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#8 Kobe>
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Yes and no. If he didn't accomplish what he did as ocho, he wouldn't be regarded as highly as he is, in my opinion. He's been better, so to speak, as a team oriented basketball player as 24, but he did some amazing things prior that definitely make his resume pop a bit more.
Sent from the free throw lineFollow me on Twitter@DrewGarrisonSBN -
Re: #8 Kobe>
The thing about Kobe - he takes shots he can make, albeit being overly difficlut. Because he can make them. He knows it, the D knows it, and we know it. He could pass some of those tough looks up, but generally he takes them beccause there's a pretty good chance it'll drop despite being a terrible shot to take. That said, I've cringed time and time again at his shot selection. I wish he'd take easier shots, not that it's easy to work against defenses geared to slow you down, but still...Comment
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Re: #8 Kobe>
#8 probably lacked the maturity and disciplined approach to lead his team to titles like #24 has, but he was still a hall-of-famer. i don't think you can argue that.xbox gt - bmorerep87
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Re: #8 Kobe>
^^^
The 2004 Piston gameplan was arranged around KB's shot selection. They conceded Shaq his points and banked on KB not adjusting his approach with multiple defenders attacking him (aside from Tayshaun Prince doing a hell of a job in single coverage). Larry Brown's gamble payed off. KB is arguably the best player of his generation (Shaq and Duncan are ahead of him in my book but Im not rigid) and thats where it stops.
Also, consider this. When Jordan made that comeback with the Wizards his performence was considered by most to be sub par at best. His numbers were something like 25 5 and 6 on 45 % shooting. Those are KB's career regular season averages. Kind of puts things in perspective.
but i won't skirt the issue, kobe shot poorly in the series. however, there was no one else on the team that could help shaq, anyway. concede shaq's points, make kobe take tough shots, and let anyone else shoot. that was a winning strategy, for sure, but this was the first time it ever worked against the lakers in the finals.
and jordan's comeback was subpar because it tarnished his legacy, given the celebrated fact he exited in the best way possible. coming back a shell of himself athletically hurt a lot of hearts and imaginations, though i don't view it that way.
jordan's averages in washington: 21.45 ppg, 5.9 rpg, 4.5 apg on 43% shooting. nowhere near kobe's career averages, especially if you throw out his first 2 seasons (could argue for the third, since it was the lockout season, but i digress).xbox gt - bmorerep87
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Re: #8 Kobe>
yes but...
Criticizing Kobe for taking bad shots is fine, but don't forget that in all the unnecessary forces (that went in more than most any other player) there were plenty of shots over double and triple teams that were necessary for the Lakers to be competitive. I'm not defending Kobe's shot selection, but in contrast, how long have we talked about the shots Lebron passed up in the finals? And looking at it from another perspective, if Kobe did shoot over 50% would those still be considered bad shots? Really, 50% is VERY high for a jump shooter that often gets double teamed and/or the best defender and generally has to create his own shot.Comment
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Re: #8 Kobe>
Look at the shots MJ is getting!
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One of my favorite
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Last edited by jeebs9; 07-07-2011, 02:30 PM.Hands Down....Man Down - 2k9 memories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IHP_5GUBQoComment
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Re: #8 Kobe>
15ThHunher,KB's career numbers are 25 5 and 5 on 45% shooting. So if by "nowhere near" you actually mean "pretty damn near" I'll have to agree with you. Also, why should he be given a pass for not being good enough to play in his first year or two? LBJ came in out of high school to. Its a testement to KB that he went from where he was to arguably the best in the game at his peak. Especially when he had guys like Vince Carter and TMac who were more gifted athletically than he was.
On a different note, one thing that Jordan perfected that guys like KB and LBJ aren't skilled at is moving without the ball to create good looks at the basket. That skill is one reason MJ was able to shoot such a high percentage and produce at a decent level as a 40 year old.Comment
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Re: #8 Kobe>
15ThHunher,KB's career numbers are 25 5 and 5 on 45% shooting. So if by "nowhere near" you actually mean "pretty damn near" I'll have to agree with you. Also, why should he be given a pass for not being good enough to play in his first year or two? LBJ came in out of high school to. Its a testement to KB that he went from where he was to arguably the best in the game at his peak. Especially when he had guys like Vince Carter and TMac who were more gifted athletically than he was.
On a different note, one thing that Jordan perfected that guys like KB and LBJ aren't skilled at is moving without the ball to create good looks at the basket. That skill is one reason MJ was able to shoot such a high percentage and produce at a decent level as a 40 year old.Hands Down....Man Down - 2k9 memories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IHP_5GUBQoComment
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Re: #8 Kobe>
15ThHunher,KB's career numbers are 25 5 and 5 on 45% shooting. So if by "nowhere near" you actually mean "pretty damn near" I'll have to agree with you. Also, why should he be given a pass for not being good enough to play in his first year or two? LBJ came in out of high school to. Its a testement to KB that he went from where he was to arguably the best in the game at his peak. Especially when he had guys like Vince Carter and TMac who were more gifted athletically than he was.
On a different note, one thing that Jordan perfected that guys like KB and LBJ aren't skilled at is moving without the ball to create good looks at the basket. That skill is one reason MJ was able to shoot such a high percentage and produce at a decent level as a 40 year old.
2. if you take out the seasons he didn't play meaningful minutes and focus on the years he was actually kobe bryant, it's a different picture. that's my point. i understand what his career averages are, but they included almost 200 games prior to him being "the real" kobe bryant.xbox gt - bmorerep87
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Re: #8 Kobe>
The college experience was so valuable to Jordan. It would of done wonders if Kobe went to Duke. I mean for his overall career (early on). Jordan came in and took over the league. Who won rookie of the year during Kobe rookie year? (Was it Allen Iverson?)Last edited by jeebs9; 07-07-2011, 03:25 PM.Hands Down....Man Down - 2k9 memories
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4IHP_5GUBQoComment
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Re: #8 Kobe>
2. if you take out the seasons he didn't play meaningful minutes and focus on the years he was actually kobe bryant, it's a different picture. that's my point. i understand what his career averages are, but they included almost 200 games prior to him being "the real" kobe bryant.Follow me on Twitter@DrewGarrisonSBNComment
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Re: #8 Kobe>
Jordan also came in more in a Lebron situation. As much as Kobe would've benefited from going to college, he also had the advantage of coming into a pretty much perfect situation. And we can definitely say that if Kobe played 3 or 4 years in college, he would've gone much higher in the draft (and wouldn't have been a Laker). The question is does Kobe become closer to Jordan by following a similar path, or does it make it harder to become what he's done to this day bc of added pressure he would've had from day one?Comment
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