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Putting Kobe in Perspective
gundam470
Drunk GorillaCaliforniaRegistered User regular
Drunk GorillaCaliforniaRegistered User regular
ESPN columnist Jamele Hill has written a short article entitled Putting Kobe in Perspective.
Her argument that Kobe Bryant is a better pure basketball player is a compelling one. There is no doubt that Kobe can make, and probably with much higher frequency, the same type of jaw dropping, awe-inspiring plays that made MJ into the legend he is. Couple this with the fact that he is a perpetual electee of the NBA's all defensive team, and you have to admit that that the argument bears a lot of credence.
Growing up being able to watch MJ play and watching Kobe throughout the years as the Laker fan I am, it is hard not to say that Kobe is at least as good as MJ.
But, since I am a fan of the purple and gold, I must say that I run the risk of having a biased opinion. So, if you, D&D, take the time to put Kobe in perspective, is he indeed better than Michael Jordan? Is he then greatest basketball player we have seen?
Her argument that Kobe Bryant is a better pure basketball player is a compelling one. There is no doubt that Kobe can make, and probably with much higher frequency, the same type of jaw dropping, awe-inspiring plays that made MJ into the legend he is. Couple this with the fact that he is a perpetual electee of the NBA's all defensive team, and you have to admit that that the argument bears a lot of credence.
Growing up being able to watch MJ play and watching Kobe throughout the years as the Laker fan I am, it is hard not to say that Kobe is at least as good as MJ.
But, since I am a fan of the purple and gold, I must say that I run the risk of having a biased opinion. So, if you, D&D, take the time to put Kobe in perspective, is he indeed better than Michael Jordan? Is he then greatest basketball player we have seen?
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That said, I'm not sure. I mean, I see what you mean, but part of what made MJ so great is that he was also a great team player.
Of course, thanks to his personality, he's never going to be as revered as MJ was. MJ was the perfect storm in more ways than one.
3 NBA titles is more than something to write home about. And we can't exactly say that Shaq could have one those titles by himself either.
No, he doesn't have six rings; he has three. But is this actually good evidence against his greatness as a player? Shouldn't the fact that he is playing in an era where the players are arguable much tougher opponents than the same ones MJ faced even out that particular statistic?
Kobe would not have won them with anyone but Shaq, except maybe Tim Duncan.
Garbage -- where are the MVPs, where are the 70+ win seasons, where are the dominating playoff performances? Kobe is talented, but he isn't anywhere near approaching MJ's level.
Duncan and Shaq are better. AI is better. KG is possibly better. LeBron will be better. Wade is close to his level. If T-Mac were healthy, he'd easily be on his level. Before the knee injuries Grant Hill was better (you damn right Grant Hill was better). Karl Malone was better (as much as I hate that prick). Kobe is a cold-blooded scorer, but that's all he is.
His noteable problems -- he's played in Shaq's shadow, let's be honest. Another fun Kobe minus Shaq stat -- his FG% dropped from .47 to .42 when Shaq left, coincidence? He's made the playoffs once where horrible officiating lucked him into a 3-1 series lead whereupon the Lakers became one of the incredibly small number of teams to lose a 3-1 lead, capped off by him visibly quitting on the court in game 7. His game 7 performance in that series is an embarrassment not just to himself, but to all of basketball. He's an arrogant prick -- after Arenas torched the Lakers for over 50, Kobe -- who has a noticeable shot selection problem -- actually had the audacity to question Arenas' shot selection. I swear I thought it was bizarro world when I read the quote. Also he's dirty, ask Raja Bell who clothelined his punk ass to prove the point that he wasn't going to take his bullshit elbowing on the offensive end any more, and the NBA which has suspended him twice this season for errant elbows.
Anybody who still compares Kobe to MJ is either trying to fill copy space (like the article you linked), a Lakers fan, or someone who never really watched MJ play. The comparison is laughable, and a run-down Shaq winning his 4th ring with Dwyane Wade on the wing pretty much ends the argument as to whose rings those 3 really are.
No MVPs, no Finals MVPs, one playoff appearance without Shaq which resulted in the disgraceful Game 7 meltdown. Dude can light it up, no doubt, but let's not get crazy here.
Not much to say, really.