Running 2014-15 NBA Thread

Yes, I loved the shit out of Vlade. At the end of the (career's) day there's no arguing certain facts in terms of "best centers" of all time.

Vlade isn't in the top 10 or 20 but he's one of the most versatile and talented centers with an all-around game of all time, flops notwithstanding.

And again, he ain't the reason the Kings choked away that 15-point lead with 12 minutes to play. The course of history changes greatly if Sacto makes the Finals that year.

 

The comparisons are natural because Kobe admits he modeled his entire playing career after Jordan's.

Second, he was the most dominant scoring guard of his era, and in his prime, was as unstoppable as Jordan was.

Third, he was a shut-down defender, too. He wasn't a one-dimensional scorer like Wilkins or Carmelo. He was an all-around great, great player.

He's won five rings.

He also mastered Phil Jackson's Triangle Offense.

Lastly, Jordan himself said that only Kobe had the body of work to be compared to him.

 

Agreed on all of that. He still isn't better than Garnett.

Edit: this was in response to Xan

 

Divac was way underrated, in part because of the flops and in part because he was so goofy. I'm a huge Kings fan and while the Richmond-Webber trade was probably the biggest aspect of the Kings having that brief run as a contender, but signing Vlade was huge as well.

 

One NBA team thought Vlade had more upside than a young Kobe.

 

Well, sort of. Wasn't there a short list of teams Kobe was willing to play for?

 

Kobe is an expensive George Gervin, a less personable Rick Barry.

Kobe may have passed MJ in points, but he's still 6th in FG made.

 

Ken Berger chimes in with his smoking hot list of greatest NBA players of all time.

http://tikiandtierney.radio.cbssports.com/2014/12/17/ken-berger-would-take-duncan-over-kobe/

 

Atlanta, Washington and Toronto are the class of the East. Hawks crush a healthy Cavs team. The Heat are mediocre and the Bosh contract may end up being very yankeesque. Chicago is overrated or everyone underrated the top of the East.

 

You love LeBron.

 

Wants to know why he's not in the "better Laker than Kobe" conversation.

 

Rondo reported traded to Mavericks for Wright, Crowder, Nelson, 2015 one, 2016 two. There will be more. When the Trade Fever hits Ainge, he gets it bad.