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Would Kobe have taken the Cavs to the Finals last year?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 7:46 pm
by TheUrbanZealot
Reggie Miller recently said if Kobe were on the Heat, the heat would not nearly as bad as they are now (record-wise). Somehow, I actually agree with that sentiment. However just as interesting a question to be posed is if Kobe were on the Cavs team that went to the Finals last year, instead of James, would they have still gone to the Finals?
Comparing that Cavs team to the Lakers, it's clear the Lakers had more talent. That talent advantage could be trumped somewhat by the Lakers playing the West, however, it still doesn't discount the fact that a 22 yr old phenom was somehow able to carry this team to the Finals.
We hear the Kobe vs. LBJ comparisons all the time, but is it really justified? Would Kobe have taken a hapless team to the Finals by making everyone around him better?
As much as I love Kobe, I have to admit that we are bearing witness to perhaps the most dominating player in sports not named Tiger Woods. LBJ is simply in a league of his own. This is a 23 yr old wunderkind who is averaging damn near a triple double, and is absolutely unflappable. If Lebron had a prime Shaq last year, do you not think the Cavs wouldn't have won?
I'm sorry people, but Kobe would have barely got to the playoffs last year with that Cavs squad. LBJ is on his own stratosphere, and I think us Laker fans are in serious homer mode if we take Kobe over LBJ. Kobe is arguably the most clutch player in basketball, but he doesn't have that X factor that Jordan and James have- he can't make "scrub" players better. He masks this hole well by volume scoring his way to wins, but he does NOT make teammates "better" (in the way Jordan or James does).
Again, I'm sorry people, but if I had a choice between Kobe and LBJ, I'm taking LBJ. The more I watch him the more I realize there is just absolutely nothing you can do against him, AND he makes his teammates better at that.
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 7:48 pm
by snaquille oatmeal
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 7:54 pm
by LLcoleJ
Kobe could have easily gotten last years Cavs to the ECF. He struggles against Detroit but Detroit struggled themselves in the ECF.
On the flip side, LBJ would not have gotten past the Suns in the first round last year with either team.
I disagree that Kobe doesn't make players better. Because I have seen nothing but growth from players around Kobe.
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:00 pm
by semi-sentient
Hard to say. Kobe would have only had to get the Cavs past Detroit since they basically had a bye in the 1st 2 rounds, and based on how well Kobe has played Detroit since rule change, I would have to say yes, he would have gotten them to the Finals.
Who knows though? Kobe could have laid another egg for all we know.
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:16 pm
by chefy
yep
and he would at least win 2-3 games against the spurs, lebron's performance at the finals was very disappointing( and I think thats what seperate kobe from lbj, kobe can always surprise you, when you think had seen it all, he will elevate his game to another level) , bowen shut him down
Re: Would Kobe have taken the Cavs to the Finals last year?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:27 pm
by Big Bird
TheUrbanZealot wrote:Kobe is arguably the most clutch player in basketball, but he doesn't have that X factor that Jordan and James have- he can't make "scrub" players better. He masks this hole well by volume scoring his way to wins, but he does NOT make teammates "better" (in the way Jordan or James does).
I don't know you and I won't judge you, but if you seriously believe that, I doubt that you've been watching the Lakers the past few seasons.
I'll just throw one name (of at least 4 or 5 possible) for you to look up: Smush Parker.
/thread
p.s.: I don't know if he could've done it, so your guess that he wouldn't is as good as any.
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:41 pm
by That Nicka
Who cares.. Kobe doesnt play for the Cavs, he plays for the Lakers
Re: Would Kobe have taken the Cavs to the Finals last year?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:52 pm
by magic1fan
TheUrbanZealot wrote:Reggie Miller recently said if Kobe were on the Heat, the heat would not nearly as bad as they are now (record-wise). Somehow, I actually agree with that sentiment. However just as interesting a question to be posed is if Kobe were on the Cavs team that went to the Finals last year, instead of James, would they have still gone to the Finals?
Comparing that Cavs team to the Lakers, it's clear the Lakers had more talent. That talent advantage could be trumped somewhat by the Lakers playing the West, however, it still doesn't discount the fact that a 22 yr old phenom was somehow able to carry this team to the Finals.
We hear the Kobe vs. LBJ comparisons all the time, but is it really justified? Would Kobe have taken a hapless team to the Finals by making everyone around him better?
As much as I love Kobe, I have to admit that we are bearing witness to perhaps the most dominating player in sports not named Tiger Woods. LBJ is simply in a league of his own. This is a 23 yr old wunderkind who is averaging damn near a triple double, and is absolutely unflappable. If Lebron had a prime Shaq last year, do you not think the Cavs wouldn't have won?
I'm sorry people, but Kobe would have barely got to the playoffs last year with that Cavs squad. LBJ is on his own stratosphere, and I think us Laker fans are in serious homer mode if we take Kobe over LBJ. Kobe is arguably the most clutch player in basketball, but he doesn't have that X factor that Jordan and James have- he can't make "scrub" players better. He masks this hole well by volume scoring his way to wins, but he does NOT make teammates "better" (in the way Jordan or James does).
Again, I'm sorry people, but if I had a choice between Kobe and LBJ, I'm taking LBJ. The more I watch him the more I realize there is just absolutely nothing you can do against him, AND he makes his teammates better at that.
Wow all those words to basically say nothing! I am sure you are really proud of yourself. There is no doubt in my mind kobe could have carried that team to the finals. Not only that he would have won,and not been the worst player on his team as James was. Also to say the lakers had more talent shows you must not have been watching the lakers. I will take hughes,z,and gooden over smush,kwame and luke any day of the week.
Kobe already carried a team to the finals. The 04 lakers. The guy was on a mission coming back from court dates. Get a clue,and realize that even Lebron knows that kobe is better right now.
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 8:58 pm
by chefy
chefy wrote:yep
and he would at least win 2-3 games against the spurs, lebron's performance at the finals was very disappointing( and I think thats what seperate kobe from lbj, kobe can always surprise you, when you think you had seen it all, he will elevate his game to another level) , bowen shut him down
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 9:29 pm
by doozyj
1. believe if the Lakers were in the East during that year, they may have not. Fact is Smush was like a small chunk of metal in a gearbox.
2.If LBJs Cavs were in the West, I doubt they would have made the play offs. Too tough of a division.
I3.f Kobe was on the Cavs last year, Yes. Kobe is more talented IMHO than Lebron, has much more playoff experience, the East was by far a luke warm division.
4.Now if LBJ was on the Lakers last year. Seem #2 and * below.
Wow, that's a lot of speculation! Again all IMHO of course.
* William Smush "****" Parker"
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 10:20 pm
by LA-LA-Land
goddamn smush parker and his 3 game string of 20 pt games to start the 05 season. made me believe he was a diamond from the rough
i feel cheated lol.
Re: Would Kobe have taken the Cavs to the Finals last year?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 10:55 pm
by TheUrbanZealot
magic1fan wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Wow all those words to basically say nothing! I am sure you are really proud of yourself. There is no doubt in my mind kobe could have carried that team to the finals. Not only that he would have won,and not been the worst player on his team as James was. Also to say the lakers had more talent shows you must not have been watching the lakers. I will take hughes,z,and gooden over smush,kwame and luke any day of the week.
Kobe already carried a team to the finals. The 04 lakers. The guy was on a mission coming back from court dates. Get a clue,and realize that even Lebron knows that kobe is better right now.
Great way to leave out Odom, who is better than anyone on the Cavs. Bynum, who even last year was better than Gooden...
I wonder what the Cavs board would say to such a question?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 11:06 pm
by JordansBulls
They would get to the Conference Finals, but after that I am not sure if they beat Detroit. Detroit seems to be able to defend Kobe than they do Lebron, well so it seems from the times they met in the playoffs.
Re: Would Kobe have taken the Cavs to the Finals last year?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 11:14 pm
by magic1fan
TheUrbanZealot wrote:-= original quote snipped =-
Great way to leave out Odom, who is better than anyone on the Cavs. Bynum, who even last year was better than Gooden...
I wonder what the Cavs board would say to such a question?
That is in your opinion. I would take gooden over odom. Also bynum was not better than Z last year. Lastly who cares what the cavs board would say about this question?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 11:23 pm
by DEEP3CL
That Nicka wrote:Who cares.. Kobe doesnt play for the Cavs, he plays for the Lakers
Exactly this is not a relevant topic at all.
Re: Would Kobe have taken the Cavs to the Finals last year?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 11:25 pm
by RocketPower23
TheUrbanZealot wrote:Reggie Miller recently said if Kobe were on the Heat, the heat would not nearly as bad as they are now (record-wise). Somehow, I actually agree with that sentiment. However just as interesting a question to be posed is if Kobe were on the Cavs team that went to the Finals last year, instead of James, would they have still gone to the Finals?
Comparing that Cavs team to the Lakers, it's clear the Lakers had more talent. That talent advantage could be trumped somewhat by the Lakers playing the West, however, it still doesn't discount the fact that a 22 yr old phenom was somehow able to carry this team to the Finals.
We hear the Kobe vs. LBJ comparisons all the time, but is it really justified? Would Kobe have taken a hapless team to the Finals by making everyone around him better?
As much as I love Kobe, I have to admit that we are bearing witness to perhaps the most dominating player in sports not named Tiger Woods. LBJ is simply in a league of his own. This is a 23 yr old wunderkind who is averaging damn near a triple double, and is absolutely unflappable. If Lebron had a prime Shaq last year, do you not think the Cavs wouldn't have won?
I'm sorry people, but Kobe would have barely got to the playoffs last year with that Cavs squad. LBJ is on his own stratosphere, and I think us Laker fans are in serious homer mode if we take Kobe over LBJ. Kobe is arguably the most clutch player in basketball, but he doesn't have that X factor that Jordan and James have- he can't make "scrub" players better. He masks this hole well by volume scoring his way to wins, but he does NOT make teammates "better" (in the way Jordan or James does).
Again, I'm sorry people, but if I had a choice between Kobe and LBJ, I'm taking LBJ. The more I watch him the more I realize there is just absolutely nothing you can do against him, AND he makes his teammates better at that.
Wow, in all my time posting and reading these boards, this is one of the worst and most pointless thread and post. Please, I want to hear your "expert" analysis as to why James is better then Bryant.
BTW- I'm not saying Kobe would have gotten the Cavs to the finals, that really is an impossible question to answer, so all of you who are saying yes and no, please, STFU. Are you the same people that say that Kobe could've defiantly done what Wade did in the playoffs a couple years ago. These threads are worthless and are only here to bait people. Mods please lock.
Re: Would Kobe have taken the Cavs to the Finals last year?
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 11:26 pm
by semi-sentient
TheUrbanZealot wrote:Great way to leave out Odom, who is better than anyone on the Cavs. Bynum, who even last year was better than Gooden...
I wonder what the Cavs board would say to such a question?
Hopefully they would use a little more common sense in that they wouldn't be comparing a C to a PF.
Bynum last year did not perform well towards the end of the season. Last year, Igs and Gooden were better compliments to LeBron than Odom and Bynum were to Kobe, and the Cavs overall were a very good defensive team when compared to the Lakers. Never mind that Bynum wasn't even getting much playing time, since Kwame Brown was featured as our starting center.
Posted: Mon Mar 3, 2008 11:59 pm
by hermes
That Nicka wrote:Who cares.. Kobe doesnt play for the Cavs, he plays for the Lakers
good call
and i hope the cavs get kwame and smush this summer and well see how lebron does with them
Posted: Tue Mar 4, 2008 12:21 am
by deathbringer6
The talent level in the east were way too low compared to the West. So it's a yes, another question is, can Lebron get the Lakers to the playoffs last year.
Posted: Tue Mar 4, 2008 12:42 am
by Gerald3Wallace
they woulda won
yup