Woj nails it (NBA draft age requirements)

Battle tested? Are you for real? Roy Hibbert put in four years, played in the Big East and went deep in the tournament. He is more "battle tested" than Michael Beasley and there isn't a chance in hell that Hibbert will be a better pro.

 

How many titles have Ginobli and Parker won already or does that not count because they have Tim Duncan?

 

If the Lakers win the title this year, I have some huge mia culpas to write.
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or if the Celtics, Suns, Cavs, Magic.

 

Kobe Bryant.

1999-2000 (First title win): Bryant averaged 21.1 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.4 assists per game in the playoffs
(Also recall in the Finals on the road vs. the Pacers, I believe it was Game 4 ... might've been 5, Bryant played on a sprained ankle. Shaq fouled out near the end of the fourth. Bryant, in his first Finals, carried the Lakers in overtime to the victory).

2000-2001 (Second title): Bryant averaged 29.4 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game in the playoffs
(Perhaps Bryant's best run as a pro. In the series vs. the Spurs, which the Lakers completely dominated, Phil Jackson said publicly that Bryant was playing at a level higher than any other player he's ever coached).

2001-2002 (Third title): 26.6 points, 5.8 rebounds and 4.6 assists per game in the playoffs
(Do I really need to go on?)


E.O.T.

 

Yes, Duncan is the cornerstone of that team.

Jordan was the cornerstone of the Bulls.

Billups is the cornerstone of the Pistons.

Shaq was the cornerstone of the Heat and Lakers.

Hakeem was the cornerstone of the Rockets.

This is a tough list to crack, but if Kobe wins it this year, he is on it.

If Dirk won it a couple years ago, he would be on it as would LeBron, Iverson and Kidd.

 

or if the Celtics, Suns, Cavs, Magic.

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Not on the Suns, but the other three, yes.

 

Sure, how did they do once Shaq left?

And did Kobe have anything to do with running him out of town?

It also is worth mentioning that Shaq and Kobe, who could be two of the greatest players to play the game, in some peoples' opinion, in their primes were losing in the playoffs.

 

you're ridiculous. seriously. it's like trying to talk basketball with my grandmother or something.

 

So forget that Tony Parker was the NBA Finals MVP a year ago, forget that he and Ginobili were huge parts to the Spurs being the dominant team this decade. Their rings don't count, thanks to Tim Duncan.

And forget that Kobe won three straight with the Lakers, because you say Shaq was the cornerstone there, even if his success relied heavily on Kobe's success and visa versa. Those rings don't count, thanks to Shaq.

(And yes, that would mean six championship teams this decade with Kobe or Parker and Ginobili -- all three crucial parts.)

And forget that Moses Malone was the 1983 NBA Finals MVP for the Sixers, because as you put it, that was a stacked team. So that ring doesn't count.

So those are seven championships in the past 25 years you're telling us to forget. Any others you care to wipe from a players' existence, because he didn't play at least two years in college?

 

Four of the five best players this season came right out of high school, with the other playing two years at Wake Forest.

The age requirement is ridiculous. The only positive is that it helps basketball fans get to know guys like Beasley, Love, Rose, etc.

 

Tripp, go to basketball database and look at the career numbers of Wade, Penny and Kobe after Shaq left.

I know its Shaq's ghost playing right now, but the impact he has on a team is very noticeable.

Kobe kept putting up regular season numbers, but the team was losing, until this year. And he has not always had bums and stiffs on his team since Shaq left. Look at Butler in Washington.

 

Not on the Suns? Um, refresh my memory: where was it that the Suns leading scorer, rebounder, shotblocker, and defender--all-star Amare Stoudamire--attended college? Why doesn't Stoudamire count?