29 year old Kobe vs 29 year old LeBron. Who you got?

[erckm510]

Kobe never had melt down games like LBJ has had in the Finals. I think he has 3 of the top 5 of all time between great players. This year he was missing in action 2 of the 5 games. What I hate about LBJ is he waits to score. Miami Heats melt down this year was because LBJ didn't want to take over the game. He always tries to get his teammates involved. He needs to know when they don't have it and take over. Also hate that LBJ hates taking the last shot. He passes the ball 90% of the time in those situations.

Kobe is the better shooter and scorer then LBJ, but LBJ is the better overall player. I still take Kobe over LBJ every day of the week. There is a reason why Kobe has 5 rings.

Yes he has. See Celts and Pistons.

 

[Jims_Doors]

At 29, Kobe had already played for a HOF coach, a top 3 center of all-time, a great PF in Gasol and a 6th man award winning player.

James has played with / for none of the above.

The best player that LeBron has played with so far in his career is 2011 Wade.

James did a hell of a lot more with less.

 

[Mecca]

Yes he has. See Celts and Pistons.

The playoffs against the Suns too.

Remember this?

The question is news again because on Monday, the Lakers begin a Western Conference finals series against the Suns. The issue is topical again because last week, folks accused LeBron James of sabotaging the Cleveland Cavaliers in a halfhearted effort in Game 5 of their losing series against the Boston Celtics.

Many thought Bryant did the same thing four years ago in the eighth-seeded Lakers showdown game against the top-seeded Suns.

Attempting to finish one of the greatest upsets in Laker history in Game 7, Bryant scored 23 points in the first half, yet the Lakers trailed 60-45. It was clear then that Bryant just didn't have enough help. He was burdened with Kwame Brown's slowness, Smush Parker's foolishness, and other pieces that just didn't fit.

In the second half, a frustrated Bryant seemingly made this point when he stopped shooting and, some say, stopped playing. He took only three shots in the half, scored but one point, and the Lakers lost the game, 121-90.

I was there. I thought it was Bryant making a statement. I don't think he purposely tried to lose, but I thought he was sending a message to the front office to clean up this mess.

"It was selfish, it was silly," I wrote.

Turns out, I was being kind. Many others around the league openly accused him of openly tanking the game, their chorus led by TNT's Charles Barkley, who called Bryant selfish and ranted enough that Bryant later appeared on the TNT show to defend himself.

Four years later, even after leading the Lakers to a Shaq-less title, Bryant continues to be haunted by the perception that Barkley was right.

 

[erckm510]

The playoffs against the Suns too.

Remember this?

The question is news again because on Monday, the Lakers begin a Western Conference finals series against the Suns. The issue is topical again because last week, folks accused LeBron James of sabotaging the Cleveland Cavaliers in a halfhearted effort in Game 5 of their losing series against the Boston Celtics.

Many thought Bryant did the same thing four years ago in the eighth-seeded Lakers showdown game against the top-seeded Suns.

Attempting to finish one of the greatest upsets in Laker history in Game 7, Bryant scored 23 points in the first half, yet the Lakers trailed 60-45. It was clear then that Bryant just didn't have enough help. He was burdened with Kwame Brown's slowness, Smush Parker's foolishness, and other pieces that just didn't fit.

In the second half, a frustrated Bryant seemingly made this point when he stopped shooting and, some say, stopped playing. He took only three shots in the half, scored but one point, and the Lakers lost the game, 121-90.

I was there. I thought it was Bryant making a statement. I don't think he purposely tried to lose, but I thought he was sending a message to the front office to clean up this mess.

"It was selfish, it was silly," I wrote.

Turns out, I was being kind. Many others around the league openly accused him of openly tanking the game, their chorus led by TNT's Charles Barkley, who called Bryant selfish and ranted enough that Bryant later appeared on the TNT show to defend himself.

Four years later, even after leading the Lakers to a Shaq-less title, Bryant continues to be haunted by the perception that Barkley was right.

That wasn't the finals. And I already posted about the game earlier.

 

[Mecca]

That wasn't the finals. And I already posted about the game earlier.

Clearly you missed the line that read " In the PLAYOFFS against the Suns ".

 

[erckm510]

Clearly you missed the line that read " In the PLAYOFFS against the Suns ".

Which has nothing to do with Purguy's post about Kobe not failing in the finals does it? And like I said I mentioned that game earlier in this thread.

 

[trojanfan12]

No, but he was the main cog.

And Kareem wasn't?

 

[trojanfan12]

It was a clinic .

But, I always loved how much respect Shaq had for the Dream.

Too bad Howard doesn't share the opinion because he sure needs the help.

Amen!!

 

[Jims_Doors]

The only reason Reggie Miller is in the HOF is because of combining his College career.

In the NBA (18-3-3) he was noting more than a spot up shooter who played no defense.

Probably the worst HOF inductee to date

 

[Mecca]

The only reason Reggie Miller is in the HOF is because of combining his College career.

In the NBA (18-3-3) he was noting more than a spot up shooter who played no defense.

Probably the worst HOF inductee to date

No, that would be Bill Walton.

 

[Mecca]

Which has nothing to do with Purguy's post about Kobe not failing in the finals does it? And like I said I mentioned that game earlier in this thread.

So, it's cool for you to mention it early.

But, because I mentioned it out of the boundaries of his statement " it has nothing to do with it ?"

 

[trojanfan12]

Absolutely. Durant has skills that translate to any era. Athletically those 3 guys wouldn't be able to keep up with Durant.

But Miller didn't play against those guys in his prime did he? Miller's prime consisted of the Bulls and Knicks. So don't see the comparison.

Uh, I'll give you Bird. But Worthy and 'Nique were every bit the athlete Durant is and 'Nique may very well have been a better athlete than Durant.

 

[Jims_Doors]

No, that would be Bill Walton.

Walton made a much bigger impact in college and the NBA that Miller could dream of.

The first year Miller was eligible to even be voted.... to be on the HOF ballot..... he was left off.

The following year he was voted into the HOF.


The Basketball HOF is the by far the easiest to get into compared to the other big 3

 

[erckm510]

Uh, I'll give you Bird. But Worthy and 'Nique were every bit the athlete Durant is and 'Nique may very well have been a better athlete than Durant.

Maybe Nique but not Worthy.

 

[trojanfan12]

Walton made a much bigger impact in college and the NBA that Miller could dream of.

The first year Miller was eligible to even be voted.... to be on the HOF ballot..... he was left off.

The following year he was voted into the HOF.


The Basketball HOF is the by far the easiest to get into compared to the other big 3

Yeah, Reggie was fun to watch and I loved the back and forth between him and Spike Lee during those epic Knicks/Pacers series. But I was a bit surprised that he made the HOF.

 

[trojanfan12]

Maybe Nique but not Worthy.

Did you see Worthy play? He had some of the best post moves in history and was unbelievably quick.

 

[erckm510]

So, it's cool for you to mention it early.

But, because I mentioned it out of the boundaries of his statement " it has nothing to do with it ?"

Uhmmm yeah exactly. That's what out of bounds with a statement means.

 

[Mecca]

Walton made a much bigger impact in college and the NBA that Miller could dream of.

The first year Miller was eligible to even be voted.... to be on the HOF ballot..... he was left off.

The following year he was voted into the HOF.


The Basketball HOF is the by far the easiest to get into compared to the other big 3

Walton?

No.

Even my UCLA homerism has bounds.


I give him his first few years with the Blazers.

He was a beats pre-injury.

But, He was a role player for the Celtics.

Career #'s of 13 and 10 are good.

But, not HoF worthy imo...

He is the poster child for making it based on his College years.

 

[Mecca]

Uhmmm yeah exactly. That's what out of bounds with a statement means.

Welp...open forum means I can post what I like, when I like, about anything I like within the rules of the site.

So, I shall continue forward and prosper .

 

[WiggyRuss]

mecca- wher is LTCF? im still trying to figure all this stuff out....