Trying To Be Fair

Yesterday was a pretty sad day in the No Owens world. It officially marked the first time in history, barring lockout, that I had officially watched 100% of the NBA Finals and 0% of the Stanley Cup Finals.

However, last night was a pretty strong basketball game and I'm not embarrassed whatsoever to say I watched it and in fact enjoyed it. The game was fairly intense between two strong teams. Paul Pierce played the hero role but really, the best part was Kevin Garnett trash talking with Kobe. In a couple of sequences, Garnett put back that rebound for the slam, said something straight to Kobe, Kobe got fouled, Garnett was talking to Kobe the whole time he was on the line and even gave a slight facial expression acknowledging he heard Garnett, and then after Garnett put down the jumper that pretty much ended the game, Garnett running back down the court saying something about "Him not being able to guard me." I would write what he really said, but that wouldn't be appropriate.

What I didn't enjoy was when Mark Jackson said that "Kobe Bryant is at the same level as Michael Jordan." This debate has been going on in a few circles now, and it's time to get in on it.

As you know, I grew up a Bulls fan, a Jordan fan, and saw him play many times in person. So though it may something from you to get passed my emotions, I'll stick to the facts.

First of all, Scottie Pippen is not in the same league as Shaq. Shaq was a dominant player, still can be, and is one of the greatest centers ever to play this game. Pippen was a great defender, a perfect slasher and could hit a 20 footer when he needed to. He was a great fit for the triangle offense. Pippen was not dominant. This is why Pippen could not carry the Bulls, or any other team, like Shaq did in Orlando and Miami without Kobe. So, when comparing the greatness of Kobe and Michael, remember that Kobe was the second best player on his team for much of his career and failed to make the playoffs his first season without Shaq.

Along those lines, I will give Kobe a lot of credit for emerging this year as a leader. He really has...because he's had to. Why? The Lakers wanted Kevin Garnett but couldn't get a deal done. If Garnett was a Laker, would this be Kobe's team? I would say no. Is this a moot point? Maybe, but was there ever a question as to who's team the Bulls was? Ask Phil Jackson who ran that team...the Bulls I mean.

The NBA was a different league when Jordan played. It was hard. It was tough. Watch these videos:
http://youtube.com/watch?v=mlolzcidq0o
http://youtube.com/watch?v=h_z_68NdbqM&feature=related

There's a reason that Jordan got away with some of the things he did. Not only because he earned the right to get calls, but because he was getting hand checked and pressed all the time. The game was different. When it struggled (because Jordan left) it had to become an offensive minded where fouls could be called for really anything, and are. Points are driven up and players don't play defense like the used to.

But if you watch that second clip, you really see what set Jordan apart from pretty much anyone, on the court. His threat to shoot and score got people open. And he had the vision to find them. There are a few unreal passes he gets in both of these clips, but the second is really what it was all about. On the road, playing a tough, physical team, and doing all of the little things, while scoring 29. Just watching that, he could have gone for 40. But didn't. Facilitated, felt the flow of the game, and took what they gave him.

People really get enamored with Kobe's athleticism. As they should. But remember this, Kobe is listed at 6'6. So was Jordan...and at that time Rodman was 6'8 and Barkley was 6'6. Jordan was maybe 6'5, which still isn't short, but in a game of inches and length, that's a lot. Kobe's bigger, he plays in an open game unlike Michael did which allows for more aerobic type moves. Not like Michael wasn't the most athletic player, ever, or anything.

Kobe came straight from high school. Jordan, won a national championship and effected the game the second he stepped on the court. Kobe, didn't. It took Kobe a while to get into a starting lineup. Aside from the mere fact that Kobe hasn't effected the NBA like Jordan effected...the world...this is the all telling factor.

Watch Kobe play. Watch him shoot. Watch him backpedal. Watch him run. Watch him handle the ball. Watch him talk (yes I said watch). Watch him place wear towels when he's on the bench. Listen to the way he talks. Everything Kobe does is an attempt to replicate Jordan. From all of those things I just listed. He does them EXACTLY like Jordan did. Jordan was the first. He was the revolutionary and until someone can change the game like Jordan did, players, like Kobe, are going to try to be him. It'd be different if Kobe was being himself, transforming the game and how it's played and showing us something new. What he's doing is being un-original.

Look, I'm not saying that copying MJ is necessarily a bad thing. He had a pretty good thing going. But Kobe Bryant could play Michael Jordan in a movie because he does everything EXACTLY like MJ did. Be yourself. Change the game. Open people's eyes. At TheBron plays a different game. TheBron is closer to Magic than he is to Michael, in my opinion. But TheBron, though wearing 23 and doing some ridiculous thing with the powder pre-game, mad famous by Jordan, is at least trying to play it in a new way. Kobe, is a very expensive knock-off of Jordan.

Jordan was a revolutionary. He made basketball a global sport. And all of the hoop-la that went with Jordan came because of one thing: he was the best and greatest ever to play. And everyone knew it and everyone watched it. Until Kobe forges his own path, he'll still be a second/third tier player in the history of the game. And even then will he be Jordan? Time will tell, but right now, he's doing everything he can to be Jordan, not to be greater than Jordan. Best of luck with that buddy.

Also, if you actually listen to these people who talk about how Kobe is on Jordan's level on TV, I don't know what to tell you. You would think Mark Jackson would understand after never beating Jordan in a playoff series during a season in which Jordan played the whole year. Thanks for being bitter, Mark, and Reggie for that matter. Glad to know all of us have the same winning percentage against Michael in the playoffs.