Biggest chokejob in the history of the NBA.

 

People are still comparing Kobe to Jordan????

Surprisingly, yes.

And the Celtics are seriously choking on a fat one. This will be an all-time choke if they blow this game.

Well now. It looks like the Lakers finished the job the Celtics didn't want to eh?

Surprisingly, yes.

Let us assume that he is actually as good as Jordan to begin with - he has 6 NBA Finals MVPs before the comparison is even valid.

Let us assume that he is actually as good as Jordan to begin with - he has 6 NBA Finals MVPs before the comparison is even valid.

 

Kobe has to win a bunch of rings without a dominant big man as well.

Let us assume that he is actually as good as Jordan to begin with - he has 6 NBA Finals MVPs before the comparison is even valid.

Kobe has to win a bunch of rings without a dominant big man as well.

 

Well too be fair, Jordan had Pippen who was pretty dominant by himself. Nobody around Kobe right now is close to on level with Pippen.

Well, not only do I never recall any Bulls team folding like that at any round in the playoffs, but certainly Jordan was never one of the primary reasons for the choke.

 

Granted, Jordan did have Pippen though. For the second set of championships, once they added Rodman those teams did not have a single exploitable weakness, anywhere.

Kobe has to win a bunch of rings without a dominant big man as well.

This Laker team is not even remotely close to being as well-rounded as any of the 6 Bulls championship teams.

This Laker team is not even remotely close to being as well-rounded as any of the 6 Bulls championship teams.

I think the point is that Shaq had a lot to do with those championships than Kobe did, and Kobe's legacy should reflect that, but it's not, and being compared to Jordan's instead. Could you imagine if, say, the Cavs right now had Shaq in his prime? They'd be unstoppable. Or with the T-Wolves when Garnett was there? Hell, the fading Shaq even brought a championship to not-really-that-good Miami (although obviously with the help of the refs calling fouls on people who breathed too hard near Wade).

Edited June 13, 200817 yr by lostfan

I think the point is that Shaq had a lot to do with those championships than Kobe did, and Kobe's legacy should reflect that, but it's not, and being compared to Jordan's instead. Could you imagine if, say, the Cavs right now had Shaq in his prime? They'd be unstoppable. Or with the T-Wolves when Garnett was there? Hell, the fading Shaq even brought a championship to not-really-that-good Miami (although obviously with the help of the refs calling fouls on people who breathed too hard near Wade).

But we also saw that Jordan required a mature Pippen to finally get over the hump. This Laker team is pretty weak and they still made it to the finals. We never saw Michael take a weak Bulls team to the finals. They had a mature team with Pippen and Grant (Rodman later).

But we also saw that Jordan required a mature Pippen to finally get over the hump. This Laker team is pretty weak and they still made it to the finals. We never saw Michael take a weak Bulls team to the finals. They had a mature team with Pippen and Grant (Rodman later).

I don't think this Laker team is weak though. I think they're actually a championship-caliber team, and I thought they were actually better than the Celtics. Gasol isn't exactly a nobody either, acquiring him freed up that offense in a big way.

 

Also I can't think of any weak teams that have made the Finals recently. I mean, maybe the Pistons would fit that definition, but they are pretty much a solid ensemble without a superstar driving them and they're the exception and not the rule. There is no superstar who can single-handedly take his team to the championship, not Kobe, not LeBron, not even Jordan.

I don't think this Laker team is weak though. I think they're actually a championship-caliber team, and I thought they were actually better than the Celtics. Gasol isn't exactly a nobody either, acquiring him freed up that offense in a big way.

 

Also I can't think of any weak teams that have made the Finals recently. I mean, maybe the Pistons would fit that definition, but they are pretty much a solid ensemble without a superstar driving them and they're the exception and not the rule. There is no superstar who can single-handedly take his team to the championship, not Kobe, not LeBron, not even Jordan.

I'd compare this Laker team to last year's Cavs. One superstar and some inconsistent role players with little experience in championship situations.

Waht happened to kobe last year?

I'd compare this Laker team to last year's Cavs. One superstar and some inconsistent role players with little experience in championship situations.

Pau Gasol has instantly made this team a championship contender. Which says a lot in the West. I wouldn't say that his lack of "playoff experience" (a concept I personally believe to be ridiculously overrated) has hurt him either, his performance in the Finals so far has been adequate.

 

It was Kobe himself who choked, his 2nd poor performance this series.

Edited June 13, 200817 yr by lostfan

Waht happened to kobe last year?

Basically they were a fringe playoff team because he was the only good player on the team.

I'd compare this Laker team to last year's Cavs. One superstar and some inconsistent role players with little experience in championship situations.

The only way I see that comparison making sense is in the "Experience" category...but I think if you looked through who the actual players were in the supporting casts, you'd take what the Lakers have over what the Cavs had by a long shot.

To call Gasol an inconsistent role player is a bit harsh.

 

Still he hasn't really delivered in this series, but Odom and Kobe haven't either.

 

Boston's suffocating D has been the difference.

MOCK DRAFT! MOCK DRAFT! JOIN US! JOIN US!

I just realized that the Celtics won that game. I am not a basketball fan but watched until the lakers got the 24 point lead.

 

 

After the miracle on waveland and the sweep sports was unwatch/listenable all morning.

LOL at that last "steal" by Kobe. I don't think his hand ever came within 3 feet of the ball. Nice jab to the ribs.

This series is definitely over come Tuesday. The Celtics had numerous chances to take the lead in this game and came up short. They'll play much better at home (i.e. won't fall behind 17-21 points after the first quarter).

I like how you had to wait till the Lakers won a game before you made a reply to this..

 

It still wasn't a ridiculous claim like you made it seem.. and yet, the Lakers barely win tonight (at home) even with Pierce and Garnett playing like horses***

 

I do stick to the square circle thread because I don't have to deal with people like you who are in the other threads on here

 

Well the Celtics are likely going to win this in 6 games, and that's not really a surprise, as I said the Celtics could win in 6 or 7 and nobody would really be surprised. But to say sweep was just silly and wrong, and that has been proven even with the Lakers choking all series.

 

I'd have come in here and posted I was wrong after a sweep, and even posted I was surprised had the Lakers lost it in 5, but I wasn't going to be wrong at any time because the Lakers have gagged all series and still won two games. This series is probably over though, unless Kobe puts up like 50 points in game 6, which he probably isn't going to do.

Edited June 16, 200817 yr by whitesoxfan101

Like Van Gundy was saying all game, LA is out of their minds if they think they can play D like they did today in Boston. If they do that, the Celtics will win by 30 in game 6.

Twirls finger for meaningless game 6 in which the Celtics will dominate.

If there was one team at the start of the season if you were to ask me that I DID NOT want to win the championship it would have been the Celtics.So there you go shipps.