Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant is not the best player in the league.

It's Dwyane Wade.

Take Wade's ppg+rbg+apg+blks.pg+stls.pg-t.o.pg= approx. 40

Kobe's: = approx. 37
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- Wade averages almost 4 more ft/game

- Wade shoots > 2.5% higher in fg %

- Kobe is a better rebounder (by 1/gm), Wade a better assist guy
(by >2/gm.) Kobe is a better 3-Pt shooter (by about 8% pts),
although by that logic, you could say Wade is a better 2-pt
shooter (which is because he drives the lane more than Kobe at
this point in their careers).
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Statistically, there is no way to conclude that Bryant is the better
player. Kobe apologists will say that the Lakers had more wins, but
everyone knows that the Heat has been on cruise control this season
after a long playoff run last year, compared to the relatively short
playoff run of the Lakers. Miami knew they could 'turn it on' in the
second half and especially the postseason. They're like the mid-90's Rockets who didn't care about their seeding for the playoffs, they just wanted to make it to the tournament and then step it up. The Heat did the same thing last year, with great success.

But here's the dirty little secret that makes this a slam-dunk for Wade, as much as the statistics do: Kobe is not nearly the defender he once was anymore. Did he makes all-defense last year? Yep, and Larry Allen made the Pro Bowl this year, too. It's called 'reputation.'

I don't know if it's still the knee or if the 30,000+ career minutes have finally caught up with Kobe, but opposing SG's have had some big games against him this year. Arenas' 61? Mostly against Kobe, which is why Kobe went on his diversionary 'he has no conscience' tirade after the game.

Wade, conversely, has seriously increased his defensive skills, and I've heard more than one NBA insider say that they feel Wade could be the best defender in the game by next season (including Bowen, etc.).

So you have one guy who has noticeably 'lost a step' on defense, and another guy who is one of the rising defensive stars in the league, according to insiders. And the rising defensive guy also has superior statistics to the guy who's lost a step on defense, albeit possibly only temporarily. Who's the best? That's easy.

There have been a number of articles this year which discussed/noted Kobe's declining defense, including those by some of his biggest defenders, like Scoop. I don't have time right now to link them/look them up, but a quick Google search of 'Kobe + defense' will get you what you're looking for.

Kobe would be the best, still, if Wade weren't in the league. He's still better than LeBron, who's had an off year, and he's miles better than a no-defense guy like Arenas. Dirk is way up there, as some have mentioned, but he's still not quite tough enough or a good enough defender, although his stats are ridiculous and he is one of the best shooters in the league, if not the best.

Neither of these guys is the MVP, though. Nash will and should (at least at this point of the year) win the title for the third year in a row. Phoenix's 3 game skid with him out, including a home loss to the Hawks, will cement that in voters' minds.

Nash is the MVP, but Wade is the best in the league, all around. But it's all good, #24 will still have his All-Star MVP to hold on to when the Lakers (barring a big trade) are bounced in the first round of the playoffs this year. Kobe needs to keep working on that knee in the offseason to try to get some more lateral mobility back to help him get back to what he once was on defense. Guys know they can attack him now, and that's like a boxer going into a fight with one hand broken.

 

Slappy: Take Steve Nash out of the Suns, they'd still make the playoffs(Amare, Shawn Marion). Take Kobe off the Lakers, they're lookin' at the lottery.

Rokski, I understand that Kobe's defense has declined. But I think it's because of the knee problem. It think by the time the playoffs come by, he'll be ready. Wade is great, but that finals run had something to do with the refs. I forgot who said it on this thread, but last year's eastern confrence finals and NBA finals was brutal. He was getting the Jordan treatment...+10. Wade hasn't shown that he can keep this team together without Shaq. Having Shaq there is a HUGE reason why Wade is so good. And Shaq's stats have nothing to do with it. When Wade drives, you can't double because you have to worry about Shaq.

 

Chuck, whether Kobe has knee problems or not is irrelevent. Wasn't Phil Jackson lamenting the decline in Kobe's defense in his book a couple years ago? I think RokSki's assessment of it all is pretty solid.

 

He was lamenting his decline last year. He said Kobe didn't give it his all on defense last year because he didn't feel 100% with his knee. I'm not putting down RokSki. Dwyane Wade is a great talent. But if you would've put Arenas,LeBron, or Kobe on that Heat team last year, they still would've won the Championship. Wade hasn't shown he can(look at this year's record without Shaq) win without Shaq. Rokski mentioned the stats. Don't be fooled by Kobe's stats. First of all, the guy came straight from high school and didn't get that much playing time at the beginning of his career. Second of all, the guy dropped 35 points per game last year. And to tell you the truth, if he wasn't passing so much this season, he'd probably be doing it again this year.

 

Montezuma - Thanks.

Chuck knows I'm a Kobe hater. Hey, full respect to Chuck, he knows his hoops. Chuck, you're probably right (as you've told me before), the knee surgery is likely what's ailing Kobe's defense, and when it's all healed, he'll likely be back up to full strength on that end of the floor, too.

Peace to the fellow hoops fans. Just wanted to weigh in here.

Chuck, as usual, you make good points.

 

and you're a fan bitchboy.

follow up several kobe is a rapist posts with: kobe, bou yeah, best ever.

fuckhead fanboy bitchfans such as you are what is wrong with sports today. don't hold anyone accountable, as long as they can score. tell me you live in la, tell me.

 

Calm down there player. I'm not from LA, nor am I a Lakers fan. Kobe being the best player in the league has nothing to do with his alleged rape. If you were to judge athletes' talent/impact on the game based on their immorality, then the majority of big-time athletes would never have made the Hall of Fame.

Shoot, Larry Bird of all people has an illegitimate kid who he refuses to have anything to do with. He's a bad guy, but he was a great player.

 

Hell, I wasn't even hinting that I meant Steve Nash....
but looking at this again, I could see where you'd think that

 

touche dog, touche.

 

Has 18 pts with 3:15 left in the first quarter, including 4-4 on 3's.

Better watch this game.