Kobe Dominates the Spurs; Lakers headed to the NBA Finals

Smack / May 30, 2008 / 12:56 am

Kobe Bryant (photo. Chris Sembrot)

One half of the 2008 NBA Finals picture is set: the Lakers are the Western Conference champs after knocking off the Spurs in last night’s Game 5. Bottom line, the Lakers won because they had Kobe Bryant. Any close-out game or elimination game will always come down to how your best player performs, and Kobe (39 pts) got the job done. When he went coast-to-coast for a layup with five seconds left in the first half, whittling what had been a 17-point San Antonio lead down to six at the break, it set the tone for a second half clinic. He had “that look” in his eye the entire time thereafter, getting hot in the third quarter when L.A. took its first lead, then was unstoppable in the fourth quarter. It got to the point where Kobe was so good, you forget he was being guarded by one of the best defenders on the planet in Bruce Bowen … Pau Gasol had an impressive stat line, putting up 12 points, 19 boards, 5 assists and 4 blocks, but he was kind of Jekyll-and-Hyde. In the first half Gasol was a total softy; he missed a bunch of shots right around the rim and seemed scared of Tim Duncan and Kurt Thomas. In the second half he actually looked close to the All-Star caliber talent he can be … We’ve compared Lamar Odom in this space before to Rasheed Wallace in that both guys seem like they should be dominant — and every player who’s ever been a teammate of theirs swears by it — but they don’t consistently produce like a star should. Odom was pretty bad in the first half last night, turning the ball over and being a non-factor on the glass, but in the second half L.O. (13 pts, 8 rebs) was a different player. He looked to get his and take guys off the dribble, taking advantage of his skill set. That’s all everyone’s been asking him to do all these years … In the second half when Kobe lost Bowen on a crossover and hit Odom with a perfect set-up for an easy bucket — which Odom proceeded to botch for a turnover — how close do you think Kobe came to going off on him? Odom woke up after that play, though … Are the Spurs done? We wouldn’t bet money on it. Duncan is 32, Manu Ginobili is 30, Tony Parker is 26, and all three are still playing at a high level. And Gregg Popovich just signed a contract extension, so he’s not going anywhere. What San Antonio should look at is getting a bit younger with their role players … Duncan had a triple-double (19 pts, 15 rebs, 10 asts) and Parker scored 23, but again you have to look at Manu (9 pts) as the partial scapegoat. There were times when he looked downright passive, there were times when he looked like his normal self, and overall he just played like a guy who was tired and didn’t have his legs; random bursts of energy surrounded by a general lack of aggression … You think TNT isn’t anticipating a Lakers/Celtics Finals? They had a whole video montage ready to go right after the game chronicling the Lakers/Celtics regular season series. As far as Lakers/Pistons, all they had was a graphic … Does Jerry West have any emotional allegiance whatsoever to the Grizzlies? That was kind of weird watching him gush about the Lakers for about 5 minutes too long. (Oh, and real classy move by the Lakers fans who either booed or stayed silent when West implored them to give the Spurs a round of applause. But that wasn’t as bad as Sasha Vujacic’s last-second three when the game was already a wrap.) … Calling Vlad Radmanovic L.A.’s “first quarter specialist” is kind of like calling A-Rod “Mr. April.” Nice back-handed compliment … Luke Walton got his contractually obligated between-the-legs bounce pass off in the first half. After that he was never heard from again … Was that Dee Brown with the braids mopping up the floor at Staples? And what was up with the Spurs towel boy wearing a purple headband? … About that Dodge “In the City” thing: Would you feel right eating a pizza that someone has literally been sitting on for 15 minutes? … With Charles Barkley right there next to him, Magic Johnson called Duncan the best power forward of all-time. If you ask Barkley, he’ll say Kevin McHale is the best PF he’s ever gone up against … Denzel Washington was in the crowd. At the moment they’re shooting a film adaptation of the novel The Taking of Pelham 1:23 in Brooklyn (or at least we came across them shooting one scene in a Brooklyn subway station earlier this week), and since Denzel is the star of the movie, we figured he’d be in New York … Baron Davis was looking crazy with that purple flannel get-up, and that’s saying something considering he was sitting with Adam Sandler … Baron was literally right next to the Lakers’ bench all night. Shouldn’t he have been taking notes on L.A.’s strategy to give his team (whoever that may be) an edge next season? … Before the game Craig Sager interviewed Doug Collins, who despite losing his battle to hide an ear-to-ear grin, insisted he hasn’t been offered nor has he accepted the Bulls coaching job. Collins did admit he’s interested in coaching and has been talking to Chicago’s management, and all of this of course came hours after everyone had reported that Collins was definitely hired. Are the Bulls awful at handling these things or what? If you remember back when Scott Skiles got fired, no one knew for days on end who the interim coach would be; Pete Myers coached one game, then Jim Boylan appeared to be the guy, and it got to the point where Myers was in the Chicago newspapers talking about how pissed off he was for being overlooked. This franchise has some major leaks in their system that need to be plugged … Since the League is gonna start fining for flopping, it’s time we figured out exactly what constitutes a flop. Was it a flop when Vujacic over-sold when Manu barely popped him in the nose and he acted like Floyd Mayweather had given him a stiff jab? Was it a flop when Kurt Thomas took a hit from Gasol and fell straight back like you’re taught to do when taking a charge? There just seems to be too much judgment involved if guys like Stu Jackson are the ones deciding what is and what isn’t a flop … If you’re part of the Vince Carter Haters Club, you should read THIS. One of our guys goes to bat for VC and addresses his perceived flaws … In yesterday’s DimeMag.com poll we asked which point guard should be the odd man out on Team USA between Jason Kidd, Chauncey Billups, Deron Williams and Chris Paul. Out of a few hundred responses, only two people chose CP. That’s crazy considering how before this season, he might’ve been the odds-on favorite to get sent home from U.S. tryouts … We’re out the the Spurs …

Posted in Smack |

198 Responses to “Kobe Dominates the Spurs; Lakers headed to the NBA Finals”

May 30th, 2008 at 1:01 am

Duke says:

Well. The Spurs run was great as hell while it lasted. Let’s see how the rebound next year.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:05 am

knoc says:

ahhh well. bad luck for the spurs. they need to make some moves in the offseason to get back in the mix for another championship. the supporting cast just isnt cutting it anymore. the curse of no repeat for the spurs continues
May 30th, 2008 at 1:11 am

G says:

The Spurs are lucky that Kobe has been playing with the equivalent of a high school team since Shaq left or they would have no titles let alone worrying about going back to back.

Write your thank you letters to Mitch Kupchak.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:13 am

nate says:

Well I do have a new respect for bowen, he stays on you. Best perimeter defender hands down.

Parker is a stud, but i bet Dfish is hopin for boston, im sure Rondo is a well needed rest from iverson,dwilliams and T.P.

Duncan i neva really liked his game i thought that he believes he never committed a foul in his life (cept for the one when he raised his hand in the game) but you gotta respect dude’s game.

This is coming from a lifelong lakers fan who watches every laker game. So i havent watched too many spurs games, but manu pretty much stunk up the joint, apart from the 3point barrage in game three.

The bench needs improvement, apart from a couple three balls in the first two games by udoka and barry’s last few games they were pretty much nonexistent.

Jus my thoughts, great series big ups to TP and TD, the only spurs who showed up consistently
May 30th, 2008 at 1:14 am

Big Freeze says:

Skill wise, Kobe is as good if not better than MJ. He is just as clutch. He is just as athletic. So if Kobe wins a few more rings over the next decade, is Kobe better than MJ?

I think so
May 30th, 2008 at 1:17 am

nate says:

i do too, the thing that sets jordan apart from everyone is his rings, if kobe matches or surpasses that then you have to take individual skillset into the conversation, which i think kobe is better.

(had to get that in before everyone says its blasphemy to think kobe is even on jordans level)
May 30th, 2008 at 1:22 am

Austin Burton says:

Is Kobe really just as clutch as Jordan? MJ never lost a Finals series. Kobe has. After his first 3 seasons, MJ never lost in the first round of the playoffs. Kobe has. Jordan’s career postseason numbers: 33 ppg, 6.4 rpg, 5.7 apg. Kobe’s numbers: 24 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.6 apg. I don’t recall seeing MJ disappear in an elimination game, which I have seen Kobe do. I’d say MJ is still more clutch. (He also played in an era where he had to deal with way more contact and physical play.)
May 30th, 2008 at 1:23 am

daquest?on a.k.a Heavy Artillery says:

this was a great game i hate the lakers but i hate the spurs even more so im glad the lakers won and i dont think the celtics are going to stop them they are too tired because i think the pistons/celtics series will go 7 games, also i dont think the pistons can hanfle the lakers either
May 30th, 2008 at 1:24 am

Big Freeze says:

The Spurs need to make a splash in the offseason and the draft if they expect to dominate next year. Please get rid of Brent, Horry, Finley, and Kurt.

Who are some big free agents available this offseason?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:24 am

daquest?on a.k.a Heavy Artillery says:

mj played in an era that produced a lot of great players.. more than we have now anyways
May 30th, 2008 at 1:26 am

G says:

I’ll agree the credentials of Kobe up to this point do not prove to be as clutch as MJ. But if Kobe continues the way he is playing now and wins rings that way it will be hard to argue that he is not.

It’s hard to compare the two when they played in a different era and the dynamics of Kobes team has changed so much since they won they’re first ring. That never really happened to Jordan. It was always MJ and Scottie with the ultimate role players. Kobe has never had that consistency.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:28 am

daquest?on a.k.a Heavy Artillery says:

what made those role players really good was MJ.. has kobe really made his teammates really goood or is that the product of phil jackson?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:28 am

G says:

It’s hard to say MJ’s era produced more great players. Look at the difference in the athleticism this era has compared to the 90’s its not even comparable the number of great athletes in the league today.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:29 am

Big Freeze says:

Bruce Bowen looked like that white chick who worked at a hotel in Colorado. I mean he was justing raped by Kobe.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:30 am

drewstar says:

props to sasha for the cover! thank god i pushed the line down to -7.5..and with a little help from “the machine” LOL
May 30th, 2008 at 1:30 am

nate says:

taking kobe’s numbers against jordan’s isnt equal. Whereas kobe was in the playoffs almost immediately as a 2nd or 3rd option. Im not saying it would still be equal but jordan was always option number one on his team, whereas kobe wasnt.

And jordan never had to drag smush parker and kwame brown to the playoffs. That team’s supporting cast was as horrible as they come.

And even though the defenders were more physical jordan never had to deal with zone defenses, so thats more of a trade off
May 30th, 2008 at 1:31 am

nate says:

also, jordan and kobe run the same offense so just as the triangle may have helped kobes supporting cast so was jordans.

Coaches can only get so much credit, they dont actually play the games.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:32 am

bill says:

doh
May 30th, 2008 at 1:33 am

G says:

That’s a good question, but if you say it’s Phil Jackson then why would it not be the same for MJ?
I think you’re starting to see Kobe make his teammates a lot better some of that may have to do with Phil, but also the quality of the players around Kobe.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:33 am

Austin Burton says:

@G — Great athlete doesn’t exactly equal great basketball player. By that logic, Gerald Green is better than Larry Bird. An extreme example, but you get my drift.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:36 am

daquest?on a.k.a Heavy Artillery says:

i dont know the answer to that question lol but i do know that MJ’s Bulls would beat this laker team and the bull’s roleplayers are way better than the lakers
May 30th, 2008 at 1:39 am

Big Freeze says:

That sucks about Matt Bonner getting no PT. Damn Pop, no love for the Red Rocket?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:40 am

G says:

@Austin-I feel you on that. I just think it adds another element as far defense. MJ may have been playin against great players but as far as that goes Kobe(and MJ) would much rather drive on Larry Bird I’m sure than an athletic freak like Ron Artest. Even though Bird is a much better player.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:46 am

poop says:

if jordan came up to the league today, would he still be as loved? i mean with all the media and tmz-ing going on, would jordan = basketball? i loved watching him, but he had the arrogance, he was a gambling man, i’m pretty sure he couldve ended up in denver just like kobe.

i mean, the conspiracy theories and rumors are out there that jordan wasnt such a great guy, just a great ball player.

i’m pretty sure the intense media scrutiny plays a huge part in kobe being so polarizing.

i really think that if kobe and jordan switched eras, they’d have opposite roles.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:46 am

Oscarisalakerfan says:

Go Lakers Woooooooo!!!!!!!!
wow kobes the man….gasoft was garbage man that shit was pissing me off…..5-15 come on now…… I mean duncan is a good defender but hes not the greatest one on one defender…..hes great in help situations but fuck he was playing like the red rocket shying away from contact
May 30th, 2008 at 1:50 am

bill says:

ummmmmmmmmmmm, guess you can count out the spurs….

*wipes egg off face

I believe the pivot (oberto) was not as good in the Spurs system as required. Bring back Robinson…ha ha

Actually, a starting centre, healthy manu and replacement/refreshment for horry/finley would be great!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:50 am

Oscarisalakerfan says:

Credit to bruce bowen for making Kobe work as hard as Shane (the face guarder) battier ………who In my opinion defends him as good as anone in the league
May 30th, 2008 at 2:06 am

kb24! says:

WHOOOO HOOOOOOOOOO! 4 more Win’s Lakers! Kobe Kobe Kobe.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:18 am

tealish says:

Wow, I am really coming around to DIME. Still a SLAM guy, but I always appreciate it when writers like Austin keep a level head and speak the truth.

Kobe is obviously great. Obviously. But are some of you seriously suggesting he is on the same level or even greater than Michael Jordan? I understand the comparisons, I do. Similar game, similar built, similar intensity and will to win. Both are phenomenal talents, far above the rest at their respective times — BUT, let’s not lose perspective. Go back, watch some old footage. Relive his utter dominance. Re-witness his unparalleled talent, and see why they call him the GOAT.

You’re going to want to apologize, but there’s no need; I understand — it’s easy to get carried away.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:26 am

JHov says:

I’m glad the LakeShow closed it out..don’t want to play around with the Spurs! Much respect to the Spurs fans..this series was definitely closer than 4-1! Has anybody on this board played D-1 or pro ball? Who does your coach have you prepare for when you are waiting for your opponen.. the higher seed or the team that has the lead in that series? just curious..
May 30th, 2008 at 2:34 am

Jim says:

Ugggh, no surprises here, but still painful. Kobe looks great. As far as the MJ comparisons, let him win 1 ring without a dominant big man (and yeah, I think #1 is coming right now) before you go there. Pau doesn’t count.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:51 am

Three Stacks says:

It’s true that MJ never lost a Finals, but he never got to a Finals till 29. Kobe is 29 now, and with his game the way it is, I’d be surprised if he lost one from now on (assuming he gets that far). I think that kind of will comes with maturity.

He’s still no MJ, though. Never will be. Why do people always insist on comparing? Isn’t it enough to say he’s a great player?
May 30th, 2008 at 2:58 am

Three Stacks says:

The last time the Lakers made the Finals, they played a Detroit team that everyone thought would lose. I didn’t even pay attention to the Eastern playoffs that much that year, cause it was widely stated that the East sucked.

So I thought the Lakers would have an easy time in the Finals. Then they got thoroughly pantsed by the Pistons, literally outclassed in every facet of the game. Phil even got outcoached by Larry Brown. Woulda been swept if not for that game tying 30 ft 3 pointer by Kobe in game 2.

That’s the last time I took a series for granted. Shit’s not happening again. Lakers better be ready for a tough battle, regardless of who the opponent is.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:01 am

Duke says:

The thing about comparing MJ to Kobe is that both of them played in a different era of basketball. Both era’s were different as hell. Nowadays, you can’t even sneeze in a game without the refs calling a foul. Back then, you got messed up every time you ventured into the paint. Kobe is good, but nobody compares to MJ.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:01 am

tealish says:

3stacks: I get you. But with the similarities they share as well as our nostalgistic proding for another MJ, there’ll always be unwarranted comparisons to lesser players. It’s difficult to think of Kobe as a ‘lesser player’, but place him beside Jordan, that’s what he is. A HELL of a lesser player, though.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:04 am

tealish says:

Duke: Yup, the allowable contact is something so many people overlook. Kobe gets so many 3 point plays that are nice, but are a result of a touch foul. MJ’s 3point plays are aggravated assaults plus the basket. There’s a difference.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:12 am

kowtz says:

Odd year number… next year nalang SPURS!
May 30th, 2008 at 3:26 am

BxBaller says:

I guess the blame goes to Manu for not showing up in this series except for game 3. He for sure didn’t play like a All-NBA 3rd teamer. I wonder what that loser Skip Bayless will have to say now.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:42 am

kb24! says:

No disrespect to MJ..he is the Great. But a couple of days ago I saw the 98 finals where The Bulls played the Jazz. MJ was guarded my Jeff Hornacek….lol..and no disrespect to Jeff Hornacek..but dude has no D to save his life. Kobe is going up against dudes like Bruce Bowen..Raja Bell..Shane Battier..guys that specialize to “lock” up Kobe..but don’t really succeed. Back in the days MJ had no competition. Only person I recall that played good D on MJ was Joe Dumars. Thats why he retired..and came back? I’m not taking anything away from MJ..but it’s just that Kobe is playing against dudes like LeBron James…etc. Beastly Kids. MJ played against Jeff Hornasek? haha.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:42 am

kb24! says:

guarded by*
May 30th, 2008 at 5:15 am

Three Stacks says:

Dude, if you think Jeff Hornacek is the only guy that played D on MJ, you need a history lesson.

Joe D, Michael Cooper, Dan Majerle were all solid defenders. Jerome Kersey and John Starks weren’t bad either. Not to mention Gary Payton, who I think played the best D on MJ I’d ever seen in the 96 Finals. No one’s checking MJ or Kobe, but rules were different back then, D wasn’t played the same way.

It’s not that Bowen is that much better defensively than all those guys I mentioned. He’s just known so much for his D because he has no offensive game to speak of.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:16 am

Three Stacks says:

Probably the one guy that could’ve guarded MJ the best was always on the same team as him, that guy being Scottie Pippen. Pippen was a defensive monster.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:22 am

Scott says:

Even the haters can’t deny: Vince Carter is the best dunker of all time!

http://www.jumplikevince.com/
May 30th, 2008 at 5:24 am

Willis says:

Artest is a better perimeter defender than Bowen. Bowen gets in your grill, but lots of guys can still get around him. Nobody burns Artest. They have to make shots with a hand in there face.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:32 am

kb24! says:

LOL cmon dude..Jerome Kersey? Dan Majerle? these kats were garbage. And I was talkin about the 98 finals. Hornacek was checking MJ. Him and Byron Russell…LoL these guys im naming, Kobe would have annihilated them. I’m just saying I think Kobe is playing against way better competition than MJ. Yea the rules are totally different now..I understand. But if you play Basketball you’ll understand that the NBA is Ruff and Tuff just like in the 80’s 90’s with these beastly kids like Dwight Howard and LeBron James now.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:34 am

kb24! says:

Oh and Scottie Pippen….Kobe murdered Him when he was with the Blazers..And I know how he was old or what not. but cmon..No excuses. he was still in great shape.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:44 am

knoc says:

Amen to AB #7
May 30th, 2008 at 5:54 am

knoc says:

How old was MJ in 98 by the way?
97 and 98 were the first nba playoffs that i ever witnessed.
MJ was cold blooded
May 30th, 2008 at 6:14 am

kb24! says:

MJ was in his 30’s..not sure..i say 34?
May 30th, 2008 at 6:24 am

the_don_mega says:

@kb24…

u gotta be a young cat…
u sayin’ jeff hornacek is a lesser defender than bron?
cmon…
kobe’s as good as it gets…
i wouldnt even dare compare him to MJ…
there’s no point…
in the L today…
who plays serious D?
i can only think of at least 5 guys in the entire L
back in MJ’s era…
it seems that every team has an assigned guy to check him all game long…
defensive strategies were mde specifically for him…

“MJ played against Jeff Hornasek?haha.” - this is the dumbest comment ive seen in dime… if u idolize kobe that much… at least be a student of the game like he is… coz by the looks of it… u dont know ur hoops
May 30th, 2008 at 7:18 am

rodnets says:

Funny how TV was showing footage of the lakers even when the difference was 5 points and Duncan was clearle hit by Gasol. NBA wanted the lakers in the finals, there is no conspiracy theory, but something that would do good to the L. They want some celebs at the court to avoid that freakysh celebration of Eva Longoria, Tim staring at the middle of the court like a serial killer, and Manu being hold by a corpse like shawn marks (who would have been this year?). That imagin keeps appearing me and freaking me from time to time.

No matter that kobe was a beast and manu was out of fuel.

There is only one MJ and MJ at Kobe’s age would have killed all the stoppers they actually put on him. MJ made his teamates better, Kobe bitches about his teamates.

I never heard a word of Michael demanding to have a better supporting cast. Or wanting to leave the Bulls.

Peace
May 30th, 2008 at 7:39 am

POW says:

rodnets

you never heard of jordan wanting to leave the bulls? how about when he told management if you break the team up ill retire. i believe that counts as wanting to leave and demanding to have a better supporting cast, because he knew without phil, scottie and dennis they were headed to the lottery.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:00 am

rangerjohn says:

well most of you already read what i had to say last night,
i say this CONGRATSA TO THE TEAM, and to the fans WHO WHERE AT THE GAME, classless.

someone said the lakers where “the most hated team in the league” i am sorry but you are so far off, the spurs by far are the most hated, so thsoe of us who love them defend them till no end.

it was a tough series for us to watch but hey the lakers played a great series. now after the phantom 3 at the final buzzer to the booing fans, i say this GO BOSTON OR GO DETROIT!

someone else said “kobe locked himself as the greatest of all time”, NO F-ING WAY, he locked himself as the greatest RIGHT NOW, but he will never be the greatest of all time unless he wins 4 more titles and turns odom into a TRUE allstar, not a one time i made it to the allstar game.

again conrats to the lakers team and the few classy fans here.

spurs in 7 um opps
May 30th, 2008 at 8:26 am

SL says:

Baron’s flannel was from the hundreds.

thehundreds.com
May 30th, 2008 at 8:29 am

Celts Fan says:

All you “LeBron is the best player in the NBA” people take note. THAT’S how you finish a team off (and put the fear of God in the entire city of Boston - assuming we beat Detroit 1 out of the next 2 - since the Cs seem content to always let leads dwindle and just hold on.) LeBron’s good, but he doesn’t have that YET…

TNT played a whole montage of Pistons/Lakers right after the trophy presentation BEFORE the Celtics/Lakers montage. Let’s be real, either of those series is GREAT for the league and a trip down memory lane. It’s just a matter of if it’ll be clips of Magic, Kareem, Big Game James and the bunch against the Bad Boys or the Big 3…
May 30th, 2008 at 8:31 am

gearing up for a run says:

if anyone can win four straight, it’s the ……Spurs

SPURS IN NINE !!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 8:33 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@rangerjohn

I agree with you concerning the Kobe, dude isn’t locked in as the greatest that still belongs to MJ, Micheal has 6 rings, Micheal CAME in the league dominating from day 1, and Kobe was a scared puppy initially coming in. Kobe is the best RIGHT NOW, and he has a while to go to be considered the greatest of all time.

@the_don_mega

Good post at kb24, but you know fans will use extremes to argue a case, he forgets that Joe Dumars, Bill laimbeer, Byron Russell, and all them cats was knockin Jordan to the floor like a ragdoll on a nightly basis, or that the league had MORE legitimate 7 foot centers that were actual shot blockers when Jordan was in the league. I don’t think dude lacks basketball knowledge, I just believe he’s a blindsided fan, but you were right to call him out though.

@Austin

You right homie, kobe has NOT solidified his position as GOAT, just a year ago he scored 2 points in the 4th quarter against the suns, and whined like a little chump about no talent around him. Jordan gave his all on the floor, with no scottie, and virtually No help, it took Jordan 3 years just to get out the first round with Sam vincent and Charles Oakley as his secondary scoring options! and 6 years to win a chip without the most dominant post man our era has seen in Shaq. So I agree with you Austin NO, Kobe isn’t GOAT, or close to GOAT, and unless he wins a few more championships LEADING this team, he won’t be considered at all, Jordan, Russell, Wilt, The big O, they never complained about lack of teammates, they just played. I don’t even think Kobe has passed Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell or any of these guys, let’s not forget Larry Bird and Magic Johnson have DOMINATED finals games when their teams were against the ropes. They didn’t just give up on their teams.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:40 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@rangerjohn
I ain’t gone lie to you, the Spurs impressed me last night, that’s a real classy organization and some humble dudes. I expect them to be back in the races next year, because their approach to talent and the game in general is very different from the rest of the NBA, they reach beyond the borders and DEVELOP players, they don’t look for established egotistical players like most teams do in that shallow free agent pool. If ANY of these free agents were smart they would JUMP at a chance to play for that organization, because with a Little and I do mean very little more talent, the Spurs are right back in the thick of things because they have so much talent. I DON’T agree with you on the Maggette thing. Dude has a major attitude problem. And he probably wants to much money, and he’s always injured.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:43 am

bullmatic4 says:

Step your game up….that ball boy from “San Antonio” wearing the purple head band has been a staple at the Staples for years. He’s always the opponents towel guy whatever you want to call it and he either rocks a timberlake curly fade or recently been bald. I’d say the bald look is permanent since he’s prolly like 30 and the grandson of some bigwig with the Lakers. I’m a huge lakers fan now but hated them with Shaq(he just aint that sweet to me, make a free throw, is he dominant yes, is he fun to watch for a basketball purest, hell now) and I used to hate this kid because he was basically a towel boy who acted like Ronny T. does now and what Mateen Cleaves used to be. And don’t get me started on the headband and the dudes facial hair. If a towel boy sweats so bad he needs a headband, what’s next….dude looks like a bald “Leaping” Lanny Poffo
May 30th, 2008 at 8:50 am

Celts Fan says:

I was with you for most of that Chuck, but the line “I don’t even think Kobe has passed Larry Bird, Magic Johnson, Bill Russell or any of these guys,” kinda threw me off.

Bill Russell’s a top 5 player of all time (that CAN’T be disputed) and I’d put Magic as #2 all time (I guess you can drop him as low as 4 if you’d put Wilt and Russell ahead of him, I wouldn’t though) but either way, Kobe has NO CHANCE to pass those guys, NONE. Larry Legend MAY be in danger of getting passed if Kobe wins a 2 or 3 more chips, but none of those other guys are regardless and Kobe’s still got a ways to go to catch up to Larry…
May 30th, 2008 at 8:58 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@Celts

That’s what I was saying homie. The wording just threw you off. I know and you know, Kobe hasn’t passed any of those guys. I know there may be some who think different, but their wrong. Kobe HAS NOT passed any of those players.
May 30th, 2008 at 8:59 am

Ur Drunk Uncle says:

The Spurs impressed me too last night and I hate them with a passion. But if I could get TD on a team there is no way I would pass him up. His game is solid (besides FT’s). Gasol was killing me last night though. Even my wife asked “Who is the tall guy who is playing all soft…is he European”. I had to laugh at that.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:03 am

rangerjohn says:

chuck
i heard something last night i had not thought about, the spurs like to pick up and develope tallent from the euro’s. the economy here might be messing that up, they wehre talking about guys like tiago splitter may be wanting to stay with tau because they pay in euros and not dollars. i can see that happeneing but ONLY if those guys are all about the money, some of the guys have a dream to play in the nba because that is where the “best” play regardless about the money. (just heard litterally splitter resigned 2 more years with tau, and he is allowed to make 8 times more then what he would have made with the spurs, there goes that)

as for maggette, i think he COULD work out because pop is not gonna let his BS fly. a couple yrs ago spurs where trading barry for jr smith and the deal fell through, i think the deal fell through because the spurs realized he was not JOSH smith lol.

i would like to see the spurs offer josh smith what ever he wants, he is a perfect fit, as is emeka okafur.

(on a local SA station one of the dj’s just said “everytime im sober we lose” lmfao)
May 30th, 2008 at 9:12 am

fallinup says:

Kobe is Kobe. MJ is and will forever be MJ…STOP THE INSANITY!!!

Other than that, the Lakers were the much better team. The Spurs need to retool and there’s no doubt that they will. I picked them getting outted by PHX in the first round…so it shows how good they really are that they were 1 of the two last teams standing in the west. Kudos.

Sasha V.’s shot at the buzzer was plain tasteless and classless. Especially considering the Spurs let the clock run for about 20 secs and had pretty much given up before the last minute was up. All I heard in the press conference was that they were laughing about it in the locker room….I hope the lakers show a little bit more class than just chuckling about that behind closed doors. There is a thing called being a good winner.

How ironic was it to see Jerry Friggin West gushing over them at the trophy ceremony. He may not have been GM, but you know damn well that his mark is all over that Gasol Hijacking…
May 30th, 2008 at 9:15 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

emeka Okafor is injured too much, and Pop CAN’T control everyone. You see how the Dennis Rodman project fell through. Pop had to suspend dude a couple of times and it was just a mess, who wants to deal with that, it throws off the balance of the team and takes the focus away from the game. Josh Smith isn’t going anywhere. ATL is his home town, and best believe they are going to give him a MAX contract. I believe San Antonio has a better chance at a Elton Brand though.
Why?
1. He’s older (28)
2. He’s had the max contracts
and he’s a better fit, he’s more humble and he takes some of the pressure off duncan in the post playing the block on the other side, Who would be able to penetrate against San Antonio with those two?
San Antonio doesn’t need a PLAYER who creates shots because their system creates shots, and if they are looking for someone who can create shots, I would find that in the draft, they have the 26th pick and this draft is loaded with SG’s and SF’s.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:17 am

YOUNGFED says:

“GOT DAYUUUMMM!!!! MUST BE TWO SIDES” - Shawty Lo

WTF Dime only were the new articles this is yesterdays news yall slackin’ if you need more writers, get yall paper up and go cop that.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:18 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

Yeah that Sasha shot was super gay. Everyone here on dime knows ya boy is a Kobe and Sasha fan, but when he did that I was like, HOMO! (I promised my fiance I would stop cursing. LOL!!!) I couldn’t believe dude did that. It isn’t funny and it’s unprofessional.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:20 am

YOUNGFED says:

sorry , “thats only 1 article were the new articles”
May 30th, 2008 at 9:24 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@rangerjohn
if I’m San Antonio, I go with courtney lee (western kentucky) which is who their projected to pick up anyway, IF he’s still on the board, he’s 22, mature, built pretty solid at 6′5 and 200. he can create his own shot, and at the 26th spot he’d be pretty cheap, rookie’s are also a lot more humble, there would be a learning curve especially trying to gaurd at that 2 gaurd spot, but he seems to be a good fit.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:25 am

Washington the Frog says:

@ Rodnets: “I never heard a word of Michael demanding to have a better supporting cast. Or wanting to leave the Bulls.”

WOW. That says it right there. YOU NEVER HEARD A WORD ABOUT IT. But it happened. Anyone remember MJ’s feud with Jerry Krause? How about this: who actually ran Doug Collins out of town? It was MJ. Who punched Steve Kerr in the FACE during practice cause he was fouling him too much? MJ. Dude is my favorite player of all time, so I ain’t saying anything except that Kobe’s situation is WAAAAY more similar than people think.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:28 am

rangerjohn says:

chuck, i like brand for sure but i have a feeling he is either staying in la or he is going to miami. josh smith is a dream for the spurs really, youth, athletics, shot blocking/rebounding but yeah i dont really expect him to move. as for rodman, i think you are a bit confused, he only played 2 seasons for the spurs and they where before pop was the coach.94-95 was his last season, and pop didnt start coaching until 1996-97.

there are really not a ton of actual free agents this year, next couple of years there are more though. i like okafor, he has only had one “bad” injury season, but he played 82 this year, his game is tailor suited for the spurs though, and how nice would it be to have another 10+ rebound guy in ther ewith duncan. IMO he is a young elton brand.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:30 am

fallinup says:

Let’s just put it this way to the Kobe and MJ comparisons. In today’s league, Jordan in his prime would average at least 50 a game, what with all the sissy touch fouls and ticky tack crap being called.

Now flip it around and throw Kobe in his prime, into MJ’s era. The physical, elbow in your ribs, contact era….Sure Kobe would adjust, but do you think he’d be as good as he is now????
May 30th, 2008 at 9:36 am

rangerjohn says:

chuck the mock draft i am looking at says spurs take mario chalmers also from kentucky.

and it has lee falling to the 37th pick.

i guess we will see.

intersting fact number 72
one year ago TODAY kobe demanded a trade from the lakers.

my guess kupchecks gag reflex must be nonexistent lol
May 30th, 2008 at 9:38 am

PALakerFan says:

Bill Russell - Top 5????? Celts Fan…I know you’re a homer but be serious. A 6′9″ center with no offense? Off the top of my head - Jordan, Magic, Wilt, Kareem, Duncan, Bird, Olajuwan, and Kobe come to mind before I even think of Russell. The league had very little talent back then (look at all the white guys), put up huge numbers of shots and oh yeah, Russell was surrounded by HOFers. Oh yeah, am I rooting for your boys to win that series cause I loved the Celts-Lakers rivalry and also think the Lakers will handle them in 6!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:41 am

MSkittle says:

The point spread was Lakers by 8 yesterday. Vujacic’s three killed gamblers across the country!
May 30th, 2008 at 9:42 am

PALakerFan says:

fallinup…50 a game? What are you smoking???? Share with us your source for such great product!

Wasn’t Pop the GM when Rodman was there?
May 30th, 2008 at 9:46 am

Big Mike says:

Dime,
You have to Kobe credit. He said last year this time that if management gave him players, he’d take them to the chip. A man who talked the talked and backed it up. Like him or hate him, he’s on top right now.

One more thing, can someone get rid of all those damn D. Wade commercials. He hasn’t played in 6 months.
May 30th, 2008 at 9:49 am

fallinup says:

MJ’s career stats were around 30 a game. And that was in the era of tougher defense, harder fouls, and lower scores. You throw him in the league right now, with the sissy touch foul rules, less than stellar all around competition as compared to the late 80’s/90’s and yeah, MJ would be killing in the league today. That’s what I’m smokin.

Now as for a comparison I ask again, how well do you think Kobe would be in MJ’s era???
May 30th, 2008 at 9:55 am

rangerjohn says:

i agree fallinup, mj would have averaged 40 anyway with the bs no touch fouls.

and palakers, yes pop was the gm with rodman but the topic was pop not taking crap from his players, as the gm he does not deal with this, that is up to the head coach, and IMO rodman was a huge reason why the spurs went as far as they did while he was there, and also a reason why they failed, and ultimately the reason pop started coaching so he could just take complete control. worked out ok didnt it?
May 30th, 2008 at 10:11 am

Big V says:

The Spurs are finished. They will be a contender, but they won’t be able to beat the Lakers or for that matter, any number of young teams that are up and coming in the next couple of years. They’ve got their rings, let’s see some new blood.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:12 am

the_don_mega says:

@PALakerFan…

what are u smokin????
if you’re sayin’ that MJ cant average 50/game in this era…
u gotta be on crack or sumthin’…
like i’ve said, kobe is an awesome player…
the best player in the world today…
hands down…
but u gotta give this some thought…
are the defensive players of this era way better than that of those from the late 80’s early 90’s???
no freakin’ way!
MJ is the G.O.A.T.
Kobe is the MVP…
lets leave it that way…
May 30th, 2008 at 10:15 am

DaPro says:

For all those that think KOBE is better than his Airness

Google JORDAN RULES

The Pistons literally knocked Mike on his ass everytime he came to the paint

Never heard of the KOBE RULES….

I live in Chicago and watch damn near every MJ game, I think Kobe is close to Jordan because he studied MJ’s game

He has a wider array of moves than MJ but he is not the GOAT even if he wins a few more chips
May 30th, 2008 at 10:23 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@rangerjohn

Pop was general manager in 1994 remember?

And you know there are like a million and 1 mock drafts so we may be looking at two different ones. I like lee though? Better than chalmers, I think lee has a more complete game.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:28 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@rangerjohn
My bad I didn’t see post 76 and 79 yet, okay, so the pop thing is clear (I wasn’t sspecifically referring to just coaching, just clarifying that players can be problems and hard to deal with), and I guess my point is this, pop can say what he will and won’t take from players, but that is just a waste of time and resources to deal with a player like that.
Okafer isn’t a young Elton brand? Elton brand can shoot 15-18 feet, and Okafer is still very limited in that aspect
May 30th, 2008 at 10:33 am

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

Happy for the Lakers. All those Spurs fans that gave me the business with my Rockets can now join a plaiya for the summer.

Again real happy for Lamar Odom as he had to deal with losing his child, so hopefully this is really keeping his mind away from that.

Again Memphis should get honorary rings if the Lakers win it all lol.

Can’t wait for a possible Rondo and Fisher meeting. Two that don’t really score a lot but one experienced and smart and one fiesty and young. Should be good.

My whole thing with Kobe is just give him time. Simply for the way MJ changed the game will make it very hard for Kobe to ever pass him. I think the best thing that is going to happen is Kobe will continue to make the debate interesting and keep providing more to his resume.
Personally I think in time Kobe will on court wise take over all time. Off court I don’t know if MJ will ever be touched.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:35 am

92021SpurMD says:

Spurs should draft Joey Dorsey
May 30th, 2008 at 10:36 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@rangerjohn

With so much confidence that pop can keep talent in line like a drill sergeant why not trade for a Zach Randolph (20 and 10)?
Doesn’t make since does it?
Corey Maggette’s last season playing at least 80 games was when? How about never, and dude averaged 22 ppg off of 45 percent shooting, and I find that 45% hard to believe, but I just don’t think dude fits the spurs system. The numbers are decieving to me, because I sat and watched dude play all year and I wasn’t impressed.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am

rangerjohn says:

chuck, yeah pop controls the players egos and issues very well but the biggest key to that is #21, duncan has as much to do with that as pop i think.

i have not watched either of the draft pics much so i cant say but i know chalmers is small, which the spurs have had more issues with the guards then the bigs imo. example, how many times did vaughn or mighty mouse get into the games over this series? and while they where there, how effective where they? the spurs have had a nice rotation of bigs and while i cant STAND that european “tip back” crap that oberto does, (he needs to do like thomas did, go up and grab the fucking ball!) the spurs have a rebounder in duncan, some youth in that possition would help but the guard spots are the biggest issues imo.

the spurs will eventually run out of steam because they either have no picks or they have late picks and there are just not that many parkers or ginobilis to come that late in the draft. it is tough to continually win and win and win like they have done over the last 11 yrs and still prepare for the future. but hey those of us who are fans of the spurs love what ever they do, how many teams in the league can say they have only missed the playoffs 4 times in 35 yrs, and how many of those can say they picked up franchise players in 2 of those bad seasons?
spurs are consistent if anything.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@Gee
Kobe doesn’t have much time left? Dude is 29 years old, he has maybe 5, 6 years left on those legs, not to mention he started playing in the league when he was 18.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:39 am

PALakerFan says:

Saying Jordan could or would average 40-50 are 2 different things. Kobe COULD average 40 (he averaged 35 two seasons ago) but at the cost of the team game. Could anyone - MJ included - average 50? NO WAY!!! Defenses now are too good. And yes there are more good defensive players now than back then.

One final question on this topic and then we can agree to disagree - Tell me ONE THING that Jordan could do that Kobe cannot? Just one. Just talking scoring now since the discussion has gone that way. Kobe is a better shooter, better handle, bigger, just as fast and quick, and has more moves. So what justifiable reason is there to think that Jordan would or could average 50??? If Kobe can’t do it, no way Jordan could. End of story.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:42 am

rangerjohn says:

chuck
randolph plays duncans possition, they play in the same spots on the floor. it is not a mater of controling him, it is more a mater of fit, same reason the spurs traded scolas rights. cant put 2 players on the floor in the same possition and make it work easily.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:45 am

alex says:

“It’s true that MJ never lost a Finals, but he never got to a Finals till 29″ - same as KOBE. This would be Kobe’s 1st trip to the finals - the other times he just rode Shaq’s big shoulders.

Kobe’s good no doubt about it. Maybe if he and MJ played one on one in their prime, its a 50-50 chance. But that doesn’t mean he can challenge Mike to be GOAT.

The ONLY time MJ lost was when he came back from baseball and got eliminated by Orlando. How does he respond to that? By setting a regular season record of 72-10 en-route to winning a chip.

Now if only kobe can come up with something majestic like that.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@rangerjohn
I get what you sayin.
Still I wouldn’t want Okafer or Maggette.
Still don’t understand the whole oversees thing? So is it because America has a weak dollar or something? What’s the deal with that?
May 30th, 2008 at 10:50 am

yallallreadyknow says:

kobe bryant is nice as all hell….but he aint better than michael jeffrey jordan.
stop the madness. yall young fools dont know shit. what next?…allen iverson is better than oscar robertson?

anyone on here under 30yrs old…you dont know shit and you live in the highlight era. you barely know anything about the nba before magic/bird. and prolly barely know that history.
how dare any of you in your right mind say any player of today is better than michael jordan?
or bill russell?

michael jordan
wilt chamberlian
oscar robertson
bill russell
magic johnson

…that is your top 5 of all time

“now go out in public and stand behind the lists”
mtv’s sway

ps
to sway: jigga lips is not a better rapper than lil wayne
May 30th, 2008 at 10:51 am

alex says:

@PALakerFan - it is quite understandable after a close out game that you feel like building a church for your hero kb24. But the rest of us here have been around long enough that we’ve seen the GOAT, and nothing that Kobe or the Lakers did last night was ‘out of this world’ like you make of it.

If Kobe is the GOAT - then there would be no doubt about it. Just like as of this moment, there is no doubt that MJ is the greatest basketball player ever. Its comfortable and assuring to say that statement. But when you say “maybe Kobe can be considered better than MJ” - this is more like a question - or a wild and improbable idea.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:52 am

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

Chuck you don’t think Kobe can add to his legend with 5 or 6 years?? I think that is more than enough time.

PAL I am with you. Cause it’s a team game one I don’t think Jordan would have scored 50 on that alone. People are trying to use ticky tack fouls and saying that because you got fouled harder back then Kobe wouldn’t have been as good. A lot of if’s. I think they both would do well in either era.

Any great can always be passed. Just because you are the greatest doesn’t mean you can’t be passed. Sure it may take a loooong time but just because you have been established as the greatest doesn’t mean that someone can’t come along and be even greater.

Kobe may never accomplish many things that Jordan has accomplished but that can be vice versa too. 81 points for example.

Again endorsement wise I don’t see no one catching Jordan in the next 20 years. On court I most def. think it’s going to be down to who you like more as both sides will have information to present with both players.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:52 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@alex
Mike wasn’t 29, he was 27.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:56 am

alex says:

@ranger - I think randolph would be a good fit for SAS. He can hit the 15 footer so him and duncan can play high-low. His weakness though is passing, which Oberto / Thomas are both good at.

Chalmers is quite small for a 2-guard but he can handle. He’s got a decent range in his shot and can play Finley’s role.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:57 am

SAS Sizzle says:

Congratulation Lakers fans! The only way y’all don’t win the championship is if Kobe gets hurt. The offense is a juggernaut. The team is in place to make a run for the repeat next season as well.

Spurs need to shed some geezers and inject some youth, Pop must get over his aversion to developing rookies, though. They should bring Darius Washington and Ian Mahinmi back next year. They already lost last year’s 2nd round pick Marcus Williams (SF) to the Clippers by not keeping him signed. Sucks that they won’t be getting Tiago Splitter, that just really bums me out; freakin’ Tau Ceramica! Looks like they should’ve kept Scola now.

So 2007-08 was just a bad year for San Antonio other than a very nice playoff run, which included one of the best games ever (Game 1 vs. Kleenex) and eliminating that same squad who was out for blood - very satisfying to me personally. I get a lot of vindication from that fact actually.

Sasha Sassoon just wrote his death sentence, someone is gonna lay the lumber on that poor kid next year for that bullshasha; tasteless, classless. HOMO is right! Hope his championship ring softens the blow, I’m sure it will.
May 30th, 2008 at 10:58 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@yallallreadyknow

Dang man, you just gone bang my generation like that? LOL!!
I’m 26 homie (just turned a week ago), and I remember the bird, Magic and pistons era. I know Kobe ain’t there yet. Just cause we young don’t mean we stupid?
That generalization is kinda silly?
That’s like saying you old fogies all have indegestion or something stupid like that? Maybe you are just being controversial, but that sounds real DUMB! LOL!!
May 30th, 2008 at 11:03 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@Gee
Yeah he could, he has very good conditioning. I think the world is Kobe’s for the next 5 or 6 years if he keeps his attitude in check. I never know with Kobe, he plays jekyll and hyde so much?
He embarrasses his team last year
year before that he WON’T shoot the ball in the 4th against phoenix.
This year his team is a blessing?
I’m a Kobe fan till I die and I love dude’s game, but he acts like a chump sometime.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:06 am

yallallreadyknow says:

chuck

yall ARE stupid if you youths think any player of today is better than jordan.

take it however you want. and feel free to call me whatever you want (as if i give a shit)…but he aint better than jordan

26yr olds….you probably never even seen robert parrish play a game. you ever see the chief on a highlight reel?

youth.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:10 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@yallallreadyknow

I think Kobe is far from being better than Jordan or any other player in our era right now!!

I have seen Parish games, several times, and the chief was nice, him Kevin, Dennis Johnson, I am actually a BIG Dennis johnson fan.

I just don’t like generalizations. If I sat here and said all white men can’t jump, you would say I was ignorant right? Same as saying all young people don’t know basketball.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:18 am

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

Chuck I will give you that Kobe has had his chump moments. I am hoping he is past all that now that he seemingly has exactly what he wants team and coach wise. Never know though. Only time will tell.

Yallallready you still on the rag son? Dang homey I ain’t even never knew a female to bleed that long. So question you little jigaboo coon, do you use your mama’s wings or your homey’s applicators lol cause I doubt your faggot arse has a girlfriend or wife.
So are you glad highschool, wait mechanics school or was it home schooled from the trailer park..dang I forget. Anyway you glad to be out for the summer lame?
Watch them hurricanes pimpin, you know they love trailer parks lol.
You little nasty tranny, try to lighten up lol.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:21 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@Gee

LOLOLOL!!!!!!! At post 104
May 30th, 2008 at 11:22 am

doc says:

For Kobe to be considered better than Mike he need 6 more chips.At least 4.Im not counting that Shaq shit towards it.Thats all he missing.He gotta act sick and drop 40.Gotta make his titles wins dramatic every year.If anybody can do it its him right now so until he win 4 more chips it aint a discussion.He got Timmy and them the fuckoutta here though he get top respect for that.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:25 am

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

Naw for real yall I am just playin lol. I ain’t even gone come at you sideways no more pimpin I am past that.. You a prick but you a pretty knowledgeable dude about the game I give you that.

How much has Manu’s rep. dropped with his dissappearance? People gone call this series out a lot next year about dude.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:26 am

JA says:

GEE - you’re rough buddy, even when you’re joking - haha

Kobe is a great player, but he’s no MJ. And he isn’t even as good as Larry Legend in my opinion.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:33 am

JA says:

As for Manu’s rep?

His PR people are going to spin it. It will probably come out in the next week or two that Manu was playing injured and that he has to have some sort of minor surgery - but was trying to be tough and not complain, etc.

That’s what always happens in the NBA.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:34 am

DaPro says:

Mike is the GOAT and whoever said Kobe is a better shooter Mike average close to shooting 50% his entire career

I think as a pure scorer Kobe might have him in terms of shooting a huge volume of shoots without a conscience (although Mike had a litte machine gun funk in his game)

Kobe is the best today, Mike is the best there is….FIN

On another note don’t know who said this I think it was yall but there is no way in hell Wayne is better than Jay

Reasonable doubt, classic shouldn’t went tripple
May 30th, 2008 at 11:36 am

Austin Burton says:

@kb24 (post #45) — Jerome Kersey was far from “garbage.” In fact, I interviewed Clyde Drexler (Dime #40) and asked him who was the most underrated player he ever played with, and he said Kersey. Clyde said something along the lines of, “He blocked shots like a center, rebounded like a power forward and stole the ball like a point guard.” At his peak he was a 19ppg, 8rpg guy who was very solid.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:38 am

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

JA never thought about him as compared to Bird. That is so like apples and oranges because they are so different. That is interesting though, I got to work with that one in the head for a bit. Good one.

They would be smart to spin it that way for Manu but I think he still gone take a hit for this. You can look at Vince and Tracy….people ain’t trying to here no injury. Cats want players to play with broken legs, red eye, constipation, gang green, ringworm and a sore throat and not complain lol.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:40 am

Austin Burton says:

*I posted this in yesterday’s D-Wade/D’Antoni article, but wanted to bring it to a bigger audience…

Is it just me or are those Wade/Barkley commercials overflowing with innuendo? Phone conversations in the shower, “I’m not wearing your ring,” the fact that D-Wade is so concerned with being in Chuck’s Fave Five, the lollipop, “sexy” comments about Chuck in short-shorts, “lookin’ real fierce,” poolside phone conversations, “riding a horse” … it kinda concerns me.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:46 am

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@Austin
Post 113, LOL!!!! That’s messed up, that’s cold, to question a man’s sexuality. LOL!!! Funny though.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:50 am

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

AB..Yea kinda weird. I don’t know two dudes beggin to talk to each other like that for real. I got T-Mobile and my fav. five ain’t even five yet. LOL I can’t think of who to put as my fifth cause I don’t talk like that to hardly anyone outside of mom, wife and mother-in-law and I got brothers and a sister.

I got homeys all over the U.S. but I ain’t really dying to conversate with them like that.

Commercial would have been better with women or either some type of different spin on it. Like Chuck giving Wade way to much advice on playing ball and chuck saying this is costing him to much so he gone have to put Wade in his 5, but in the process of advice Wade reminding him who has the ring.

I don’t know just something different. The commercials are comical but way to fruity.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:51 am

the_don_mega says:

@PALakerFan says:One final question on this topic and then we can agree to disagree - Tell me ONE THING that Jordan could do that Kobe cannot?—

ummm.. lets see…
how about taking on most of the greatest players ever and coming up victorious?

i got another one…

taking the ‘chip away from some of the best players ever (malone/barkley/payton/kemp/drexler… the likes) or how about this one…

earning the respect and love of the majority of the fans… kobe is great, i dunno about you but there’s something with him that rubs me the wrong way
May 30th, 2008 at 11:51 am

JA says:

… eating a cheese-steak!
May 30th, 2008 at 11:51 am

Austin Burton says:

I’m more wondering who wrote those ads. They were either playing a joke or have some inner issues.
May 30th, 2008 at 11:55 am

girlybballluver says:

I’m a spurs fans, and this series was painful to watch to say the least. I really wanted to the spurs to repeat…finally. But I guess that ship has sailed. I’m not a Lakers fan, but I had to admit to my boy that they’re certainly fun to watch again. I say Lakers over whoever crawls their way out of the east…probably boston.

With all that being said, I now say…Let’s go Heat
May 30th, 2008 at 11:56 am

Celts Fan says:

PALakerFan, use Austin’s evolution of the game theory, remember that while Russell’s offense was somewhat limited, he’d be the all time leader in blocks if they kept the stat back then (this is pretty much universally agreed upon, just like LT would be the leader in sacks if they kept it when he was wreaking havoc for the GMen in the 80s,) and he ran shit on the boards. He’d probably a 4 in today’s NBA, but he’d most likely be about 20 pound bigger and still swatting shots (and remember, he was a master at blocking shots and keeping them in play. He had an interesting quote in the pregame of game 5 the other night, “I didn’t consider my job to be done until we got the ball back. If I blocked a shot out of bounds, I thought that was bad defense.”) Then remember Russell anchored ELEVEN title teams (8 straight) and routinely beat Wilt. I am a bit of a homer, yes, but I also said in that same post that Larry Legend could be passed by Kobe, so think about what you’re saying man (and I’ve NEVER put Bob Cousy in my top 10 like some people do.) That’s not my homerism talking, that’s called knowing the game and respecting what’s come before you and laid the foundation for what we have now. If you don’t think Russell’s top 5, you don’t know basketball. Period.

Couldn’t agree more with your all time top 5 YAll (post 94.) Tell them other young guys what’s up (I’m 25, but I know and respect my history.)
May 30th, 2008 at 11:56 am

Dave says:

Ranger - I have to disagree, Lakers are the most hated team, kind of like the Cowboys and Yankees…you either love em or hate em.
I used to HATE Kobe because he was too selfish, basketball is a team sport afterall, but to his credit he’s figuring out that he doesn’t have to do it all, all of the time, and can finish better than anyone in the league right now. He has my respect now….but I would rather Iraq win the NBA title than the Lakers.
I’ve always hated playing the Spurs because they do it right, Pop is one of the top 2 coaches in the league, but I have never loathed the Spurs like I do the Lakers. How anyone can listen to Phil Jackson pontificate and not vomit in their mouth I don’t know.

Gee - Manu was hurt, I don’t think his rep. will be hurt by anyone who knows the game…..ESPN may damage it by bringing his poor performance up and neophytes will believe it but I’d still say he’s a top 10 player in the league when he’s healthy.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:07 pm

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

top 10 I don’t know on that one lol. Certainly a awesome player though. Dave even if he was hurt, my point is people, be they experts or not, won’t really be trying to hear that as an excuse. I most def. think your anti-manu folks will bring this up and some of them will be very well-versed in b-ball knowledge. I am just saying injury or no, I think his rep will be damaged.

girly you like Beasley for the heat? What other players do you all need to get back to the top?

AB I am really shocked Chuck or Wade wasn’t like naw man this is kinda fruity. As Deion said “Must be the Money!”
May 30th, 2008 at 12:09 pm

da man says:

first off I think kobe is the best player in the league. He deserved the MVP and the accolades, yadda, yadda, yadda. the thing that ticked me off was how he was so happy after winning the series. this is the same guy who earlier in the season demanded a trade and threw his own teammate (bynum) under the bus. he was ready to bolt for greener pastures, but once his team started winning, he turned into a nice guy. I have no respect for him as a person and that’s not even counting his infidelity. if there is such a thing as karma, lakers lose and kobe gets hit by a bus (kidding).
May 30th, 2008 at 12:13 pm

doc says:

That is some faggot shit AB.Who knows if Russell would be 20 pounds heavier.All that is speculation.For my money on the line give me Tim Duncan and I think he abuses Bill down low.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:16 pm

doc says:

Them 11 chips mean something but black magic showed you it was some nice dudes getting blackballed from the league.And the white dude Bob Petit who stopped the Celtics streak by hiself stopped that black dude from sticking with the team because he was better so.If the Western conference wouldnt take black dudes with game right now would all the East chips mean anything?
May 30th, 2008 at 12:19 pm

doc says:

We’ll never know but you cant get mad at people for thinking they were playing bums.All the tough dudes you hear about from back then wasnt in the league.Thats like saying Babe Ruth was the best hitter of his era but talk to some oldschool blacks and they’ll tell you Josh Gibson was.Or satchel Page was the best pitcher but the award is called Cy Young.If it aint the top comp you cant be the best.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:26 pm

Dave says:

Gee - you’re right when you put it that way, Manu’s rep may take a hit, but the facts won’t change, he’s still nails. I give him and the Spurs credit, they didn’t and don’t make excuses, but will take this series as motivation for next year.

I wish the league wouldn’ve stuck with their tough stance on complaining to officials that they implemented at the beginning of last season and then subsequently backed off of, I got tired of hearing Marv say “Kobe/Sasha/Parker/Gasol missed the shot and thought he was fouled”.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:28 pm

Austin Burton says:

Doc — If you put Bill Russell in today’s game, you have to acknowledge the fact that he’d be a different athlete. He’d be lifting weights, eating differently, playing AAU ball since he was 13 … he’d have all the advantages of a 21st-century athlete.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:42 pm

doc says:

Everybody dont do that shit Austin.And some people lift and still dont gain weight.Eat differently? Again some do some dont.We just assuming he would be a hard worker when Red Auerbach himself said the dude didnt have to practice he just had to man up on D in the games.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:50 pm

PALakerFan says:

Alex…Not saying Kobe is the GOAT. I actually think it’s Kareem with Jordan as a close second. I think Kobe has a chance at it with a few more rings. I was just responding to the BS about Jordan averaging 50 in today’s league.

Celts Fan…Russell was awesome. No doubt. I just think the other guys I mentioned were better. Just not top 5. I’ll give you top 10.

yallreadyknow…No Kareem in your top 5??? Say what?

And since we’re talkin age - I’m 34 and watched Jordan’s whole career. I’m not taking anything away from Jordan but the hype machine blew up over him but all you fools droolin’ all over him and kneeling down to his statue need to chill. Just cause me and some others don’t agree that Jordan is light years ahead of everyone else doesn’t mean we don’t know the game or love it as much as you.
May 30th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@Doc
Everybody doesn’t lift weights and condition themselves in the L?
The successful ones do bruh, and trust if Bill Russell were in this era, dude would dominate.
The things that make these players great wouldn’t change, a great player works hard and seeks every legal advantage to perfect his game, and trust Bill russell would be no different as a 21st Century athlete, so his diet and conditioning would change to that of a 21st Century athlete. You have to factor those things in in order to compare between times.
And lifting weights isn’t about gaining weight, it’s about strength, Garnett is still rail thin but how many people can see him in the post?
May 30th, 2008 at 12:51 pm

PALakerFan says:

Oh yeah, and Tim Duncan is better than Bill Russell. Let’s fight over that for another 130 posts. LOL!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 1:01 pm

DaPro says:

Russell wasn’t limited offensively, he wasn’t asked our required to score that much

Damn I know it’s some catz on here that know the game well but just to put this out there:

The NBA today has more athletically gifted players than ever due to weight training, fitness programs, natural ability, eating, etc.. having said that the older generations such as the 90’s had the most balance of athletism and fundamentals

Stop calling catz garbage just that didn’t so a 360

Iceman could drop 30 in todays game easy and he rarely dunked

Kersey was a defensive beast who could pull up or take you to the hoop

If you don’t like the cat, cool thats you, but if you never saw that person ball or just looked at stats and highlights you can’t appreciate the skiils
May 30th, 2008 at 1:06 pm

Alf says:

As a fan of the game more than the teams, that move by Sasha at the end was very unclassy.
I think everyone is so hell-bent on a lakers/celtic final that the recent playoff referee-ing provides ammunition for conspiracies out there.

Take game 5’s final play with the no-call for Brent Barry and ask yourself this: If everyone wants a Lakers/Celtics final, dont you think Dave the commish wants one as well?
May 30th, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Chuck...Haters come in all fashions and forms so bear arms says:

@Dapro
Exactly homie!! Loved the post (133), true, so true, these cats need to get that channel that shows the vintage games, then they could appreciate the skills them cats had back then.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:29 pm

SAS Sizzle says:

GEE, Manu won’t take a rep hit, no more than the play where he fouled Dirk that cost them the ‘chip two years ago. He came back strong the next year, and then this year when he was supposed to be on the decline, he puts up his best season so far.

However, he will definitely get knocked for his performance in the WCF, he just left everything he had on the floor in the Hornets series. The Game 3 was the real Manu, but he just got insufficient rest overall. 2 days off between any of those games and you are looking at a different player I promise you.

Regardless, you ain’t gonna take away his 3 rings, his Olympic gold medal and tournament MVP, his Italian league championships and MVPs, etc etc. The man is established. He needs to pull an Horry and just stay healthy for the playoff run from now on.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:29 pm

Brado says:

In you Poll yesterday…..who got voted of the US team? It better not have been D-Will!

Also, I have no problem with players getting fined for flopping, but if there is any contact by the opposing player that initiated the flop - you just gotta let that slide man. Some flops are to ensure the ref makes the call while others are pure “I have no offense or I can’t defend so I have to sell myself as always being attaked”….those should be fined! D. Fisher is king of these…I love the guy, but he’s got issues with this part of his game.
May 30th, 2008 at 1:41 pm

SAS Sizzle says:

I would like Fisher a lot better if some of his game didn’t revolve around getting bullshit calls.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:09 pm

tuff juice says:

Remember the Jordan Rules, there are no Kobe Rules
May 30th, 2008 at 2:19 pm

K Dizzle says:

Kersey and Majerle garbage? That’s just ignorant.

@ post 134 - of course Stern wants Lakers/Celts. NBA is still a business and spurs/pistons don’t sell as well and spurs/cavs bombed last year.

Is Kobe better than MJ? no. Can he get there by the time he’s done? Why not. There’s dudes talkin bout puttin Rob Horry in the HOF cuz he got 7 rings.Only diff b/w the two is that MJ was better at hidin his competitive edge where he was still likable when he was sellin nike, hanes, etc. Kobe’s too raw. Everybody knows he’s tryin to kill you and he can’t shut it off, where Mike made it look like he shut it off. 2-3 more rings and Kobe gets into the top 10. All this junk about the first 3 rings don’t count is nuts. Shaq needed Kobe, Magic needed Cap and Big Game, Mike needed Scottie. You get a ring and you contributed like Kobe did, then it should be respected.
I’m cosignin on Yall’s top 5(post 94)
I’m apologizin on behalf of all Laker fans for the junk Vujacic did last night.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:29 pm

Ian says:

i hate jordan
but comparing him to kobe no fuckin way
all the rules in the nba today are for the guards to dominate
and everytime kobe gets stripped or something hes always yelling and bitchin at the refs to bail him out
he wouldnt have survived the jordan vs the bad boys series
kobe is a little bitch
and no kobe isnt as clutch not close

someone said jordan didnt get in the finals till he was 29 well jordan wasnt the second best player on his team like kobe was
May 30th, 2008 at 2:38 pm

djKianoosh says:

Spurs fans:

Did the Spurs lose their identity in this series? I’ve been watching this team since Manu got there and it just seemed to me that they weren’t themselves all the time this postseason. Maybe their flexibility and versatility hurt them. See, the Lakers know who and what they are. They know they are long, athletic and have an energetic bench. But they know damn well that this team is run by Kobe and Fisher in the clutch. The Spurs seemed like different teams in the same game. Like sometimes everything went through Tim. but sometimes Tony took over and it looked like Tim and Manu were lost or forgotten. and then when Manu was on point (not just the one game this series, but in the previous two series too) then only Tim was involved and not Tony, or tony and not tim. But it never seemed clear what the pecking order, for lack of a better term, was. Maybe Manu’s injury and his limited capability changed that dynamic, but still, it seemed like they lost that identity, that drive and kick mentality and three point shooting capability.

as for the Lakers… Kobe was amazing for sure, but there is no touching MJ. Kobe doesn’t even have 1 Finals MVP yet, let alone 6. SIX!!!
1
2
3
4
5
6 dammit! SIX NBA FINALS MVP TROPHIES!! hello!! there’s no touching that. people are getting stuck in the moment and buying into all the ESPN hype.

i will have to skip the finals just because of the ESPN/ABC coverage. the Kobe hype machine will go into overdrive and really ruin it for me. just let the man’s game speak for itself. no need to embellish it so damn much. it’s sickening. aight i won’t skip it. I’ll DVR it and skip the pre-game/post-game/halftime/commercials and all the hype and hopefully watch good games.

i’m already dreading the kobe hype madness.
May 30th, 2008 at 2:43 pm

Ian says:

post 94
id like 4 of those but no russell on top 5 for me
im with doc there
give me timmeh u can take russell

kobe has to leap frog (which he will) a couple of other sg in the alltime list before sayin hes better than jordan

but dont get me wrong kobe is a top 20 player alltime and might crack the top ten when hes done

top ten for me in no order

wilt
magic
jordan
kareem
oscar
duncan
shaq
bird
russell
cant decide if the dr or moses on number 10
May 30th, 2008 at 2:51 pm

chris says:

flopping is a fine, not a foul? tim duncan gets kicked out a game for laughing at joe crawford? can you honestly see duncan, ginobili, bowen, parker ALL getting fined in the same game? every game? how about in the same game that horry lays out nash last year? i am not sure laughing at joe crawford should be penalized, but if flopping is a 2 shot foul (keep the ball), and a flagrant foul (a la horry) is a 4 shot foul (keep the ball), i guarantee they would both be history in a month - the better the punishment fits the crime, the faster the behaviour changes.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:01 pm

doc says:

chuck all I watch is ball I just aint trying to hear that woulda coulda bullshit yall spitting.I’m AM going off what I seen in those games and the fact the toughest dudes wasnt let in the league except on Boston.everybody else had a 2 black minimum.Get your facts straight.KG is called soft by his detractors because he dont get in the paint so what the fuck are you saying.Aint nobody trying to hear that he could score but didnt shit.Thats some lame ass shit if I ever heard it.I could see toning scoring down.The man was a souped up Big Ben because athletes wasnt balling in the NBA back then and he had shit on smash.All yall talk that bullshit but if your girl life was on the line with Timmy vs Bill and you had to pick one if you say Bill its a wrap for that bitch.Now its a given he would work so hard, please.If YOU have NBA TV you would see him and Red talking about he had his own set of rules such as NO PRACTICE when he wanted.I dont give a fuck if he took steroids he would not be dominant out here today.I could see him now trying to softly block Dwight shit to a teamate and Dwight breaking his fucking arm off in the basket.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:06 pm

doc says:

Do you watch ball dapro because George Gervin is nowhere near Russell era.Im talking 60’s and under.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:15 pm

doc says:

Bottom line is we agree to disagree.We been had this argument only reason I jumped in because somebody said if Bill russell aint top 5 u dont know ball.But as we can see dudes who know ball going both ways so it is what it is.U think he’d be dominant.I think he Big Ben at best.Too bad we’ll never see.I do know if Big Ben was alive back then with the training Russell and them did since yall bring that up dudes would be saying if Big Ben aint top 5 we dont know ball.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:16 pm

Celts Fan says:

Ian, I completely agree with your top ten (though I disagree COMPLETELY on you taking Duncan over Russell. My take is that Duncan’s MUCH closer to the bottom of the top 10. In fact, out of your list, I don’t think he was better than any of the other 8.)

I’d probably go Dr. J over Moses but I might take Hakeem over both to round out the top 10.

Also, Kobe’s close. He’s not in yet, but he’s knocking on the door and I think I just heard the deadbolt unlock…
May 30th, 2008 at 3:28 pm

Celts Fan says:

“I’d probably go Dr. J over Moses but I might take Hakeem over both to round out the top 10.”
*admittedly though, I haven’t seen a lot of either, especially Moses, so it’s entirely possible I’m underselling both, but Hakeem was NASTY…
May 30th, 2008 at 3:30 pm

Jay says:

It’s flopping every damn time Gasol gets within 3 feet of a rebound.
May 30th, 2008 at 3:47 pm

Brazil says:

Kobe is better than MJ ? You guys are smoking some serious stuff ,,, Right now Kobe is on the level of Charles Barkley, 1 MVP , and 1 finals apearence ,,, Yep, in the past that was Shaq team ,,, Or if you want, you can compare Kobe to Pippen, a great sidekick , let the man win 2 chips and 2 finals MVP and them put him in the conversation of Magic and Bird ,,, Jordan ? No way
May 30th, 2008 at 3:48 pm

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

SAS that is real nice and all but I promise you he is going to take a hit in rep. Reporters are already knocking dude for his performance and you don’t think anti-manu and anit-spurs fans aren’t going to do the same? Sure overall he may be the bomb but as for his performance recently he will take a rep hit and if by chance the Lakers and Spurs meet up next year i promise they will come back to it.

LOL and most all pg’s get bull**** calls so trying to apply that to Fisher like he is just seeking that is corny. Manu seeks it, we all know that with his fish floppin arse. Still Fisher gets call and sometimes he don’t but I don’t see him crying as like a lot of guards. If that is your reason for not liking him as much though so be it.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:06 pm

Jason says:

CP3 should be the odd man out in the Olympics. Were not talking about the NBA, this is international play where small pg’s Nash etc. have struggled including CP3 during the Worlds. Big pg’s on the other hand ala J. Kidd have been successfu l. However as long as Kobe is on the team does it really matter?
May 30th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

godfreyallstar says:

so kb24 do you wanna suck kobes dick now or later?
May 30th, 2008 at 4:10 pm

Celts Fan says:

Manu is damn good. Top 10 in the league? No, but he is very clutch and has A TON of moves. He was hurt this year. The guy has tons of Euroleague hardware (titles and individual stuff,) an Olympic gold medal, and 3 NBA rings. His rep may take a hit in that some people will rank him a bit lower when ranking the best guys in the league, but his rep is established (should be anyway) as a clutch player, a team player, and a winner. I’m not a Spurs fan and hate how much he flops, but you have to respect the hell out of his game…
May 30th, 2008 at 4:11 pm

SAS Sizzle says:

I was “fishin’” GEE to see if you would throw Manu back at me. I almost put “Manu needs to stop, too”, but I thought you may associate that for me with a comeback…it worked! They both need to cut the floppin’. Let’s see how these rules changes take effect.

But I see Fisher crying like a bitch when the call goes against him just as much as anyone, you gotta be jokin’ bro (I know he’s your guy and all). Last night ALL the Lakers were terrible, I mean every missed SHOT they were moaning/gesturing to the refs, it was acting class out there in Hollywood. Kobe is awful about it, and Gasol is simply atrocious. [Insert Spurs comeback here, taste of own medicine, etc].
May 30th, 2008 at 4:13 pm

godfreyallstar says:

and on the mj vs kobe argument…look at mj’s impact on his team right away…already hitting 20+ppg as a rookie. kobe averaged 8 points a game his roookie season! 8!!! and then 14 the next year. jordan was never under 20, even when he was 42 on the wizards!
May 30th, 2008 at 4:22 pm

SAS Sizzle says:

And btw I don’t give a damn what anti-Spurs say about Manu, they have been hating for years so it’s just like…
water off a duck’s back brother! So you are saying his reputation with the HATERS is gonna get worse?

We silver & black fans don’t care what THEY say about the reputation because it’s bunk anyways with so much bias. You gotta know by now we are used to hate from all other fans and the media.

But next year I will be pulling for San Antonio and Houston to keep those Cali teams out of contention!
May 30th, 2008 at 4:28 pm

doc says:

I think Mike better tham Shobe but he came in at 18 Mike was 21 When Shobe was 21 he averaged 20 to.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:31 pm

kb24! says:

Ok To All you Kobe Haters out there…Yea Im young. But that doesn’t mean I don’t know shit about the 80’s 90’s “Jordan Rulez” cmon bro’s there is TV. NBA TV in fact plays a whole bunch of vintage games. I Know my history. I know Basketball. I never said Kobe was better than MJ. No way. Kobe hasn’t won enough chips to be better than MJ. But if he does…dam sure Im gonna say he’s better than MJ. Seriously Talent Wise..Kobe is better than MJ..yes I said it..get on me for that..bring the arguments..and I aint the first to say this either.. I recall a couple of Basketball commentators preaching this as well. Ahem.. Mark Jackson? He played against both MJ and Kobe. So what are we to talk about basketball talent when we never stepped in an NBA game? We let the real pro’s decide that. This is all just my opinion. Kobe is better than MJ talent wise. Not success..just yet.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

Celts Fan says:

and with a name like KB24, we know you’re not biased at all…

seriously though, the second Mark Jackson said that (I remember that game, I was watching it too,) Jeff Van Gundy berated him for 5 minutes straight and basically called him an idiot, so there’s that too.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

rangerjohn says:

ok guys back for a bit, graduation for my son and all.

chuck, the euro is worth almost 2 times as much as the dollar these days so a ton of euro players dont care to come to the us because they are making more money there then here now. splitter will make 8 times the money for tau ceramica then he could make playing for the spurs. the dollar is so weak now that the $$$$ reason for coming to the nba is not there any more. i look for less euros in the next couple of years coming to the nba.

dave, (and others who think the lakers are the most hated) i actually heard a stat this morning on MIKE AND MIKE that the lakers are the ONLY NBA TEAM in the top 10 “most loved” sports teams in any sport. 6 of the top 10 where nfl teams and lakers where #9 on the list. now the nba has like 7 of the top 10 “most loved players” including kg and kobe.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:40 pm

doc says:

I give you talentwise kb24 because he got more moves than Mike had and more handles and a better j.He just gotta get his wins up.People dont respect until your gone.Everybody ride Mike now but when he was playing and I was younger the oldheads put people over him all the time.Then he started winning every chip and people couldnt say shit.Thats what KB gotta do.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

JHov says:

Ya’ll need to peep Simmons article and he is a die hard C’s fan:

“I hate comparing anyone to Jordan, but what Kobe has shown over the past four months has been Jordanesque — not just his ability to raise his game in big moments (which he always had), but the way he can pick his spots, keep his teammates involved and then just arbitrarily take over the game and put it away. If being an NBA superstar was like playing “Grand Theft Auto,” then that would be the final mission, right? The way Kobe singlehandedly assassinated the Spurs in Games 1 and 5 was something we’ve only seen from a handful of players in NBA history. You can’t say enough about it. He has become the player we always wanted him to be.”

http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/page2/story?page=simmons/080530
May 30th, 2008 at 4:42 pm

rangerjohn says:

and to those who say “nobody can average 50″ well if wilt can average 50 and 25 then mj could average 45-50 with the “no touch” rules of today. it is not impossible just improbable
May 30th, 2008 at 4:43 pm

.\what?!?!?! says:

Shobe?
Shobe the money!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 4:46 pm

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

Sizzle i keep forgetting you are a Spurs fan lol.
Anyway ok now most all players are going to do something but I wouldn’t say D. Fish complains, moans or crys half as much as ya boi Manu.

I am not saying Manu’s game isn’t ridiculous, cause it is. I actually was hoping he could go to Houston some time back. I am just saying, simply, that some people biased or fair are going to come down on him for this particular performance. I ain’t saying it’s right. Just saying that people are going to nit pic. I am saying something along the lines of many people are just going to use it to fuel their anti Manu arguements. I like Manu calm down lol, not top 10 in the L like, but i do like how he plays, outside of the floppin and lookin like he is in shock on every call that don’t go his way lol.

I wasn’t gonna say nothing bout it but since you offering, yea the Spurs got what was coming and you already know as “classy” lol as they are they act like lil cryin punk sissys when it comes to refs calling against them more than any other team.

Again if you are a Spurs fan you should just keep quiet when the subjects of floppin or crying about calls comes up because there is nothing you can bring to the table to defend that ish they do.

I’m glad they lost and I hope they burn in…wait that is Sam Jackson. I am glad they lost though.

LOL.

I think that Spurs fans (not necessarily dudes on here…some of yall though lol)…make me dislike the Spurs more than the Spurs themselves so many of you all act like ya ish don’t stank or they can’t ever just lose, it always has to be some if or but. Hell naw they just LOSS plain and simple.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

Celts Fan says:

Simmons is great for lines like this, “Remember when Bill Laimbeer’s face attacked Robert Parish’s fists in 1987? These are the things that happen in fifth games.”
May 30th, 2008 at 4:53 pm

kb24! says:

yea that 50-25 season wilt brought was beastly. So was the 81 points from KOBE.
May 30th, 2008 at 4:54 pm

Celts Fan says:

and, “I mean, even when they had to split-screen the ‘94 Finals to keep up with O.J. Simpson’s car chase, it happened during a Game 5.”

we can call him a homer all we want, but he’s hilarious…
May 30th, 2008 at 5:01 pm

Ian says:

celts fan
hakeem over moses no freakin way
and russell is well not like doc said but hes not that big shit and hes not top 5
hes top 10 cuz of the rings to me because there are like 25 players i rather have over russell
for me if timmeh played back then he would be putting up 30 and 25 lines as avgs and russell today would be 10 and 15 with 3 blocks
thats just my opinion but really then again i rather have timmeh to start a team over everyone on that list after jordan and magic
then again just an opinion

u said manu is not top ten
hes for sure top 20 and very close to that group
May 30th, 2008 at 5:04 pm

rangerjohn says:

kb24
that 81 point game has got nothing on wilts 100.
but it was a hell of a game.

gee
the spurs do complain about calls (as does every team) and they flop (just like every team) but then they sure didnt complain about the NOCALL that pretty much ended their season. (and for the record they didnt deserve that win but hey it is what it is)

i guess we will see just who the floppers really are next season IF the league releases the fine info.

i will laugh my ass off if manu goes fine free next season. that will be justification enough.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:07 pm

Ian says:

celts fan
and with a name like KB24, we know you’re not biased at all…”

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA

gee

that spurs fans comments not me right? lol
May 30th, 2008 at 5:08 pm

Ian says:

after the league said it was a foul on barry

That’s awesome,” Barry said, “because Doc Brown is waiting for me outside, and we’re going to get in the DeLorean and fire up the flux capacitor and we’re going to go back and shoot a couple of free throws.”

rofl
May 30th, 2008 at 5:09 pm

kb24! says:

@rangerjohn

81 got nothing on Wilt? All Wilt had to do was jump over midgets. lol
May 30th, 2008 at 5:12 pm

K Dizzle says:

#post 169
Don’t forget Kobe had 62 on Dallas in 3 quarters the week before then PJ yanked him.

Why do heads keep comparinb Kobe to Mike and throwin out skewed stats? Any comparison in their rookie years are skewed cuz Kobe came in and hadda play behind better players for 2 seasons cuz E Jones was the man back then.
If you wanna compare the two, then do it after Shaq left then compare the numbers.
that being said, nobody will ever touch the trinity of Mike, Magic and Wilt. Those 3 changed how the game was played. 6MVPs with no defeats in the finals can’t be touched, 6′9 player runnin the point and leadin a team to a chip without their best player can’t be touched, 50 points and 25 boards while avg 48.5 minutes a game can’t be touched.

Have a good weekend Lakers in 5 against whoever…
May 30th, 2008 at 5:12 pm

JHov says:

no doubt..Simmons makes getting thru the work day easier! Quick question how come nobody brought up the fact that Rip way putting RayRay in a submission hold when he got hurt?
May 30th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

doc says:

kb24 dont do that these dudes catch feelings when you dont respect bum asses just because they old.They werent midgets.They were athletically inferior plugs who couldnt hang with the good ballers on the playground of they time.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:16 pm

rangerjohn says:

kb24
lmao yeah wilt had to jump over guys that where shorter, and kobe got his on the NO D raptors. but then wilt also had 25 rebounds in that game, and only missed 4 free throws (out of 32) and he didnt have the 3 point shot to fall back on.

kobe hit 7 3 pointers, so in wilts day those would have only been worth 2 so that would have made kobes total 74 points, kobe had 6 rebounds and 2 assists and then there are the rules.

they dont even compair
May 30th, 2008 at 5:18 pm

GEE...game so tight they call it virgin says:

If Manu goes fine free I will be cracking up myself cause that means he totally switched his game around, cause at this point floppin is in his DNA and blood.

That call wouldn’t have mattered, they wasn’t going to beat the Lakers out of 7 anyway. Still THAT WAS THE TIME WHEN THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN GOING NUTS! Then if it is something less crucial they going bonkers over that. I don’t understand. Oh yea and yes every team flops and complains the Spurs are just the kings of it, to me that is.

ian naw not you, ranger, sizzle or anyone on here I just got some homeys that get on my nerves defending the Spurs like any time they lose it’s due to terrorism, conspiracy, pollution and evil spirits lol. Makes me so sick lol.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:25 pm

rangerjohn says:

oh come on gee, other then the single no call none of us have made excuses like that. we have talked baout how tired the spurs where due to tough series and that is something that every person here no mater what team has said.

and kb24
kobe had 1 game over 70 points, wilt had 6, kobe had 4 games over 60 points, wilt had 32!

witl was by far the best scorer and rebounder in history, and he also changed the way the game was played. the only thing kobe has that wilt didnt, possition, kobe gets the benefit of “he doesnt play inside to shoot over shorter defenders”
May 30th, 2008 at 5:27 pm

kb24! says:

HAha true…but if Wilt had the 3 he wouldn’t have tookin it anyways? lol. alright enough Kobe talk. He hasn’t done nothing yet. He still needs 4 more wins.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:35 pm

Ian says:

gee
any time they lose it’s due to terrorism, conspiracy, pollution and evil spirits ”
lol
comon i didnt make excuses
but lets get real
just as easily the spurs coulda won the series 4-1
lakers played better but the spurs didnt play their game
2 big leads blown
1 non call

like i say in basketball the better team wins but my spurs didnt help themselves
we had a chance to win everygame except game 2

kb24
a little advice if u gonna say someone is better than wilt then u should comeup with some xfactor stats or rings or crap they do off court cuz u CANT throw out stats to compare wilt to ANYONE in the history of the game is not even close
May 30th, 2008 at 5:52 pm

kb24! says:

@lan
You on Crack? I never said Kobe was better than Wilt bro. All I said was Kobe’s 81 point game was beastly just like Wilts 100. Little advice to you. Get your facts straight.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:58 pm

doc says:

Ian u my boy lets stop the Spurs coulda been up 4-1 shit.Its getting crazy.
May 30th, 2008 at 5:59 pm

doc says:

WILT-Philly stand up!
May 30th, 2008 at 6:31 pm

tealish says:

WHAT ARE YOU GUYS TALKING ABOUT? Kobe’s better than MJ talent-wise?? Better handles?? The only thing Kobe has over Jordan is the 3-point shot. Every other aspect of the game easily goes to Mike.

For the last time, suscribe to NBA Classic or something. Watch a Jordan game in its entirety. That man is a level above all who have ever played the game, bar none.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:09 pm

doc says:

Hey tealish I call it like I see it bra.Aint my fault Kobe got AI handles.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:14 pm

kb24! says:

@tealish “Every other aspect of the game easily goes to Mike.”

Easily? don’t think so buddy.
May 30th, 2008 at 7:22 pm

Oscarisalakerfan says:

Here’s my opinion on the Kobe Jordan comparisons……
Jordan was the star that started the long shorts, cool shoes, blah blah….
The thing with KObe is many feel like they’ve seen it before so they are not really impressed……

Its like dwight howard when he begins dominating like he should …..People are going to compare to shaq during they’re primes… many people that had the privelege of seeing shaq in his prime are gonna say that hes never gonna be shaq….No matter how dominant he becomes….BEcause weve seen it already

Let Kobe’s career end before we start any comparisons………. But imo Kobe’s the most complete offensive player EVER……But that’s just my opinion…Everyone is entitled to their opinion!!!!!!!
May 30th, 2008 at 8:47 pm

GEE...Game so tight they call it virgin says:

naw ian and ranger yall straight just some other cats. you know how us fans can get ova zealous i say us cause i am sure i do too sometime but SOME spurs fans are the worst that i do know how
May 30th, 2008 at 8:56 pm

GEE...Game so tight they call it virgin says:

that i know i mean lol
May 30th, 2008 at 9:38 pm

Ian says:

gee
thats cuz the spurs have been winning
its the same for every team
if the lakers win a couple in the next few years
ull turn into us
before us it was lakers
before it was the bulls

its just the team that wins

tealish jordans handles were crap btw

kb24
lol u tellin me to get my facts straight someone that just said he gets his facts from nbatv and google
listen if u didnt see them play u dont know for sure how good they were
u think in 20 years they are goin to show kobes bad games or the chokes he had before
fuck no they are goin to show kobe better than he was
so please go read stats to someone else
kobes game of 81 wasnt even close to wilts if u want me to get my shit straight
May 31st, 2008 at 3:11 am

kb24! says:

@lan
So what are you? like 50 years old? You seen Wilt play on the court? If you have, then sorry.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:25 am

tealish says:

Man, you guys are dillusional. Jordan’s handles were crap? Seriously?
Wow. I’m done talking here. Y’all win. Kobe is the greatest of all time. MJ who?
May 31st, 2008 at 3:27 am

tealish says:

@DIME: Censorship should be allowed in certain exceptional cases where stupidity is stunted before it can infect unsuspecting souls.
May 31st, 2008 at 3:29 am

kb24! says:

@lan
Wow lan..who are you to judge MJ’s handles to be crap? Are you Allen Iverson or something? Jordans Handles were not crap…didn’t you see him dance in front of Larry Bird and stroke it in his eyes?
June 12th, 2008 at 1:00 pm

Greg says:

The Spurs towel boy is the second best bench player for the Lakers next to Ronny Turiaf. He has a purple headband on b/c he handles the away team for all the Lakers home games. Much props to “purple head band” keep it up.