Kobe scores 81

Shining Wizard

Kobe is just playing on a level I don't think anyones ever played at before, even Jordan. The difference between the two is that MJ had a solid team around him including a future hall of famer in Scottie Pippin. All Kobe has is Lamar Odom who is still too inconsistant to be looked at as a legitimite second scoring option. Bottom line is Kobe has got to shoot 35-40 times a game if they want to win and somehow he's able to put up tons of points despite being double teamed practically as soon as he gets the ball past halfcourt. If he can stay healthy and get the Lakers into the playoffs there is no way he'll be denied the MVP, even though he remains the most universally hated player in the league.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Huh? Jordan was also the best defender in the league never mind the best offensive player. Kobe isn't Jordan ANY way you look at it.

And Freak, the part I don't know how to take is that he scored 28 points in the 4th when for the most part the Lakers had already won. He didn't leave until there was a minute left. I'm sure some other people could have scored 80 points if they stayed in the game and took every single shot down the stretch. I'm not trying to take away what he did though, it was amazing.

Shining Wizard

Ok I admit I layed the hyperbole on a little thick with the a level beyond Jordan comment but the comparison is still a valid one in my opinion, especially since you mentioned Jordan being a great defender which he was but don't shortchange Kobe on that aspect of his game. Kobe is arguably the best defensive player in the league along with Artest and Ben Wallace(although a totally different defensive presence then Artest or Bryant). I still remember the last time the Lakers were in the finals right before Detroit bounced them after it become obvious the Pistons were going to win. Kobe was the only one still playing defense going as far as to sprint down the court after a Chauny Billups steal to almost take his head off along with the ball as he denied him an easy lay up. A really underated defensive player, who if he ever got as hot as he did last night against a team that plays an up tempo came like Phoenix could actually have a shot at 100 points. Something prior to this year I would not have thought possible.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

I'll give you that, Kobe does play hard.. but I don't like the fact that he seems to have alterior motives other than just the team winning. I don't want to hear that Jordan had a better team. The Lakers had Shaq, and I didn't see Kobe begging to keep the big man around. Now he lives with what he has. To be honest with you, I'm not willing to say Kobe is better than Iverson never mind Jordan. Iverson brought and carried a shit team on his back to the NBA finals, he plays hurt, banged up.. He scores as much as Kobe and dishes out a lot more assists plus he's already won an MVP award and could have very well won another one with the numbers he put up last year.

Freak

But see, I just disagree with that. There have been guys stay in the game and take every single shot down the stretch, yet 80 has only been touched ONE other time -- and that was by a 7-foot monster who had ZERO competition.

The Raptors were in that game right near to the end, so I'd say only a handful of Kobe's were garbage points, really. And the Raps were doing everything they could to stop him; it's not like he was rolling easy layups one after another. You watch Kobe and it's like it doesn't matter who's covering him, or how many guys are covering him; he'll find a split-second window to put something up, and his shooting range is absolutely untouched by anybody.

I don't see how in the world anyone could try to take away from that game he played yesterday. I understand folks not liking him or whatever, but he put 81 points on the scoreboard in a game where it was basically him versus five guys.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

First of all, you're never going to see a guy score 80 points on a good team. Why would he be taking 46 shots if there are other people on the team who can ball?

2nd, Kobe scored at least 15 points after the Raptors were closed out.

And lastly, I'm not tying to take anything away. He played probably one of the top 3 games EVER in the regular season by an individual. I just don't see where all these Jordan comparisions are coming from.. Why the hell would Jordan have to score 80 with Pippen, Harper, Kukoc, Kerr, etc.. out there?

Lets all take it easy.

Freak

You keep saying that, but really you are. I'm not taking offense to that either, but by even pointing out that he may have been padding his totals to look good, or that his priorities don't lie with the Los Angeles Lakers, IS taking away from what he did last night, or trying to. That's not to say your argument is out of line though; I think we could definitely debate Kobe's status as to whether he's the best player in the NBA right now, or where he stands in NBA history, or how far he could go with his skills.

Jordan's highest PPG game ever was 37.1, and that was on a team that had none of the guys you just mentioned. His best teammate then was probably someone like Charles Oakley, who you could fairly put alongside Lamar Odom in a comparison.

Freak

Edit: sorry, I meant to say his highest PPG total, 37.1, not his 69 game, where I think he did have Pippen.

Blitzkrieg

Administrator

Ok.. so Jordan ONLY scored 69 points as his highest total. Umm.. so what does that mean? Maybe David Thompson is the 3rd best player in NBA history because he scored like 70 something one time. Of course, that's not what you're saying.. I'm only being a dick about it.

I do respect Kobe as a player, and it's not even you guys, its people I've seen on TV today who are frustrating me. Jordan put up big time playoff performance night in, night out, won 6 championships (All MVPs), never had a person as dominate as Shaq either.. Where are these comparisons coming from after one game in the regular season against the Raptors or all people..

Is Kobe going to score 80 against the Pistons? Again.. I'm just being a dick and I'm frustrated. I want to see Kobe do a little more before I bring up Jordan's name.

Freak

Well clearly it's ludicrous to bring back the Kobe/Jordan comparisons after one game, but what you need to do is just find a cold beer, flip to ESPN for a little while, and soak in what Kobe did to the Raptors last night. Even if you don't like him.

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