June 10, 200917 yr You're quoting Bill Simmons stats to support your argument? Seriously? Surely, he has no bias, and if he does it doesn't affect his writing? Come on. The guy writes comedy. And, he's great at it. He admits he's biased. You can't quote a Bill Simmons stat and expect a serious response. And, I love Bill Simmons. His articles make me laugh out loud multiple times when I read them. This was classic in the last article... 9:23: Kobe draws a touch foul on Mickael Pietrus, gets the call and makes that creepy, super-intense underbite face that nobody ever remembers seeing until about three weeks ago. We don't know where it came from; we don't know how many different faces he practiced in the mirror before settling on this one; we don't know if he pays royalties to Bruce Springsteen. We just know that he really wants this. He really, really wants this. 8:11: J.J. Redick (0-for-5 in the first half) just passed up two open 3s before dishing to Lewis for a jumper. Lakers by one. I'm convinced SVG is only playing Redick in fourth quarters to make Adam Morrison feel worse. That's the only explanation. 6:47: Turkoglu makes an ugly runner. Lakers by one. I should mention Orlando is playing without a point guard and Hedo is handling the ball (and getting hounded upcourt). Do you think SVG is doing as many crazy things as possible to see if he can provoke JVG into criticizing him on the air? I feel like he is. 6:28: Kobe steps out of bounds on a high screen followed by JVG calling it "the best turnover I've ever seen." I give up. By the way, every pick by Pau Gasol and Dwight Howard tonight is sponsored by Mayflower Movers. I really think it was close to the 10-1 he pointed out. I understand there is a bias and what he does for a living. The game was handed to LA by the refs. It happens all of the time in the NBA. Howard is going to get fouled more than Bryant. Only one of them is a jump shooter.
June 10, 200917 yr I'm going to throw this out there once again: Paul Pierce. Sure he's had Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen the past two seasons, but Ray-Ray was a shell of his former self last season for a lot of the playoffs and Pierce picked up the slack. He's not been in the spotlight of the playoffs as much because he's played on some pretty bad teams, and they have still had relative sucess. He's not as flashy as Kobe or LeBron, but he does a lot of the same things that both do with the game in jeopardy. And I really can't think of a time he's blown a game for his team.
June 10, 200917 yr You lost me. You brought up Chauncey not being clutch and Kobe's clutchness was being called into question, so I was just throwing Pierce out there as the most clutch. Unless if you meant I lost you because I said Paul Pierce and disagree, then I guess the above sentence was a waste. :lol:
June 10, 200917 yr I guess I'm the only one that doesn't just study Kobe Bryant, LeBron James or Chauncey Billups when talking about the most clutch in the NBA. Look up some youtube stuff, read the stuff about him on Wiki or on his NBA profile page, Paul Pierce should be right up there. Just because he's not as flashy, everyone dismisses him. And Kobe hasn't even been the most clutch player in the playoffs, that's been Rashard Lewis who hit countless big shots in every series. And no, I don't hate Kobe-I respect him, he is an excellent basketball player and is a true student of the game-and Paul Pierce isn't my favorite player, but for some reason it seems absurd to everyone that Pierce is even brought up and I'd like to know why. And I'll agree with Cats, it's far easier to hit a big shot when your team is winning, other than the shot against the Suns, I can't think of many times Kobe's come up big and scored down the stretch with his team behind.
June 10, 200917 yr Spikes...no one in the league is clutch besides Kobe. Despite having few signature moments no one can match him in the clutch. He is the best there is no matter the score or whats going on. Nothing any current player does is comparable to what the Mamba does in the crunch. He didn't choke last night, he allowed the Magic to win so that the NBA could make more money off of the series going to more games. Kobe Bryant: Better than Jordan, Killer instinct, ambassador for the game.
June 10, 200917 yr Is he always though? The only reason that I have ever criticized Kobe's clutchness is when the Lakers trail near the end of a game. One thing that people fail to think about is that it is easier to hit a shot when you have a slim lead or in what I call a 50/50 situation which is a tie game. No where near the pressure of having to hit shots to tie up the game or to take the lead. Kobe has very few examples of this, especially in the playoffs. I will give him being a closer, because by definition he does close games. When the Lakers have a 3 point lead he is going to hit a big shot to ice the game, which is great and he is one of the best at it. But, when something truely rides on a shot I just haven't seen enough of him hitting the big shot. Say what you want, but give examples please. Now that I am off from work....here are some examples....watch the whole 8 minute clip to see if these are considered clutch shots by your definition. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J2yzNQWFYko
June 10, 200917 yr Hard to argue with 8 assist from Kobe. I think that he tries to pick his spots, he just isn't patient when the shots aren't falling. A poor shooting Kobe is a Laker killer because he tries to do too much. The high volume scorer allows other players to get in rhythm and allows the Lakers to play at a very high level. If the Magic are going to win this series they almost have to win games 4 and 5. Beating the Lakers two times in a row in LA is something that I just wouldn't feel confident a team like the Magic can do. I agree with the statement that it will be very, very hard for Orlando to win in LA twice in a row!!
June 10, 200917 yr Spikes...no one in the league is clutch besides Kobe. Despite having few signature moments no one can match him in the clutch. He is the best there is no matter the score or whats going on. Nothing any current player does is comparable to what the Mamba does in the crunch. He didn't choke last night, he allowed the Magic to win so that the NBA could make more money off of the series going to more games. Kobe Bryant: Better than Jordan, Killer instinct, ambassador for the game. CatsCatsCats, you start a lot of these discussions, why choose sarcasm now? Every Laker fan on here knows he choked last night, and you admittedly loved it and rehashed, the whole "how clutch is Kobe really" debate. You brought this on yourself. You should know that the Laker nation residing here in BGP land will pounce right back. You know this mannnn........ Oh, did you check out the "Kobe's clutch moments" youtube clip? I put that up here so you could get some examples. While researching I also ran across a claim that Kobe has 27 game winners and that Jordan himself only had 26. Now, I cannot verify that claim at this time, but in time I will. I'll let you know what I find out.
June 10, 200917 yr Orlando has a much bigger chance now that the series is 2-1 and "Skip To My Lou" is playing with confidence. Along with Jameer Nelson coming coming off the bench and getting a few assists, and Tony Battie knocking down shots as well. Kobe went off in the first quarter and did nothing in the second half... Where was he when his team needed him most??? That's why I think Orlando will pull this one out, because Kobe does everything and he has Pau Gasol down in the post who is scoring almost anytime he wants and he won't give him the ball. I just don't understand why "Mamba" won't give him the ball??? Wishful thinking. Kobe does give Pau the ball. He had 8 assists remember? He didn't pass it to himself. Rafer Alston had his best game of the series last night. Let's see if he does it again. Tony Battie, come on, are you being serious? I think Kobe petered out last night out after the first quarter, but the mentality of being the superstar and team leader, you want to take it upon yourself to make the shots that are needed. Last night, Kobe failed miserably, but what makes him so great is knowing that he won't do that 2 games in a row. Again, Orlando has no chance. They won't beat the Lakers 3 games in a row. This series goes no more than 6 games. I'd like to see Orlando beat the Lakers when the Lakers play great and then I'll be convinced. The Lakers haven't been that good as a team the last 2 games and came out 1-1. I fully expect them to win tomorrow night. Food for thought..... The Lakers are undefeated in this year's playoffs the game after a loss and the average margin of victory in those games is something like 17 points.
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