
Now that everything is on the page let’s talk specifics here: The Lakers did nothing in this past game or, really, in this whole series. Nothing Kobe did transcended; the player with the most style and the best execution was clearly Paul Pierce, Ray Allen quietly assumed his place alongside KG as a transcendent role player, quietly knocking down (a finals record) 22 three pointers over the course of the series while having the ability to exploit mismatches off the dribble (ie game 4’s working over of Vujacic), KG was KG and remained the best player between the three point line and lane on offense and the best player IN the lane on D. The comparison between the benches was laughable. And most impressively, Doc Rivers shape shifting rotations kept Phil Jackson off balance throughout the series. For whatever you want to say about the value of consistency Doc ‘coached by feel’ and utterly embarrassed Phil.
On to Tiger. I know many of you are likely not huge fans of golf, but you needn’t be in order to appreciate that his approach to the game so clearly precedes his success; he took about 3-4 times the preparation for each shot as compared to Rocco. Sure, this isn’t necessarily impressive (rather it is amazing that Rocco could step up and swing and keep pace with Tiger over the course of 90 holes) but it is evidence of the value of concentration, or intensity, in overcoming. KG lacks this, Kobe certainly lacks this, and MJ did not.
1 comment:
Should Kobe's career almost be viewed as two separate careers - the earlier years with Shaq and his post-Shaq career. Viewing the post-Shaq career next to Jordan's, Kobe is moving at a mighty pace. Four years in and he's reached the Finals, what will next year bring? Jordan won his first in year six...Kobe can't help it that his teammates suck at life. he has no Scottie Pippen, all the pressure is on Kobe, all the time
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