That's the biggest load of crap I've ever read. I don't like Kobe and I hate the Lakers, but Kobe runs circles around LBJ. Kobe wants the ball with the game on the line, James would much rather pass it. Kobe wins titles, James not so much, and don't try to tell me that Gasol is the reason Kobe has won back to back titles. Without Kobe the Lakers are lucky to get out of the 1st round much like Gasol's teams in Memphis. Gasol is far from top 3 bigman, that's just a way for LBJ fans to spread their lies about why Kobe wins and James loses.
oregontrack wrote:
swagnatic101 wrote:
oregontrack wrote:I think everyone agrees The Decision was handled horribly, but he is the best player in the world. I'll take relative immaturity over the rape/douchbaggery and extortion/gambling/sex fiend egos of the two previous 'best players in the world' (Kobe and MJ, respectively).
This year's Cav's are the greatest endorsement to LeBron's ability. To lose one player (and yes, I'm taking Big Z into account) and go from 60+ wins to... well, whatever the hell they're doing in Cleveland this year, is insane.
mj and kobe over lbj every single day. dont b so salty jus because mj and kobe have kept the blazers from rings.
physically dude is unreal.. but the dude is a first class bitch. just wait til boston makes him quit on his team... again.
MJ over LeBron, sure. Jordan > all. But Kobe's never gotten himself out of the first round of the playoffs without a top 3 big man down low to take the load. LeBron's been better than Kobe for years now.
Man, yall are hilarious trying to argue this. Few things: arguing MJ v KB v LJ is never going to lead to a definitive conclusion, but I'll attach my name to Bill Russell because he's got more rings than any of them, combined.
Sure, LBJ took a "pay-cut" but not by much and he (good reason to go to fl) now lives in a state with no income tax (also why haynesworth was a moron for going to DC instead of Tampa if he was "only out for money")
Will LBJ win a title? Not with this current Heat team. The best low-post scorer is LBJ because Bosh is a bum. No low-post scoring = no winning playoff series. No 2nd unit = no winning playoff series. Lebron is a mixture of Vince Carter in Karl Malone's body which is why he's so beastly on the court, but basketball is still a team game and the Heat still are awful against top teams.
Kobe's Lakers in the post-Shaq era could not get out of the first round of the playoffs. This is fact. The Lakers trade for Gasol, and they've never done less than the Finals with him. This is fact. Not only can Kobe not win titles with elite big men, he can't win a single playoff series without them.
Kobe's a great player, but he's not better than LeBron, nor has he been for a number of years now. Your Kobe-wants-the-ball/LeBron-wants-to-pass analogy doesn't say anything about who's the better player, that would determine who's a better closer. I would not argue that Kobe's the best closer in the game. That's not the same as best all-around player.
Gasol is easily in the NBA's top 3. Who else is there? I'd give you Howard and Stoudamire. You could say Dirk, but I've never considered Dirk a true big man, rather a really tall dude who's made a career of draining 19 footers. Gasol is EASILY top 3.
buckmarkduck wrote:So far tonight Aldridge is make Gasol look like anything but a top 3 big. Gasol been playing D on him most of the half and Aldridge has 18pts.
This is fine, but a one game sample does not a point make. LaMarcus has been killing everyone he's come up against for seven weeks now, regardless.
I guess all I'm saying is Gasol is a good center, and maybe your right he might be top 5 or even 3, but centers today have gone the way of full backs in the NFL. They aren't what they once where. 10-15 years ago Gasol would have been about the 15th est center in the NBA. Guys like Hakeem, Robinson, Shaq ect woudl have dominated him. Now I agree Kobe had Shaq, but Gasol is no Shaq in his prime.
Indeed he is not Shaq in his prime, but he is an elite player down low for the era he plays in. In a perfect Laker world Gasol is also the 4, Bynum is the center, but naturally Bynum's out of the lineup a lot.
