So we're here where we are now. Quite honestly I have not watched a Mavs-Laker game these playoffs because of my job. I've relied solely on the comments you all post on the game threads, and the recaps presented by Dex and CA to get a feel of what is really going on. And I do not think it takes a genius to realize that things aren't going well.

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Game 3 has been the most awesome game in the playoffs so far for me. Grind it out. Wire to wire. And a breath of fresh air from those refs in games 1 and 2.

Fish came through silencing the Fisher-pls-retire movement once again. Brilliant grind it out effort from both teams. But please. Kobe Bryant was NOT a sucky chucker in game 3, as a lot of you were mentioning in the threads. Watch the game again if you have to. And I am not one to hesitate to point at Bryant for a bad performance.

As playoff games intensify, so does my passion for defending my opinions, so before you comment below, read. Again it's all good with you guys :) It's all part of the game to defend my stand.

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Before I create a misunderstanding, let me make it clear that I still have the Lakers winning games 3 and 5. Fans are entitled to ranting, and this post will perhaps be like that.

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We all know that Kobe has not really been living up to his name and greatness. Quite frankly, I am starting to think that he is undermining his own integrity the way his playing. Honestly I am not concerned about the shot attempts, him "burning away so many Laker possessions". You guys may stress the fact that he has to pass it in the post, and I agree. But essentially, I am more concerned about him actually not converting on those possessions. Take 29 shots? Fine. But c'mon Kob make at least 13 or 14. 10 shots in the 4th, make at least 5 man...

We're frustrated and disappointed. We expected better. We can defend him all we want, but let's face it. We cringe when he takes bad shots now, unlike before when we genuinely expect him to make it. 

So I want to ask you. Is his bad play because of his injuries, or because he's old and declining? The poll will only feature two choices. I am not going to put a "both" because I want you guys to pick one or the other. As for my own answer, read: http://www.silverscreenandroll.com/2010/4/13/1418523/response-to-the-kobe-bryant

Sorry C.A., you posted a few weeks back that Kobe may really be aging and he has hit a wall. Many of you may have come to that conclusion as well. But I'm sorry. I just don't buy it. He's playing bad and it can be sickening. But it's not the end of the road.

This post is in no way meant to bash or put down C.A.'s recent post pertaining to Kobe Bryant, or anyone else's opinion about this subject for that matter. But this is my opinion. Here me out. (No this is not a hopeful optimistic post. I'm going with pure logic here)

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At this point in the season, I am perhaps not in panic, as I am disappointed. I do believe that this team is still capable of repeating, in spite of their performance after the all-star break. It's just that it's disappointing to see them lose so many games like this, and I'm sure you all feel the same way.

This is not a traditional SS&R vent out post. I do think that you guys will find this post interesting, esp the latter part when I take a look back in the past..

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The Lakers are struggling. The Cavs are cruising. They are cruising even more so than they were last year when they finished with the best record. As of last year, there was a noticeable shift in the tide on the issue on who the best player in the game is. Again we have to differentiate "greatness" from "best" here. Put simply, greatness considers resume as a major factor. Best on the other hand simply takes into account effectiveness and skill in the game.

Up until 2007-2008, Bryant was the consensus best player in basketball. Probably until last season it was. But last season, it was not so much the landslide consensus it was as the previous years. Notably, Barkley shifted. Jeff van Gundy began to vacilate between the two. Same goes with David Friedman, etc... This year again the tide shifted even more and I am not so sure that Bryant still has the majority of the votes from nba fans and analysts - I wouldn't be surprised if he does not.

To be honest, I have shifted as well. When comparisons started in 2005-2006, I dismissed the comparisons as idiotic. I thought, it was not even close. Same thing during 2006-2007, 2007-2008. By 2008-2009, I still considered Bryant the best but I began to understand and accept the arguments of the other party. LeBron had eliminated a lot of his weaknesses, and the gap between the two was not miles wide as it was the previous years. 

But this year, I boldly, and humbly proclaim... that LeBron James has surpassed Kobe Bryant as the best player in basketball. It hurts me. Some of you may consider it blasphemous. I expect harsh comments below. But that's my honest opinion. James effectivity and impact far surpasses Kobe Bryant at this point in their careers on both ends. Efficiency wise, by eliminating his 3pt and freethrow weakness, I'd take LeBron. They have the best record. Everything is going his way...

Errr... but I forgot to mention something. LeBron has surpassed Kobe on one condition. LeBron is the best player in the NBA, PROVIDED THAT Kobe Bryant is playing with 8 fingers. Again I repeat. LeBron is the best player in basketball. Provided that Kobe Bryant is playing with 8 fingers - 3 fingers on his shooting hand. 

A lot of analysts, fans, have concluded that James is the best player in the game, and I know even for some of you it may be tempting to throw in the white flag and conclude the same thing --- while resting on the consoling fact that James may be the best today, but Bryant is no doubt the greatest today. But I stand here, and boldly state, that unless I see LeBron James outdo a healthy Bryant on a consistent basis, I maintain my stand. This year, Bryant showed what he is when he is healthy and well-rested: The alpha dog of basketball. He shot 49% from the field and led the league in FG's made per game, and points in the paint. He also led the league in steals for a couple or so weeks. It was only after the injury that he suddenly became pedestrian, by his and LeBron's standards...

I have not thrown in the white towel yet. I have seen and more importantly remember what a healthy Kobe Bryant is: a player who is still head and shoulder's above LeBron James, an alpha-dog with a mamba snake for a tail (sort of like a chimera). I maintain my stand. Unless I see LeBron surpass a healthy Kobe Bryant, then LeBron has surpassed Kobe only on the grounds that Kobe Bryant is injured.

This is my opinion. Please share yours. :) 

PS This (bitter) post was meant for me to vent our my frustration to the God Almighty, who decided that it was unfair for the rest of the league to play against an unleashed Kobe Bryant, and thus decided to break his finger, give him back spasms, and sprain his ankle twice...

Just wanted to take a break from all the frustration and the losing, so I came up with this.

Kobe's made a career out of one great season after another, after another, after another... Looking back, I just suddenly thought of what you guys think was Kobe's best season. I am not setting any standards since each of has has his/her own standards. Btw, this includes regular season and playoffs. Here is a refresher of the choices included on the poll.

2002-2003: Bryant averaged 30ppg, and shot a career high 38% from 3pt land. 9 consecutive 40+point games. Three pointers in a game record. Some of his greatest dunks (Reverse windmill on Garnett, reverse windmill on Latrell, dunk on Yao, behind-the-back-180 on some Nugget dude... etc). Probably the year when he clearly began to establish himself as the best individual player of the game.

2005-2006: Bryant averaged 35.4ppg (the highest since Jordan) and led the Lakers (with starters Smush Parker, Walton, Odom, and Kwame) to a 45-37 record. If you asked me that's astounding considering the lineup they had. Moreover, they made it to the playoffs in the ultra competitive western conference. Oh and 81 anybody? Enough said. PS Did I mention that he had a torn tendon on his knee that needed surgery? By this season, it became the general consensus the Kobe Bryant was the best player in basketball.

2006-2007: Bryant averaged 31+ppg. If you thought that the lineup during the previous season was "scrub-filled", well this season starters Odom, Walton, and Kwame got injured. So if they were starters... then you can expect that the bench was not pretty loaded. The likes of Brian Cook (who is nowhere to be found), Maurice Evans, and Ronny Turiaf (who were still both clueless about the triangle and everything nba) had to start. Nonetheless Bryant had 4 consecutive 50+point games, and led the Lakers to the playoffs in the ultra competitive western conference... again. Record was 42-40, not as respectable as the previous season but considering the lineup we had, we ought to be thankful.

2007-2008: My personal favorite. Bryant sheds 20 pounds, regains his agility, and dunks like crazy again (MVP dunk against the hornets; christmas day dunk against the suns; etc...). Bryant wins MVP. Lakers have the best record in the West. Bryant's point average dipped a bit but that was because of the maturity and major upgrades in the roster (Gasol anybody?). Bryant suddenly did not have to be in Mamba mode for 48 mins, feeling out his teammates, and sharing the ball, only taking over when necessary. Moreover in the playoffs, before the Celtics, he averaged 30+ppg, and shot slightly above 50%... In the playoffs when the other team has its whole defense tilted towards you, this is astounding. My personal choice. Did I mention that for the later part of the season, he was playing with 9 fingers?

2008-2009: Championship year. In terms of individual performance, nothing new from Kobe. In fact he may have been below his standards during the regular season, especially come March when he shot the ball just 43% and there was a string of games when he was struggling. This was a crucial stretch when the Cavs secured the best record in the NBA. Note that he had just come from a long playoff run, and then the Olympics, so fatigue may have been a factor. Nonetheless, he was Mamba come the Western Conference Finals, and the Finals, and  he gets his 4th ring - one without Shaq, and a Finals MVP.

Take your pick guys! 

I read an article earlier concerning the subject of Pau Gasol being the real Lakers' MVP. Robi s refuted it so well, and here's another good point to consider: http://20secondtimeout.blogspot.com/ (first article)... There's no doubt that Gasol is a cerebral and skillful player. But I don't think it takes a genius to see certain problems with his mentality at certain points.

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