No argument from me. I agree 100%. For the record, let me state AGAIN, I DO think kobe is a Great Guard. I’d also like to congratulate him on winning the MVP this year, since this appears to be the case this year.

My whole argument was he’s NOT what people make him out to be when they start in with the whole mania of “He’s the Greatest Ever” or “He’s the most talented or skilled ever” argument, because it’s not SUBSTANTIATED by ANYTHING Factual.

I also don’t agree that he’s BETTER than some of the people his fans keep trying to say he is, because when the FACTS are introduced, the crickets commence & the same old argument or charges are brought forward by his fans: “You’re a hater..b*tch, f*g, wh*re, etc..” LOL!!

It’s almost as if they forget they’ve chosen to engage in a debate & they’ve violated Rule #1 when it comes to debating: NEVER USE YOUR OPINIONS AS FACT, IF U CAN’T VALIDATE ‘EM..

Somehow,they confuse “Questioning” kobe’s body of work, with “Criticizing” it. They automatically take the position of you must be “Against” him, if U don’t agree with their beliefs regarding his game & somehow judging him by what he’s CONSISTENTLY done as player is “Wrong”.

If U leave it to them to tell it, us fans of the GAME itself, should just accept their “Opinions” as proof enough & ignore the FACTS, despite the FACT that they stand a STARK 180 degrees opposite of their fanboy opinions..

This is what U tend to wind up dealing with when U engage kobe fans..

SPG: Lebron 1.9 (9th) kobe .452 FG%

Hopefully, this comes out right this time..

Look at Lebron V Kobe just this season alone:

PPG: Lebron 30.9 (1st) > kobe 28.2 (2nd)
APG: Lebron 7.5 (7th) > kobe 5.2 (21st)
RPG: Lebron 8.1 (30th) > 6.2 (44th)
SPG: Lebron 1.9 (9th) kobe .452 FG%

Keep in mind, Lebron has BESTED kobe’s BEST season of shooting the ball (46%) 3 TIMES already…

Look at Lebron V Kobe just this season alone:

PPG: Lebron 30.9 (1st) > kobe 28.2 (2nd)
APG: Lebron 7.5 (7th) > kobe 5.2 (21st)
RPG: Lebron 8.1 (30th) > 6.2 (44th)
SPG: Lebron 1.9 (9th) kobe.452%

Keep in mind, Lebron has BESTED kobe’s BEST season shooting the ball (46%) 3 TIMES already…

Mizzo, will you respond?

He’s dominating now..

Look at his 3rd season as a Pro vs MJ’s:

MJ: 37ppg 5apg 6rpg 85% FT 49% FG% 2.8spg 1.7bpg
LBJ: 31ppg 6apg 7rpg 78% FT 48% FG% 1.6spg .8bpg

Not to mention, MJ had a 29.8 PER that year vs a 28.1 for Lebron. That’s UNHEARD of for a Perimeter player!

Due to factors like shooting %’s, it’s almost impossible for a guard or small forward to post a high mark above 25.

MJ’s CAREER PER 28.1..making him the ONLY perimeter player to have one that high. Kobe’s BEST PER for a season, TO DATE, is ONLY 27.4.

“He’s not Kobe yet.”

One could make a STRONG argument that he’s BETTER..Not to mention, in head to head meetings the last 5 times, Lebron is 5-0 & has posted BETTER OVERALL production across the board..

Look at Lebron V Kobe, just this season alone:

Kobe Bryant LeBron James

PPG: 28.2 (2nd) PPG: 30.9 (1st)
APG: 5.2 (21st) APG: 7.5 (7th)
RPG: 6.2 (44th) RPG: 8.1 (30th)
SPG: 2.0 (7th) SPG: 1.9 (9th)
FG %: .452 FG %: .485

C’mon man..once again I pose the question. If kobe’s so superior to lebron, WHY IS IT “NEVER” REFLECTED IN THE FACETS OF THE GAME THAT’LL “SHOW” HIS SUPERIORITY?

And U claim kobe’s the MVP? C’mon man..stop playin’ yo..

That’s the final I have eQ.

Kobe has three rings. LBJ–besides San Antonio of course–has yet to play a team as good as the Kings were during that reign. He’s not as battle tested because he’s still a kid in the league but as time goes on he will dominate and I see a couple triple double seasons for Bron Bron. He’s not Kobe yet.

As for mizzo, what is your take on an LAL vs BOS final?
What ever your pick for mvp, how do you think LBJ would change the atmosphere in a LAL/BOS finals if he could replace Kobe on the Lakers. (who would win)

Comparing kobe to MJ is like comparing a tom-cat to a Lion. Just because kobe does a good job of pattering his game after the “Older” MJ circa ‘96-’98, “DOESN’T” mean he’s his equal or better, “ESPECIALLY” since his production from this “mimicking” isn’t “NEARLY” as comparable as the person he’s copying.

At “BEST”, kobe is a bootleg version of the Older MJ from ‘96-’98, but again, those “AREN’T” MJ’s Prime years.

For the record, I think Kobe “IS” a phenomenal talent & his style of play is fun to watch. But being fun to watch does not = greatness, especially when it’s NOT substantiated by his body of work..

But let’s take a look at how the alleged “Most Talented Ever” stacks up vs one of his CURRENT peers..that being Lebron James..let us look:

Performances vs Conferences

LeBron vs the West

29.8ppg 7.9reb 7.1ast 2.0stl 1.1blk 48.4%fg 33.1%3pt 68.0%ft 3.6 T.O.’s

Kobe vs the West

29.3ppg 6.1reb 5.5ast 2.1stl .6blk 48.3%fg 33.1%3pt 81.6%ft 3.6 T.O.’s

Looks about even to me..where’s his superiority?

LeBron vs the East

31.9ppg 8.1reb 7.6ast 2.0st 1.0blk 49.9%fg 31.1%3pt 74.8%ft 3.2 T.O.’s

Kobe vs the East

26.4ppg 5.5reb 5.3ast 1.7stl .5blk 43.6%fg 36.4%3pt 88.5%ft 3.1 T.O.’s

Advantage: Lebron —– NAIL IN THE COFFIN

Pre All-Star Break

LeBron: 30.3ppg 7.8reb 7.3ast 2.1stl 1.1blk 48.4%fg 30.5%3pt 70.9%ft 3.4 T.O.’s

Kobe: 28.0ppg 6.1reb 5.3ast 1.9stl .5blk 45.7%fg 35.2%3pt 85.7%ft 3.4 T.O.’s

Again, where’s his alleged superiority? Why is it that ALL of the player’s that are allegedly inferior to him, seem to CONSISTENTLY post SUPERIOR overall production than him? How does that work?

Post All-Star Break

LeBron: 33.6ppg 8.8reb 7.8ast 1.55stl .82blk 49.8%fg 36.2%3pt 74.8%ft 3.4 T.O.’s

Kobe: 28.5ppg 6.0reb 5.3ast 2.5stl .5blk 48.4%fg 30.0%3pt 83.2%ft 3.5 T.O.’s

Again, what’s the deal? Noticing a trend?

In Wins

LeBron: 32.1ppg 8.8reb 7.9ast 2.25stl 1.11blk 48.9%fg 32.8%3pt 72.0%ft 3.3 T.O.’s

Kobe: 28.0ppg 5.9reb 5.4ast 2.2stl .5blk 46.4%fg 37.6%3pt 86.2%ft 3.3 T.O.’s

Notice the FG%’s in all of these comparisons…

In Losses

LeBron: 28.9ppg 6.7reb 6.6ast 1.5stl .9blk 48.4%fg 30.1%3pt 68.8%ft 3.4 T.O.’s

Kobe: 28.3ppg 6.4reb 5.1ast 1.4stl .6blk 41.6%fg 28.1%3pt 81.1%ft 3.7 T.O.’s

Slight advantage for Lebron..I know I sound like a broken record but again, look at the FG% of both players..

This is a DIRECT result of having LESS CONSISTENCY than LeBron. LeBron has FEWER “OFF” nights, which means he is MORE VALUABLE & RELIABLE to his team.

Kobe has “NEVER”..and I mean, “NEVER” been the “Slasher” & freak of nature athlete that MJ circa 1984-93 was, so please..don’t even go there..

I don’t recall kobe being on record & being clocked at CONSISTENTLY having a 4.2 in the 40 yard dash, as MJ did in his prime…Kobe’s best 40 time is on record at 4.5..

I don’t recall kobe being on record as CONSISTENTLY having a 44-46 inch vertical leap, as he MJ did & had in his prime..Kobe’s “BEST” to this date, is on record as 38 inches..

So please, U can kill that “Evolution of the slasher” business..

Besides, look at “EVERY” game kobe has gone for 50+ points, he AVERAGES about 7 to 10 3 pointers & 16 free thows. The change in the defensive rules, as I’ve stated before, has GREATLY aided him in getting to the charity stripe. You’ll “NEVER” see him score big like that WITHOUT the aid of a HIGH VOLUME of BOTH. He relies on it because:

A) he’s ALWAYS “LACKED” the physical ability to CONSISTENTLY attack the rim for better % shots. That’s why U see him hoisting a ton a 3 ptrs to score a lot of points. He HEAVILY relies on it. The 3 pointer is what allows him to score “Like Mike” & to even be in this conversation from a scoring standpoint. MJ didn’t need a TON of 3’s to go off like that. That’s the BIGGEST difference between them.. And:

B) Can’t CONSISTENTLY knock down the “Mid Range” jumpers, as indicated by his #76 ranking in the league in Mid Range Jumpers “MADE”. (See NBA Hot Zones as a reference)

Again, his jump shooting ability has for his CAREER, been ANEMIC! And that’s puttin’ it MILDLY!! Check his shooting %’s throughout his career! No Great shooter CONSISTENTLY posts the paltry shooting %’s he has for his career!

Kobe has modeled his game after MJ circa 1996-98, the MJ that had lost a CONSIDERABLE amount of explosiveness off the dribble & didn’t jump a high, but was “STILL” better than ALL OF THEM & those WEREN’T even his “Prime” years!

Hell, that MJ is BETTER than anyone in the league RIGHT NOW!!

“I ask you then, who is the most talented basketball player of all time?”

That’s debatable, because there are others JUST as worthy of that honor because their body of work, WARRANTS that consideration. It takes a SUPERIOR talent to garner those SUPERIOR marks & to manifest into a SUPERIOR body of work & I can VEHEMENTLY say, it sure as hell aint kobe…

“AGAIN….I never said Kobe Bryant was better than Mike. What I said was he is the preeminent player of his generation”

No, that’s “NOT” what U said…U said & I quote:

“He’s (that being kobe) the most talented basketball player to ever play in the NBA..”

That’s saying he’s BETTER than anyone who came before him & after him & that’s absurd, if for nothing else, it’s not substantiated by ANYTHING factual, as it is for all the other LEGENDS who have a LEGITIMATE claim to that title..

Word? He’s in the conversation, but is he ‘the one.’

Can Kareem Abdul-Jabbar get a little love for skillz, knowledge of the game, endurance, durability, and the ability to do absolutely EVERYTHING on the court? And, with that said, he might even be the guy…but you could root around within that franchise and probably not miss by much.

Honestly, I don’t what your criteria are - but I’m all ears. And, of course, your boy makes some serious points about MJ.

Someone please answer me that question…

Please?

I gotta give you that.

I ask you then, who is the most talented basketball player of all time?

If you could mold the perfect player who would that player resemble?

If you read my piece on the evolution of the slasher you would understand where I’m coming from.

AGAIN….I never said Kobe Bryant was better than Mike. What I said was he is the preeminent player of his generation…just like Mike…just like Doc.

How can “NOT” prove anything? What are U talkin about? Those stats you’re trying to disregard are a summation of what he did on the floor that night, that season & for his career. If he did ANYTHING better than anyone else for that game/season or a career & WILL INDEED be reflected in the one area guys like yourself try so hard to get around when it comes to kobe.

Besides, If they didn’t prove anything, then why’d U say & I quote:

“I guess 81 and the highest scoring average since Mike means nothing huh?”

Gee, how’d U know that? Because a STAT told U! U again UNDERMINED your own argument when U said & I quote:

“I could throw out all kinds of stats to prove pretty much anything.”

And U could, if those stats INDEED reflected the sentiments you’re trying to relay, which in turn would DISCREDITS your previous comments about them not proving anything..

“How about his ridiculous string of 40 point games.”

What about ‘em? When U wanna say he’s the “most talented player ever” & compare him to MJ, it’s irrelevant because U “HAVE TO” judge him by the standard MJ established! U wanna talk about 40 pt games? Ok then I’ll start it off:

MJ AVERAGED 43 pts in the PLAYOFFS, where legends are MADE, vs arguably the Greatest Team ever & DEFINITELY the Greatest Frontline Ever, in the ‘86 Celts..after being GONE MOST of the year with a BROKEN foot!!

MJ AVERAGED 40+ from Mid March to mid April in (a span of 16 games)..

MJ Averaged 40 pts in the ‘93 Finals

40 PT PLAYOFF Games: MJ: 38 > KB: 4

In MJ’s 40 point games since 1986 to 2003, discounting playoff 40 point games & ONLY looking at regular season games, has shot the ball for 50% or better 105 times!

In kobe bryant’s 40 point games since 1996 to 2007, discounting playoff 40 point games & ONLY looking at regular season games, he’s ONLY shot the ball 50% or better 27 times

and U wanna compare all of this to MJ & claim he’s “More Talented”? LOL!!!! C’mon on man, get real…

And U wanna talk about Highest Scoring avg since MJ? That’s not saying ANYTHING considering U claim he’s more talented!

There hasn’t been “ONE” Scoring Champion to win the Scoring Title while making over 50% of his shots, since MJ retired….NOT ONE!!

If kobe the “most talented player ever”, he’d have at least ONE season over 47% from the field & he’d have well more than 2 scoring titles.

He’d also have more than ONE game in the playoffs over 50 points. He wouldn’t have shot 38% in the ‘04 Finals, essentially shooting them out of the series. He also wouldn’t have shot 36% in the ‘00 Finals on 14ppg against Reggie Miller’s defense.

Just to highlight how inefficient kobe is, Miller for his CAREER shot 48% from the field & he was SOLELY a jump shooter, in a MUCH physical era. MJ’s CAREER FG% as a Chicago Bull, is 51%. Glen Rice one season shot 47% in 3-pointers ALONE..that’s not even his regular FG%!

And again, this was during the toughest defensive era in league history! He also that same year, AVERAGED 27ppg on 47% from the field & he like miller, was PRIMARILY a jump shooter. Kobe has NEVER averaged 1 point at 47% shooting for a season, while Rice did it in 3’s & Regular FG% during the SAME season. I UTTERLY rebuke the notion that kobe is “the most talented player ever”…

I’ll entertain that notion when his CAREER FG% is 48% or higher. Get at me when his CAREER FG% in the Playoffs, against Playoff level defenses, is even over 45%..

And I don’t “Hate” him, I’m just not buying this “He’s the most talented ever” hype because if he were, the FACTS would indicate it.

U can “ONLY” call it “Hating” if someone is in opposition of someone & the reasons they use “AREN’T” true. I’m stating the FACTS, so how’s it “Hating”?

I didn’t make up kobe’s #’s & averages..he did..

He’s a VOLUME shooter & a VOLUME scorer. He takes TONS of shots, just to be able to AVERAGE 20+ppg on MEDIOCRE mid to LOWER 40% shooting..

Just to give U yet ANOTHER example of how INEFFICIENT he TRULY is at shooting, in 1983 Alex English took 1857 shots, Mark Aguirre took 1589 shots, & George Gervin took 1553 shots, which shows you the UNSELFISHNESS of the league in this era, compared to the NBA in2008.

Kobe in 2006, took 2173 shots! He missed 1195 (45%), which is close to how many shots these other guys took in a single season!! And U claim he’s BETTER at shooting than MJ?!?!?

LOL!!!! Wow…

Again, I ask the question..If he’s what U say he is, why does it NEVER show up in the areas of the game that would VALIDATE your claims of him?

It does with everyone else! Everybody else who’s EVER been great at ANYTHING regarding their individual sport, can point to their body of work as a frame of reference to SUBSTANTIATE their Greatness…Why is this not the case for Kobe, if he’s supposed to be “The MOST talented player ever”? Why?