Is that not what this post does...?

 

No. Who was better....Magic or Oscar? Their stats are very similar as well.

 

 

 

 

 

And the difference between all the players you named. They were the best players on their teams that year. Kobe was not.

 

MJ made Scottie Pippen the player he was...Shaq made Kobe the player he was (during those three years). There is your difference. Yes Kobe was extremely important to that team but in the end Shaq made Kobe and MJ made Pippen, that's your difference.

 

Shaq made Kobe? Really?

 

MJ made Pippen? Really? If that's the case, MJ loses even more points from me. Pippen sat out a game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals because of a headache. MJ made that?

 

Take Kobe off of those Lakers and Pippen off the Bulls and MJ and Shaq have 0 titles. 0.

 

Okay, now I am done. For real. No more thread hijacking. Sorry again.

And you are taking away the fact that Kobe played Pippen to Shaq's MJ when Kobe was in the 21,22,23,24 year old range. MJ wasn't winning titles at that age. MJ wasn't even good enough to go pro from high school so that right there tells me that Kobe is and was further along than MJ at an earlier age and he was still an integral part of the Lakers winning 3 in a row. To deny that is unfathomable to me. MJ didn't win squat without Pippen and Grant becoming the players they were. He couldn't do it by himself, just like Kobe couldn't. Just like the Big 3 couldn't. Just like Tim Duncan couldn't. Just like the Detroit Pistons couldn't. Just like Magic Johnson couldn't. Just like Bill Russell couldn't. Just like Larry Bird couldn't. How come no one talks about how much help all superstars have gotten from teammates but Kobe always takes a beating for having Shaq and Gasol? Talk about a double standard. What superstar has won it all by himself? Name 1. You guys keep throwing this 5 on 5 stuff but Kobe takes a hit because he never won it all by himself? What great vaunted superstar has?

 

Chicago never used their big men, they used Pippen and MJ and Grant. Later they used MJ, Pippen and Rodman. Had they had a big man like Shaq, they would have used their big man then. Not to mention, Shaq got swept in the Finals until he went to the Finals with Kobe and then DWade carried him to his 4th title. If the Lakers win this year, that will be 5 for Kobe while Shaq is stuck trying to find someone else's coattails to carry him to his number 5 while Kobe is still poised for to compete for another next year.

 

Come on the bolded is a crazy argument because before Garnett only one player had went straight from HS to the pros. Jordan didn't come straight from HS so Kobe is better? No way man, Jordan, especially after year 3 was better than Kobe has ever been. In season 5 he averaged something like 33, 8 and 8 with nearly 3 steals and over a block. His 3rd year in the league he averaged 37 PPG.

 

And for the teammates argument, I agree. But, I don't want to hear it. That's the basis for alot of people's Kobe is better than LeBron, so I don't want to hear anyone use it for Kobe. Kobe was the luckiest 20-22 year old in league history other than maybe Magic Johnson. I'm not taking anything away from Kobe, but any legit star would have won those championships with that Shaq. LeBron, DWade, Durant, Reggie Miller I don't care who.

 

You're doggone right I am biased but you guys are too. You guys are so enamored by MJ's mystique that no one can tell me how MJ is so much better than Kobe other than to say he has better stats and more rings. Hollow argument. Is Robert Horry better than Kobe too? Come on, one day you guys use stats to prove a point, the next you don't. Their skill level, athletic level, competitive nature and basketball I.Q. are pretty much identical. How is it not?

 

Is anyone going to tell me how MJ was better or is everyone just going to say he is better? Not one person has told me how he was better. Numbers from a different era mean nothing to me. How is he better? Like I said, I watched both of their careers in entirety and aside from shot selection, they look like the same player to me. And Kobe's jumper is and has always been better than MJ's jumper. Always.

 

MJ's shooting percentage is higher because a majority of his shots at the beginning of his career were 10 feet in. His jumper was broke until he got into his 30's. Also, compare the guys who were guarding MJ throughout his career to guys that were guarding Kobe throughout his career and IMO, Kobe has had to play against a better kind of defending basketball player. MJ was shooting over guys because he was taller than them. Kobe is shooting over guys his height because he elevates higher and uses his craftiness to get his shot off.

 

Jordan was a better scorer. Jordan was more way more athletic. Jordan carried his age better. Jordan was more competitive and was a better winner (do you ever think he would pull Kobe's crap from the Suns series a few years ago or LBJ's from this year?). Jordan was the better rebounder and passer. Jordan was more savvy.

 

MJ made everyone better. Rodman was still ballin' at 38. What did Kukoc do after the Bulls? Steve Kerr and Paxson still reaping the benefits. How about BJ Armstrong or Luc Longley? Ron "Horrible" Harper? Didn't see Kwame Brown making an All-Star team beside Kobe. Lamar Odom continues to underachieve something Jordan wouldn't have stood for. Gasol has gotten tougher, but alot of that has to do with getting embarrassed in the Finals a few years back. His numbers are still the same. Bynum is good but not is not up to his potential.

 

Jordan was a head above Kobe in every facet of the game IMO. He was smarter on the floor, though I think Kobe sounds like a brain surgeon when he's talking about basketball.

 

And everything Kobe does move wise, Jordan did it better and made it look effortless. Once he became established there was never a question to who was the best in the league even at 35 or 36 and their were all kinds of HOF'ers in Jordan's day just like their are potentially right now. IMO it's not even close between the two and if people want someone Kobe could realistically shoot for they need to look at Magic but I think he's still a ways away from that.

Any predictions for tonight's game?

 

Will Big Baby continue to school Lamar Kardashian? Is Bynum the key to LA's title chances?

 

Will the NBA's best PG be a non-factor for the 4th time in 5 games?

I suppose Shaq and Jordan should battle it out for the title of Supreme Being since they have the ability to create life.

Should be a good game.

 

Only thing I hope to see is the Lakers and the Celtics' starters come to life tonight and give the fans a great game.

I'll take Boston tonight. They know they have to have the game, and I think the refs will call the game in a way that favors their style of play. I think the NBA wants Boston to win this game because that gives them the highest chance of this series continuing to get great ratings. A potential game 7 between LA and Boston is about the best thing the NBA could dream of.

 

I also think that very quietly Boston has found out how to defend LA. They have done much better on the bigs the last few games and I think that's where the Lakers butter their bread.

Is Bynum playing?

^ Yes.

Terrible offensive foul call on Rondo, followed up by what I thought was a blatant make-up call.

 

P.S. Luke Walton is awful.

Celtics have played some good defense tonight. It may be too early, but I think they have really found out how to defend LA. They may not be able to score enough to win the series though.

Is Gasol playing tonight?

Kobe...manning up in the third quarter. Nice finish on the alley-oop right there.

Is Gasol playing tonight?

 

He's the main player I was thinking about when I said the Celtics have figured the Lakers out somewhat.

Goodness, did Kobe read BGP today? He's lights out.

Goodness, did Kobe read BGP today? He's lights out.

 

Post-Game Interview

 

"I had to shut CatsCatsCats up" lol.

 

Dumb fourth foul by Artest.