2010 NBA offseason draft, FA, etc etc...

Rapies?

 

We may never know what that one category is. Paging Professor Sonner.

 

Just for the record, MB, Ryan's not exactly the only person in the world who thinks Kobe's better. There are actual people in the NBA - players, coaches, GMs - who think the same way and have said so. And they have the same access to basketball reference as you do.

Just in this year's playoffs, I saw numerous players - Grant Hill, Billups, some Celtics - talking about how Kobe's much more of a matchup nightmare on offense than LeBron, because he's so much more versatile. I'd take Kobe's midrange game and while LeBron had a higher 3-point percentage this year, over their careers, Kobe's been better (and he was a percentage point worse this year, while playing six months with a broken index finger). In the post, it's not even a contest. Kobe's one of the better post players in the game, LeBron...is not. And the free throw thing isn't just a worthless aside. That game against Utah this year, which the Cavs lost at the buzzer, LeBron was pulling a Luke Walton and acting as the inbounder on Cleveland's final three possessions, as they were trying to ice the game. Three times, the Cavs only made 1 of 2. LeBron didn't take any of them, wasn't even one of the guys they wanted getting the ball in that situation. That said, he did make three really good inbound passes.

Defensively, I'd still take Kobe, even though he's not what he once was - regardless of LeBron's blocks from behind, which Kobe has just as many of over the years. The OKC series changed when he took Westbrook, and he helped keep Rondo from dominating the way he had in earlier series.

A great argument can be made that LeBron's better. But it's not like it's a slam dunk. Not to mention, if his supporting cast is so very, very terrible, worthless, he should have higher individual numbers in the key categories, since they'd be so dependent on him to carry their carcasses. If Kobe's teammates are so wondrous, shouldn't he have lower numbers?

Anyway...three hours of pregame. My god. If they're going to do that, can ESPN please, for the love of God, get a different highlight package than the one they use of LeBron every time they talk about him? It's the same package of six or seven highlights every damn time: him throwing a lob to West, blocking a shot, making a jumper against Orlando, that long three against the Bulls. Christ, edit some new pieces. I've seen that one 789 times in the last month.

 

Thanks for at least bothering to give an informed opinion, STG. That I can respect.

 

Damn it. Scott is hosting the show. Will wonders never cease?

 

Remember when Jim Gray was considered a pretty damn good reporter? Seems like ages ago.

 

I actually bought into the whole "charitable initiative" thing. Then I realized he could just as easily donate 1% of his new contract and be done with it.

 

Was that before or after a city that was ravaged by wind, is now saluting a Brees?

 

It's probably just a ploy to try to make the show seem more viewable. James is simply feeding his ego, and a simple donation cannot change that.

 

Thank god Captain Boo Yah is now Master of Ceremonies! I was afraid Jim Grey might bring too much levity to the proceedings...