"Never discuss politics and religion". Especially on a sports website.
And a couple of bloggers are living up to the reason why you don’t.
"Religion makes enemies allies, and allies enemies................ and politics makes enemies of both".
- Xris M.
I know we've all been guilty of some sort of "spouting off” about our favorite presidential candidate. Some have kept their opinions to themselves and to them I say "Thanks". You guys have showed a lot of class.
One thing I will say is that regardless of who wins the election I personally will respect the office of the president.
One thing that people need to understand is that when you spew so much hate towards people that have a diverse and different opinion of what you have, you have already lost. You are doing the complete opposite of what the process of the freedom of speech intales. You are going against the very blanket in which our freedoms that our democratically elected leaders have tried to uphold. Freedoms that our constitution has graced us with.
To make the argument that all presidents are perfect is an exercise in futility. No president has ever been perfect. Not Washington, Not Lincoln, Not Roosevelt, Not Kennedy, Not Reagan. None! From a religious stand point, four Protestants and one Catholic. We know damn well Clinton wasn’t, in his executive decisions as well as his moral decisions. We know Bush wasn’t perfect. But I firmly believe that all of these men had the best intentions for the people of this country. I know they all had done what they felt in their heart was right. Regardless off what the media, the conspiracy theorists, or any right or left wing radical may say. They all did what they thought was right. We all may not have agreed with them, just the same way a Lebronist won’t agree with a Kobe Bryant fan or vice versa. I know that analogy isn’t on quite the same scale, but you catch my drift.
It’s not an easy job by any means.
These political discussions, scratch that, POLITICAL RANTS are making enemies out of friends.
And regardless of our favorite team, or our favorite player, or who the greatest is. Besides all of that, we are all Americans we all agree on that. We are all human. And unless you are a psychopath, we all are wanting for greater good for everybody regardless of their race, gender, creed, religion, national origin, or color.
The only thing I am prejudice against is ignorance. So lets stop the ignorance and get back to spewing our dislike for Lebron, or Kobe, Celtics and Lakers, RedSox and Yankees, Bears and Packers, USC and all of college football, or anything hockey, soccer, swimming, ice skating, gymnastics, pro gaming, etc....
But if anybody watched the game tonight, the Bobcats would have beaten the Lakers!
The Lakers did not play their game. Kobe did not go off for 50 like everybody thought he would. And even though the "Big Three" got their points, it was a Lakers loss and not a Celtics win.
We had the DRAMA of Paul Pierce being carried off after his so called "injury" in which even I hoped that it was nothing major. And it wasnt a Willis Reed moment, it was poor Laker defense that led the comback.
Now if you are going to "get hurt" please dont suck all night and then come back and hit two Three Pointers in a row. Sam Cassell went off for goodness sake! Sam Cassell!
Good news. The Lakers played thee most horrible game of the playoffs and besides garbage time only lost by a few.
Kobe couldnt throw a pea in the ocean. ...............Signed "Chick Hearn"
But dont fret. Phil knows what happpened and his leaders know what happened.!
Wont go into it because I am trying to fulfill my job for LAKERLAND.
Dizzle runs a tight shift. I'm sure he will let you know WHATS UP.
But Dont FRET my friends. Game two on Sunday. And everybody knows what Sunday is like in Southern Cali. And it doesnt mean losing. Dont matter where the Lakers are playing, the energy and passion will be running wild. Lakers will take game two and they will win it by the same margin as the Celtics won game one.
Dont fear.
Kobe is hear. Underage, you have job to do as well. We are all buckling down for the opening of LAKERLAND.
Nique. Get your stuff ready. Dizz, get your hands ready to type my friend.
There wont be another game like this. Celtics fans, enjoy it while you can because PJ has Doc's number. And it ain't 1, its 10.
Kobe wont let game two go. And the Lakers wont lose at home.
If you know what I'm feelin, after your comment type "DESTINY"
From the beginning of the season....... to the injury to Bynum (in which at that point they were on pace to win 56 games) to thee , Need I say GIFT....... that the management over in Elvis's hood.......so eagerly bestowed upon us.
This Lakers team, is a Championship team.
What can we say?
Let’s blame it on Kobe, shall we.
His ranting and raving throughout the summer! .........The whining the moaning with every single interview............The throwing of every single last Laker under the BUSS... .....................Shut up already!
How dare you show up to camp and introduce yourself as SOMEBODY whose name is Kobe Bryant, and you want to win a Championship!
INSULENCE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How dare you talk that way about a franchise like this? About the young player whom you just disintegrated into what would be reminiscent of what MJ did to Kwame Brown in Washington.
Side note: Isn’t it amazing that we don't hear or read much from thee most OBJECTIVE and Gung #### LAKERS FANS OF ALL TIME!!!!!! You know, Call 911!
And as an extra side note.
No, Kobe Bryant isnt the best player in the league on a measure of 1A to 1B of the next best player in the league the way you more diplomatic bloggers seem to think.
He is BY FAR the best player in the league. As one NBA scout would say. "Its Like comparing a Maserati (Bryant) to a Volvo(James).
As we have seen "when it REALLY matters", there is NO COMPARISON!
So to you "diplomatic" types. PULLLLEEEEEAAAAAASSSSSE!!!!!!! Give it a break! Because you all look dumb now.
Who didn’t question the Lakers? I know I did. Who else was questioning their loyalty before they had the whole story? I know I was. Who else was REALLY thinking that if they can go at least .500 they might have a shot at the playoffs again this season? I know I was. And who would have thought that Kwame Brown would leave way to Andrew Bynum? I now I didn’t.
Oh sure. ..We can say it now!... "I knew he would be a big impact". Come on now!
Who are you fooling? You know that a lot of you wanted Jason Kidd as much as everybody else. I've read your comments! Nobody's psychic and nobody knew what an impact "Young Drew" was going to be.
The fact is.......................HE WAS!
And was up until, as irony would set itself a blind, against the Memphis Grizzlies that we would not only see the season end for our great young HOPE, but see his foe on the court become his unwitting successor.
A Trade was made.
And unfortunate for Kwame Brown and Javaris Crittenton and a contract the Lakers held of Aaron Mckie, the trade was made.
Call it a gift..
Call it Jerry West
Call it Mitch Kupchak FINALLY doing his job
What I think they heard was a feint whisper of a player who battered his body and heart to the point of oblivion.
Regardless. We are HERE!!!!!!!
We are different Lakers.
We are not the overpowering Lakers with No drive, the one that egos propelled. Nor are we the ones that Magic fired and all watched in awe.
We are a new team. A TEAM. Youth and vibrancy led by a champion.
One of humility and accountability. Never hindering on ME, but always referring to I.
4 games to 1 against the greatest TEAM of this decade.
It’s not the greatest players now. But it's the players who play great now!
It's the leader that led them. And who is that?
Kobe Bryant said himself today in an interview. “It’s not just me its Fisher, Odom, and even Gasol.”
“We don’t roll like that”
“WE DON’T ROLL LIKE THAT”
This coming from thee most selfish player on the planet! According to some.
So much for the clichés!
The guy is so selfish that he has his team in the Finals. And gives every respect to his
team!
He is the MVP of the League. He is one of the greatest defenders in the league.
He led his team to the best record in thee toughest conference in NBA HISTORY.
And then tells us that it wasn’t only him. It was Fish, and Odom, and Gasol.
How can anyone hate that?
THAT IS WHY HE IS THE GREATEST PLAYER OF THIS GENERATION!
This is dedicated to the ones that wanted to go "individual" as if it were the end all be all!
I'm not naming any names, just educating some of the "tidal waves" of comments in regards to who and whom, and what is what.
Lebron James.
A phenomenal athlete. I have the privilege of watching this man play. Yet!!!!
I've also had the privilege of watching Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Kareem, Dr. J, Michael Jordan, Shaq O'Neal, and Kobe Bryant play ..........................LIVE!
You see. I'm not a part of the "YOUTUBE" generation like most of the bloggers are. I
'm not a part of the "Google" generation which most of them get their info, yet I do google when need be.
I've watched Jordan play live in Chicago back in 93'. And I've also watched as the Bulls made their respected runs. LIVE. Not on Youtube!
Live! While most bloggers were in grade school and didnt understand what a foul was. But enough about that.
(side note) I love when bloggers talk about the 80's as if they were there. As if they have ever watched a game played in the 80's and really realized what was going on.
We see a lot of posts today in which we find that a lot of OTHER players were more deserving of the MVP award. I think that there are many that hold TRUE validity. Some are convincing. Some say "team success" some say "INDIVIDUAL PLAY".
I say both. Why not? Chris Paul, Kevin Garnett, Kobe Bryant were all KEYS to their teams success. I would have said congrats to any of them if they had won.
One of them is the 2008 NBA MVP. And I wont even say because we all know.
We also know that some think because Lebron James who had a 30 point, 8 rebound, and 7 assist season shooting 48% and 71% freethrows and .315% 3pt. should have been the MVP.
Excellent "INDIVIDUAL" season!
And also led a good team to a 45 win season in "arguably" the worst conference in the NBA.
John Hollinger said he was the MVP because he explained that Lebron was just too "head and shoulders above the rest" because he "individually" dominated!
Yet the coward that Hollinger is, voted for Chris Paul in the end.
And Paul was an excellent candidate. I wont take anything away from him or KG. They were the reasons their teams are where they are.
Now lets look at another "INDIVIDUAL" great season. And no I'm not talking about 2005-2006.
I'm talking about 2002-2003. And another MVP player that had these stats.
30 points 7 rebounds and 6 assists shooting 45% and 84% freethrows and 38% 3pt
"INDIVIDUALLY"
Now some people would say that Lebron's season was better because he averaged ONE more rebound and ONE more assist and shot .03% better. But like some people think,
its "INDIVIDUAL"
Heck, I would say it was a better "SEASON" as well! And I would also say that this was Lebron's greatest season. Yet' those other stats I mentioned came from
Kobe Bryant.
FIVE YEARS AGO.
Those two seasons are very comparable. I think any Lebron fan would agree.
Lebron Still did it with some former All Stars, and Kobe Still did it with the megalomaniac that was Shaq.
Only difference is while Lebron was gaining those excellent stats. Kobe was on the other end of the court stopping people from getting theirs.
KOBE BRYANT WAS ALSO,
1ST TEAM ALL NBA DEFENDER 2002-2003
Since we know that LBJ wont be on any 1st Team Defense this year.
Now I ask you? Who had the better "INDIVIDUAL" season?
Lebron's 30 points 8 rebounds 7 assists 2008 or
Kobe's 30 points 7 rebounds 6 assists 2003 and 1st Team All Defense.
INDIVIDUALLY!
RANTS THAT HAVE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING TO DO WITH THE SUBJECT WILL BE DELETED!!!!!!!!!!!
There's no debate! Those arguments "Are in the refrigerator"! The door is closed, the lights are out, the eggs are coolin, the butter's gettin hard, and the Jello is jigglin!
Love it, Live it, Like it, Learn it!
Many will say it was because of so and so. Many will say it is a lifetime achievement award. Many will say it was because of this and that! Many will dilute it!
The truth of the matter is.................He is the MVP of the NBA.
Many will call me a "Kobeist".
Many will call me a "Kobe nut hugger"
Many will call me a "Homer"
Many will call me a "Kobe fan and not a Lakers fan"
Many will call me an "apologist"
Knock yourselves out!
Do I think he should have won it two years ago? Do I think he should have won it last year?
Answer: NO!
Without Steve Nash the Suns don't make the playoffs. And how can you deny Nowitzki leading his team to a 67 and 15 record? They were both deserving and rightfully so.
If the players and coaches voted for MVP, Bryant would be getting his third in a row.
If they gave the MVP to the player with the best stats, Lebron would have won it HANDS DOWN! You can't deny he had a phenomenal season. I wish they had an Offensive Player of the Year award. He was a monster. And still is through these playoffs. He is truly a gifted athlete. Chris Paul is the best point guard in the NBA and sealed it in his 1st round series. KG is KG. My second favorite player in the NBA. He is the reason why this game is so great.
Players like these are the reasons why NO statistic can judge them. You cant calculate transcendency. And you never will. Einstein tried and failed miserably with his "Theory of Everything"
And it's not PERs that I have a problem with. Its how PERs was created that I have a problem with. And to use Hollinger's "science" against him Kobe's TS% was better than Lebron's and even with Chris Paul's at .576.
But enough already with the tweaking.
Having noted the importance of offensive and defensive efficiency, Hollinger proceeds to discuss a variety of measures of performance which serve as building blocks for PERs. These building blocks include Points per Shot Attempt, Pure Point Rating, Assist Ratio, Turnover Ratio, Rebound Rate, and Usage Rate. He defends these measures as “improvements” over existing metrics,
often noting that the rankings that result evaluate players in a fashion consistent with what NBA observers would believe.
what NBA observers would believe
what NBA observers would believe
In other words, his metrics fit what he believed about the players before he started.
Unfortunately, this is not the way science works. We do not begin with our beliefs, play with the numbers until our beliefs are confirmed, and then call it a day.
In other words Hollinger starts his metrics with an OPINION. His!
His same opinion had the Raptors ranked higher than the Spurs for a chunk of the season.
Since the Derby is today I will give this analogy.
Hollinger is likened to this:
He comes up with a formula to pick a winner in the race. He bets on that horse. When his horse is behind by 20 lengths down the home stretch, he goes and tries to change his bet to the horse in the lead. And if for some reason his first bet comes back from twenty lengths and gets the photo finish at the end he calls it a "COIN FLIP" and tries to cash in on his old ticket. Pawning it off as if that's the way he planned it.
And then he ranks Secretariat at #5 all time.
In 2006, when Kobe averaged 35.4 points 5.3 rebounds and 4.5 assists shooting .45% Hollinger called it a "COIN FLIP" between Kobe, Lebron and D WADE.
Fine!
This season Hollinger chose Lebron as his MVP because he was "head and shoulders above the rest" (as if 35.4 points a game wasn't), but when he knew that Lebron had no chance at winning it, he changed his vote to Chris Paul.
So much for conviction.
This is why we don't use PERs to determine All NBA 1st, 2nd or 3rd Team, This is why we don't use it to choose the All Star subs. This is why we don't use it to determine the MVP.
I don't think these guys had Hollinger in mind when they came up with this.
NBA.com GMs Survey 2007-2008 Which player forces opposing coaches to make the most adjustments?
1. Kobe Bryant, L.A. Lakers 34.6%
2. Steve Nash, Phoenix 15.4%
3. Tim Duncan, San Antonio 11.5%
4. LeBron James, Cleveland 11.5%
5. Shaquille O'Neal, Miami 11.5%
6. Dirk Nowitzki, Dallas 7.7%
And do you actually think that these guys had PERs, Wins Produced, Wins Score, NBA Efficiency, or Game Score when coming up with this;
"I just wish more people would celebrate Kobe, Of all the guys in our league, that bugs me more than anything, that it just seems like we spend so much time trying to tear him apart and I think we're missing how great he is.''
-- Doc Rivers
He won a scoring title because he was a BALLHOG.
At the same time he led his team in assists and Kwame and Smush to the Playoffs in the Western Conference. I would say he held his team above water while in transition.
He was a 1st Team All Defense. The only reason was because he was popular. It is an accolade that only goes to the most popular.
Didn’t know that the NBA coaches who vote were so lack on the latest defensive trends or a player’s defensive consistency.
He's the MVP because they are looking at his lifetime achievements. Well if you are looking to give a lifetime achievement award to someone who is only 29, be my guest. Only shows that he is rightfully the greatest player at 29. I don’t remember anyone in the NBA getting “lifetime achievement award” when they were ONLY 29. Lifetime achievement awards come in the form of induction into the Hall of Fame. So either he is only getting it for being the youngest lifetime achievement recipient or he will get the MVP because he rightfully deserves credit for his team’s success. Pick your Poison.
Kobe had Shaq. When healthy, during there playoff and championship runs the numbers were like this.
From 2000 to 2004 their playoff averages including the FINALS are as follows: Kobe Bryant - 27.6 points 6 rbs, and 5.5 assists.
Shaq O'Neal - 26.4 points 14 rebounds.
Once again, pick your poison.
Kobe hasn’t won anything since Shaq left. You can look at that two ways.
Either you think Kobe is that great that you would have expected for him to win another title in the three seasons since Shaq left. Or that Kobe WAS the A factor in those championships so Shaq’s leaving wouldn’t have disrupted Kobe’s ability to lead the Lakers to another championship within 3 seasons.
Once again, pick your poison.
Kobe was a whiner and a spoiled brat. Spoiled? Yeah we see that Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’neal, Ron Artest, Baron Davis, and Jason Kidd are all Lakers now.
Whine? Obviously someone listened. That’s why they were able to pick up Gasol, D Fish, and Ariza. That’s why Bynum, Farmar, and Vujacic understood that being a pro took hard work. That’s what they needed to learn for their team to have the best record in the most competitive conference in history.
Maybe if KG would have “whined” he wouldn’t have had to waste his career with the Timberwolves.
(side note) I’ve always said that KG was the second best player in the league.
PERs say Lebron is better. PERs also says that David Robinson was better than Wilt Chamberlain,
But CS says different. (Common Sense) Formula: Intellect = r / BBall IQ + 10)
Kobe in that ONE game didn’t score 40 points, didn’t stop the other team’s best player, and had 10 turnovers? So?
Now tell me what he did in all of the other 865 games he’s played!
Kobe isn’t a team player. That’s why he will win the MVP. That’s why 6 Lakers are having CAREER Seasons. Including Odom and Gasol. That’s why he led a team that was without a STARTING Center for 29 games to the best record in the most competitive conference in history.
Kobe is an adulterer. I’m not going to go into that “MJ and Magic did it” argument. Kobe sinned and forgiveness is between him and God. Not us.
(Just added) Kobe is immature for celebrating. Then the entire sports world is filled with “immature” people. .
A couple of you had a gripe when Bryant scored 49 points 10 assists and 4 rebounds in a HOME GAME during the PLAYOFFS in a WIN. Because he “celebrated”?
Now that’s REACHIN!
Now if he were to “PRETEND PHOTOSHOOT” before the game, I would see your point
This was one of the most pathetic gripes a Kobe hater could have. It must really tear a Kobe hater apart to see Bryant not only destroy their hopes, but to delight in it.
You see,
There is nothing you Kobe Haters can do. All you can do is fill a couple of comment spaces in a couple of meaningless blogs. That’s it!
Bryant will STILL be the greatest player in the league. He will STILL be a THREE TIME Champion, He will still be a 1ST TEAM DEFENDER, He will STILL be a RECORD BREAKER, He will STILL be a SCRORING CHAMPION, He will still be the guy who TUGS HIS JERSEY when his team is doing great. He will STILL be the best closer in the game. He will STILL have led his team to the BEST record in the MOST COMPETITIVE CONFERENCE in NBA HISTORY.
And he is STILL the MVP of the league regardless of your “it was ONLY because of” delusional attitudes.
And there isn’t a DAMN thing you can do about it. So type away.
Won’t change a thing!
"I just wish more people would celebrate Kobe, Of all the guys in our league, that bugs me more than anything, that it just seems like we spend so much time trying to tear him apart and I think we're missing how great he is.''
Who really produced more? Kobe or Shaq. Laker's Title Runs Revisited.
You may be surprised!
With the recent Shaquille O’neal trade to the Phoenix Suns there’s been a lot of talk in regards to why teams have won Championships with or without The Diesel. Was it Shaq alone, or because Shaq had the privilege of playing with Dwayne Wade and Kobe Bryant? First I will fill the contrasts and face the myths between the two and then I’ll lay down the facts. Was Shaq the primary reason for his Championships?
I will be the first to say that Shaquille O'neal is the most physically dominant center in NBA history. No other center has had the impact, physically, that Shaq has had on the NBA. In his prime he was an immovable force that coaches feared more than any other player. He was also half of arguably the greatest duo in NBA history. If I were to measure him up to the greatest centers of all time, I would say he is one of the best. Wilt Chamberlain would probably be the most comparable. Both were what I call “power centers” and both were opposing team’s worst nightmare during their respected eras. Wilt had the privilege of playing at a time in which he was by far the biggest and tallest player in the league that, at his prime, was made up of only nine teams. Shaq on the other hand, played against a few great centers in an ever evolving league. But no one physically dominated the way Shaq did. At 36 it would seem that Shaq would have a couple more seasons in him. But years of a lack luster conditioning regiment has limited a once powerful career.
FACT. Shaq has never taken a team to the playoffs that didn’t have another All Star on it.
FACT. Kobe Bryant has taken a team without another All Star to the playoffs twice. It would have been three times before the Pau Gasol deal.
As for the other half of this Championship duo Kobe Bryant. Contrary to popular belief among objectively inept Kobe haters, is their ridiculous argument that Kobe without the rings is just a Tracy Mcgrady, a Paul Pierce, a Ray Allen, a Vince Carter. That argument is as ludicrous as saying those guys are all 1st Team NBA defenders.
The only thing Vince and Kobe have in common is a Dunk Contest.
I’ve never seen Paul Pierce put together four 50 point games in a row or average 43.4 points in an entire month. I’ve never seen Ray Allen make 12 three pointers in a game, or 9 in a row (both NBA Records), even though the three is Allen’s game. I’ve never seen Vince Carter win a Scoring Championship or get All Defense honors. I’ve never seen Mcgrady score 62 in three quarters, 30 in one quarter twice, or 81 points in a game and carry his team on his back through an entire season.
As a matter of fact I’ve never seen Michael Jordan do any of those things.
Using this absurd logic one could say Magic without the rings is just a John Stockton. Kareem without the rings is just a Patrick Ewing. Michael Jordan without the rings is an Allen Iverson. Do you see how absolutely nonsensical that sounds?
Using the correct meaning of revisionist history. These “anybody but Kobe” zealots do exactly what a revisionist would do; Since historical FACT is not inaccurate, revisionism of the Kobe/Shaq era is foolish. You can’t argue the fact that Kobe Bryant played with Shaquille O’neal for 8 years. If you want to get technical, Eddie Jones was better than Kobe Bryant for the first two seasons of Bryant’s career. These revisionists or “negationists” attempt to rewrite history by minimizing, denying or simply ignoring essential facts. In this case a negationist would say Kobe Bryant could have been replaced by any of the above players and the outcome would have been the same. Well, prove it! To do that you would need a time machine and you would have to persuade the 1999 Lakers to trade Kobe for Carter, Mcgrady, Pierce, or Allen. You would have to convince Phil Jackson to give up the only player he’s ever deemed better than Jordan.......
Or......if Carter, Mcgrady, Pierce, or Allen played with a dominant center and won three Championships at the same time Kobe and Shaq did and contributed on offense and defense the way Bryant did, there could have possibly been an argument for a swap with those players then. But that never happened. Kobe was by far a better all around player than any of them in 1999 to 2004 and was able to prove it so even playing along side this behemoth of a presence in Shaquille O'neal.
But if you still think Kobe was transposable you would have to say, if Kobe had Tim Duncan in place of Shaq he would have still won 3 rings. Duncan would have been perfect for the triangle offense. And since Duncan’s ego is a fraction of what Shaq’s is, and Shaq's commitment to conditioning is a fraction of what Duncan's is, the Lakers with Duncan could have possibly won more.
The fact is I’m not here to deny Shaq’s contributions to the Lakers, I’m here to defend Kobe’s. Using the same fairy tale scenario, Kobe supporters could also say the Lakers would have won if Shaq was replaced by Wilt Chamberlain. Though it would have been impossible, the same existential logic applies. But true Lakers fans won’t because Shaq was irreplaceable as was Bryant. And since a couple of you “so called” Lakers fans/Kobe haters, and you know who you are, have backed Jerry Buss’s moves because he knows what he’s doing. You would have to back his decision to let Shaq go. We know this to have been the right decision today.
Now the aspect of Wade replacing Bryant wasn’t and isn’t revisionist because up until a week ago it was a reality. Is Wade a player of Bryant’s caliber? No. Kobe was a master of every basketball aspect very young. Even though Wade and Shaq won in Miami, it wasn’t a dynasty. Could they have done the same thing in the West? No way! I’m not saying it was inevitable but with a team of that much talent, at least a couple are expected. But it wasn’t happening. And out of all the puzzle pieces, the only one that didn’t fit was the one that got too big in the off season. Everybody else lived up to their end of the deal except for the 20 million dollar one. The one that was supposed to more than any other player.
And to think that 3 and a half seasons after Shaq left the Lakers are still without a Title! How could they! I guess Kobe is a horrible player after all if he hasn’t won a Title in an ENTIRE THREE SEASONS with the Championship caliber players he’s had! You mean to tell me Kobe couldn’t win a Title with Kwame Brown, or Smush Parker? Not even with those monsters!!!!
Can you believe that people actually have this logic? I love one "so called" Lakers fan comment on the fact that the management got Kobe help when they stole Kwame Brown from the Wizards. Wow, that "Lakers fan" sure does know his stuff.
Anyway.
Let’s revisit the Lakers during those runs from 2000 to 2004.
Let’s start off by saying out of the gate that Shaq’s lack of conditioning was a problem during the last few regular seasons of those years. This is the main reason we were even discussing his impact on the Suns. At 36, Shaq should still have at least a couple decent seasons left. But he has been in decline for a couple years now.
As for the doubters. The ones that say Kobe was transposable. He could be replaced and the Lakers would have still won three titles with four Finals appearances.
Who was really the one that produced for the Lakers during their title runs? During the playoffs? Was it Kobe or Shaq? Almost all of you would say Shaq. Even most us Lakers fans would say Shaq. The facts might surprise you.
In 1999 Kobe at 21 years old averaged 21 points per game to Shaq's 30 throughout the playoffs. Kobe suffered an injury which lead to him missing a game. He also played 4.5 minutes less per game because of his injury. This isn’t bad for a kid in his second year as a starter dealing with an injury during the Western Conference Playoffs and NBA Finals.
But from 2000 till Shaq left at the end of 2004 it was a little different. Kobe was healthy.
In the playoffs of 2000-2001
Kobe averaged 29.4 points 7 rbs, and 6 assts.
Shaq averaged 30.4 points and 15 rbs.
In the playoffs of 2001-2002
Kobe averaged 27 pts 6 rbs, and 5 assts.
Shaq averaged 28.5 pts and 12.6 rbs
In the Playoffs of 2002-2003
Kobe averaged 32 pts 5 rbs, 5 assts.
Shaq averaged 27 pts and 15 rbs
In the Playoffs of 2003-2004 including the Finals
Kobe averaged 24.5 pts 5 rbs, and 6 assts.
Shaq averaged 21.5 pts and 13 rbs
Now let’s average it out.
From 2000 to 2004 their playoff averages including the FINALS are as follows:
Kobe Bryant - 27.6 points 6 rbs, and 5.5 assists.
Playing avg 17 playoff games per season and avg 44 minutes per game.
Shaq O'neal - 26.4 points 14 rebounds. Playing avg 17 playoff games per season and avg 41 minutes per game.
^v .5
As for the CLUTCH performer of the two during those playoff games. That’s too easy. Everybody knows Bryant was CLUTCH. Everybody knows who the team depended on with the game on the line.
But to defend Shaq. It's kind of hard to be CLUTCH when you're sitting on the bench in the final minutes of a close playoff game because he couldn’t make a freethrow.
These are the facts.
Now who was more productive in leading their team throughout the playoffs during those years? Numbers say Kobe Bryant. Not only did Kobe average more points but he led the team in playoff assists from 2000 to 2004, he also gave more time to his team averaging 3 more minutes per game than Shaq.
Like I said before. Both players were equally responsible for the Lakers success. I will never deny what Shaq did during his time in L.A. I will also defend what Kobe did.
Kobe is still here. He is still committed. All of the Lakers are. Love Kobe or hate him. He is still committed to his team and always sacrificed for them. Can you say the same about Shaq?
Lakers fan since the 70's. They are the greatest franchise in NBA history. Watched them at the Forum pre-Magic. Watched them at Staples during the Kobe-Shaq era all the way up to Gasol. Have been a season ticket holder for years up until this season. But was still able to make it to 4 games.
I'm not part of the Youtube Generation so I've actually watched some of the greatest players of all time. LIVE! Respect people with a valid argument. Can’t stand immature idiots that have nothing better to do. Think MJ is the greatest player of all time. Nobody could do what he did. He was the quintessentia l teammate and was a part of the greatest team in history. He could play every position. That’s why 'M'agic 'J'ohnson is the greatest of all time.
I'm a huge Kobe Bryant fan. Love to torch Kobe Haters and won’t hesitate. Haters on Foxsports are absolute imbeciles which makes it way too easy. But having no class is the Kobe hater M.O.
I respect valid critique. Anything done in good taste is cool.
