Kobe couldnt hold the lead for the Lakers last night against the Spurs....

 

But you vote for Lebron as the best in the NBA?

 

Last week agains the Spurs, Lebron goes on the bench and the Cavs dominate the game. In the finals last year Lebron could not even will his team to a victory against the Spurs.

A few months back, ESPN ran an article claiming Kobe is a better player than Michael Jordan. I snickered at the thought, then I had a buddy tell me the same thing.

 

Then he asked me this question; "Is there a shot that Mike could hit that Kobe couldn't?" I thought to myself and answered "no".

 

The follow-up, "Is Mike the threat from 3 that Kobe is?" I answered no.

 

Defensively, they are great, offensively, Kobe is more complete (I know how blasphemous this sounds).

 

Mike has rings, but Kobe has some tough competition to win these days and has his 3 (would Mike honestly win six in this era?).

 

I have come around on that thinking and we can argue it, but Kobe is better and more complete a ball player IMO. Look at it objectively and not with the "hero worship" that we have having grown up watching Mike wag his tongue and shoot free throws with his eyes closed. Simply tell me what Mike did better than Kobe as an individual player.

 

Could Kobe win a title with the likes of Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc? I'm not trying to short sell Pippen, but he was definitely not Shaq. He had his with one of the greatest centers to play the game, at a peak of his career.

 

I will give you, Kobe is more of a threat from 3 than Mike. Kobe is coming around, playing team ball and getting everybody involved. Maybe one day he will reach MJ's level, but not right now. If he was, he would at least take them to some Finals, but it hasnt happened. I dont know how anyone could say we are watching the greatest perimeter player ever right now. I honestly think LeBron is more likely to reach that status than MJ, thats just my opinion.

But you vote for Lebron as the best in the NBA?

 

Last week agains the Spurs, Lebron goes on the bench and the Cavs dominate the game. In the finals last year Lebron could not even will his team to a victory against the Spurs.

 

Who won that game?

 

Who was in the finals?:sssh:

Who won that game?

 

Who was in the finals?:sssh:

 

By that rationale Rip Hamilton could be regarded as the best player in the NBA.

Could Kobe win a title with the likes of Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, etc? I'm not trying to short sell Pippen, but he was definitely not Shaq. He had his with one of the greatest centers to play the game, at a peak of his career.

 

I will give you, Kobe is more of a threat from 3 than Mike. Kobe is coming around, playing team ball and getting everybody involved. Maybe one day he will reach MJ's level, but not right now. If he was, he would at least take them to some Finals, but it hasnt happened. I dont know how anyone could say we are watching the greatest perimeter player ever right now. I honestly think LeBron is more likely to reach that status than MJ, thats just my opinion.

 

I don't want to hijack a thread, so this is my last reply on the topic. Kobe would win a ring with any of Mike's teams. Mike never took a team to a finals without Scottie Pippen, so we know that you need a team to get there. Let's not pretend these Lakers are nearly as talented as any of Jordan's championship teams. Michael NEVER did it alone and Kobe is learning that he can not either.

 

Simply put, there is not a skill that Mike possessed that surpassed what Kobe can do. Kobe is a better perimeter shooter than Mike. If all else is equal, Kobe is better. I would even argue Kobe as a better defender than Mike. Just consider who Mike guarded in his day and who Kobe guards today. Who deals with more talent, offensively, night in and night out? I would say Kobe.

 

It is the ultimate opinion question and I respect yours. We can agree to disagree on this one. :thumb:

I don't want to hijack a thread, so this is my last reply on the topic. Kobe would win a ring with any of Mike's teams. Mike never took a team to a finals without Scottie Pippen, so we know that you need a team to get there. Let's not pretend these Lakers are nearly as talented as any of Jordan's championship teams. Michael NEVER did it alone and Kobe is learning that he can not either.

 

Simply put, there is not a skill that Mike possessed that surpassed what Kobe can do. Kobe is a better perimeter shooter than Mike. If all else is equal, Kobe is better. I would even argue Kobe as a better defender than Mike. Just consider who Mike guarded in his day and who Kobe guards today. Who deals with more talent, offensively, night in and night out? I would say Kobe.

 

It is the ultimate opinion question and I respect yours. We can agree to disagree on this one. :thumb:

 

No matter how it looks to some, others will never see it simply because of the love factor the have with MJ. I have been saying this for years.:thumb::ylsuper:

By that rationale Rip Hamilton could be regarded as the best player in the NBA.

 

That made zero sense and is a laughable statement.

I don't want to hijack a thread, so this is my last reply on the topic. Kobe would win a ring with any of Mike's teams. Mike never took a team to a finals without Scottie Pippen, so we know that you need a team to get there. Let's not pretend these Lakers are nearly as talented as any of Jordan's championship teams. Michael NEVER did it alone and Kobe is learning that he can not either.

 

Simply put, there is not a skill that Mike possessed that surpassed what Kobe can do. Kobe is a better perimeter shooter than Mike. If all else is equal, Kobe is better. I would even argue Kobe as a better defender than Mike. Just consider who Mike guarded in his day and who Kobe guards today. Who deals with more talent, offensively, night in and night out? I would say Kobe.

 

It is the ultimate opinion question and I respect yours. We can agree to disagree on this one. :thumb:

 

I would have to see it to believe it. What I see from Kobe every night just cant let me think that.

 

Do you really think that if Mike were playing today that he wouldnt have the skills that Kobe had? We all know the tireless worker MJ was on his game and if he needed something, he got it. He didnt have to be a great outside shooter for the Bulls. When he started losing his spring late in his career, he developed that great back to the basket game with one of the best fadeaway jumpers the game has ever seen. MJ always evolved and adapted and if he played today he would make himself the best there is. Call it a love affair with MJ if you want, but you know what I have said here is true.

 

Oh, and Lebron essentially made it alone last year. I know it was in the East, but he still did it. I dont know that Kobe would make it with LeBron's cast.

You can take Kobe. I'll take Lebron James. James is a much better rebounder and passer. He makes his teammates much better. Thus far, Kobe hasn't had any playoff success without Shaq, one of the most dominating centers ever. I don't believe that Kobe has that win at all cost demeanor Jordan had. Its not too late for James to get that.

You can take Kobe. I'll take Lebron James. James is a much better rebounder and passer. He makes his teammates much better. Thus far, Kobe hasn't had any playoff success without Shaq, one of the most dominating centers ever. I don't believe that Kobe has that win at all cost demeanor Jordan had. Its not too late for James to get that.

 

:thumb:

C'mon now... This thread just lost a ton of credibility with me... I will agree that the best player in the league right now is probably Kobe.... But Kobe over Mike is just... There aren't even words for it... Madness...

 

It's not always about just who's scoring the points, who's defending the better talent, who hits the game winners, etc. Intangibles... It's like someone said a few post ago... Mike was the best the game had because Mike set out to be the best the game had and worked to make sure that he was. If Mike played in todays game he would work endless hours to make sure that he was the best.

If it is so laughable name me one thing MJ does better than Kobe.

If it is so laughable name me one thing MJ does better than Kobe.

 

Minor league baseball.

If it is so laughable name me one thing MJ does better than Kobe.

 

Win without a dominant big men. Have a KILLER attitude night in, and night out. Keep his nose out of trouble. Not polarizing half the fan base of the NBA. The list goes on, and on. Plain and simply, MJ was a better WINNER, and could WILL victories, almost with ease. Kobe doesn't have the drive or desire to be the best.

Win without a dominant big men. Have a KILLER attitude night in, and night out. Keep his nose out of trouble. Not polarizing half the fan base of the NBA. The list goes on, and on. Plain and simply, MJ was a better WINNER, and could WILL victories, almost with ease. Kobe doesn't have the drive or desire to be the best.

 

Luc Longley was a BEAST! :jump: