Kobe or Lebron

[Vegas.]

Cannot blame Dirk for that one iota. Blame their other 'star'.

 

[mdc]

Dirk is better. Bosh and Am'a'r'e debatable. I'll give you second best.

I think it's close. Pau gets you 3 extra possession a game (i.e. orebs), is a better passer, much better defender, can play the 5 equally well etc...

If you replace Pau with Dirk on the Lakers squad, do they get better or worse? I reckon it's worse, by a fair margin.

 

[Vegas.]

I think it's close. Pau gets you 3 extra possession a game (i.e. orebs), is a better passer, much better defender, can play the 5 equally well etc...

If you replace Pau with Dirk on the Lakers squad, do they get better or worse? I reckon it's worse, by a fair margin.

All good points, although the orebs one can be explained by two factors, 1) Dirk takes the shots, as opposed to Kobe taking the shots for LA, 2) Dirk is floating around the perimeter more because he has better range, plus as you say Gasol plays more 5 than Dirk. If Gasol wasn't getting more offensive boards it would be a surprise. Definitely a better defender, although Dirk isn't quite in the liability territory that some think he is.

I agree, they get worse, Dirk needs the ball to be effective (moreso than Gasol, who feeds well off of Kobes scraps), but Gasol on the Mavs is also worse. Dirk is a legit #1 option, Gasol, maybe, but not as good as Dirk. When Dirk and Terry are off the floor, the Mavs are lolbad on offense (don't have stats to back that up, just from what I have watched).

 

[peternorth]

cavs have more "names" on the bench.

we only go to 7 and maybe 8 at best (josh powell/walton).
cavs go deep

 

[Vegas.]

cavs have more "names" on the bench.

we only go to 7 and maybe 8 at best (josh powell/walton).
cavs go deep

When the 7th and 8th man are only playing 10 mins a night, it matters little. Especially when you have the discrepancy there is between the respective starters (besides Kobe and LeBron).

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

I think it's close. Pau gets you 3 extra possession a game (i.e. orebs), is a better passer, much better defender, can play the 5 equally well etc...

If you replace Pau with Dirk on the Lakers squad, do they get better or worse? I reckon it's worse, by a fair margin.

Poor argument.

Gasol is a better fit for that team, but how do you account for the fact Gasol has a history of being out-muscled in the playoffs whereas Dirk's playoff numbers are all time?

 

[mdc]

Poor argument.

Gasol is a better fit for that team, but how do you account for the fact Gasol has a history of being out-muscled in the playoffs whereas Dirk's playoff numbers are all time?

I certainly don't think Gasol > Dirk career-wise, not remotely. But Gasol's taken his game to a new level the last 2 years after being pantsed by Perkins in the '08 finals. This year especially he's been outstanding.

And his play during the '09 playoffs and this year's so far has been stellar.

As for the Lakers argument, you're right in that it's a bit flimsy. Let's look at all 16 playoff teams;

Lakers, Phoenix, Spurs, Nuggets, Jazz, OKC, Hawks, Portland, Hawks and Heat would all be better with Pau rather than Dirk.

Of the remaining 6 teams, Magic, Cavs, Boston and Dallas best with Dirk. Bucks and Bobcats probably go with Bosh.

I mean, it is "fit", but when you're the best fit for 10 of 16 playoff teams, I reckon you have a decent case.

 

[Scallop Industry Thug]

As for the Lakers argument, you're right in that it's a bit flimsy. Let's look at all 16 playoff teams;

Lakers, Phoenix, Spurs, Nuggets, Jazz, OKC, Hawks, Portland, Hawks and Heat would all be better with Pau rather than Dirk.

Of the remaining 6 teams, Magic, Cavs, Boston and Dallas best with Dirk. Bucks and Bobcats probably go with Bosh.

I mean, it is "fit", but when you're the best fit for 10 of 16 playoff teams, I reckon you have a decent case.

You think the Spurs would not want a Duncan/Dirk 5/4? or the Nuggets a Nene/Dirk partnership?

And the Jazz, Hawks and heat are all questionable.

 

[mdc]

You think the Spurs would not want a Duncan/Dirk 5/4? or the Nuggets a Nene/Dirk partnership?

Spurs need size much more than they need scoring. That's why they're so keen to get Tiago Splitter over, even though he can't score a lick.

As for Denver, Carmelo and Dirk use the exact same spots, and both need ball. Would be a shit partnership.

And the Jazz, Hawks and heat are all questionable.

Hawks and Heat were starting 6"9-6"10 guys at C, Pau would be huge for them. Jazz is closer, but I just think in the pick-and-roll stuff they run Pau would be more effective. That one might be a 50/50 though.

 

[WALL-e]

Kobe, until LeBron rings it.

I'd say LeBron is a better player re stats etc, and I think he'll close Kobe down over his career.

 

[PHX]

Deja vu.

[youtube]ra2ms0e1IQs[/youtube]

 

[ronartest37]

now lebron can watch kobe win ring number 5 hehe

 

[Borgsta]

yea i watch it that shot was mad by lebron but lebron isn't clutch like kobe don't get me wrong by the time lebron is kobe's age he will be like him maybe more clutch

That shot!?!? The guy averaged 38.5 ppg in the series. It was literally 1 vs 5 for 5 of the 6 games. He was just monstrous for the whole series.



Also the Jazz would take Gasol every day of the week and then some. Boozer and Gasol would work nicely together IMO.

 

[ronartest37]

That shot!?!? The guy averaged 38.5 ppg in the series. It was literally 1 vs 5 for 5 of the 6 games. He was just monstrous for the whole series.



Also the Jazz would take Gasol every day of the week and then some. Boozer and Gasol would work nicely together IMO.

yep and at the end of games it was lebron doing everything while his team stood there doing nothing lebron is a monster but if u stop the rest of the team u will beat them he won't win a ring with the team he has now

 

[WALL-e]

Ron's been juicing again!

 

[ronartest37]

Ron's been juicing again!

lmao

 

[peternorth]

and gasol is white so would fit in

 

[Byron_Clanger]

I can't see how anyone could possibly pick LeBron, look at a couple of his games against Boston, putrid

 

[Vegas.]

True, Kobe has never had a terrible game where he has shot his team out of it..........

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

Maybe next year, LeBron

 

[DeadlyAkkuret]

The distance becomes greater

 

[marcjudd]

Lb should not ever be mentioned in the sentence as The great kobe
Mj is the best i have seen but Kobe is right up there with him
Very little separate these 2
Kobe and mj just kill ya and rip ya heart out
Lb does it 2/3 times a year in the mickey mouse reg season

 

[sheller891]

The distance becomes greater

i agree, kobe is a killer

but some of these shots he takes are ****ing ridiculous

mj's shots in the clutch were far higher percentage

and to think if not for ron artest bs putback, suns could of possibly won game 5 and then 6 (very big IF) and then what would we be saying bout kobe?

game of inches. but those shots were amazing and the tap on gentry beautiful

 

[Darealrath]

i agree, kobe is a killer

but some of these shots he takes are ****ing ridiculous

mj's shots in the clutch were far higher percentage

and to think if not for ron artest bs putback, suns could of possibly won game 5 and then 6 (very big IF) and then what would we be saying bout kobe?

game of inches. but those shots were amazing and the tap on gentry beautiful

I don't like the lakers and was cheering for the suns but that was just amazing to watch. Looked like an A grader playing in a C grade comp.

 

[Carl Hooper]

Kobe +1

(Sorry for being a see you en tea, but it is the day of a Lakers Finals victory)