ESPN loves to hate and they're on a train right now with it. Props to Steven A. Smith for being the only idiot to not be an idiot about this.
Kobe's a liability on defense but even defensively prob better than most ranked above him on list. Offensively, few can guard him 1:1 even now, just too skilled and too determined to score. If he's on the floor he'll get over 20 a game, but if shot not falling he'll take 25 to get there. Absurd to think that 39 other players will find a way to impact game more than him consistently.
Ask the GM's around the league and how many of the 39 ahead of him they would take before Kobe...I doubt he slips past 15.
This shouldn't come to a surprise to anyone, ESPN hates Kobe and will do anything for ratings. It'll be interesting to see ESPN explain their way out of their 40th ranking when Kobe shows he's one of the top performers in the game.
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/...um=referral&utm_campaign=programming-national Kobe approves of the ranking
Was anyone impressed or maybe even surprised a little bit last night against Utah..... with the ferocity of the physical battle Kobe brought to Gordon Hayward, a much younger and bigger dude, while fighting to establish position? He's lost some of his muscle padding by choice to keep his weight down, but ...Kobe at 37 still brings the "physicality" like young, "stud", buff Kobe in his prime. Toughest emm effer I have ever seen in basketball or any sport, not named football only because how do you tell with those guys all helmeted and geared up. NO ONE "maybe" in the history of North American pro sports (again excluding American Football) ..... has played through the types of injuries Kobe has his entire career.
Another quote from an Espn article: "You know, we shouldn't be forced to “respect” Kobe any more than he earns our respect. We can respect his career, sure, if we want to reminisce about the good ol' days. But respect is earned, and the current version of Kobe is not much of an NBA player."
Jeezus. Are you serious, they actually said that? I haven't read the CRAP article. But unless Kobe pulls a "Steve Nash" and goes down indefinitely again with the same injury, what a stupid, ignorant, biased, "CLOWN WRITER" thing to say.
http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/po...4966873256865_734989049921314_734989049921314 I think that will redirect you to it.
Wiz, I don't know if you are a "Travis" too in real life like trodgers, but if Travis Milne is you, well effing done!!! If not, still to Travis Milne, well effing done!!!, and you are a "smart guy" ..... I expect NO LESS....whatever you posted.
that's the "youth", "athleticism", "eye test" (mentality from ummm...a couple years ago when Rose was healthy and a "high fly" act) What does he really have left NOW? Kobe to me, right now in pre-season, looks freaking "awesome", whether he ever JAMS forcefully with one hand (wrist cradled)....again or not.
I don't think Rose has been ranked yet. I can't see him being ranked much higher than Kobe, but we'll see.
Damn. Just reading the comments people added to your post, I'd never go through the comments on a Lakers article on that site again. Or any article. Sheer stupidity.
Much respect to LakersWiz for dealing with those idiots in the comment section. Their remarks are just silly.
