NBA 2012-2013

[FN Phat]

LBJ is on a ridiculous tear. The Lakers better sign his ass.

MJ just went on record saying Kobe is his pick..."five rings are better than one"

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

MJ just went on record saying Kobe is his pick..."five rings are better than one"

http://espn.go.com/nba/team/_/name/c...rlotte-bobcats

[FN Phat]

Exactly what I thought.

[MartyFunkhouser]

The conversation for best player to play in the NBA is between 2 players, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. No one else belongs in the discussion. I also think it is clear cut that Michael Jordan is the best player to ever play in the NBA.*

*Insert Maximus post calling me obsessed with Bron Bron, because I said he is only the 2nd best player to play in the NBA.

[smokymountainrain]

The conversation for best player to play in the NBA is between 2 players, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. No one else belongs in the discussion.

Yep. Even LBJ's most passionate detractor can see it. I'm not sure why people can't separate success from greatness. Kobe has had a more successful career than LeBron. There is no question about that. There is also no question that LeBron has been the best player in the NBA since his second year in the league. LeBron is better, Kobe has had a more successful career. Not sure why people can't seem to differentiate the two.

By MJ's standard, he'd have to take Robert Horry over Kobe as well because 7 rings are better than 5. We all know Kobe is a better player, but Horry has more rings, so gotta go with him. It's that kind of thinking, as BGR alluded to, that has led to the winning ways of the Bobcats under Jordan's leadership.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

When MJ gives a stupid pat answer like that, I wish someone would ask him if he thinks Bill Russell was about twice the player that he was. Or if he feels like John Havlicek was a better perimeter player with the C's than Jordan was with the Bulls. Because it isn't like Havlicek was a role player like Fisher or Horry or Kerr. He was an all-time great, who also won 8 rings. 8 is more than 6.

[Joe Public]

The conversation for best player to play in the NBA is between 2 players, Michael Jordan and LeBron James. No one else belongs in the discussion.

Wilt Chamberlain doesn't belong in the discussion? Oscar Robertson doesn't belong in the discussion?

[smokymountainrain]

When MJ gives a stupid pat answer like that, I wish someone would ask him if he thinks Bill Russell was about twice the player that he was. Or if he feels like John Havlicek was a better perimeter player with the C's than Jordan was with the Bulls. Because it isn't like Havlicek was a role player like Fisher or Horry or Kerr. He was an all-time great, who also won 8 rings. 8 is more than 6.

Shaq was so dominant on those Laker teams that you could almost call Kobe a role player for those championships.

[The_Douger]

Shaq was so dominant on those Laker teams that you could almost call Kobe a role player for those championships.

As far as I'm concerned, Kobe's taken "his" team to the Finals three times and won twice. LeBron has done it three times and won once.

[Hypoplastic]

Shaq was so dominant on those Laker teams that you could almost call Kobe a role player for those championships.

Maybe in 2000, but not in 2001 and 2002. Kobe was phenomenal against the Kings and Spurs in 2001 (35, 9, & 4.3 against the Kings and 33, 7 & 7, against the Spurs, on over 51% shooting). He averaged over 30, 5 & 5 in the 2002 playoffs, though his shooting wasn't great.

[BGRTHNUMEGO]

Maybe in 2000, but not in 2001 and 2002. Kobe was phenomenal against the Kings and Spurs in 2001 (35, 9, & 4.3 against the Kings and 33, 7 & 7, against the Spurs, on over 51% shooting). He averaged over 30, 5 & 5 in the 2002 playoffs, though his shooting wasn't great.

Shaq's averages for the NBA finals as a Laker: 35.4 ppg, 15.4 rpg, 3.1 apg, 2.5 bpg

Kobe's averages for the NBA finals while Shaq was a Laker: 22.2 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 4.8 apg, 1.5 spg, 38% FG%

(Actually, those Kobe #'s include the finals in '08 against Boston as well. I don't feel like going back and adjusting them. But he averaged about 25 ppg on 39% shooting against Boston, so it actually improved his Finals #'s from when Shaq was with him)

Kobe was a very good player those 4 years the Lakers went to the Finals with Shaq. He wasn't anywhere near the dominant force that Shaq was.

[MarkGrace]

Shaq in the '02 Finals: 36.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 60% from the floor.

[Hypoplastic]

Kobe was a very good player those 4 years the Lakers went to the Finals with Shaq. He wasn't anywhere near the dominant force that Shaq was.

My point was that Kobe was much more than a role player in the 2001 and 2002 championship runs, not that Kobe as dominant as Shaq.

[Donuthole]

Wilt Chamberlain doesn't belong in the discussion? Oscar Robertson doesn't belong in the discussion?

No. Neither is even in the top 5.

[HuskyFreeNorthwest]

Shaq in the '02 Finals: 36.3 ppg, 12.3 rpg, 60% from the floor.

So Shaq played in the Finals like LeBron plays every night? (Sorry mp)