Thanks for posting that ruiner. That's been my view of Kobe for years now, and it often bothers me when people say he's "better than Jordan". How quickly people forget. I'll admit I'm not a Kobe fan at all, but I can say that he's easily the best scorer in the game today - and probably since Jordan. He can do it all from the scoring standpoint, but I haven't seen much of his all around game. Plus, the copying he has done with Jordan's mannerisms has always bothered me. Its nice to know that I'm not the only one who notices that. He's always seemed like he's tried to "talk" like Jordan, using phrases like "the game of basketball" that MJ often used. It might be coincidence, but it doesn't seem like it to me. Not that Jordan is a bad player to mold yourself after, but Kobe is talented enough that he can just be his own player.
Anyways, like I said, he's a great player and will probably retire being one of the all time greatest scorers (and maybe players) in NBA history, I just don't quite put him on the MJ level quite yet. It might have taken a few years, but Jordan really was good at incorporating his teammates and making them better. Not just guys like Pippen and Horace Grant/Rodman, but I remember BJ Armstrong making an All-Star game, and guys like John Paxson, Steve Kerr, and Bill Cartwright were almost household names.
Back on topic, I don't dislike the Mavericks, but I have to say its hard for me not to root for the Warriors a bit too. I guess upsets are always exciting, unless its your team that's the higher seed
. I really hope the Suns can do well this year, and hopefully make it to the Finals. I don't mind seeing the Spurs struggle a bit too, that could be an interesting series. Bulls/Heat is interesting as well. As much as I used to be a Bulls fan, I really can't stand Ben Wallace and to a lesser extent Andres Nocioni. I don't know why Nocioni irritates me, he just does. Kind of a like a more talented and a less whiny Bill Laimbeer. Kind of a rough player that gets under your skin. With Ben Wallace, sure he's talented, but the commentators often make it sound as if he's one of the greatest players of all time. I think he's gone from being one of the most under-rated players in the league to one of the most over-rated. Sure, he can defend and rebound, but so could Dennis Rodman. It does look like the Bulls could pull it out though, D-Wade really seems to be struggling and if he continues, this team can't do it without him.
