Real Deal

Dajuan Wagner scored 100 points in a high school game. So what? I just want you guys to think about how different the NBA is. That's 360-400+ players ONLY, from around the world. I have no problem watching women's basketball. I think it's great they have a pro league. But real talk, there's not a single woman in the WNBA that would succeed in the NBA. Not one. Parker, Leslie, Hammon and Taurasi are a few of my favorite WNBA players. They are incredibly talented. However, none of them could go 82 games in the pros, unless they were logging 3-5 minutes a game. You want one of them to play 15-20 minutes? That's risking major injury, and I don't think some of you are looking back at players like Kendrick Perkins, who was injured by another player and his weight coming down on him. As good as Taurasi is on the perimeter, she would stand no chance against an elite defensive player. The physical play alone (by Deron Williams, for example) would wreck her game, but someone like Jordan Farmar would even lock her up.

Can someone please create the rest of the draft discussion topics for the other teams? Some are already completed. Ex: Miami Heat Draft Discussion (as the title) Then I would appreciate it if a mod went in and pinned each one. Thanks guys.

I know the draft is coming up...but I may not have much involvement. It's taking me a long time just to type this out. I had a diabetic convulsion Friday night and did something to my index finger while I was having the seizure. I was fine yesterday, took x-rays and there's no break visible, but I woke up this morning and noticed a lot of infection, swelling and heat, and part of it is as wide as a nickel. Got a lot of pain shooting up my wrist, might be due to the infection? Either way, I really can't type without poking at the keys one at a time. Should be better by draft night, though...at least I'm hoping. A few of you have sent me PM's about mock drafts and such...so this is the best way I can answer all of those at once.

Worst defensive player on the team, but he's one of the better shooters. Unfortunately, he's been injured most of his career. If he was healthy, and he stayed in LA, he would knock down a ton of open looks. Not sure that will be the case (staying in LA), though.

He was saying this based on Kobe's poor shooting, when his dad shot like garbage in one, and bad in two other close-out games in the Finals. 1996 Finals Game 6 vs. Sonics: 5-19 (26%) 1997 Finals Game 6 vs. Jazz: 15-35 (43%) 1998 Finals Game 6 vs. Jazz: 15-35 (43%) Strong performances there. I guess his dad was "jagging" games, also.

Another good write-up. I'd specify where you added that Bryant was a non-factor until Boston made mistakes down the stretch...because immediately after that, you talk about his excellent help defense and his rebounding, which lasted all game long. Maybe say that Bryant was a non-factor on offense for the first three quarters.

Don't watch soccer (just the highlights of the WC), but I didn't see a damn thing in those replays. Not sure why ANYTHING was called. That was definitely, 100% a goal...should've been 3-2, USA.

I've only seen one person agree with everything you said, and he was an avid Jordan fan, and a Chicago Bulls fan...and it looks like everyone else thinks the idea/topic is ridiculous. That includes non-Kobe fans. Make your own conclusions from that. Just a ridiculous discussion to begin with. If he copied Mike as much as you say (including his voice, lol), Bryant would've went to Chicago...or he would've went elsewhere and wore #23. He jumped in the air in the 2009 Finals? LOL, he jumped multiple times. Jordan jumped once, then pumped his fist multiple times. I don't see Kobe retiring early to go play another sport (he can play soccer). I don't see him retiring, then returning for another run at a ring. I don't see Bryant duplicating Jordan's free throw routine, or shooting a free throw with his eyes closed. I've never seen him try and replicate a Michael Jordan dunk, in-game or in the dunk contest (he could always position his body to resemble the Jordan logo). Kobe hasn't hit under 200 pounds since he was 18 or 19 years old, while Jordan was 200 or less for quite some time (198 to be exact). Funniest part about all of this, though, is that if Kobe REALLY WAS replicating Michael Jordan, to the best of his abilities, he's doing a damn good job of it by getting you to notice...

What a classy comment. Definitely not surprised. Don't be so pissed off that he won another ring. I know the [expletive] hurts, but you just gotta swallow it and move on, real talk.

You've seen Kobe eat before? :o I bet that was amazing.

Dang, I wish the Lakers would've gotten screwed over like Team USA did against Slovenia...but wait, that stuff doesn't happen in soccer, so nevermind.

LOL...stole his voice, huh? I'm guessing Kobe added an hour to his training regime, every day, using the voice analysis system that he purchased on eBay. Jumpers aren't alike. Didn't Joakim Noah jump on the table when he won his Florida championships? Didn't Pierce do the same thing in 2008? Pretty funny, though. http://nbabuzz.files.wordpress.com/2009/04/nba_g_wade3_5761.jpg What the HELL is this guy DOING? Wow. Playing the crowd, standing tall among everyone else? I have a picture of Duncan doing the same thing. http://cache1.asset-cache.net/xc/81415618.jpg?v=1&c=IWSAsset&k=2&d=77BFBA49EF8789215ABF3343C02EA54882324BA0ADBD07183EC1C39B7BD3051F1EAF3D41294963D3 What's the obsession here? Why does everyone have to stand above the rest? Anyone have a picture of players standing on scorer's tables BEFORE Jordan?

Games in bold are nights players shot under 40%. Pretty ugly Game 7's for both (well, Game 6 for MJ), it looks like. Not that bad of a comparison, really, for the entire series. I believe Jordan and Kobe were almost the same age, also...maybe Jordan was a year older. MJ had the league MVP in 1996 as well. Seattle was a top defensive team in the league, just as Boston was this year. Not really a Kobe/Jordan debate (go check out Nitro's topic for that). This just puts a new light on the way Kobe shot for the series, and for Game 7. As repeated in the post-game presser...when you don't have your shot, you find other ways to win.

That first year in the triangle, Jordan also had better teammates, and teams couldn't double him as much (and couldn't anyway without committing to it, but we already talked about that). The year Kobe averaged 35 was the same year I thought he was doubled and tripled more than any player, ever, besides Shaq. As far as the 81 goes...well, Kobe has put up 62, 56 and 55 in three quarters of play (literally rested the entire fourth). Jordan's 69 and 64-point games both ended in overtimes. Definitely can't knock Jordan's 69-point game, though. I won't bother doing that.

I agree with most of it, but I can't say Jordan is the better scorer. Obviously, he's more efficient, but I feel like scoring did come easier with Michael. The zone isn't as big of a deal as the shooters MJ had on his team. Opponents feared Paxson, Kukoc, Harper, Kerr, Armstrong, Hodges, and the list goes on...just way too much going on, and it's a good reason why LeBron racks up his assist numbers while putting up 30 a game. But even then, players had to commit to the double-teams, or they just wouldn't do them. Post-Shaq and pre-Gasol, teams would flood Kobe before he even got 23 feet from the rim. Other than Shaq, I don't think I've ever seen a player face more double teams. I would give say it's a draw for post game, because both are the two best post guards in the history of the league (and it's not even CLOSE). Kobe gets the nod for long-range and mid-range shots (Kobe with the best mid-range game in NBA history). Bryant also gets MJ in footwork and pump fakes, and overall offensive maneuvers and ways of scoring. Jordan takes him slashing to the rim, and finishing at the rim. Given that Bryant has put up an 81-point game and averaged 35 PPG in the triangle offense...man, that's way too impressive. Jackson and Fisher both stated that they think Bryant could've easily averaged 40 a game out of the triangle. So I just have to give scoring to Bryant, best scorer in league history. For me, basically, Kobe takes the cake offensively, mainly because of his skillset...and Jordan takes him defensively, mainly because Bryant preserved energy by playing less on-ball defense, and more help (and defense is easier with Pippen). Plus, yes, Jordan was the better defender to begin with. People have no idea how good he really was on defense. Considering everything, if Kobe isn't the better overall player, it's a tie...but that's just my opinion. I considered Jordan the greatest ever one year ago, changed my mind after Kobe adjusted his game this season, especially with the three mangled fingers on the shooting hand (two dislocations, one tear). Most impressive thing I've seen since Jordan started shooting with a permanently-dislocated index finger, ironically.

"Best overall" doesn't include personal awards and achievements, just skills and overall abilities. Greatness includes those.

Zone defense was illegal, but not the double. You just had to stay committed to it, which led to a lot of assists for Jordan (or the extra pass, which eventually helped win them rings). He could see everyone on the floor, and once teams committed to doubling him, there was always going to be a guy open. Always. Talked about the Jordan Rules before, though. Teams threw multiple defenders at him, played extremely physical defense, and doubled from time to time. That was basically the definition. Not going to dive into the Kobe/Michael debate, though. I think Jordan is the greatest player ever, and Kobe is the best overall player ever (with Jordan at number 1b).

@THE_REAL_SHAQ

Rasheed is crazy. They said he got on the team bus in full uniform, LOL.

Yeah, I actually think Sheed did a much better job on Gasol than I ever imagined he would, and nobody could defend the ugly goon. Ticked me off, he kept hitting those Tim Duncan bank shots on Pau and Odom. Even with Perkins playing, I don't think the Celtics would've won the glass. I've never seen Kobe crash the boards as hard as he did tonight. He may have gotten that many boards before (don't remember), but he was going after almost EVERYTHING.

Thanks guys. I really appreciate it.

http://blacksportsonline.com/home/wp-content/uploads/2010/06/Rasheed-Refs.jpg

Well, I think it depends. If we keep Bynum, and he stays healthy, I would put money on the three-peat. On the other hand, the rumors about Bynum for Bosh...not sure what to think yet. Losing a fully-healthy Bynum is crazy, and I really wouldn't trade him if I knew he would stay healthy, but having three superstars that can set up an isolation (Kobe, Bosh, Gasol)...not sure how any team in the NBA defends that, with Fisher and Artest just chilling on the perimeter.

I think Mark Jackson re-stated it after Shaq put out that comment earlier, and if I remember right, Van Gundy agreed. I don't know. He's the best overall player in Lakers history, and I believe in league history...but I'm not going to talk about someone's greatness (individual success, achievements, team success, etc) until they are retired.

As much as I hate his chucking, his defense was the poison that really pushed us over the top. He made life tough for Durant and ended up doing a great job on Pierce when it mattered most, not to mention he was ALWAYS poking the ball out of someone's hands, or intercepting it in the passing lanes. Ron worked harder than anyone outside of Bryant, really. He lost 20 pounds since he came to LA (270 then, and he weighed in at 250 today), mainly to calm the pain from his plantar fasciitis. But in the gym, all the time, working on his shot and trying to learn the triangle...good stuff. I'm happy we picked him up.