Lakers vs. Celtics Finals

[MikeYikes122]

I actually can't stand Garnett. His overly-emotional antics during games annoy the hell out of me, but I couldn't help but feel really good for him during that postgame celebration. He was so emotional that he nearly passed out. He couldn't even say coherent sentences. You could tell how much that meant to him.

It's kind of how similar to how I felt about Reggie Miller. I hated him in his prime, but toward the twilight of his career, I couldn't help but get behind him. Garnett is kind of entering that stage.

And Kobe, Kobe is not MJ. MJ would have never let his team get blown by 40 points in an NBA Finals game.

 

[PRMoon]

... The celtics are a better team defensively and usually defense wins championships...

I guess the creedo holds true. I was overwhelmed about kobe and took the lakers (thank god i didn't lay a bet) despite knowing the east was better defensively. Hat's off to the celtics D for the series. You can't fake that many rebounds in a series.

I hope not too many of you drive drunk or angry out here in laker land.

 

[ready123]

Lakers totally got rocked in this one - as a Laker fan, that was embarassing to watch. Hats off to the Celtics, they did an awesome job and deserved it

see ya guys next year when Bynum's back

 

[Francisco d'Anconia]

I actually can't stand Garnett. His overly-emotional antics during games annoy the hell out of me, but I couldn't help but feel really good for him during that postgame celebration. He was so emotional that he nearly passed out. He couldn't even say coherent sentences. You could tell how much that meant to him.

That's actually one of the reasons I like the guy, he plays with the youthful enthusiasm of a college ball player. It looks as if he's playing primarily for the love of the sport. That type of enthusiasm (a lot like MJ during the playoffs - I forget which one, there were so many) stands out in a city like Minneapolis where everyone seems so stoic and reserved. If I had to choose, I'd rather go club hopping with Kevin than Kobe; he seems like he'd be more fun.

 

[mpimpin]

KG definitely has the most heart

 

[Birdem]

What you are all forgetting jordan got some help... Kobe didn't have no help this series. Everybody forgets jordan had pippen and pippen wasn't soft like gasol or odom was this entire series.

Celtics deserved it though they played hard the entire series. It's good to see kg win his first title.

 

[Truman181]

See the thing is Kobe reminds me more of Pippen than he does Jordan.

-Kobe's athletic ability more closely resembles Pippen's. Both can take it the hole with the best of them but lack that athletic grace that MJ had. Watch Kobe's legs when he dunks, he looks like he's stumbling half the time. MJ looked like he was walking on air.

-Kobe handles the ball a bit better than Pippen did but Pippen was better at running the offense. Pippen would move the ball around more. Kobe takes wild 3-pointers sometimes instead of moving the ball around.

-Kobe has more of a killer instinct than Pippen. In this case Kobe is more like MJ in that he's mentally tough. However, Kobe didn't seem to want it that badly in these finals.

-Both Kobe and Pippen shoot the 3 really well. Kobe has a better mid range shot and more moves going to the basket.

Anyway, my point is that when Shaq and Kobe won the Finals Kobe was in the number 2 role (similar to Pippen) and that seemed to take the pressure off of him and he played better. I remember Kobe hitting some clutch shots back in the Finals he play with Shaq.

The comparisons really don't help things for Kobe. The Boston fans last night kept jeering him "you're not Jordan". That's too much pressure for anybody. Kobe is a great player and it's not fair to compare him to MJ. But comparisons are always gonna be made (like how I compared Kobe to Pippen).

 

[Bible_Belt]

I guess that finally puts to bed the Kobe versus Michael comparisons.

I'm not saying Kobe isn't an all time great or a legend. However he is nowhere near the caliber of MJ.

Facing elimination MJ would have been fired up. He would have yelled at his teammates. He would have silenced the crowd. He would have made at effort. He would have scored 50 if he had to or he would have made his teammates better with his leadership.

MJ wouldn't have walked off the court in the NBA Finals as a member of a losing team. He would have had to have been dragged off the court kicking and screaming with his heart cut out.

I'm not bashing Kobe. I'm just saying he's not Mike.

The Celtics put up one hell of a defensive effort the likes of which hasn't been seen since the Jordan-era Bulls.

We'll see what happens in the off season. Will Kobe come back stronger? Or will he demand to be traded again?

I think you're right about lacking the killer instinct. He is not MJ. Jordan seemed to have an attitude of 'I have to win because I'm Michael Jordan.' Winning was his identity. That's why him coming out of retirement was so sad to see; he was not himself. With Kobe, it's like when things get tough, he seems to be thinking, "Fvck it. I'm still Kobe. Everyone knows I'm the best."

 

[Truman181]

Jordan was definitely pushing his luck coming out of retirement a second time. I think he missed being Michael Jordan. As you said it was his identity. It just goes to show that if you have a gift you need to respect and honor it and not push it too far.

Anyway, back to the Finals. I really got to handle it to the Big 3 for the Celtics. Those guys played with passion.

 

[Birdem]

Truman you need your head checked if you are comparing pippen to kobe. Jordan had a squad with rodman, pippen and them. I'm not knocking jordan but people are tough on kobe. If you are comparing pippen to kobe you know nothing about basketball.

 

[Truman181]

I made my point. Where's your counter points?

-Kobe was better off playing in Shaq's shadow just as Pippen was better playing in Jordans

-Kobe and Pippen have the same athletic ability minus MJ's grace

-Kobe was a better ball handler, Pippen was better at running an offense. Kobe is a better scorer, Pippen was a better defender

 

[Birdem]

LOL, You can say the same about shaq... He didn't win a title by himself ever he had wade right after bryant...Kobe and Pippen have the same athletic ability minus MJ's grace<~~~~ Biggest joke I ever heard. If you are going to make points make them valid. Pippen was good, but he is nowhere near kobe. Kobe scored 81 points in a game and you are comparing him to pippen and he scored 62 in the third quarter against dallas which he could have scored more. When kobe's career is over he will pass jordan's stats. http://youtube.com/watch?v=tDLORoC8Ufk Watch that you might learn something. If you rate kobe and pippen the same, Is it safe to say toni kukoc and lebron are at the same level also LOLOL.

 

[Truman181]

Ummm k so Kobe had one spectacular game. So?

A lot of high school basketball players score 100 points in a game. Big whoop!

The NBA today is watered down with players with all flash and no substance. Remember how The Dream Team didn't win the gold medal 4 years ago? It's because the so called stars of the league are given commercials, endorsements and accolades before they even earn them. If Jordan had played in the same game, he would have scored more than 81...

Plus you seem to be going on the assumption that scoring is the only factor in what makes a player great. Pippen was one of the best defenders of all time. Kobe is not.

Kobe may pass some of Jordan's stats. Jordan went to college and was older when he joined the NBA. Jordan also took two years off to play baseball. Oh yeah, Jordan was out with an injured leg for almost an entire season in 86!

So yeah, put anybody in the league long enough and they may rack up stats, even Mr. Straight out of high school, Kobe Bryant.

But what really determines a legendary player is legendary MOMENTS!

Jordan had them. Kobe doesn't.

-Jordan setting a record in the finals for 3 pointers and giving the famous shrug

-Jordan hitting the game winning shot in Game 1 versus the Jazz in 97

-Jordan scoring 38 and leading his team to victory against the Jazz on THE ROAD and with THE FLU

-Jordan beating the Jazz all by himself in his final game with the Bulls making the shot with the follow through that won the 6th championship

-Jordan making 'the move' in the Finals against Magic and the Lakers

-Jordan scoring 63 against Boston in the playoffs against the best front line in league history - Bird - Mchale and Parish

Now I ask what moments Kobe has had?

-scored 81 points in a meaningless regular season game

-shot 7 for 22 and scored 22 points as his team was blown out by 40 in the NBA Finals.

Yeah, that's legendary! :yes:

PS - Kobe is not graceful. His dunks and drives to the basket make him look like he's stumbling the way his legs flail about. Jordan walked on air...

 

[jahidi]

Now I ask what moments Kobe has had?

-scored 81 points in a meaningless regular season game

-shot 7 for 22 and scored 22 points as his team was blown out by 40 in the NBA Finals.

Yeah, that's legendary! :yes:

Not to take Kobe's side as Jordan is better but this is pathetic. Yeah that's Kobe's career in a nutshell, other the 3 NBA championships followed by the years of carrying a $hitty team into the playoffs that had no business finishing any better than the bottom 5 of the league.

The hate for Kobe is ridiculous. If this was Lebron James, everyone would say he is amazing but needs a supporting cast. If this was Tim Duncan, everyone would say how he's the best big man ever and has won so many championships already so it doesn't matter. But it's Kobe so all everyone can say is "he sucks because he's still not Jordan".

 

[ready123]

Kobe is not graceful. His dunks and drives to the basket make him look like he's stumbling the way his legs flail about.

no, that would be Ginobli

Kobe's no Jordan and it has nothing to do with his playing or athletic ability. It has to do with his leadership ability and sense of entitlement when it comes to winning. You're comparing Kobe to the best player of all time and right now there's no comparison. But you don't have to outdo Jordan to be considered a legendary player.

Kobe is the best player in the league and you can't knock that. When he's on fire, he's unguardable, he can shoot in the clutch, and he can take over games. That 81 point game was when the Lakers still had Smush Parker at point. AKA LA sucked and Kobe HAD to do that to win. I also don't get the Kobe can't play defense claim - the guy's been all-defensive first team for the past how many years?

 

[Truman181]

Ha ha, nice video you posted!

Was I supposed to be impressed with Kobe scoring 55 against MJ's team?

Wow, Kobe sure can out play Mike! And since MJ was in his prime during this game I thought for sure he would do better! Ohhh that's right. Mike was 40!

I was more impressed with MJ than Kobe during this game. He hit his first 5 shots and shot 10 for 20. Kobe didn't even shoot 50 percent.

Listen man, a 55 point scoring out burst is EXPECTED from the superstars in this league and is not exceptional. Hell even MJ scored over 50 when he was past his 40th birthday.

 

[Truman181]

Not to take Kobe's side as Jordan is better but this is pathetic. Yeah that's Kobe's career in a nutshell, other the 3 NBA championships followed by the years of carrying a $hitty team into the playoffs that had no business finishing any better than the bottom 5 of the league.

The hate for Kobe is ridiculous. If this was Lebron James, everyone would say he is amazing but needs a supporting cast. If this was Tim Duncan, everyone would say how he's the best big man ever and has won so many championships already so it doesn't matter. But it's Kobe so all everyone can say is "he sucks because he's still not Jordan".

That is Kobe's career in a nutshell. 3 NBA championships but he wasn't the MVP. It would be hard for any player not to win 3 titles playing along the most dominant big man of the last 20 years.

 

[Truman181]

no, that would be Ginobli

Kobe's no Jordan and it has nothing to do with his playing or athletic ability. It has to do with his leadership ability and sense of entitlement when it comes to winning. You're comparing Kobe to the best player of all time and right now there's no comparison. But you don't have to outdo Jordan to be considered a legendary player.

Kobe is the best player in the league and you can't knock that. When he's on fire, he's unguardable, he can shoot in the clutch, and he can take over games. That 81 point game was when the Lakers still had Smush Parker at point. AKA LA sucked and Kobe HAD to do that to win. I also don't get the Kobe can't play defense claim - the guy's been all-defensive first team for the past how many years?

I'm not saying Kobe isn't the best player in the NBA or isn't legendary. He is both. I didn't say Kobe couldn't play defense, I said Pippen was a better defender.

And yes Kobe's dunks look awkward. Go watch some Jordan Highlights then watch Kobes.

Edit: Okay I looked at what I said earlier. I said pippen was one of the best defenders of all time, Kobe is not. I think that Kobe's defense is still questionable. I guess the 40 point blow out the other night influenced my statement. Also has Kobe won defensive player of the year? I know MJ did 3 times.

 

[Truman181]

Alright guys,

I'm tired of this debate. I admit Kobe is a great player. I think he may even be considered legendary (still too early).

But he is no MJ. That's all I will say.

 

[Birdem]

did Kobe look weird dunking it on yao ming or dwight howarD? I'm saying kobe is the closest player to reach jordan or even surpass him at the end of his career. Lebron is someone you can debate about, but he is still young. I didn't hear anybody talk s hit about lebron when he got swept last year by the spurs? Does that make lebron an average player? It's funny how people compared kobe to jordan when the series started but once they lost now he is compared to pippen lol. Im not saying jordan isnt the best, but people put him like he wasnt human like. I remember Iverson broke jordan's ankles not once but twice in one play, if that was kobe everyone would be making it 30 times worse. People just don't want to see someone better than jordan some day.