NBA '08 Playoff Thread

Wait, Chuck, you would take Kobe over Magic or Bird? On what grounds?

 

I watch a lot of old school basketball. Its really interesting to see how different the game was back then(especially before the 3 point line). I also listen to many people who have watched it before as well. I think I have a pretty good idea of how good these players were. I'm not saying I'm a genius or anything, but some of these comparisons are way off base imo. I'm sorry. Just try to take my argument seriously because I think I've made some solid points.

That one was really tough for me. I'll probably change my mind a million times in the next hour on that one Anyways, the reason why I would take Kobe over both is simply on their talent level. I see things in Kobe's game that are better than Magic's and Bird's. But like I mentioned before on this thread, its really tough comparing players from different eras together. The players of today are so much stronger,faster, and skilled than the players of the past(except for only MJ, which is why he's the greatest ever). Even Robert Horry, who's a huge old school basketball buff, said the players are a lot better than they were in the past. It makes it really hard to compare these players. This is why people tend to resort to how many rings a certain player has, which is unfortunate.

 

Chuck, he's an excellent player. Hall of Famer. He's just not as good as a number of other Hall of Famers. It's not Bryant's fault he's oversold by the NBA/ESPN marketing machine, but it's also true that he is.

 

See I don't believe he's been hyped that much(except for this year). Last year, he wasn't getting any attention by the media. He was dropping 50 point games in 4 consecutive games and no one budged. But what you did hear was great compliments from current and former players. That's what really got me on Kobe. Everyone in the league knows who the best player in the game is. Hell, I remember people in the media where saying Duncan was by far the best player in the league. But then I hear an interview from Greg Popovich telling me that Kobe is by far the best in the league. That is what is amazing to me. Listen to the Charles Barkleys, Larry Birds, and the Jerry Wests. They know how good this guy is.

EDIT: Here's the video of some NBA players being asked who the best player in the league is.

 

Fuck, Chuck.

I remember covering the high school All-American game when Kobe played in it, and he was being called the next Jordan way back then.

Someone has had their lips kissing ass for the last 13-14 years.

Gee's post has it right. The question is just how far down the list Kobe has fallen after the shit ball series he just delivered.

Four of the six games he didn't even shot 40 percent.

 

That Celtics defense is one of the best in a long time.

P.S. I don't know about that. Lets be real here, the Kobe haters vastly outnumber the Kobe supporters. Its been like that his whole career.

EDIT:
Here are some of the videos that I was talking about in my previous posts.

Greg Popovich on Kobe:

LeBron on Kobe:

Pat Riley(the same guy who retired the number 23 heat jersey even though MJ never played for Miami) compares Kobe to MJ:

Amare Stoudemire on Kobe:

 

If a long time is San Antonio and Detroit.

 

Well thats your opinion. I think that defense was much better than both of those teams. Hell I think I heard Wilbon say it was the best since the 96 Bulls team.

 

So after Kobe plays well through his career in the playoffs (barring a couple of horrendous series, which every player has), and leads his team to the Finals, he falls because of a bad series?

I mean, he doesn't GAIN, but one bad series?

Gotta love the "what was the LATEST thing to happen?!?!?!!?" sports fan mentality.

 

Hey, I thought the Lakers were going to easily win that series.

 

I didn't.

Don't penalize Kobe Bryant's standing on your list because you called the series wrong.

It's now been five years since the MVP won the title.

 

I think Kobe Bryant is hands down one of the best basketball players ever.

As someone else said, he gets a bad shake much like Barry Bonds. People hate him - me included, though I like to watch him play - so they automatically say he is overrated.

My only problem with these lists is when he is above Bird and Magic. Maybe by the end of his career he will be, but right now he's not. He doesn't make his teammates better enough to be on par with those two.

And I do believe he struggled this series because of the Celtics defense. Also, because his supporting cast, while good in theory, failed to show up, except in Game 5.