***2021-2022 NBA Season Thread***

[G.A.C.O.L.B.]

God yes, Reggie Miller. That's my vote. I wonder if he's a HOFer without Spike Lee

[Going Commando]

So you point out Kobe having the GOAT HC for all five of his rings, when Jordan (who I think is the GOAT as a player btw) had the same GOAT HC for all six of his rings.  

 

I wouldn't call his championship teams super teams, sure he had Shaq for 3 of them, but Jordan had Pippen and Rodman along with an excellent supporting cast for his last 3.  The Lakers team that won its last 2, I would hardly call super team.

 

Kobe has been one of the best players ever to play the game and fun to watch in his prime.  LeBron, the verdict is still out on where he lands overall, I don't think he will de-throne MJ as the GOAT, but Kobe is the closest comparison to MJ in this generation.  

 

Everyone wants to make the argument about LeBron being stuck on ****ty Cleveland teams, well what about Kobe being stuck on ****ty Lakers teams in-between championship teams for 6 years?

MJ was the best player in the league back when Doug Collins was the coach too. And those early Bulls teams were lousy. Charles Oakley and John Paxson were all he had and he still made the playoffs every season because Jordan was a complete force of nature.

LeBron's 2011-2012 season is the only season that gets into the neighborhood of Jordan's 87-88 season.

Phil Jackson made a huge difference for Jordan no doubt. But as far as his surrounding cast, Pippen and Rodman ain't Shaq. Not even close. Shaq was the best and most dominant player in the league for three straight seasons from 99-2001 and he was one of the top two or three players in the game almost every year after that for the rest of his time as a Laker. He was the best player on those Lakers teams and there is a reason he was the Finals MVP each time. JoeWolf says the Lakers don't win a ring in 2001 without Kobe. Well the Lakers barely even make the playoffs without Shaq.

And we know this because they missed the playoffs once and barely went .500 twice in the three years before the Gasol heist.

Also that 2007-2009 Lakers team was absolutely a super team. They cruised to the one seed all three years even though Kobe was on cruise control for two of them. Pau Gasol was an elite player each of those three years and the Lakers got him without trading a single one of their top 8 players. Pau actually led the Lakers in win shares two of those years, not Kobe. Memphis gave him away and completely changed the balance of power in the league. Bynum and Odom were also excellent during their run. Kobe played with the best front court in the league by a country mile. His team was stacked.

How do you figure Kobe was stuck on ****ty teams for six years BTW? It was three from the time he forced Shaq out to the time the Lakers got Gasol. And Kobe asked for a trade too during that time frame BTW. He made his own ****ing bed then asked for a trade LOL!

And do you really want to bring up the comparison to LeBron in Cleveland regarding this? Kobe's lousy teams barely cracked .500 or ended up in the lottery. LeBron's led the NBA in wins. Not to mention Dirk's won 50+ games a year rain or shine, and occasionally won 60+.

[Going Commando]

If you guys had to create a big three for the next 4 seasons, which three would you choose? Which three stars (without choosing three guys that play the same position) would be the absolute worst.

I'd go with Lebron, KD, and Howard as the best combination. Best player, best scorer, and best defender. There would be no need to call plays for Howard. He'd get 15-25 on easy baskets simply by being on the court with Lebron and KD who command defenders simply by taking a dribble.

The worst? This is harder because any team with three stars shouldn't ever be bad. Kyrie, Harden, and Love. Lots of shooting, very little defense and leadership.

+1 on your worst big three. Some Emperor's new clothes with all three of those guys. Super specialists wrongfully considered franchise caliber superstars.

Does age factor? Like we're talking about a 5 year run?

If it does, Kevin Durant + Blake Griffin + Anthony Davis would be my choice. You and I could start at guard for that team and have it win 60 games.

[Destino]

+1 on your worst big three. Some Emperor's new clothes with all three of those guys. Super specialists wrongfully considered franchise caliber superstars.

Does age factor? Like we're talking about a 5 year run?

If it does, Kevin Durant + Blake Griffin + Anthony Davis would be my choice. You and I could start at guard for that team and have it win 60 games.

Yeah the next 4 seasons was the time frame because, as I understand it, a team can't have 3 five year deals. Of course the nba cap rules are written by people that that love nothing as much as confusion and complication, so I could be wrong. Either way, for the discussion, 4 years works.

I'm not sure Davis makes it because he lacks playoff experience and a 4 peat requires immediate greatness. Plus, the unibrow bugs me.

[Sticksboi05]

ML: you nailed it. Dirk can't possibly be greater when you factor in defense.

 

Kobe is absurdly overrated defensively.

Anybody who says AI is overrated is full of it. The team he took to the Finals isn't even a playoff team without him. NBA MVP, 2 time NBA All Star Game MVP, perennial all-star, future hall of famer, recently got his number retired. Yeah, he's overrated.

 

A.I. i overrated too.  I saw some kid on Twitter say they'd take him before Magic.  I mean is that serious?

[Bubble Screen]

Anybody who says AI is overrated is full of it. The team he took to the Finals isn't even a playoff team without him. NBA MVP, 2 time NBA All Star Game MVP, perennial all-star, future hall of famer, recently got his number retired. Yeah, he's overrated.

Aren't you a Sixers fan? Lol

What is his career FG %. What about assist to turnover ratio? And he was a liability on defense. Dude was absurdly overrated.

And lol@ "All Star Game MVP".

God yes, Reggie Miller. That's my vote. I wonder if he's a HOFer without Spike Lee

That's an excellent choice.

I mean I could possibly see AI but dude took a team to the finals by himself. That has to count for something.

Until he recently got the post game working, I would have said Blake in a heart beat

Dude the NETS went to the Finals around that time!

Edited June 22, 2014 by Bubble Screen

[Ozymandias]

Anybody who says AI is overrated is full of it. The team he took to the Finals isn't even a playoff team without him. NBA MVP, 2 time NBA All Star Game MVP, perennial all-star, future hall of famer, recently got his number retired. Yeah, he's overrated.

 

I agree. Saying AI is the most overrated player in the past 25 years is probably one of the dumbest things ive ever heard. And I didnt even like the guy.

[Going Commando]

Yeah the next 4 seasons was the time frame because, as I understand it, a team can't have 3 five year deals. Of course the nba cap rules are written by people that that love nothing as much as confusion and complication, so I could be wrong. Either way, for the discussion, 4 years works.

I'm not sure Davis makes it because he lacks playoff experience and a 4 peat requires immediate greatness. Plus, the unibrow bugs me.

Yeah I think you're right. The way it's set up, I think a team can only have two five year deals, and I don't think they can be signed in the same year. So it has to be four.

I still like my big three for that span. I think that, upside-wise, they'll be the top three players in the game somewhere in that four year window. So much scoring at my forward spots. So much rebounding in that front court too. All of them good passers. I can win with trash guards.

But how about this one:

LeBron, Steph Curry, Dwight Howard?

That would be pretty nasty.

What about the best 24 and under big three? We're talking about an 8 year window for that.

[Dont Taze Me Bro]

Kobe Hate Rant

Did Kobe have sex with your girlfriend?  That's some strong Kobe hate Steve.

Edited June 22, 2014 by Dont Taze Me Bro

[Going Commando]

Did Kobe have sex with your girlfriend?  That's some strong Kobe hate Steve.

Good response. Time was Kobe's fans would work so much harder to boost him up.

[Dont Taze Me Bro]

Good response. Time was Kobe's fans would work so much harder to boost him up.

Here is the thing, I'm not a Kobe fan, I really don't care for the Lakers to be honest.  But saying Dirk is better than Kobe is silly man.  

[Sticksboi05]

Here is the thing, I'm not a Kobe fan, I really don't care for the Lakers to be honest.  But saying Dirk is better than Kobe is silly man.  

 

At his peak, Dirk led the league in PER and win shares and shot 50-40-90.  At no point has Kobe even finished top 2 in PER or led the league in win shares which is shocking for a guy people want to say is the "closest to MJ" we have seen.

 

Kobe and Duncan are routinely on the All-NBA Defensive teams, except Duncan led the league in defensive win shares five separate times and Kobe has only been in the top 10 once.  So people will point out that they are even defensively because of worthless media awards.  The truth is they are not close in terms of defensive impact.

 

Now, the thing with Dirk is outside of those super seasons from 05-07, he has not been as good as Kobe.  All-time you have to put Kobe over Dirk.  But the whole "wow 35 ppg" thing doesn't matter to me, he took THREE HUNDRED more shots than the next guy, LeBron, in 2005-06.  Six hundred more than Dirk. 

Edited June 22, 2014 by Sticksboi05

[Ozymandias]

At his peak, Dirk led the league in PER and win shares and shot 50-40-90. At no point has Kobe even finished top 2 in PER or led the league in win shares which is shocking for a guy people want to say is the "closest to MJ" we have seen.

Kobe and Duncan are routinely on the All-NBA Defensive teams, except Duncan led the league in defensive win shares five separate times and Kobe has only been in the top 10 once. So people will point out that they are even defensively because of worthless media awards. The truth is they are not close in terms of defensive impact.

Now, the thing with Dirk is outside of those super seasons from 05-07, he has not been as good as Kobe. All-time you have to put Kobe over Dirk. But the whole "wow 35 ppg" thing doesn't matter to me, he took THREE HUNDRED more shots than the next guy, LeBron, in 2005-06. Six hundred more than Dirk.

As stupid as it is, people will say Kobe is closest to MJ because of his 5 rings. Completely ignoring everything else. MJ set that standard, and people blindly follow it.

But as far as Kobe vs dirk goes, I'd have to side with the Kobe lovers and say I'd take Kobe. And that's no knock on dirk. I agree with the whole 35 ppg thing as being a stupid measurement because it would be hard not to avg that many points when you are putting up 25 shots a game. Plus, points isnt the only on aspect of the game, you have to look at everything. That being said, IMO Kobe is overall is better than dirk.

Edited June 22, 2014 by Ozymandias

[DM72]

People are actually arguing Kobe vs Dirk? lol...Dirk was very good, but come on. Kobe was better.

Edited June 22, 2014 by DM72

[ixcuincle]

Carmelo is good but a ball hog 

 

Get out of New York ya jabroni

[Sticksboi05]

People are actually arguing Kobe vs Dirk? lol...Dirk was very good, but come on. Kobe was better.

 

 

I mean I would take Kobe all-time over Dirk based on longevity because Dirk really had but a 3-4 year stretch where he was out of this world good, but both at peak, it's not lopsided whatsoever and picking either would not be wrong. 

 

The stats show that Dirk was the best player in the game from 2005-07 in terms of leading his team to wins and efficiency as a player, at no point in Kobe's career do the statistics show that.  He is pretty much the only guy in the top 10 discussion (which he is, a top 10 player) where the stats don't definitively show that he was the best in the game at any point.  Amazing what media rhetoric does to people when comparing players.

Edited June 22, 2014 by Sticksboi05

[RonArtest15]

Melo could still re-sign w/ the knicks, but I see him being elsewhere next year. 

[Going Commando]

That really sucks about Isaiah Austin. He was skinny even by the standards of an 18 year old 7 foot basketball player.

But at least they diagnosed his condition before harm was done.

Melo could still re-sign w/ the knicks, but I see him being elsewhere next year.

The thing that's struck me about Melo and Love is how much less the demand for them is than you'd expect. Each of those guys only has a couple of teams that are realistic options for them. You'd think anyone would want to sign Melo on the open market. But his only real options are staying in NY, Dallas, Houston, and Chicago.

And there isn't nearly the enthusiasm in the trade market for Love that you'd expect. All I'm seeing is Boston and Golden State in the market for him. I think he's going to get traded for pennies on the dollar.

[Dont Taze Me Bro]

That really sucks about Isaiah Austin. He was skinny even by the standards of an 18 year old 7 foot basketball player.

But at least they diagnosed his condition before harm was done.

Kid already went through hell being blind in one eye, then literally days before the draft, a bomb drop like that.  Horrible.  Agreed though, at least it was discovered prior to any harm being done.  

[Chew]

Melo is gone

[Sticksboi05]

Why on Earth would Carmelo want to stay in NY?

[Going Commando]

Why on Earth would Carmelo want to stay in NY?

Phil Jackson is the only reason I can think of.

[Destino]

That really sucks about Isaiah Austin. He was skinny even by the standards of an 18 year old 7 foot basketball player.

But at least they diagnosed his condition before harm was done.

Watching that interview on sportscenter was painful. He looked devastated and the ESPN reporter asking the question looked to be holding back tears. 4 days before the draft and the kid is told that the future he'd envisioned and worked for was gone and that he's got a serious medical condition. I hope he gets the support he needs because a hit like that can't be easy to bounce back from.

[Destino]

As stupid as it is, people will say Kobe is closest to MJ because of his 5 rings. Completely ignoring everything else. MJ set that standard, and people blindly follow it.

But as far as Kobe vs dirk goes, I'd have to side with the Kobe lovers and say I'd take Kobe. And that's no knock on dirk. I agree with the whole 35 ppg thing as being a stupid measurement because it would be hard not to avg that many points when you are putting up 25 shots a game. Plus, points isnt the only on aspect of the game, you have to look at everything. That being said, IMO Kobe is overall is better than dirk.

It's also because Kobe and Jordan were similar in a lot of ways. Same position obviously but they had virtually the same height, wingspan, and standing reach. They had a similar build, both on the thin side but strong. When Kobe was in his prime he attacked the rim like a madman, just like Jordan though he didn't float in the air like MJ could. Both improved their shooting and developed beautiful fade away shots when they got older. They each have that sociopathic need to win and can rub teammates and opponents the wrong way.

They weren't exactly the same player but they are a much more natural comparison than say Lebron and Jordan. Kobe could very fairly be called a poor mans Jordan, and that's not an insult to Kobe.

[Going Commando]

Watching that interview on sportscenter was painful. He looked devastated and the ESPN reporter asking the question looked to be holding back tears. 4 days before the draft and the kid is told that the future he'd envisioned and worked for was gone and that he's got a serious medical condition. I hope he gets the support he needs because a hit like that can't be easy to bounce back from.

He can come out of this alright. As far as I know, you can live with Marfan's pretty well. He can finish his degree and if he wants to stick with basketball, coaching is something he could pursue.