac himself said Kobe is better, if you scroll down. http://espn.go.com/page2/s/rosen/021210.html
No disrespect towards Kobe, but he can't be placed in the same category of players as a Garnett or a Tmac simply because he has Shaq. Not saying he isn't talented or in their league, him and Tmac being the best in the NBA IMO, but he has the benefit of playing with Shaq. I love Kobe, my favorite player behind Ming, Tmac, and tied with Stevie. Again, you switch those two and there won't be any difference in the final results; Magic still make playoffs and the Lakers still win. And except for the Kings and Lakers, the West isn't dominate. I like the Mavs, but until they prove anything in the playoffs other than being able to beat anyone in the West except for the Lakers or Kings they can't be called a dominant team.
By the same token, you can't put KG or T-Mac in Kobe's class because neither have won a playoff series...
