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I finally have come to grips with reality that Kobe may no longer be the best baller in the world. I'm finally OK with it. I remember defending threads of fire and brimstone defending KB8/KB24 for years and years, because I clearly knew no one was better. I remember hate mail I'd receive from TMAC fans, wow were they clueless. This has been going on for a long long time, that's how good KB24 is as we all know. Now, I'm not 100% certain he is the best baller on the planet.

CP3/Kobe for MVP was a close decision, but I really think the PG spot is truly a distinct advantage rather than a 2,3,4, or 5 as the numbers go. The PG makes all the decisions with the ball in his hands 75% of the time. How can that not be a distinct advantage over a SG/SF? I'm glad Kobe got the MVP for him, but I didn't really care that much about the MVP. However, it sure helped with the recognition as the best baller globally, even haters had to give it up for the Kobester...now back to my original point...

Kobe is possibly the #2 best player on the planet, and I'm finally OK with it. LBJ not only may be the best baller on the planet, he may be the best athlete on the planet. To me LBJ has always looked like a freaky athletic football player playing all star basketball. I wonder what kind of Decathalete, WR/TE/RB, wrestler, boxer, MMA fighter he'd be anyway? Bo knows, DAMN, I think LBJ does as well.

Everytime I see him play he appears better than the last. His athletisism is uncanny. His speed/quickness/jumping ability is off the charts. Being on this Olympic team, especially with the MVP, will allow him to take the torch from Kobe gracefully and will help his confidence tremendously in the future. KB24 and LBJ seem closer than ever as friends and as players.

Watching LBJ block with two hands effortlessly, turn around an rip a full court pass or blow by a defender with a turbo boost is just jaw dropping. He is the best in the game on the break. You can argue he doesn't have that mid range came, yeah your right, but I'm sure it's coming. His three has already dramatically improved. LBJ plays so far above the rim, and far out on the break he gets easy shots, where Kobe has to work his tail off for everything.

Still I'm glad we have KB24 as our superstar, regardless if LBJ is actually better. If he is, I'm finally OK with it. DAMN LBJ is fun too watch, that much I know; now if he can just get out of who gives a shi* CLE.

Nothing against the other guys you named,but I will still take kobe. Call me a homer or whatever,but the things kobe does on the court,I haven't seen anyone else in the league be able to do. Lebron flies higher but that doesn't make him better. To me the biggest difference is how much more lebron can be shut down than kobe can. All you have to do is clog the lane because lebrons jumper does not exist. Bowen made lebron look like a jv player last year,and this year the celtics made him look the same way through six games. Kobe on the other hand killed the spurs,and had a bad series shooting 40%. If lebron had shot 40% his team would have won.

magic1fan wrote:
To me the biggest difference is how much more lebron can be shut down than kobe can. All you have to do is clog the lane because lebrons jumper does not exist.

Thing is, if you clog the lane, Lebron will STILL find a way to get in there. Theres just no denying the guy nowadays. if he wants to get into the lane, he'll get into the lane, regardless of what the opposition does.

magic1fan wrote:
Bowen made lebron look like a jv player last year,

Did he, really?

Lebron only averaged 27ppg, 8rpg, and 5apg on 49% vs San Antonio last season.

I dunno about you, but id LOOOOOVE to have those stats out of my JV players if I was a coach.

magic1fan wrote:
and this year the celtics made him look the same way through six games.

Against Boston (all games), Lebron averaged 32ppg, 7reb, and 10apg.

I want to hear you support your argument, because stats clearly prove otherwise.

Now im starting to think youre just straight out talking out of your aass in an attempt to hate on Lebron.

i would still take kobe...but if there was a player i would trade kobe for its lebron

Kno wrote:

magic1fan wrote:
To me the biggest difference is how much more lebron can be shut down than kobe can. All you have to do is clog the lane because lebrons jumper does not exist.

Thing is, if you clog the lane, Lebron will STILL find a way to get in there. Theres just no denying the guy nowadays. if he wants to get into the lane, he'll get into the lane, regardless of what the opposition does.

Bowen made lebron look like a jv player last year,

Did he, really?

Lebron only averaged 27ppg, 8rpg, and 5apg on 49% vs San Antonio last season.

I dunno about you, but id LOOOOOVE to have those stats out of my JV players if I was a coach.

I want to hear you support your argument, because stats clearly prove otherwise.

magic1fan wrote:
and this year the celtics made him look the same way through six games.

Against Boston (all games), Lebron averaged 32ppg, 7reb, and 10apg.



Now im starting to think youre just straight out talking out of your aass in an attempt to hate on Lebron.[/quote]



Dude calm down. I was talking about the playoffs. What even made you think i was refering to lebrons regular season stats? During the finals last year lebron shot 35%,and though he was doubled some bowen was on him alot,and he didn't perform well. Even against boston lebron kept on chucking to the tune of something like 35 or 36%. Please ask me what I am refering to,because by accusing me of hating it makes me think you are the one talking out of his arse.

Gerald3Wallace wrote:i would still take kobe...but if there was a player i would trade kobe for its lebron

I would take dwight howard and then it would be a toss up between wade and lebron.

I think next season will be the year LBJ takes over as the best in the world... but I dont care what where Kobe ranks as long as the Lakers win the chip

That Nicka wrote:I think next season will be the year LBJ takes over as the best in the world... but I dont care what where Kobe ranks as long as the Lakers win the chip

+1 as long as we win,that is all that matters. Plus kobe has had the title long enough anyway. I doubt he really cares about it anymore.

Kobe has been the best player since early years of this decade. It's because of his overall skillset (dribbling, shooting, and etc) that allowed him to be the best player for this long and its the reason why he will still be a top 3 player in this league for the next 2-3 years.

I'll admit, Lebron is currently the best athlete, but where will he be a few years from now after he loses a few steps and gone through some injuries? Particularly around the age of 28, he won't be able to drive so easily because he lost a few steps. He won't become the shooter (midrange or perimeter) that Kobe is, and I think he will resort to post moves which be his only benefit.

To me, being in "prime" means being in a optimal balance of experience + athleticism + talent.

For Lebron, once his athleticism is gone. Can experience and talent make up for the decreased in athleticism just like how Kobe has adjusted? This just might be Lebron's "prime", his best years in terms of performance.

Kobe at the age of 28 and over > Lebron at the age of 28

Lebron is just using sheer athleticism, not fundamentals.

Dude, can your opening be any longer. Get to the point. Kobe is in the top 5. The rest are right there also. Put me to sleep reading so much to get to one little point.

laduane1 wrote:Dude, can your opening be any longer. Get to the point. Kobe is in the top 5. The rest are right there also. Put me to sleep reading so much to get to one little point.

OK I trimmed it down your heiness.

magic1fan wrote:

Gerald3Wallace wrote:i would still take kobe...but if there was a player i would trade kobe for its lebron

I would take dwight howard and then it would be a toss up between wade and lebron.[/quote]



I didn't see the stat sheet, but seemed like Dwight got blocked like 5-7 times vs. the Chinese, he's fantastic, anywhere outside of 5 feet he's not gonna help as much as the rest of the crew. I don't think he has many pet moves yet as well. He has wonderful power and strength and explosion, just saying where's the hook, the dream shake, the soft short jumper, the fadaway. Not hating he's fantastic, just saying I don't think he's in this discussion YET.

whos the better scorer? kobe

whos the better defender? kobe

whos more clutch? kobe

chefy wrote:whos the better scorer? kobe

whos the better defender? kobe

whos more clutch? kobe

1.lebrons shown he can score...avging 30

2. though lebron is not an elite defender...he has improved a lot since coming in the league.

3.of course its kobe...but i can also take my chances of lebron taking it into the whole.

The biggest difference between the two is definitely their size. LeBron's size gives him a HUGE advantage and his athleticism is so superior to everyone else that dominating is just something that comes naturally. Kobe doesn't have that size and is not athletic as he once was. He had to work his @$$ off to develop the offensive repetoire (sp?) he has now and it sure has paid off. It remains to be seen, however, when LeBron loses a step if he will be able to develop the rest of his game. So far, he's been developing very well and there is a huge difference in his game from when he first came into the league.

I think Kobe will prove everyone wrong again this year.
The guys simply gets better year after year, he has matured a great deal, and I think the Olympics is definantly going to raise his game yet again.

Kobe just won the MVP his best year in the NBA after a string of seasons of being the best in the league.

Kobe will give up the crown in 2-3 years. not next year.

Kobe has been disappointing thus far in the Olympics. Hopefully he figures out that 3-point shot. Today he was just gunning.

Man, I thought this thread was about Posters. Seems there are posters here with all these names, KB24, TMAC, CP3 etc.... where's Smills?

crazyeights wrote:Kobe has been disappointing thus far in the Olympics. Hopefully he figures out that 3-point shot. Today he was just gunning.

I don't think he has been disappointing, i think he just needs to focus on what he was brought there for,and that's his great defense. His defense has been great,and the usa team has enough offense.