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Westybro, first things first, stop insulting people because their opinions do not coincide with yours. You calling people stupid and ignorant because they are expressing their opinions makes you ignorant. And don't deny it because everyone here is reading your posts.
Now let me get back to my original thoughts. Shaq gets doubled and tripled every night. What this does is free up the perimeter shooters, including Kobe. Shaq gets the ball in the post and immediately Kobe has an advantage because he can take anyone one-on-one. So he works his way open, Shaq passes the ball to him for an open jumper. That alone would acost to at least 10 points per night. However, I watched when Shaq wasn't there and what did I notice? Kobe throwing up everything in sight. Everytime he was remotely open, the shot went up. He averaged over 30+ shots per game when Shaq was out. And why? Not because no one else on the team can score. They are professionals for a reason. They can all put the ball in the hole. Kobe thought that his team had the best opportunity to win by him heaving up shot after shot, and that was proven with their 3-9 record without Shaq. Yes, Kobe can average 40 ppg without Shaq on his team. But he was shooting WELL under 50% from the field, which is a big deal. Now back to MJ. MJ didn't have a center to take ANY of the focus away from him. He was the MAIN MAN every night. And STOP with this Pippen was the second best player in the league garbage. Chuck Daly said it himself that Pippen is the second best when Jordan is there, but without Jordan on his team, Pippen isn't even Top 5. Jordan MADE Pippen the second best player in the league. I honestly feel that Shaq makes Kobe a better player, NOT VICE VERSA!! Almost every single year, Jordan shot above 50% from the field, and that's even before the days of Pippen and Grant and Rodman and Kukoc. That's in the days of Orlando Woolridge!! Kobe hasn't shot over 50% for a year YET!! And stop with the defensive comparisons. Jordan's defense was JUST AS GOOD as his offense. But everyone sees the offense because that's where the stats are. But who led the league in steals all those years? JORDAN!! His defense was just as good as his offense. Kobe's D isn't CLOSE to his offense. So kill the defensive comparisons because they don't make sense. I think Kobe is an amazing talent but please stick to comparing him to TMac because these MJ comparisons make me sick. Jordan's best year he averaged 32.5 ppg, 8 assists and 8 boards. And that was with players who struggled to hit open jumpers. TMac averages 6 assists with players who struggle to hit open jumpers. Kobe averaged 6 assists with Shaq, who dunks over whomever he pleases. Yes, Kobe is FANTASTIC!! But the fact is Shaq makes him a better player, not the other way around. Kobe gets open looks because Shaq must be doubled every night. Jordan did not have that luxury EVER. Jordan made Pippen and everyone around him better. TMac and Kobe can be fairly compared. But don't even mention Jordan in there. So Westy, I think I just made some very valid points. So don't insult me for making sense. There are other people who know a little something about basketball.
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Sorry for hurting your feeling bro.. Almost everybody compare Kobe to MJ..been like that since day one...whys that? I NEVER once said Kobe is BETTER or will be better, I was just comparing Kobe at 24 with young Jordan at 24, you keep throwing stats at me from the 90's in his prime.
Lakers went 3-9 without Shaq to start, don't forget Rick Fox was out too... And SO WHAT? The team isn't built around Kobe, he doesn't have the SCORERS T-MAC has in Orlando to help him. The Lakers don't play GOOD basketball till the last week of the Season and in teh playoffs, kinda like what they're doing now.
Bottom line, I think you're trying to discredit Kobe for what he's done, and I NEVER have discredited MJ, only compared the two at an early age, you don't like that fine.
Lemme point out something similar between the two tho...Jordan WON 6 titles becuase of PHIL JACKSON and Pippen and great roleplayers. Kobe won 3 straight(and counting) with Shaq, PHIL JACKSON and great roleplayers. Go figure.
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