Halx

Yes, the title is meant to incite, but let's take a look:

Kobe Bryant - the best player in the world. Don't even try to argue.
Derek Fisher - a clutch, experienced veteran with a feisty backup in Jordan Farmar
Lamar Odom - not always on target, but one of those rare players who can get what they want any time they want it. He just needs to want it.
Andrew Bynum - the most promising center of this generation, especially under the tutelage of The Captain.

AND NOW... dun dun dun dunnnnnnnnn

Pau Gasol - Basically a Spanish Kevin Garnett. In the Garnett comparison what he lacks in intensity, he makes up for in grace and speed (he's a lot younger, too).

And then the endless bench... Turiaf (was that 6 blocks against the Knicks?), Ariza, Walton, Vujacic (say what you want, but he's arriving lately), Radmanovic (Ok ok), Farmar...

Jesus Christ on a Pogo Stick. No team has as much talent and depth.

All this team needs is to recover from their injuries and to gel together and it's a lock.

And I will once again be screaming at my television in April.

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'cb'

Yea they're gonna be pretty ridiculous. I think it will be a rematch of '04, Pistons and Lakers in the Finals, with the Pistons winning.

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mixedmedia

How dare y....wait, no you're right.

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Halx

Pistons are not gonna win. They needed a miracle to beat the Lakers when they were reeling, they're not going to beat them when they are strong. The difference between '04 is like a combined 30 years of age. Now its the Pistons who are old and the Lakers who are on the upswing. Man to man, the Pistons are vastly inferior. Their defense is nowhere near as dominating as it used to be. They get their wins from the scrubs in the East. If both teams are at full strength in June, prepare to be a disappointed Pistons fan.

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Cross-Over

Lakers are finally retooled. It took three years of mediocrity, but they now have a chance to compete for the title.

I don't think Kobe is the best player in the world, I think Lebron is.

Halx

Glad to see you're not influenced by hype or anything.

There are so many reasons why Kobe is better than LeBron, and they don't even start at the stat line. Please don't bring the media's basketball jesus into the discussion until he accomplishes and overcomes half the shit Kobe has.

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Cross-Over

Glad to see you make assumptions about what influences me. That is completely ignorant and a terrible start to a potential argument. You make a post about a team being the best in the NBA, which includes a mention of a certain player being the best in the world. As I mentioned in the first post, I disagree. If you want to have the Kobe vs Lebron discussion, we can, but it doesn't appear that you are the least bit receptive to the idea.

QuasiMondo

There's rumors of a Shaq to Phoenix trade for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks. Move Stoudamire to the 4, and that'll be a dangerous lineup against LA, even with a healthy Andrew Bynum.

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Halx

Rawr.

I'm not receptive to it, because its not true. Duh. Thinking LeBron is better than Kobe is idolatry. That's like saying the Arizona Diamondbacks are a better franchise than the New York Yankees. Ben Roethlisberger is a better QB than Bret Favre. Being young, having talent, and winning young is one thing. Greatness stands the test of time and comes through over and over - and LeBron simply hasn't done shit compared to Kobe.

The funny thing is, I'm not worried about this. Shaq is on his way out. He's slow, hobbled, and nowhere near effective. He's even injured right now. This really just fucks around with Phoenix's game and sends away one of their keys that made them so dangerous. They certainly made a good effort to improve, but I can't see how this will help them.

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powerclown

In addition to Bryant and Gasol, I like the fact that there is quality depth at the point guard position in Fischer and Farmar. Fischer in particular is really playing great this year. A bit of an upgrade over Smush. And yeah, I don't see Shaq doing much in PHX...how is this guy at his age and weight going to run up and down the floor all night, every night, then play playoff basketball in May? Maybe he's been training super hard this year, saving himself, but the numbers don't lie I just can't see it.

Boston's come off the boil lately without KG. They're really fun to watch and a great team when he's playing. I like the analogy of a young, hungry Laker team facing an older Pistons team in the Finals, roles which were reversed in 04 for Detroit. Well done, Halx!

Rekna

What happened with Atlanta?

Cross-Over

Kobe has three rings. However, he wasn't the best player on any of those three teams, as evidenced by Shaq winning all three Finals MVPs and being the more efficient player throughout the year and throughout those playoff runs. Kobe didn't ride coat-tails, but I draw comparisons to Scottie Pippen in terms of his contribution to championships playing along side a dominant player. What has Kobe accomplished without Shaq?

Lebron took an above average squad to the NBA Finals and beat a very good Pistons team that was playing on a similar level to the championship Piston team of 2 years prior (that annihilated the Lakers in the finals, because big surprise, Kobe assumed the go-to guy role and shot a poor percentage that series).

Lebron willed his team to victory on the road during game 5 against a great defensive Pistons team. His performance was absolutely legendary and elite. Kobe has yet to perform at that high of a level in a playoff game, period. In addition, Kobe was unable to get his team past the Suns despite being up 3 games to 1 in the playoffs 2 years ago. Kobe's squad was mediocre that year, but that Suns squad he failed to beat was a step below the Pistons squad Lebron defeated last year. Kobe failed again last year to beat the Suns with an above average squad.

Kobe has personal records: 81 points, tied with Donyell Marshall for most three pointers in a game (13 I believe), and remarkable team accolades. To say Lebron hasn't done shit compared to him (this is a 1:1 comparison) simply is not true.

By the way, I did not even have to mention statistics (and age related comparisons with statistics) at all, because Lebron clearly is the better player statistically in terms of efficiency, productivity, and versatility.

Halx

Let me give you something. Kobe has a dislocated finger right now. He is playing. LeBron had a jammed finger earlier this year. He sat out a week.

Let me give you another thing. LeBron plays in the eastern conference. That he got to the finals was no great accomplishment. Hell, there was a huge suspicion that a fix was in to get him there. I know Rasheed Wallace certainly thought so.

And while I'm at it, here's another. Kobe was not a role player on his championship teams. He was a take-control guard. He was a championship player. He was the most talented and he came through. He won.

For the last few years, Kobe has been playing with Kwame Brown, Brian Cook, Smush Parker, and other blanks. They really had only one other complement to Kobe, Odom, but this guy isn't reliable in the least. All other retained role players are having breakout years this year, whereas they were almost silent in years before.

In contrast, LeBron has some good role players. They made impacts. They played with energy and they made shots.

He's still a little squirt with a lot to prove to me. He's good, don't get me wrong. He's not the best.

Dislocated finger, jazzed up opponent, and shitty coaching.

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Rekna

Well if they are the best team in the league the need to win those easy games, injuries or not. As of this instance I wouldn't say the Lakers are the best, not even the best in the west. I'd say the Jazz are playing the best in the west at the moment. 10 game winning streak with many of those teams being very good teams (spurs, Denver, hornets, Washington, Houston). Lakers are 5-5 in their last 10.

Halx

Despite injuries? No great team wins despite injuries to their top 2 players.

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powerclown

Who would you rather build a team around, Kobe or LeBron?

Halx

Do you need to hear my answer?

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Xazy

Honestly I would rather build a team around Chris Paul or Steve Nash, since they are more of a team player then either of them. But if I had to take one or the other I would say LeBron.

Rekna

People get hurt, people get sick, people foul out, etc. A great team has depth to their team and can win without their top players. Jazz routed the hornets without AK, Jazz beat Denver without brewer, Early in the season jazz routed the lakers without Boozer and Okur.....

Championship teams don't rely on a single person, they rely on a team with major depth. Right now the best thing going for the Jazz is there depth. They have a bench that is consistently waxing the floor with the other teams bench.

bonehed1

Steve Nash is good but hes getting old and it would be pointless to build a team around him. I still believe all great teams are built around their Center. We need a clone of Kareem but much younger.

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powerclown

Oh I definitely agree. I would build around 1) Chris Paul, or 1a) Deron Williams, before any other position. Although Kobe has many good years left, I like LeBron's passing and...well I was going to say ability to make his teammates better, but who on the Cavs is any good really? Andrew Bynum was looking like a pocket-Kareem there for a while I thought.

dlish

im just upset that my beloved spurs are on a downhill slide the lastfew weeks. they always seem to fall off towards the middle and end of the year and then play amazing bball in the finals..

so hopefully..watch this space

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Rekna

I think this is due to a couple of things. First the spurs always have an easier first half of the season and a harder second half. The first half they play a lot more home games and the second half they go on their Rodeo. Also the first half of their season has the games less packed in then the second. I think the second half of the season wears them down (their age is starting to show). But then they get rested up for the play off games.

Cross-Over

The Spurs already went on their road game stretch due to the Rodeo, and it is the first half of the season. Don't quote me on this, but I think the Spurs had a better or equal second half last year.

The Spurs are hurt right now, and I think that is the number one reason they have been inconsistent. I think age is the second factor, but they will contend again this year. Their discipline and efficiency on defense keeps them elite.

spongy

Ok, I have a few things to say about your list, which I fully expect you to automatically gainsay, but hey, it's not like it's your site or anything ;}

Let's start at the end of your statement all they need is to recover from injuries and gel? Well, you could say that about most above average teams. Let's try the Suns. If Shaq heals from his injuries and gels with the team, they would be a lock. Or maybe if the celts all heal in April, they will crush everyone. A specious argument at best. After all, I almost won the lottery last week. I only missed it by 5 numbers.

As far as Kobe being the best, I know you said that we shouldn't even try to argue, but I will add some fuel to the fire if I may. The lakers have lost the last 5 games against the Cavs. You also bring up Kobe playing with a bad finger and LeBron sitting. To that I would add that the games in the playoffs are more important.

Andrew Bynum is the most promising center of this generation? I believe Greg Oden's potential would beg to differ.

Do I also read that Odom gets whatever he wants, so long as he wants it? Are you saying he lacks motivation? Not exactly a recipe for success.

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Rekna

Rodeo went from Jan 28th to Feb 13th. They are in the middle of it.

http://www.nba.com/spurs/schedule/

Cross-Over

Yeah, I meant to say it was ongoing. I recalled that from last week's TNT game against the Suns. Still, it will be during the first half of the season.

Halx

HAHAHAHAHA! Today I read the best article ever. Cross-Over, this is for you. Its about the double standard that the media (and regular people) have for the MVP award. It first illustrates how the same values that denied Kobe the MVP award for the last two years are being used to lift LeBron James up on a pedestal this year. Stats. Then, it goes on to dispel the myth that Kobe doesn't make his teammates better, using statistical analysis, while also proving that LeBron actually makes his teammates WORSE. I invite anyone to read it and take it in, then tell me why LeBron is more deserving of the MVP award.

http://forums.lakersground.net/viewtopic.php?t=57461

Those are just interesting excerpts, but PLEASE read the whole thing.

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