Quote:
Originally Posted by DJ's left nut
The Lakers don't run the tri like the Bulls did, so it's not entirely fair to say that Odom is like Pippin.
If you look at how each player is used, Kobe = MJ, Pau = Pippin, Odom = Kukoc. They have different skills (for instance, Kukoc was a far better shooter, Odom a better rebounder) but as an aggregate, they filled roughly the same roles.
It's something of a shell game when you try to compare guys like that. Just remember, Chicago probably should've made the Eastern Conference finals without MJ (got screwed on a fantom block against Pippin), the Lakers without Kobe are probably a fringe playoff team at best.
People are very quick to underestimate how good MJ's surrounding cast was, in large part because I think they feel like they're disparaging MJ somehow. Jordan had fantastic support during every season he won a title.
I'm simply unwilling to listen to people who refuse to compare Kobe and Jordan anymore. Kobe's competitive fire and clutch nature absolutely rival Jordan's. His raw skills do as well. The kid is as close to Jordan as we'll see for decades. If he ages as well as Jordan did over the next 5 seasons, I could see an argument that he will end up being at least Jordan's equal.
Appreciate what you're watching fellas, they're not as far apart as you think.
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Your going to always have a few people that will say Kobe isnt on his level, but truth of the matter is, when its all said and done. He could be. He still has a ways to go though. Kobe's career is different then MJ's though. Kobe had a good team when he came into the NBA. Jordan didnt. He had to wait quite a few years before they finally assembled a team and he learned how to be a team players. Kobe came into the league with a pretty damned good team. Then when it got gutted. He had to try to do EVERYTHing, becuase he had no damned choice. Now he has a team built around him and has a good supporting cast and Sky is the limits. Kobe has already showed he can put up 40 anytime he wants to or have a average of 35 a game if he wanted too, but he doesnt have to anymore.