NBA Season Part 2: Life In The Orlando Bubble

Accomplishments in the big series is really what sets MJ apart in the grand scheme of things. These guys are all talented, but he was talented and was big in every big moment and never failed and won it more then anyone. I still say to this day, if Kobe wins in 2004 and 2008, the GOAT conversation is completely different. It's not just about the trophy. It's how history and the record books look.

If Kobe is 7-0 in the Finals, the ripple effect is huge. Kobe likely wins the Finals MVP in 2004, he and and Shaq have a 98 Bulls Swan song and end their era with 4 out of 5 titles. Kobe wins Finals MVP in 2008, 3-peats twice, JUST LIKE MJ, but with two different teams. He beats the C Bags twice and never loses. The Lakers pass the C Bags in titles.

Kobe's Stats go from 2 Finals MVPs to 4 Finals MVPs. He goes from 5-2, to 7-0. He goes from 1-1 to 2-0 against the C Bags. The Lakers are sitting right now at 18 titles to the C Bags 16. Kobe passes Jordan in titles, Kobe is unbeaten in the biggest stage in the sport and is also known as the guy who never lost in the big moment. The argument is no longer far fetched. It's legit and you can pick either or.

Lebron's situation is a mix of bad and really s***ty luck. I always said the 90s Bulls were one of the luckiest teams ever. Other than Pippen's back going out on him in Game 6 of the 1998 Finals, the Bulls pretty much had a healthy team in all their runs. Lebron had some s***ty luck with injured players AND the Durant going to Golden State.

Lebron gets a pass for 2007 and 2015. They had no business being in the Finals in 2007, he willed them. 2015, Kyrie and Love out, still took them to 2-1, but he just didnt get enough help. 2017 and 2018, Durant likely ruined a back to back or possible 3-peat for Lebron. I don't blame him there. Now, 2011, we all know that was the series he ruined. And 2014 should have still been a win. Lebron should be sitting on a 5-4 record in the Finals. If he's sitting on 5 right now, the argument might be over that he will eventually have the top spot. Because I think he will win 2 more with the Lakers and make it 7-4.

Then again, i watched all 3 in their primes. Michael Jordan had a god given level no one had. Didn't matter how much anyone trained. MJ has an extra fast twitch fiber that just wasn't fair for anyone. Kobe was close, I mean, as close as you can get. But that extra 1 MPH made a difference. Lebron is Karl Malone with handles. That's just not fair physically. But Lebron's mental game will never touch MJ or Kobe, I don't care how loud Shannon Sharpe yells it.

 

no love for the Pistol?

 

He does get forgotten a lot and was freaking amazing.

 

i think he would be the only one who would give kareem a run for his money in terms of college goat. where kareem gets the edge is the titles and the record he had at ucla

 

Love yes, better than kareem in college, no.

 

who do you have as #2 college goat

 

Walton was also dominant

 

Bill Walton is #2.

 

Pb I have with MJ competition is :

- he played 5 different opponents in 6 Finals , it's not like these teams were only losing to MJ year after year ...


- The 2 years he didn't play/lost it was not a team he used to beat which won the title .

It wasn't anything like the Spurs and Lakers playing each other 5 times between 99 and 2004 and the winner of the series was the champion 4 times ...

 

1990's watered down? Not really.



Lateral Sprewell(First team All-NBA in 1994, the year MJ was out)
Chris Mullin
Tim Duncan
David Robinson
Kobe Bryant
Dennis Rodman
Scottie Pippen
Hakeem Olajuwon
Patrick Ewing
Clyde Drexler
John Stockton
Gary Payton
Karl Malone
Charles Barkley
Alonzo Mourning
Shaquille O'neal
Penny Hardaway
Chris Webber
Shawn Kemp
Reggie Miller
Grant Hill
Jason Kidd
Mitch Richmond(Second best SG in the 1990s whom MJ said was underrated
Dikembe Mutumbo
Tim Hardaway

Anyone who wasn't old enough to have watched 90's basketball as a comprehending adolescent or grown adult can't argue who or what is watered down or who is better than which ever player.

 

Every time I start getting optimistic I see these stories in the news like the 40,000 people flocking to Newport Beach and I just assume we’re too dumb as a species to do whatever’s necessary to get this basketball season back.

 

Not a good look for our front office to have even applied for this loan in the first place. It’s meant for small businesses, many of who are unable to get these funds because they’ve ended up being exhausted by corporations that have taken advantage of the situation.

 

If people even remember this when the whole COVID-19 nightmare is over I'd be amazed.

 

covering their bases, being a mom and pop operation

 

Lakers would sell for 5 billion if they wanted to sell. Mom and Pop operation, not so much.