Prime T-Mac vs. Prime Kobe in a 1v1 matchup

Moderators: Clyde Frazier, Doctor MJ, trex_8063, penbeast0, PaulieWal

User avatar
Milan24
Bench Warmer
Posts: 1,300
And1: 0
Joined: Nov 02, 2006
Location: Earth

 

Post#2 » by Milan24 » Tue May 20, 2008 8:58 pm

Image

I would take my chances with Kobe.
The Diesel
Veteran
Posts: 2,711
And1: 0
Joined: Aug 07, 2005

 

Post#3 » by The Diesel » Tue May 20, 2008 8:58 pm

I agree; people forget how good McGrady used to be...especially in his Orlando days.

Unfortunately, he's injured a lot and is only remembered for his first round exits, but I think he was better than Kobe at one point.

But, I mean, he did emerge as an MVP candidate this year, he did score 28 points in the FIRST HALF against Utah in Game 6 of the Playoffs this year, so I think McGrady is not as washed up as some people thought.

But man, he's an awesome player; 2 time scoring champion, terrific passer, good rebounder, good defender, very high basketball IQ, and he's fun to watch.

McGrady makes it look really easy.

He's not as athletic as he used to be, but he's still a really good player.

But yeah, I would take Orlando T-Mac over Kobe.
User avatar
SOUL
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 58,740
And1: 40,786
Joined: Dec 11, 2006
Location: █████████████
     

 

Post#4 » by SOUL » Wed May 21, 2008 2:36 am

Kobe.
www.rareslums.com // please support my writing!
User avatar
RoyceDa59
RealGM
Posts: 24,260
And1: 9,174
Joined: Aug 25, 2002
         

 

Post#5 » by RoyceDa59 » Wed May 21, 2008 2:47 am

Soul wrote:Kobe.


Agreed.

McGrady cant hold Kobe's jockstrap defensively.
Go Raps!!
User avatar
dockingsched
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 56,660
And1: 23,966
Joined: Aug 02, 2005
     

 

Post#6 » by dockingsched » Wed May 21, 2008 3:07 am

as soon as kobe makes a move tmac is going to crash to the floor requiring a stretcher.
"We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on." - Dumbledore
User avatar
Storm Surge
General Manager
Posts: 9,024
And1: 17
Joined: Dec 27, 2004
Location: Houston, TX
Contact:

 

Post#7 » by Storm Surge » Wed May 21, 2008 3:13 am

RoyceDa59 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-



Agreed.

McGrady cant hold Kobe's jockstrap defensively.

check out that block in the first vid

dcash4 that was a pretty original joke

:roll:
User avatar
dockingsched
Retired Mod
Retired Mod
Posts: 56,660
And1: 23,966
Joined: Aug 02, 2005
     

 

Post#8 » by dockingsched » Wed May 21, 2008 3:15 am

this is a pretty original thread :lol:
"We must try not to sink beneath our anguish, Harry, but battle on." - Dumbledore
User avatar
Storm Surge
General Manager
Posts: 9,024
And1: 17
Joined: Dec 27, 2004
Location: Houston, TX
Contact:

 

Post#9 » by Storm Surge » Wed May 21, 2008 3:19 am

Yo momma fat she jumped up in the air and got stuck.

your turn...
User avatar
Baller 24
RealGM
Posts: 16,637
And1: 19
Joined: Feb 11, 2006

 

Post#10 » by Baller 24 » Wed May 21, 2008 3:55 am

Im not going to say who I'd be pick, but you can't go wrong with either. I'm pretty sure that if Kobe and Tmac switched spots in their prime, Tmac would have 3 rings, while Kobe would have none and still wouldn't be out of the first round. Lets not forget him still not being out of the first round without a good big man even in his prime. Both were very talented players, both were the top 2 shooting guards in the league, which can be argued both ways. A player like either shows up maybe twice every decade, they were both one of a kind, and filled with rare talent.
dockingsched wrote: the biggest loss of the off-season for the lakers was earl clark
Patterns
Banned User
Posts: 6,008
And1: 18
Joined: Sep 19, 2007

 

Post#11 » by Patterns » Wed May 21, 2008 5:13 am

Baller 24 wrote:Im not going to say who I'd be pick, but you can't go wrong with either. I'm pretty sure that if Kobe and Tmac switched spots in their prime, Tmac would have 3 rings, while Kobe would have none and still wouldn't be out of the first round. Lets not forget him still not being out of the first round without a good big man even in his prime. Both were very talented players, both were the top 2 shooting guards in the league, which can be argued both ways. A player like either shows up maybe twice every decade, they were both one of a kind, and filled with rare talent.

TMac wasn't near the player Kobe was when they were both 21 which is the first year the Lakers won a championship with Kobe and Shaq.

You can't just say that TMac or Vince or AI or whatever will win with Shaq. The fact is, Kobe and Shaq might have been the greatest duo ever.

Yes, Shaq was crazy dominant in his prime but all his weaknesses were Kobe's strengths.

Kobe can't get out of the first round without a good big man? Who can get out of the first round without a good big man? Seriously. You need good big men to go anywhere in the playoffs.

And TMac has gone where with Yao who's arguably the best center in the league?
User avatar
Baller 24
RealGM
Posts: 16,637
And1: 19
Joined: Feb 11, 2006

 

Post#12 » by Baller 24 » Wed May 21, 2008 3:21 pm

TMac wasn't near the player Kobe was when they were both 21 which is the first year the Lakers won a championship with Kobe and Shaq

Well in 99-2000, the first Lakers championship, McGrady was in his finals season in Toronto, and over there he was having a breakout season, he would have been a 20,5,5,1.5blk guy that year if he was the primary source for offense.

You can't just say that TMac or Vince or AI or whatever will win with Shaq. The fact is, Kobe and Shaq might have been the greatest duo ever.


They were a great duo, but they won during a time when the NBA was going through major changes, new players were emerging and at the time the NBA wasn't as strong as previous years. Magic and Kareem, Jordan and Pippen, etc. all come to mind before Shaq and Kobe.

Yes, Shaq was crazy dominant in his prime but all his weaknesses were Kobe's strengths.

I'll agree that both players complimented each other greatly, and it was a strong combo, but Shaq was the main reason they won 3 championships, or even get out of the first round, for evidence look at 2005-2007 seasons, also look at the impact Shaq had on the Heat until last season.

Kobe can't get out of the first round without a good big man? Who can get out of the first round without a good big man? Seriously. You need good big men to go anywhere in the playoffs.
A lot of players can, but its not all about the big man, you also have to put into consideration that your supporting cast maybe horrible, which it has been for both guys. Kobe(without Shaq), McGrady(Orlando).

And TMac has gone where with Yao who's arguably the best center in the league?

Look at McGrady's playoff stats and then look at Yao's and see who shows up and who performs better. In 2005, the depth was horrible, our PF was out, Ryan Bowen was our starting PF, and Yao wasn't considered a superstar. In 2007, Yao wasn't 100% healed from his foot injury, we didn't have a backup PG, our starting PF was Chuck Hayes, and our 6th man was Luther Head, and in 2008, Yao wasn't even here. You can measure the amount of success a duo will do in just 2yrs in the playoffs, they didn't do that for Jordan and Pippen, nor even Shaq and Kobe. McGrady has also the past two seasons carried a lackluster supporting cast into the playoffs with 50+ wins each yr, something I haven't seen Kobe do without Gasol and Shaq ;) McGrady's playoff stats are also much better, he is 5th all time in ppg in the playoffs, and puts up 28, 6, 7, something only a handful of players have done, and not even Michael Jordan was one of them.

Like I said, talent wise they are both not far off at all, they were very similar in their prime, it just came down to who won and who didn't.
dockingsched wrote: the biggest loss of the off-season for the lakers was earl clark

Return to Player Comparisons