Dave is the most intellegent person when it comes to basketball. There is no one that has a greater knowledge or passion for the game. His words speak volumes. Here is his take on the Kobe Bryant vs. Michael Jordan discussion:It's in my nature to question authority, or in this case the media. I always disagree with the media when they say that Kobe is better than Jordan. But after doing a little research, I realized that they are right. The numbers don't lie. Kobe really is better than Jordan. Don't believe me? Just take a look at the numbers I have compiled below. They are sure to clear the air on the whole Kobe vs. Jordan discussion.
Jordan's 1st NBA Finals (1991 vs. LA Lakers) 31.2ppg, 11.4apg, 6.6rpg, 55.8%FG Finals MVP (age 27)
Jordan's 2nd NBA Finals (1992 vs. Portland) 35.8ppg, 6.5apg, 4.8rpg, 52.6%FG Finals MVP (age 28)
Jordan's 3rd NBA Finals (1993 vs. Phoenix) 41.0ppg, 6.3apg, 8.5rpg, 50.8%FG Finals MVP (age 29)
Kobe's 1st NBA Finals (2000 vs. Indiana) 15.6ppg, 4.2apg, 4.6rpg, 36.7%FG (age 21)
Kobe's 2nd NBA Finals (2001 vs. Phila) 24.6ppg, 5.8apg, 7.8rpg, 41.5%FG (age 22)
Kobes' 3rd NBA Finals (2002 vs. Nets) 26.8ppg, 5.3apg, 5.8rpg, 51.4%FG (age 23)
Jordan's 1st three NBA Finals: 36.3ppg, 7.9apg, 6.6rpg, 52.6%FG
Kobe's 1st three NBA Finals: 22.0ppg, 5.1apg, 6.1rpg, 42.5%FG
I know what your thinking, how come Jordan got 3 Finals MVP's and Kobe didn't get any? That's because Kobe got robbed. Some guy named Shaq was given the MVP all 3 years. Needless to say he didn't deserve it. But don't take my word for it, I've got the numbers to back it up.
Shaq NBA Finals (2000 vs. Indiana) 38.0ppg, 16.7rpg, 2.3apg, 2.7bpg, 61.1%FG (age 27)
Shaq NBA Finals (2001 vs. Phila) 33.0ppg, 15.8rpg, 4.8apg, 3.4bpg, 57.3%FG (age 28)
Shaq NBA Finals (2202 vs. Nets) 36.3ppg, 12.3rpg, 3.8apg, 2.8bpg, 59.5%FG (age 29)
As you can see, Kobe was definately the main reason for the Lakers success. Plus, I think it's safe to say the Lakers played better teams than the bulls. After all, Jordan met teams lead by Magic, Clyde, and Barkley; while Kobe had to contend with teams lead by Reggie, Iverson, and Kidd. But this is only the begining. Jordan left in his prime for two years to go play baseball because he didn't know how to handle his father's death. Upon his return he led his team to another 3peat. But that's not all that impressive if you ask me. What's really impressive is that Kobe found a way to break-up the dynasty they had previously built. Not only that, he found a way to lose in the finals to an inferior team like Detroit. In fact, Detroit is the only team since 1980 that won a title without a legitimate superstar. But it was probably because Kobe didn't have enough help. Shaq, Payton, and Malone just isn't enough to get it done. Plus, Shaq didn't come to play in the finals that year. Don't believe me, here's more numbers.
Jordan's 4th NBA Finals (1996 vs. Seattle) 27.3ppg, 4.2apg, 5.3rpg, 41.5%FG Finals MVP (age 32)
Jordan's 5th NBA Finals (1997 vs. Utah) 32.3ppg, 6.0apg, 7.0rpg, 45.6%FG Finals MVP (age 33)
Jordan's 6th NBA Finals (1998 vs. Utah) 33.5ppg, 2.3apg, 4.0rpg, 42.7%FG Finals MVP (age 34)
Kobe's 4th NBA Finals (2004 vs. Detroit) 22.6ppg, 4.4apg, 2.8rpg, 38.1%FG (age 25)
Shaq NBA Finals (2004 vs. Detroit) 26.6ppg, 10.8rpg, 1.6apg, 63.1%FG (age 31)
Jordan's Career NBA Finals: 33.6ppg, 6.0apg, 6.0rpg, 48.0%FG (35 games)
Kobe's Career NBA Finals: 22.1ppg, 4.9apg, 5.2rpg, 41.1%FG (19 games)
Just a side note, Jordan also averaged more steals than Kobe did throughout their Finals' career. All the numbers in the world don't change the fact that Kobe is better than Jordan. Besides, Kobe couldn't didn't get a chance to dominate because that of that Shaq fellow. Not to worry, no that Kobe ran him out of LA and is in his prime, his numbers will definately show he is better than Jordan. Still don't believe me? I go to the numbers yet again.
2008 NBA Finals (down 0-2 vs. Boston) 27ppg, 7apg, 3.5rpg, 40.1%FG (age 29)
Clearly that's better than what Jordan did when he was 29. Did you forget already, don't worry I'll refresh your memory.
Jordan's 3rd NBA Finals (1993 vs. Phoenix) 41.0ppg, 6.3apg, 8.5rpg, 50.8%FG Finals MVP (age 29)
K-O-B-E!!!!!
K-O-B-E!!!!!
K-O-B-E!!!!!
Jordan's 1st NBA Finals (1991 vs. LA Lakers) 31.2ppg, 11.4apg, 6.6rpg, 55.8%FG Finals MVP (age 27)
Jordan's 2nd NBA Finals (1992 vs. Portland) 35.8ppg, 6.5apg, 4.8rpg, 52.6%FG Finals MVP (age 28)
Jordan's 3rd NBA Finals (1993 vs. Phoenix) 41.0ppg, 6.3apg, 8.5rpg, 50.8%FG Finals MVP (age 29)
Kobe's 1st NBA Finals (2000 vs. Indiana) 15.6ppg, 4.2apg, 4.6rpg, 36.7%FG (age 21)
Kobe's 2nd NBA Finals (2001 vs. Phila) 24.6ppg, 5.8apg, 7.8rpg, 41.5%FG (age 22)
Kobes' 3rd NBA Finals (2002 vs. Nets) 26.8ppg, 5.3apg, 5.8rpg, 51.4%FG (age 23)
Jordan's 1st three NBA Finals: 36.3ppg, 7.9apg, 6.6rpg, 52.6%FG
Kobe's 1st three NBA Finals: 22.0ppg, 5.1apg, 6.1rpg, 42.5%FG
I know what your thinking, how come Jordan got 3 Finals MVP's and Kobe didn't get any? That's because Kobe got robbed. Some guy named Shaq was given the MVP all 3 years. Needless to say he didn't deserve it. But don't take my word for it, I've got the numbers to back it up.
Shaq NBA Finals (2000 vs. Indiana) 38.0ppg, 16.7rpg, 2.3apg, 2.7bpg, 61.1%FG (age 27)
Shaq NBA Finals (2001 vs. Phila) 33.0ppg, 15.8rpg, 4.8apg, 3.4bpg, 57.3%FG (age 28)
Shaq NBA Finals (2202 vs. Nets) 36.3ppg, 12.3rpg, 3.8apg, 2.8bpg, 59.5%FG (age 29)
As you can see, Kobe was definately the main reason for the Lakers success. Plus, I think it's safe to say the Lakers played better teams than the bulls. After all, Jordan met teams lead by Magic, Clyde, and Barkley; while Kobe had to contend with teams lead by Reggie, Iverson, and Kidd. But this is only the begining. Jordan left in his prime for two years to go play baseball because he didn't know how to handle his father's death. Upon his return he led his team to another 3peat. But that's not all that impressive if you ask me. What's really impressive is that Kobe found a way to break-up the dynasty they had previously built. Not only that, he found a way to lose in the finals to an inferior team like Detroit. In fact, Detroit is the only team since 1980 that won a title without a legitimate superstar. But it was probably because Kobe didn't have enough help. Shaq, Payton, and Malone just isn't enough to get it done. Plus, Shaq didn't come to play in the finals that year. Don't believe me, here's more numbers.
Jordan's 4th NBA Finals (1996 vs. Seattle) 27.3ppg, 4.2apg, 5.3rpg, 41.5%FG Finals MVP (age 32)
Jordan's 5th NBA Finals (1997 vs. Utah) 32.3ppg, 6.0apg, 7.0rpg, 45.6%FG Finals MVP (age 33)
Jordan's 6th NBA Finals (1998 vs. Utah) 33.5ppg, 2.3apg, 4.0rpg, 42.7%FG Finals MVP (age 34)
Kobe's 4th NBA Finals (2004 vs. Detroit) 22.6ppg, 4.4apg, 2.8rpg, 38.1%FG (age 25)
Shaq NBA Finals (2004 vs. Detroit) 26.6ppg, 10.8rpg, 1.6apg, 63.1%FG (age 31)
Jordan's Career NBA Finals: 33.6ppg, 6.0apg, 6.0rpg, 48.0%FG (35 games)
Kobe's Career NBA Finals: 22.1ppg, 4.9apg, 5.2rpg, 41.1%FG (19 games)
Just a side note, Jordan also averaged more steals than Kobe did throughout their Finals' career. All the numbers in the world don't change the fact that Kobe is better than Jordan. Besides, Kobe couldn't didn't get a chance to dominate because that of that Shaq fellow. Not to worry, no that Kobe ran him out of LA and is in his prime, his numbers will definately show he is better than Jordan. Still don't believe me? I go to the numbers yet again.
2008 NBA Finals (down 0-2 vs. Boston) 27ppg, 7apg, 3.5rpg, 40.1%FG (age 29)
Clearly that's better than what Jordan did when he was 29. Did you forget already, don't worry I'll refresh your memory.
Jordan's 3rd NBA Finals (1993 vs. Phoenix) 41.0ppg, 6.3apg, 8.5rpg, 50.8%FG Finals MVP (age 29)
K-O-B-E!!!!!
K-O-B-E!!!!!
K-O-B-E!!!!!
4 comments:
Numbers don't mean everything. The V in MVP stands for valuable. My favorite piece of jewelry might not be the most expensive that I own, just as the best player on a team may not be the highest scoring/passing/ect. player. I haven't followed Kobe so I don't know if he has the charisma that Jordan did. I think you need a good PR guy on your side to be great.
As for the finals...didn't we already determine that they are fixed?!
H~
Not sure you got all the sarcasm in the piece. LOL ;)
You have a witty friend there Bill. Someone who definitely knows his facts...and is pretty good at math too! :)
Mo (and Bill),
You are right. I didn't catch the sarcasm...mainly because I didn't read the stats. Do you people really think I'm going to read all those numbers?! Anyway, hopefully Bill will just delete my first comment at my request :) I'm I sports idiot as of late, maily because there are not many great players (like Jordan, LOL) left to watch.
Thanks for calling me on that! I found out at dinner this evening that I had missed the wit of the piece.
Hey, one correction. Michael Jordan was asked to take a break by David Stern because his gambling problem was getting out of control. Baseball was the excuse (that's the conspiracy theorey anyway :-) ).
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