Buy/Sell

[1MSUDawgFan]

Kobe is the best player in the NBA.

I sell. No way the best playerin the NBA would let his team get demolished in the series like that. I know Boston has a better team, but Lebron (who has alot worse supporting cast) made it to game 7 and almost won. He also scored like 45 in game 7.

 

[VinceVega70]

Without Shaq, he would have no rings.
Kobe is one of among 6 or 7 skilled guard/wing players who can take over a game at times. Like a Tracy McGrady or a Paul Pierce. Like Vince Carter in his prime. He is a very, very good player, but he has proven each year that he is not a team player. He does not make the players around him better, at least not enough to win a championship. His only championships occurred when he had the best center in 25 years playing in the prime of his game.
I'll admit that he can play amazingly at times, but he is not MJ. He's still fairly young so maybe he could ascend to that level, but he isn't there yet.

 

[SoxFan343]

I'll admit that he can play amazingly at times, but he is not MJ.

Neither are the other 400 guys in the NBA, but Kobe is the only one punished for it. Kobe & Lebron are the two best in the league. Paul & Duncan are right there. Kobe made it to the finals with a supporting cast that has 1 All-Star appearence between them. Thats pretty impressive. The Celtics had three guys who are consistent All-Stars. If the Celtics had played as well in the finals against the Cavs, Lebron wouldn't have had much of a chance either. The Hawks took the Celtics to a 7th game. Are the Hawks better than the Lakers?

Kobe is one of the 25 best of all time. Shouldn't he be celebrated for that? People act like he is about as good as Shawn Bradley.

I've been hearing this Kobe never won a title without Shaq all day, so I'll plagarize Jalen Rose a little bit, "Jordan never won a title without Pippen". Name the last team that won a title that had didn't have at least two guys who are year in year out all-stars on it? Most of them have 3 really good players.

 

[1MSUDawgFan]

I am asking if you tihnk he is the best active player. Your response could go either way, so I am just clarifying.</p>

 

[VinceVega70]

for Kobe's ego and any other consistent all-star, IMO. We'll see how Gasol does there over time.
The reason Kobe is maligned so much is his arrogance. His infighting with Shaq and with Phil Jackson. His legendary trash-talking. His trouble with the law. His prickly relationship with fans and the media.
There's not any player in the league that I enjoy seeing lose more than Kobe. This week simply reinforces what we already know: he can't win a championship all by himself. Swallowing some ego and being a team player are prerequisites that he does not possess.

Edited to add: Regarding the MJ quote, the reason Kobe is punished for not being MJ is because he's the only player arrogant enough to think he's actually on that level. He has made his own bed.