Team USA Would-be's.

[Silas]

I think any player would be willing to take a back seat to Kobe when he was hitting shots like he was. When a player is that on, you give him the ball. And remember, the Lakers were losing, so he was doing everything he could to lift the team up and win the game. Nobody can score like that if they took all the shots.

It's ridiculous to even think that other players could score 81 points if they never passed the ball. It takes a special player to be able to do that, and anyone with half a brain would agree.

[Its_asdf]

Jason Kidd made Mikki Moore a decent looking player. He could get 5th graders to the playoffs if you asked him too.

Is Chris Bosh a grown ass man or what?

What's that supposed to mean?

And JT_55, you have to admit that the Raptors got butt fucked that game. Horrendously. There's no denying what Kobe did was amazing, but lets not forget how crappy the 05-06 Raptors were.

[TheMC5]

Jason Kidd made Mikki Moore a decent looking player. He could get 5th graders to the playoffs if you asked him too.

Is Chris Bosh a grown ass man or what?

What's that supposed to mean?

And JT_55, you have to admit that the Raptors got butt fucked that game. Horrendously. There's no denying what Kobe did was amazing, but lets not forget how crappy the 05-06 Raptors were.

Agreed. Though it is sublime achievement, I think there are a few players who could conceivably drop 81 in the right conditions. However, the odds of ever getting the right conditions for anyone else are incredibly slim. They'd have to be playing a team with such horrible defense and so many injuries that it might as well be an NBDL team or a college team or something, as well as being more "on" than they've ever been before.

[Sauru]

the only way i can imagine people downplaying kobes 81 is if they flat out hate kobe. the man played an amazing game and to say its no big deal is pretty dumb

[JT_55]

Oh, yes, that too. As you've guessed, I flat out hate Kobe.

[Andrew]

the only way i can imagine people downplaying kobes 81 is if they flat out hate kobe. the man played an amazing game and to say its no big deal is pretty dumb

I've seen scoring achievements from the 80s and 90s downplayed because they've had the advantage of the three point line whereas players from earlier decades did not, so if you were to hold Kobe to the same (somewhat unfair) standard you could downplay the 81 without harbouring any hatred for him.

[Doobie]

the only way i can imagine people downplaying kobes 81 is if they flat out hate kobe. the man played an amazing game and to say its no big deal is pretty dumb

I've seen scoring achievements from the 80s and 90s downplayed because they've had the advantage of the three point line whereas players from earlier decades did not, so if you were to hold Kobe to the same (somewhat unfair) standard you could downplay the 81 without harbouring any hatred for him.

I understand where you are comming from but without a three point line Kobe still wouldve scored 70+ points considering he took the same shots from the same places. It is a great accomplishment that I know for a fact will be repeated some day in the NBA.

[Fresh8]

Don't forget that while Kobe was scoring, the Raptors were sending whoever they had at him. For someone to score like he did, especially with his kind of shots, and the defensive coverage he was getting... it's pretty amazing. I don't think 81 points can be downplayed as being 'not special'.

However, if the points came against a defensive team like the Spurs or Pistons, it would have been even more amazing. Admittedly, I don't think a team like the Spurs/Pistons would ever let Kobe score that many

[Silas]

the only way i can imagine people downplaying kobes 81 is if they flat out hate kobe. the man played an amazing game and to say its no big deal is pretty dumb

I've seen scoring achievements from the 80s and 90s downplayed because they've had the advantage of the three point line whereas players from earlier decades did not, so if you were to hold Kobe to the same (somewhat unfair) standard you could downplay the 81 without harbouring any hatred for him.

I understand where you are comming from but without a three point line Kobe still wouldve scored 70+ points considering he took the same shots from the same places. It is a great accomplishment that I know for a fact will be repeated some day in the NBA.

You could even make the argument in his favor. With no three point line, the lane would have been more protected, which would open up the perimeter for him more, giving him easier jump shots. I also think it is safe to say that on that night, his jump shot was going to go in no matter what he took.

Either way you look at it, counting 3pt'ers or not, its still incredible. You can only really shave off 7 points since that's how many 3pt'ers he took.

[Sauru]

the point is, the lakers were losing and kobe carried them to a win. to just say lebron can do it but wont cause he will pass and kobe wont is just ignorant.

[Anthony15]

Don't you mean Melo and sucker punching people then running away like a little pussy?

Well what you know, the "pussy" scored 28 points...gonna keep telling me he's a pussy or you're done bud?

[TheMC5]

Don't you mean Melo and sucker punching people then running away like a little pussy?

Well what you know, the "pussy" scored 28 points...gonna keep telling me he's a pussy or you're done bud?

I was merely expressing my opinion about Carmelo in what I and at least 1 other person considered a humorous manner. And as a public sports figure, if Anthony sucker punches some guy and runs away, like he did, I'm going to rip on him for it. He can score as many points as he wants, the fact remains he sucker punched someone and then ran away. That's a pussy move if ever I've seen one.

And just so you're aware, my ragging on Carmelo is in no way directed at you. He happens to evidently be one of your favorite players. So be it. Lots of other people like Carmelo, too (I don't understand why), and no one else seems to take offense. You can feel free to rip on Bosh, or KG, or Igoudala, or any other basketball players I like. I won't be offended by it, and neither should you.

[Andrew]

the only way i can imagine people downplaying kobes 81 is if they flat out hate kobe. the man played an amazing game and to say its no big deal is pretty dumb

I've seen scoring achievements from the 80s and 90s downplayed because they've had the advantage of the three point line whereas players from earlier decades did not, so if you were to hold Kobe to the same (somewhat unfair) standard you could downplay the 81 without harbouring any hatred for him.

I understand where you are comming from but without a three point line Kobe still wouldve scored 70+ points considering he took the same shots from the same places. It is a great accomplishment that I know for a fact will be repeated some day in the NBA.

You could even make the argument in his favor. With no three point line, the lane would have been more protected, which would open up the perimeter for him more, giving him easier jump shots. I also think it is safe to say that on that night, his jump shot was going to go in no matter what he took.

Either way you look at it, counting 3pt'ers or not, its still incredible. You can only really shave off 7 points since that's how many 3pt'ers he took.

Absolutely, I don't agree with the notion but I brought it up as I've seen it used against players from the 80s and 90s and while it is an unfair standard (one could just as easily suggest players who were not hampered by the offensive goaltending rule had an advantage that today's players do not) it's one that could be used to attempt to discredit Kobe's 81 point game for a reason other than disliking him. I think it's a weak argument and I don't agree with it, but it's one someone could use all the same.

[maceo24]

Don't you mean Melo and sucker punching people then running away like a little pussy?

Well what you know, the "pussy" scored 28 points...gonna keep telling me he's a pussy or you're done bud?

I was merely expressing my opinion about Carmelo in what I and at least 1 other person considered a humorous manner. And as a public sports figure, if Anthony sucker punches some guy and runs away, like he did, I'm going to rip on him for it. He can score as many points as he wants, the fact remains he sucker punched someone and then ran away. That's a pussy move if ever I've seen one.

No disrespect Anthony15, but he's right. it was a total punk-ass move on melo's part. The fight was basically over before he ran in and flared it back up. I lost quite a few points of respect for him because of that event. Still a great basketball player, but that stunt was sneaky as hell, and if you ask 100 people what they thought about it after showing them the footage, they would tell you the same thing.

[shadowgrin]

Either way you look at it, counting 3pt'ers or not, its still incredible. You can only really shave off 7 points since that's how many 3pt'ers he took.

But a 3-pointer is worth 3 points. You mean Kobe only took two 3-pointers and one-thirds of a 3-pointer?

Math teacher, help..

[JT_55]

There's a resident math teacher at the NLSC? I never knew that. Anyway, what he meant was that if you take away the three point line, every three pointer he took would only count for the normal 2 points. If he took seven 3s, then that means that he got 21 (7 x 3) points with the three-point line. Without it, it would count for 14 (7 x 2) points. Since 21 minus 14 equal 7, he would have got 7 less points without the three point line. Whew!

[kingtrobe807]

actualy Lakers are goin to get kidd after the usa thing this summer....it was going to be a surpise to Kobe when he comes back....i coudlnt help myself...and told everyone on here

[shadowgrin]

^ Could you give me Kobe's number so I can call him and confirm that Kidd going to LAL is a definite thing.

Screw you JT_55 for making me more stupider.

[Sauru]

holy shit balls batman the lakers are getting kidd??????????????? for nothing more than a second rounder??????? lakers cant be beat now, i bet they get Joneal for a bag of peanuts and a 30 year old cheerleader

[JT_55]

What?! It's not true right? Kidd for a second rounder! Cool! Since Delfino is only worth a second rounder, maybe the Lakers will accept Delfino for Kidd.

No, I'm not that gullible

Screw you JT_55 for making me more stupider.

Just trying to help.

[kingtrobe807]

naa...its more then just a 2nd rounder....try a 3-way with lakers-nets-boston...

[TheMC5]

naa...its more then just a 2nd rounder....try a 3-way with lakers-nets-boston...

I smell bullshit. Boston isn't trading Garnett, Pierce, or Allen. A Lakers-Nets-Pacers 3-way seems more likely, but still far fetched.

[kingtrobe807]

naa...its more then just a 2nd rounder....try a 3-way with lakers-nets-boston...

I smell bullshit. Boston isn't trading Garnett, Pierce, or Allen. A Lakers-Nets-Pacers 3-way seems more likely, but still far fetched.

opps....did i say boston....i ment t-wolves instead of boston..lol...kinda got the boston-twolves switched around...lol.....lakers-nets-twolves 3 way is what i ment

[shadowgrin]

Tell us the possible trade scenarios. If you can't provide some...

What you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever read.

Everyone in this room is now dumber for having read it.

And may god have mercy on your soul.

(Never thought I have to use that so early)

[Sauru]

good movie

the laker and nets have no one the wolves would want with the exception of bynum, everyone else just helps them get further from the top pick in the draft