[Reg]

Has the torch already been passed from Kobe Bryant's hands? All due respect to Kobe, but you could argue that LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony, and Kevin Durant have been better than any three players on the planet this year. And even after Kobe reaches NBA old-age, those three should still be in their primes and setting the standard by which most other players are judged. Small forwards are always a diverse crew. LeBron is a powerhouse who could also play the point; 'Melo is an effortless scorer who could play the four if he wanted; Durant is a perimeter sniper with a center's height and two-guard range. Neither of them looks at all like the other, and yet the results are often the same: Bucket after bucket, with a healthy share of boards, assists and defense thrown in for good measure. Then you throw in colleagues like Danny Granger (shooter), Paul Pierce (scorer), Rudy Gay (high-flyer), Ron Artest (bully) and Gerald Wallace (Roller Derby), and the League's elite threes are a study in variety.

Dime Magazine

[Nanizm]

I dont get the point of asking if the torch as been passed from kobe to these 3 guys in that piece.
The piece mainly talks about the 3 forwards and how dynamic they are; also, it mentions other players in the small forward position but what does that have to do with Kobe?
Durant, Lebron and Anthony between them have as many NBA championship rings I do yet they've surpassed Kobe as the best in the game?
This league more so than any other team league is about championships and the current count is Kobe 4 and those three is zero.
Kobe when healthy, which this season he has not been, is still a prolific scorer, all team defender and superb clutch player.
While many of the guys mentioned have surpassed Kobe in one area of the game ability or production wise they are not even close in maturity, cluthness, determination and most importantly results.
Durant, Lebron and Anthony have all showed they can do it in the regular season but can they do it when it counts most?
We dont know yet for them but we do for Kobe.

[Kosar]

I agree, Nanner.
This topic has taken over the always enlightening Kobe vs. Michael debate.

[Hayter]

i watch all the laker games and rarely watch nba games that don't involve the lakers. i see kobe the greatest basketball player ever then i see the kobe that shoots 7 for 23. everybody has games like that but it seems it's pretty common for kobe. i don't see all the games for carmelo, durant and lebron but it appears that these guys are more consistent than kobe. carmelo pretty much goes off EVERY night. same with lebron. i saw a stat, the other day, that durant is like 2nd or 3rd on the list of players who consecutively scored 25 or more points. only behind jordan and maybe someone else.. that's consistentcy. these guys haven't accomplished what kobe has but i would like to see more consistency out of him.

[Steven]

I see only one player, amongst the three mentioned, that surpassed Kobe in ability, and that's Lebron.
Although, Kobe in the last 2 minutes of the game is still a better player.

[Nanizm]

Well here are some facts about Kobe:

Kobe had 4 consecutive 50 point games in a season and only Wilt had more.
Kobe had 9 consecutive 40 point games in a season and only Wilt had more.
Kobe had 10 50 + point games in 2006-07. Only Wilt had more in one season.
Kobe has 23 50 + point and 74 40+ point games in his career.

Carmelo, Lebron and Durant all have off nights just like Kobe. Lebron the other day stunk in the 4th against Charlotte.
Kobe early in his career use to go off on a tangent too as the numbers above show but he really doesnt need to anymore with the roster he has now.
I watch a lot of NBA basketball and I still have Kobe over Carmelo, Lebron and Durant. Even this year with that tape job on his finger.

[Kosar]

Hayter, on 25 February 2010 - 02:55 PM, said:

i watch all the laker games and rarely watch nba games that don't involve the lakers. i see kobe the greatest basketball player ever then i see the kobe that shoots 7 for 23. everybody has games like that but it seems it's pretty common for kobe. i don't see all the games for carmelo, durant and lebron but it appears that these guys are more consistent than kobe. carmelo pretty much goes off EVERY night. same with lebron. i saw a stat, the other day, that durant is like 2nd or 3rd on the list of players who consecutively scored 25 or more points. only behind jordan and maybe someone else.. that's consistentcy. these guys haven't accomplished what kobe has but i would like to see more consistency out of him.

Like the first shot he took last night. Completely ridiculous.
He hadn't really touched the ball the 1st 5minutes, and the other guys were contributing.
He and Drew worked the pick-n-roll, Drew was wide open for the pass and dunk. Instead, Kobe takes this fade away, 3 dudes in his face, and tries to go off glass.
Shit like that drives me nuts! When is he gonna to grow up and let the game come to him?

[Ricky]

well besides the fact Melo and LeBron are like 2 inches taller, 5+ years younger, and like 30-50lbs heavier...it makes it kinda hard to compare...Durant is 6'10 with a 8foot wiingspan soo thats werid...why not compare Kobe with D-Wade? B-Roy? Mayo? JJ? Oh yeah...no contest

[Nanizm]

Kosar, on 25 February 2010 - 05:00 PM, said:

Like the first shot he took last night. Completely ridiculous.
He hadn't really touched the ball the 1st 5minutes, and the other guys were contributing.
He and Drew worked the pick-n-roll, Drew was wide open for the pass and dunk. Instead, Kobe takes this fade away, 3 dudes in his face, and tries to go off glass.
Shit like that drives me nuts! When is he gonna to grow up and let the game come to him?

He already has...but he has a scorers mentality...His switch is always on and that is why he is such a good closer..he's relentless, fearless and agressive at all times..you have to take the good with the bad with him and most prolific scorers.

[Juan23]

Stupid Story...

p.s. Im no Kobe ball washer either.....
he should have shot less in the last game

[Nanizm]

Juan23, on 26 February 2010 - 09:10 AM, said:

Stupid Story...

p.s. Im no Kobe ball washer either.....
he should have shot less in the last game

I dont like the term ball washer...but i am one that sides with Kobe on mostly everything. I think im kind of objective.

Whatever it is that Kobe does or doesnt do it works...4 rings...coming off a championship...he is a grown man playing the game for most of his life...he is not changing...but it works.

[Juan23]

Nanizm, on 26 February 2010 - 09:22 AM, said:

I dont like the term ball washer...but i am one that sides with Kobe on mostly everything. I think im kind of objective.

Whatever it is that Kobe does or doesnt do it works...4 rings...coming off a championship...he is a grown man playing the game for most of his life...he is not changing...but it works.

Agree...

[Paul LA]

Nanizm, on 26 February 2010 - 08:53 AM, said:

He already has...but he has a scorers mentality...His switch is always on and that is why he is such a good closer..he's relentless, fearless and agressive at all times..you have to take the good with the bad with him and most prolific scorers.

Kinda like the bitch that Matt Kemp or Ryan Howard strike out too much. If you score alot, you're gonna miss alot.

[Juan23]

Paul LA, on 26 February 2010 - 09:38 AM, said:

Kinda like the bitch that Matt Kemp or Ryan Howard strike out too much. If you score alot, you're gonna miss alot.

That is a good example

[Nanizm]

Paul LA, on 26 February 2010 - 09:38 AM, said:

Kinda like the bitch that Matt Kemp or Ryan Howard strike out too much. If you score alot, you're gonna miss alot.

Exactly...here are others that are analogous to the Kobe complaints.

Well yeah he gets a lot of strikeouts cause he throws a lot of strikes. Wish he would throw more balls.
Yes he has a lot wins cause he pitches a lot of games.
He gets a lot of goals cause he is always shooting at the net.
Sure he gets a lot of ass but he hits everything that moves...that actually is a valid criticism.

[Juan23]

Nanizm, on 26 February 2010 - 09:56 AM, said:

Sure he gets a lot of ass but he hits everything that moves...that actually is a valid criticism.

= Nan

[Hayter]

Nanizm, on 26 February 2010 - 09:22 AM, said:

but i am one that sides with Kobe on mostly everything.

did you side with kobe, a few years back, in the phoenix series where he was criticized for shooting too much so he decided to hardly shoot the ball at all. basically saying, "okay, win without me shooting then"... those are the things that piss me off. he only shot 3 times in the second half. 3 times...

i remember john salley making excuses for kobe, saying on the best damn sports show period that kobe is human and probably tired. TIRED? are you effin kidding me, salley. kobe TIRED so he didn't shoot leaving his teammates out to dry??? serious??? 3 shots in the second half. is that really being relentless and having his switch always turned on??

[Paul LA]

Nanizm, on 26 February 2010 - 09:56 AM, said:

Exactly...here are others that are analogous to the Kobe complaints.

Well yeah he gets a lot of strikeouts cause he throws a lot of strikes. Wish he would throw more balls.
Yes he has a lot wins cause he pitches a lot of games.
He gets a lot of goals cause he is always shooting at the net.
Sure he gets a lot of ass but he hits everything that moves...that actually is a valid criticism.

I actually had a converstion with someone who hates the Lakers (Angel fan,) and I asked why. He said, "they are too good and they win all the time. Like sushi. I won;t eat it, because everyone loves it." (...end quote.)

[Nanizm]

Hayter, on 26 February 2010 - 10:01 AM, said:

did you side with kobe, a few years back, in the phoenix series where he was criticized for shooting too much so he decided to hardly shoot the ball at all. basically saying, "okay, win without me shooting then"... those are the things that piss me off. he only shot 3 times in the second half. 3 times...

i remember john salley making excuses for kobe, saying on the best damn sports show period that kobe is human and probably tired. TIRED? are you effin kidding me, salley. kobe TIRED so he didn't shoot leaving his teammates out to dry??? serious??? 3 shots in the second half. is that really being relentless and having his switch always turned on??

I cant explain that game..if i remember the Suns were throwing everything at him early..the game got away and it was just too far out of reach...Kobe also was off on his shot that day even when he did get free...Sally was probably trying to make an excuse for him but did a horrible job...Kobe wasnt tired that game...he just had a bad game...all greats have bad games sometimes...i think Kobe has had enough great games in his playoff history to make up for the bad games...The Suns were a better team and should have swept the Lakers...the only reason there was even a game 7 was cause of Kobe. Walton, Smush, Kwame and Odom as the #2 surrounded Kobe...yuck...that is when i give Kobe the most credit...he carried the worse playoff roster in history to a game 7 against a MUCH better team.

[Steven]

Paul LA, on 26 February 2010 - 10:17 AM, said:

I actually had a converstion with someone who hates the Lakers (Angel fan,) and I asked why. He said, "they are too good and they win all the time. Like sushi. I won;t eat it, because everyone loves it." (...end quote.)

Sounds a lot like ClipperJosh!