RealGM

Do people really value the regular season more than the playoffs? I can't understand it. TD is head and shoulders above the rest of the NBA every year in the playoffs yet we end up talking about a guy that quits on his team in a game7 of the 1st round as being the best. Is the regular season really that important to folks? I tune out for most of it and can't wait for the playoffs.

Because Kobe is flashy and has great one on one moves that drives homers of the guy absolutely bonkers (see JDawg) and TD is a walking snorefest during the regular season.

Kobe is the best player in the NBA because he is the most skilled, with the best all-around game. One could make an argument for LeBron on that basis as well.

Neither of them are the most dominant player, though. That would be Duncan.

For once I agree with you BRINGTHEPAIN, he is very underrated.

Kobe, for me has always been the most skilled but not the best player, tim would be the best.

Pau Gasol is the best in the NBA

http://youtube.com/watch?v=3SXSRlyR8bU

Need I say more?

Retrolock wrote:Because Kobe is flashy and has great one on one moves that drives homers of the guy absolutely bonkers (see JDawg) and TD is a walking snorefest during the regular season.

Exactly. The unabashed truth.

Regular season is about flash, postseason is about substance. Flash almost always beats out substance when it comes to popularity, though.

Depends on what you value more - skill or domination/winning - when you say "best."

First and foremost, the best perimeter players are always going to have more recognizable and pleasing all-around skills.

Shaq was considered the best player in the NBA after Jordan retired because he dominated with such ferocity and had incredible charisma to keep himself in the spotlight. When Shaq had a monster game, he'd finish with this kind of stat line: 35 points, 15 rebounds, 3 blocks, and he would have 3-4 monster dunks that were memorable. Even in games where he'd play what would be considered average for him he'd finish with 27-12-2 and still have 2-3 monster dunks.

Duncan doesn't dominate in that fashion -- not to mention he has the charisma of a white wall. Duncan has big nights, like the one we just saw against Phoenix, but what was most talked about afterwards? Manu's play and Duncan's miracle 3. Not a whole lot about Duncan dominating with 40-15.

Think about that: you rack up 40-15 and there is barely a whisper about it. Those are extraordinary numbers, especially for a guy who generally finishes with 22-11-2.

Basically put, there is nothing to marvel at with Duncan. You see the end result and you're impressed, but it wasn't exactly entertaining to watch it all happen. Big guys who are both good and something to marvel at -- Shaq (dunks, size and athleticism), Wilt (scoring, size and athleticism), Hakeem (Dream shake), and, to a lesser extent, Kareem (sky hook, scoring) -- have been the big guys considered the best players in the league at one point.

Duncan is entertaining. Lebron and Kobe are cringe-worthy. The shot selection of "premier" players in this era is probably the worst I've ever seen of an upper echelon in the history of the NBA. Maybe college is the answer for these guys, something is definitely missing.

He's the best PF ever what more we need to say?

Well what I always think is weird is when they call Kobe "the best all-around player in the game". It would imply that someone like Duncan has the most impact, but is ridiculously weak in a major facet of the game, and I have no idea what facet that would be.

its like Duncan is expected to do crossovers and sink buzzer beating threes

Gasol is more important to the success of the Lakers than Kobe is.

Batronuj wrote:http://youtube.com/watch?v=3SXSRlyR8bU

Need I say more?

That was when Dwight was a rookie. I'd love to see Kobe try that now. He'd get knocked in to next year.

over the past few years (3 or so), that was when Kobe's been recognized as the best player in the league (or lebron) either or.

You kind of knee jerk after one game. Duncan is a force, no doubt, and has 1 more ring than bryant. The spurs typically have been successful because of duncan, but also because the spurs are very talented and have a great coach.

When people refer to the best player, the are talking about a player in the singular form, or looking at pure basketball skills. In that case, a perimeter player will ALWAYS beat out a power forward or center because they are more coordinated and most of the time more athletic.

In this case, best player means skillset, not dominance.

And playoff success are defined by a TEAM. in the GOAT MJ, who will prolly be the CLOSEST thing to winning championships on your own still had a good set of players. Let's not confuse the fact that basketball is still a team game and duncan excels in that arena.

But the best player on the court refers to skillset.
There's a reason the greatest football players are usually offensive guys at the qb, wr or rb positions because of their skills and athleticism. Kobe, lebron are those guys. Duncan is the dominant offensive lineman that you need to win games.

get my point?

The fact that you think Kobe gave up on his team in game 7 makes your argument and opinion futile.

Besides even if it was, that is one quarter of one game, was that the only thing you could come up with, or was that something you heard an analyst say?

shaq was consistently playing at an MVP type level for years, almost as much as he was going to the freethrow line. but only won 1 MVP title. it is what it is.

Batronuj wrote:http://youtube.com/watch?v=3SXSRlyR8bU

Need I say more?

*roll eyes*

http://youtube.com/watch?v=fXZO_OUZPiY&feature=related

Win.

TD and Kobe have been my 1A and 1B (or 1-2) for the past 3 years now. This is the first time post-Shaq that Kobe's had 2 other players of TP and Manu's caliber though (in addition to a bench that rivals Finley/Barry/Horry), so we'll see if Kobe can live up to the 1B billing, or if he'll drop.