Phil doesn't have to coach in LA, no one is making coach there and no one has made him coach there since he came back. If he can't stand Kobe, why would he even bother coaching? Your statement makes no sense to me. He has 9 rings, he doesn't have to coach.

 

I'm pretty sure there are other reasons he is in LA, such as Jeanie (sp?), that is assuming they are still an item, I could be completely off base there. You can dismiss what I was saying if you like, but I'm not convinced Phil likes Kobe, he uses him as a means to an end.

 

To help you case in dismissing me I will also divulge my belief that his teammates don't really care for him that much either, maybe I'm disillusioned with my dislike. I see a supreme talent who quit on his team more than once in the recent past: (ie: Phoenix game 7 no shooting and last year's finals toward the end), a guy who did want to prove he could "do it on his own" (not dismissing Shaq's part in the whole thing), and a guy whose own coach spoke ill of in a book.

 

Having said all that I will happily tune in to watch him play, enjoy his talent, and cheer heavily against him. :idunno:

Mo Williams is a better player than any of L.A.'s other guards... Pau Gasol is a stud, but the Lakers overall talent is overestimated IMO...

 

I believe the Lakers are the most talented team in the league top to bottom. Gasol, Odom and Bryant together is an incredible array of skill. I do agree their point gaurd situation leaves alot to be desired but the truth is the ball goes through Kobe most of the time anyway.

 

I still predict Cleveland to win it all, Lakers should win it, but I'll take my chances with LBJ.

Kobe is not my favorite player, but I do like him and love to watch him play.

I would say most on here think that the Lakers should be the team that wins the title. They have alot of talent and depth. If the Cavs win, and LeBron dominates Kobe, can Spikes serve you a plate of crow?

 

Spikes sure can, it won't be the first or last time that I eat crow.

 

Dominates is not the right word. Defeats, yeah, dominates, not hardly. Both of them will get theirs when they play. For the record, the Lakers are 2-0 versus the Cavs this year and they were the first team to win in Cleveland. Kobe ain't scared.

Kobe is not my favorite player, but I do like him and love to watch him play.

 

Same here.. And I have all kinds of respect for what he does on the court.

You cannot compare the Lakers and Cavs rosters. LBJ would make the difference in them beating the Celts, as the Cavs almost did last season. You act like the Lakers have no shooters. Ariza can play, Fisher and Farmar can make shots. You made my point by saying LeBron is a better rebounder, that would ease the load off everyone. Odom and Gasol would not get the beating they took from the Celtics, because those players would have to constantly be ready to help on LeBron. Making plays for others is a huge part of being a playmaker. You cannot just score and be a playmaker. You can just score and be an all-time great, but to be a true playmaker you have to be able to create offense for everyone else. Kobe cannot do that 82 games a year 48 minutes a game, and really as you've pointed out most likely doesn't want to.

 

 

Fisher and Farmar don't shoot at the same percentage as Mo Williams, Wally Szerbiak, Delonte West or DaeQuan Cook and like I said, Odom, Gasol, and Bynum don't just score transition points. That does make a difference, but like I said, Kobe is going to shoot first pass later, LeBron will pass first and shoot later.

 

You will never get me to agree that Odom and Gasol with LeBron would have beaten last year's Celtics. They were almost an all star team with 3 very hungry all stars. If KG wasn't hurt this year, they'd probably beat the Cavs again.

 

You also won't get me to agree that Kobe isn't a playmaker. Kobe can be a playmaker for 82 games. He just doesn't have to be.

 

 

 

Everyone acts like the Cavs are just loaded with talent. They are a very good team, but they have been collected to suit James' game.

 

Which is exactly why the Lakers will beat the Cavs in the finals if we are fortunate enough to see this matchup.

 

 

 

As for the athleticism, he has never been as athletic as the guys mentioned. He is still very athletic, but many of those players games, like Josh Smith and Amare when he was younger are stictly based on being supreme athletes. Kobe doesn't have the athleticsm to only be a jump out over you type of player, and never has.

 

You must not be my age. Before the Lakers won championships Kobe got by on his athleticism alone. I really believe you are underestimating his athletic ability. You should try to find some of youtube clips of him dunking over Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Ben Wallace, etc. As his career and his jumper progressed he learned to do more than use his athleticism. He truly has been one of the best athletes in the NBA since he joined the league.

You cannot compare the Lakers and Cavs rosters. LBJ would make the difference in them beating the Celts, as the Cavs almost did last season. You act like the Lakers have no shooters. Ariza can play, Fisher and Farmar can make shots. You made my point by saying LeBron is a better rebounder, that would ease the load off everyone. Odom and Gasol would not get the beating they took from the Celtics, because those players would have to constantly be ready to help on LeBron. Making plays for others is a huge part of being a playmaker. You cannot just score and be a playmaker. You can just score and be an all-time great, but to be a true playmaker you have to be able to create offense for everyone else. Kobe cannot do that 82 games a year 48 minutes a game, and really as you've pointed out most likely doesn't want to.

 

 

Fisher and Farmar don't shoot at the same percentage as Mo Williams, Wally Szerbiak, Delonte West or DaeQuan Cook and like I said, Odom, Gasol, and Bynum don't just score transition points. That does make a difference, but like I said, Kobe is going to shoot first pass later, LeBron will pass first and shoot later.

 

You will never get me to agree that Odom and Gasol with LeBron would have beaten last year's Celtics. They were almost an all star team with 3 very hungry all stars. If KG wasn't hurt this year, they'd probably beat the Cavs again.

 

You also won't get me to agree that Kobe isn't a playmaker. Kobe can be a playmaker for 82 games. He just doesn't have to be.

 

 

 

Everyone acts like the Cavs are just loaded with talent. They are a very good team, but they have been collected to suit James' game.

 

Which is exactly why the Lakers will beat the Cavs in the finals if we are fortunate enough to see this matchup.

 

 

 

As for the athleticism, he has never been as athletic as the guys mentioned. He is still very athletic, but many of those players games, like Josh Smith and Amare when he was younger are stictly based on being supreme athletes. Kobe doesn't have the athleticsm to only be a jump out over you type of player, and never has.

 

You must not be my age. Before the Lakers won championships Kobe got by on his athleticism alone. I really believe you are underestimating his athletic ability. You should try to find some of youtube clips of him dunking over Dwight Howard, Yao Ming, Ben Wallace, etc. As his career and his jumper progressed he learned to do more than use his athleticism. He truly has been one of the best athletes in the NBA since he joined the league.

 

The parts I bolded make me laugh. The Celtics are too old to be the Cavs with or without Garnett. Last years title run and the hot start this year took everything they had as far as being able to beat the top teams in the league.

 

As for age, I have no idea what you mean by that. I remember Kobe as a rookie and a youngster. He was athletic, but still not to the level of the players I mentioned.

I'm pretty sure there are other reasons he is in LA, such as Jeanie (sp?), that is assuming they are still an item, I could be completely off base there. You can dismiss what I was saying if you like, but I'm not convinced Phil likes Kobe, he uses him as a means to an end.

 

To help you case in dismissing me I will also divulge my belief that his teammates don't really care for him that much either, maybe I'm disillusioned with my dislike. I see a supreme talent who quit on his team more than once in the recent past: (ie: Phoenix game 7 no shooting and last year's finals toward the end), a guy who did want to prove he could "do it on his own" (not dismissing Shaq's part in the whole thing), and a guy whose own coach spoke ill of in a book.

 

Having said all that I will happily tune in to watch him play, enjoy his talent, and cheer heavily against him. :idunno:

 

I believe they are still an item, but I doubt that she gave him the ultimatum of having to coach the Lakers or they were through. I have a hard time believing that a man of Phil's intelligence and health issues would waste his time coaching someone he couldn't stand for 82+ games. Kobe had a lot of maturing to do even when the Lakers were winning championships and he did a lot of it under Phil's 2nd watch. That was a long time ago when they didn't get along and part of it was Shaq's fault. Funny how those two are still there and Shaq is as one poster put it "begging to get back on the Lakers". And Phil never said he didn't like Kobe in his book, I believe he called him "uncoachable" at the time. That was a long time ago.

 

The Phoenix game 7, I don't believe he quit. I think he listened to the media too much who said that the reason the Lakers lost games 5 & 6 was because he was shooting too much. I think he spent way too much time trying to get his teammates involved in the game, and by the time he realized the error in his ways, it was too late.

 

Last year, in the Final in game 6, the Lakers were getting whipped so badly, the whole team quit. Plus Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom quit at the tip off in game 1.

 

It's funny, when the Lakers win like they are supposed to, Kobe has great talent around him and has a lot of help, but when they lose it becomes, Kobe quit on the team.

The parts I bolded make me laugh. The Celtics are too old to be the Cavs with or without Garnett. Last years title run and the hot start this year took everything they had as far as being able to beat the top teams in the league.

 

As for age, I have no idea what you mean by that. I remember Kobe as a rookie and a youngster. He was athletic, but still not to the level of the players I mentioned.

 

I will respectfully agree to disagree. :thumb:

The Celtics are too old to beat the Cavs with or without Garnett.

.

 

Freakin hilarious... A healthy Celtics are back in the finals this year.

I will respectfully agree to disagree. :thumb:

 

Agreed.

 

Freakin hilarious... A healthy Celtics are back in the finals this year.

 

No chance in this world. They sure looked liked it during the stretch of this season. LeBron and the Cavs took them to the max last season, and the addition of Mo Williams, plus the continued aging of the Celtics would be too much. Watch the Celtics older players now. Ray Allen looks great one game, and average the next. That would not work against the machine that the Cavs have become. Paul Pierce beat the Cavs last year, he would not be able to do that again this season, even if KG was healthy. Sure Rondo is better, but one thing that the Celts are missing this season is Posey. I said that when he left. He isn't a star, but he is a very good defensive body to bring in off the bench, someone who could do a good job on a LBJ or Kobe for stretches of the game. People don't think about that though. Most times role players play a huge difference in winning titles. Who would guard LeBron when Pierce went out now? Live in a dream world if you want, but no way the Celtics would beat the Cavs if KG were playing, they just don't have enough.

Just make sure you don't disappear if the Lakers win it all this year. I'll have a big plate of crow for you to eat.

 

As far as clutch goes, I'll refer you to this link

 

http://www.82games.com/0809/CSORT11.HTM

 

I'm not even a Cavs fan and LBJ isn't my favorite player. I'm a Kevin Garnett fan and have been since he came into the league in 95-96. I rooted for the Celtics on the way to their title run last season, not because I like the Celtics but The Big Ticket is my favorite player of all-time.

 

As for the playoffs, if I could pick one team to win it all that'd I'd like to see of the remaining 8 it'd be Atlanta, but that isn't going to happen. I really like LBJ and enjoy watching him play.

 

And as for your link, can you recall any truly buzzer beating moments that Kobe has hit during his career other than the Suns game? I'm talking Carmelo Anthony against the Mavericks from earlier today last second.

 

I'm not saying Kobe is clutch, I think he is, but I don't think he's the most clutch in the NBA. That honor goes to Paul Pierce. Unless hitting a shot with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter is clutch which I don't think is as clutch as hitting a shot with a minute or less to go with your team down or it is tied.

 

Kobe is by far the second best player in the league. But he is also by far the second best player in the league-because LeBron is quite a ways ahead of him.

Clutch is more than hitting a buzzer beating shot. Clutch is hitting a high percentage of shots, free throws, AND not turning the ball over so you don't have to hit a buzzer beater with 5 minutes or less left in the game. Kobe does all three more than anyone else in the league. Go to 82games. com. They have stats for all kinds of things, including who is the most clutch. Kobe Bryant is number 1 on their list in clutch efficiency. You shouldn't hold it against Kobe because he creates separation from the opponent when there is 2 minutes on the clock and not 2 seconds. Kobe obviously doesn't need buzzer beaters to prove he is clutch, but I have seen him hit many 3's, long 2 point jumpers, off balance jumpers, etc, etc when the shot clock reaches 0. I find it funny that people will say he isn't clutch because he does the necessary things with 2 minutes on the clock, like make shots and free throws and not turn the ball over so he doesn't have to shoot a buzzer beater. Making those 3 things happen and your team wins by 5 is still clutch, IMO.

 

Most clutch...

 

1. Kobe

2. LBJ

3. Melo

 

Jason Terry's 3 pointer to put the Mavs up 105-101 was clutch, it just wasn't as clutch as Melo's drive and dunk to bring it to 105-103, and then of course the game winning 3. Had Nowitzki been clutch and hit the jumper in the lane, the Mavs would have been up 107-103 and the game out of reach.........

 

I will agree that LeBron is the best player in the league and that Kobe is number 2, but as I stated before, I would take Kobe over anyone in the history of the NBA. He is my favorite and my personal preference.

I think LBJ is a better overall player than Kobe, but LBJ never really does anything when the Lakers play the Cavs, does he? Or am I mistaken...

 

LeBron's stats against the Lakers this year - 19.5 PPG, 8.5 RPG, 8 APG

 

Not his usual numbers, but not bad.

Clutch is more than hitting a buzzer beating shot. Clutch is hitting a high percentage of shots, free throws, AND not turning the ball over so you don't have to hit a buzzer beater with 5 minutes or less left in the game. Kobe does all three more than anyone else in the league. Go to 82games. com. They have stats for all kinds of things, including who is the most clutch. Kobe Bryant is number 1 on their list in clutch efficiency. You shouldn't hold it against Kobe because he creates separation from the opponent when there is 2 minutes on the clock and not 2 seconds. Kobe obviously doesn't need buzzer beaters to prove he is clutch, but I have seen him hit many 3's, long 2 point jumpers, off balance jumpers, etc, etc when the shot clock reaches 0. I find it funny that people will say he isn't clutch because he does the necessary things with 2 minutes on the clock, like make shots and free throws and not turn the ball over so he doesn't have to shoot a buzzer beater. Making those 3 things happen and your team wins by 5 is still clutch, IMO.

 

Most clutch...

 

1. Kobe

2. LBJ

3. Melo

 

Jason Terry's 3 pointer to put the Mavs up 105-101 was clutch, it just wasn't as clutch as Melo's drive and dunk to bring it to 105-103, and then of course the game winning 3. Had Nowitzki been clutch and hit the jumper in the lane, the Mavs would have been up 107-103 and the game out of reach.........

 

I will agree that LeBron is the best player in the league and that Kobe is number 2, but as I stated before, I would take Kobe over anyone in the history of the NBA. He is my favorite and my personal preference.

 

And I'll take MJ. :thumb: