Contingency.....

[Rip2137]

And again, we are still missing the point that Kobe isn't in the stratosphere of Jordan as a player. Basically "at 35 a player much better than Kobe produced so why can't a by far inferior player do the same?"

[PandaKidd]

Can we make 56 more threads with outrageous scenarios please? I Love reading them all.

Can we expect similar type threads for every future Hawks loss?

[Jamaaliver]

Also Michael Jordan was kinda twice the player Kobe is and his team was better.
Also...Kobe isn't nearly as good as Michael.

And again, we are still missing the point that Kobe isn't in the stratosphere of Jordan as a player

I have no stake in the argument, at all. But these comments are at least debatable.

Just listen to some of the key figures over the years:

[tweet]https://twitter.com/lazenby/status/158671042552938496[/tweet]

Which present player do you think could have given Jordan a run for his money?
That is not possible but yes in terms of athleticism, Kobe Bryant is perhaps closest to him.

http://www.dnaindia.com/sport/interview-kobe-bryant-is-perhaps-closest-to-michael-jordan-rod-thorn-1954592

When you watch Kobe play, does he remind you of Michael at all? Scottie Pippen: ‘I have to say yes to that. I think he reminds a lot of people of Michael because he molded his game after him. He seems to have a lot of Michael’s charisma, and it comes across in the way he walks, the way he talks, and especially the way he plays.’”

http://www.slamonline.com/online/nba/2012/01/scottie-pippen-kobe-bryant-walks-talks-plays-like-michael-jordan/

Jordan was recently interviewed by Ahmad Rashad to promote NBA 2K14, and had spoke about whether or not he’d could be beat one-on-one by today’s superstars.

“I don’t think I would lose,” said Jordan in the interview. “Other than to Kobe Bryant because he steals all of my moves.”

http://www.nba.com/2013/news/10/01/jordan-in-prime.ap/index.html?rss=true

Again, I don't know if Kobe (or anyone) is definitively in MJ's league, but seems like Kobe's is at least 'in the same stratosphere'. More than anyone else in the last 20 years.

[diesel50]

Kobe is the only one that you can consider to compare to Jordan because of the ring count, MVP count. Lebron tainted himself by building his own Superteam. Never seen Jordan go out and ask Bird and Dr. J if they wanted to team up and win it all. Honestly, I don't think he would have.