Real Deal

Basketball reference's mistake. Pfft. http://www.nba.com/playerfile/chris_hunter I stuck him as a C-F just now. Thanks Yama.

You completely lost me there. Again, Kobe didn't drive to the rim as much as Jordan, and you know that. Therefore, his FG percentage will be lower. Drives to the rim = higher field goal percentage. And Jordan shot at a high FG% with Scottie because it was Pippen facilitating the triangle offense, something Jordan has never had to do. Kobe has been doing it since 1999. If you're going to compare the two players, compare Kobe's last three seasons to Jordan's last three in Chicago. All six of those seasons are considered MVP-caliber. Then, consider who they had on their teams, and their roles in the triangle offense. You can do all the math you want, figure rates and what-not. I'm sure I can make arguments for players being better than Jordan doing that, really. Hell, I wonder how great I can make Steve Nash seem as a scorer. And come on dude...that nonsense about Kobe not being able to hit a big shot like Jordan's Cavaliers game-winner...really? He has seven game-winners just this season, one fading away over Wade for three. He hit a game-tying three against Portland to go into OT in 2004, then hit a fade-away, buzzer-beating game-winning thee to win the division that same game. He made a game-tying floater to send Game 4 versus the Suns into OT, then the very same game, hit the game-winning fade-away over two Suns defenders to win that playoff game. I think you're boosting Jordan's resume a bit.

Tons of work...I really hope you guys enjoy these. There are salaries for almost everyone (minus the 10-day contracts), birthdays, coaches, owners, general managers, and all-time fives for every team. http://www.otrbasketball.com/hawks/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/celtics/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/bobcats/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/bulls/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/cavaliers/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/mavericks/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/nuggets/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/pistons/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/warriors/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/rockets/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/pacers/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/clippers/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/lakers/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/grizzlies/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/heat/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/bucks/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/timberwolves/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/nets/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/hornets/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/knicks/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/thunder/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/magic/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/sixers/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/suns/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/blazers/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/kings/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/spurs/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/raptors/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/jazz/roster.php http://www.otrbasketball.com/wizards/roster.php If you run into one that has wrong information (ex. the wrong owner, a player that I left out), please let me know.

That's the triangle offense for you, and that's why Andrew "Quicksand" Bynum needs to come off the bench with the second unit, so the others can feed him the ball and watch him score 15-20. That does two things: 1) Helps our bench scoring greatly, as we are a bottom five in the NBA in that regard, and 2) Puts Odom in our starting five, which means we have another ball-handler to make plays, instead of just Kobe The triangle is an equal opportunity offense that the entire team needs to take advantage of. They don't. Kobe, Gasol, Odom, and Ron are excellent passers. Their abilities need to be utilized, but it only happens if everyone is willing to play off the ball, instead of being star-struck by Kobe.

For one, Kobe was doubled by Prince and Rip, then cut off by Wallace in the paint. It was a way to clog the passing lane between Kobe and Shaq, and prevent Kobe from driving. Therefore, he had to shoot over a lanky Prince from 20+ feet out. Jordan was triple-teamed? With a zone? Zone defense was illegal, and back then, once you committed to a double, you had to stay with it. No team put three on Jordan. Detroit's defensive stance on Jordan was deemed the "Jordan Rules" because it was physical, with multiple defenders thrown at him all game (meaning, not together, but different defenders at different times). Few double-teams, no triple-teams. If you triple-teamed a player in the 80's and 90's, there would be a 99% chance that team scores on you, because you would have to commit to it, there would be two guys open. Kobe doesn't shoot 50% because he shoots the ball more than Jordan ever did. He's got more range on his shot, and he shoots over doubles much more than Jordan ever did. Plus, go take a look at WHEN Jordan shot 50+ from the floor in a season. In the second dynasty, his numbers began to fall because he drove less to the rim. He became more of a jumpshooter. You can't compare field goal percentages unless you consider Kobe shooting more jumpers. You might as well tell us all that Bynum is a better scorer than Jordan because he shoots 55-60% from the floor.

Eddie getting fired is a given. I'm not so sure about Stefanski.

There's nobody that has even come close to Kobe's numbers as a second fiddle, not in the last two decades at least. Not one player in the league, or retired. Bryant's hand was just as deep in the cookie jar. He ran the offense AND scored just as much as Shaq. He actually shot the ball 22 times per game, Shaq at 19 times. A second fiddle? Someone's Robin? Who does that?

I'm going to take a guess and say Jamaal Tinsley averages more assists (career) than Jason Williams. Who's the better passer? I'll go even further: Kevin Johnson has a higher career assist average than Steve Nash. Nash is one of the greatest passers in NBA history. Who's the better passer? Assists need to be converted by teammates. When you have Pippen, Kerr, Kukoc, Armstrong, Paxson, Hodges, and Harper all surrounding the perimeter and knocking down shots, you're going to average more assists than most. On the other hand, Bryant would dump the ball into Shaq, and O'Neal would take dribbles and either put the ball up, or kick it back out. Either that, or Bryant would create for himself...two man game. Chicago was the most complete team ever. Kobe and Shaq was one of the greatest duos ever.

So you consider Wade and LeBron, and even Durant, better scorers than Kobe because they shoot a higher FG percentage? Dwyane Wade's career scoring average is higher than Karl Malone's. Do you think that Wade is the better scorer? Jerry West has a career scoring average of 27 PPG. Is he a better scorer than Kobe? LeBron is currently third, all-time, on career scoring average...below Jordan (1st) and Wilt (2nd). What exactly does that mean? If Kobe was Shaq's "Robin" as you say, give me one other "Robin" in NBA history that averaged 28.5 PPG, 6 RPG and 5 APG on 46% shooting (Kobe's second championship). Just one.

Hmm... http://sports.espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/columns/story?id=4981489

@matt_barnes22 For real?

Everyone that is participating in the contest needs to vote on these. We aren't getting enough votes.

Rajon Rondo is the better point guard. If he develops his shot, he's going to be a handful for any top defensive player. Westbrook is certainly a top ten, though. His surge has helped the Thunder more than most can imagine.

We will give you Morrison for Chase and fillers.

I agree that he could improve more, and he has from where he was last season. Bigger role, bigger play. Some don't have the ability to handle that (Ariza). Same happened with Curry. Nelson played him at odd times, moved him around in the lineup, didn't play him in the fourth quarters, etc. Finally, he took on a bigger role, started running the point, and he's playing really well. Brooks can improve, and so can Curry. The only thing is, Curry is a rookie. Too much potential there. If I were to pick who would be the better player in the long run, I'd take the kid out of Davidson, but that's probably not the popular pick among Houston fans...even though I really think you guys would make that trade immediately, if given the chance. At least Morey would.

You're right, things do get easier with additional scoring options, which is why you should understand Curry's situation in Golden State. Difference is, teams are more prone to letting Monta get his because he drives to the rim the majority of the time. Curry is a three-point threat, like Brooks. The argument you're making for Aaron is the same I could make for Curry, which is why I came to the conclusion that they are next to each other in the rankings. I take Curry over Brooks because he's a better playmaker, which you shouldn't argue, and that's all she wrote. Once Brooks starts shooting 46-47% from the floor, maybe that will overlap the fact that he's not a playmaker, and I will change my mind...but until he does that for more than just 10 games, Curry is the man, even as an unexperienced rookie.

Kobe gets upset with the refs more than Jordan did, and Jordan was a bigger jackass to his teammates. I actually don't like seeing either of that...but Jordan picking at his teammates like a vulture made them better, and Kobe complaining about calls has helped him every now and then as well (much like when Phil Jackson takes a fine for post-game comments), so it has worked in positive ways for both players.

I think the Heat have the best chance at getting Amare than any other team in the league, really, so go after him. Wrap him up ASAP, then hope that it attracts other FA's. The BEST answer is to negotiate a sign-and-trade with Wade, but I'm assuming we're not diving into that.

The current one is far better on paper, but that's not how you judge a team's play, either. You also can't say that this current team would be worse if they don't make it to the Finals, because the Lakers are better than any of those West teams in 2006, and if they find Dallas in the WCF and take them out, it doesn't mean much in this argument. So, basically, we're just looking at what they are on paper...and the answer is the current team. You can draw a better conclusion if the 2010 Mavs make the Finals, though.

Do everything you can to get Amare, draft two-guards, and throw the rest of your cash out to every two-guard free agent in the league.

A player like that would average 40 PPG, 10 RPG, 10 APG and hold all of his opponents to 40% shooting or worse.

At 39% shooting, and he had problems with Dunleavy. Everyone on the top ten list is from a winning team minus Stephen Curry, and Curry's numbers are better than Baron's.

1) Lakers 2) Mavericks 3) Nuggets 4) Jazz 5) Suns 6) Thunder (9 road games left) 7) Blazers 8) Spurs (12 road games, Parker out 4-6 weeks) The Spurs play the Magic, Hawks, Thunder, Celtics, Lakers, Kings, Nuggets, Suns and Mavericks on the road to end the season, with home games against the Lakers, Cavaliers, and Magic. Tough, tough way to go out. I would be amazed if they finish in the top six. And I was almost ready to stick Dallas in the first seed, to be honest. The Lakers are going to have to finish strong in these last 17 games, and a lot of them are on the road (11 of them), including a five-game roadie.

Yeah, I don't know. For me, it's like the Williams/Paul debate. I think Gasol has enough around him to limit his numbers a bit more than Duncan does, especially with Parker in and out of the five, and Manu playing like a shell of his former self. It shows in the Spurs' record recently as well. I don't put much into EFF and PER ratings. If I did that, I'm sure I could say Kobe isn't even a top five player...and everyone knows how ridiculous that statement would be. Duncan is easily the greater of the two, career-wise...but he's never truly lead a team without another scoring option. From David Robinson to Parker and Gino, that's nothing to complain about. Gasol took Memphis to 50 wins, and 49 sometime before or after that (can't remember) with defensive-minded players, much like Iverson and LeBron did. Only problem is, he never won a playoff series. This season though...this season only...I think I'm still going with Pau. I think he would get the best of Duncan if they played each other 10 times.

I think Kobe's offensive game is the best of all-time, if you drop Wilt from the list (because Wilt was being defended by 6-9 players most of his career). Kobe's post game is as good as MJ's, and I'd say better. I've never seen any guard or forward with the post moves Kobe has. Bryant also has more range. Jordan added a three to his game back in 1992 or 1993, but Kobe can hit from 25 feet out with a guy in his face. Passing? I'd take Kobe. He's flashier and more accurate. I think this was already put into place during the Kobe/Shaq era, to be honest. Bryant squeezed a ton of passes into areas Jordan probably wouldn't be able to put them in off penetrations. By the numbers, Kobe is a better clutch shooter, and I've seen him hit more game-winners with two guys in his face than Jordan did. Defensively, it goes to MJ. When he gambled, it paid off most of the time, resulting in a high number of steals. On-ball defense, help defense, I'll still give to MJ. People don't realize how good of a defender he was because they were so used to watching Scottie lock up players. Take away all of the rings and MVP awards, and Kobe is the better player. So, let's put it this way: Michael Jordan is the greatest player to play the game. Kobe is the best overall player to play. I have watched Jordan since 1990, and seen old games in the 80's...watched him more than any other player, really. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RyKgaeAoa-g If you watch that, and compare the two games, you'll agree with me.