Kobe Bryant

[dunkside.com]

houheffna wrote:

I don't consider Luol far more superior to Ariza, not now. Ariza is a better defender, ballhandler, and has more range on his shot. Don't think the gap is that wide.

RIGHT NOW ariza is better than deng. better D, has 3p range, more athleticism, more aggressive on offense (doesn't settle for the jumper) AND comes up big when it matters. deng does his disappearing act in the 4th quarter. AND ariza is not injury prone.

considering ariza will sign for 3-5 mil less/season than deng, i'd take ariza over deng without even a second thought.

 

[Shakes]

Well to answer the original two questions:

1. I think under. He's not going to be able to be able to play at the level he has for that much longer, look at the fall of his free throws to see how he's slowing down and having to become more of a pure jump shooter. He might get one more championship as "the man", but I really can't see him getting to 6 or more unless he plays on as part of the supporting cast for someone else.

2. This championship or any other in no way changes where Kobe or anyone else ranks. The Lakers don't steal Gasol and Kobe doesn't win. Winning championships is all about who you get to play with, look at KG with the Wolves vs with the Celtics.

As far as where Kobe ranks, it's hard for me to say. On one hand he's been very good for a long time. On the other hand, since he's been playing I'd say the best player in the league has been drawn from the group of Jordan, Shaq, Duncan, KG & LeBron. I think Kobe has always been right up there but there's always been someone a little bit better. Hard for me to call a guy who has never been the best player in the league top 10 of all time.

 

[houheffna]

Lebron just took that mantle this year, if that. Many still believe Kobe is the best player in the game. Kobe has been better than Duncan for a few years now. I would say since 2005, Kobe has been able to stake a claim, maybe earlier, when Shaq started to not care about his weight and his game started to diminish. Kobe started taking over then, at around 2002-2003

 

[Shakes]

I know people have been calling Kobe the best for quite some time. I disagree with them. I think LeBron has clearly been the best player in the league for the last two years, Kobe just won the MVP as a "lifetime achievement award".

Before then I'd say KG or Duncan was the best. The ability for a big guy to influence the game defensively counts for a lot and makes up for whatever gaudy scoring numbers Kobe was putting up. Basically I think a guard has to be really, really good to be the best player in the league, bigs have such a natural advantage in how much they can influence a game.

 

[houheffna]

Kobe is not really really good...he is the second best SG ever! He's great, not good. I love Duncan and I love Garnett's game eventhough I cannot stand his on court demeanor. However, Kobe is a great player not good or kind of good. He is the quintessential player of this era. Would take Kobe over Garnett anytime any day. Love Duncan and that might be a push, but I would take Kobe if I was a GM.

 

[dunkside.com]

Shakes wrote:

I know people have been calling Kobe the best for quite some time. I disagree with them. I think LeBron has clearly been the best player in the league for the last two years, Kobe just won the MVP as a "lifetime achievement award".

That's exactly what I've been saying.
Are you one of my other personalities by any chance ?