NBA Playoffs 2012 Running thread

In that order? Just curious.

 

Larry Bird is wondering where he belongs.

 

Two stats I heard during last night's game that were pretty good (I think I got these right):
Kobe has as many games of playoff experience as the entire OKC roster combined.
Kobe is the active leader in 40-point playoff games with 12. Jordan is first with 38.

 

There have been so many really, really great players in NBA history, of which Bryant surely is one, that IMO it's futile to create five best or 10 best of all-time lists. You leave too many people out. Mr. Creosote's second team is an even-money bet against his all-time five in a best-of-seven.
Better to say, historic great player and leave it at that.

 

All non-shooting fouls in the last minute should be presumed to be intentional. one-and-one and possession to the offended team.

 

Kobe is a phenomenal player, one of the greats, but he is a dick in that he is very quick to point out errors by his teammates but never, ever accepts responsibility for his failings/shortcomings. I recall that Bird/Jordan/Magic were not quite that delusional. I believe they may have understood that they were at times the ones at fault. Kobe never.

Kobe's refusing to accept Shaq's status quo was dead on and he's proven that he was ultimately right.

 

Kobe really has maximized his considerable talents.

I think the knock on him is that he is still a guy who takes nearly every big shot, regardless of whether he's the right option.

 

Jordan was.

Doesn't diminish his greatness, but he was far from humble.

Anyway, if you're doing an all-time team . . . do positions matter? Do you start Kobe at the 3?

Magic
Jordan
Kobe
Duncan
Russell

 

As far as constrcuting a best starting 5 -- and limiting myself to players who played in the 1980s or later (as I started watching around then), I'd go with:

Magic
Jordan
Bird
Hakeem
Kareem

next five:
Zeke
Kobe
Lebron
Duncan
Moses

 

This sums it up perfectly.

 

I'm sorry Mr. Creosote. I am down on lists and ratings as a means of discussing history and current players. See the NFL Players Rating thread for more evidence as to why I might feel that way.
PS: I'll put a THIRD team of healthy Walton, Moses, McHale, Cousy and Dr. J up against your first team, too. I won't need to get points, either.

 

Healthy Bill Walton.