Who would you want to build your team around? Iverson or Kobe?
Derrick
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If I had the choice of selecting either Kobe Bryant or Allen Iverson to build my team around, I would choose Bryant (of course). Both players are extremely talented and represent the very best the league has to offer. However, Bryant has a more complete game than Iverson, and when all is said and done, he will have a greater impact on the game. I back this up with the following evidence.
Bryant owns 2 NBA titles and was named to the First Team NBA-Defensive Team in 2000, becoming the youngest player in league history to accomplish such a feat. In addition, he has been named to the All-NBA team the last three seasons (Second Team in 2000-01, Second Team in 1999-00 and Third Team in 1998-99).
I would contend, however, that Bryant is only 23-years-old. He is still a kid. At times, he may make some questionable on-court decisions that reflect his age, but you can't argue that his production has increased in each of his six years in the league. Also, we have yet to see Bryant's best game. Imagine how good he will be two years from now, or five years down the road. Scary, isn't it?
Not only has his scoring increased each season (except this season which 25+ ain't shabby and is not taking as many shots and not playing as many minutes as last season) from 7.6 points a game his rookie season to 28.5 points a game in the 2000-01 season, but his shot selection has improved as well. After shooting 41 percent from the field in his rookie year, Bryant knocked in 46 percent of his shots over the last three seasons. Much of that success can be attributed to his dedication to improving his perimeter game. Iverson, meanwhile, has hovered around 42 percent from the field during his career. If Bryant took as many shots as Iverson, he'd average over 30 points a game too!
Defensively, Bryant is a tremendous man-to-man defender. Don't read too much into his defensive stats, which don't necessarily jump out at you. This guy can flat-out defend. He is routinely guarding some of the NBA's best players. His height and athleticism create problems for opposing players and he has already shown that he can shut down the best, including Iverson.
In short, I would select Bryant over Iverson because of his potential. In time, he will become an even greater offensive player and a peerless defender. His leadership skills, his basketball I.Q. and his ability to dominate a game will fall into place.
Iverson may be known as "The Answer," but Bryant is the one who formulated the question.
Bryant owns 2 NBA titles and was named to the First Team NBA-Defensive Team in 2000, becoming the youngest player in league history to accomplish such a feat. In addition, he has been named to the All-NBA team the last three seasons (Second Team in 2000-01, Second Team in 1999-00 and Third Team in 1998-99).
I would contend, however, that Bryant is only 23-years-old. He is still a kid. At times, he may make some questionable on-court decisions that reflect his age, but you can't argue that his production has increased in each of his six years in the league. Also, we have yet to see Bryant's best game. Imagine how good he will be two years from now, or five years down the road. Scary, isn't it?
Not only has his scoring increased each season (except this season which 25+ ain't shabby and is not taking as many shots and not playing as many minutes as last season) from 7.6 points a game his rookie season to 28.5 points a game in the 2000-01 season, but his shot selection has improved as well. After shooting 41 percent from the field in his rookie year, Bryant knocked in 46 percent of his shots over the last three seasons. Much of that success can be attributed to his dedication to improving his perimeter game. Iverson, meanwhile, has hovered around 42 percent from the field during his career. If Bryant took as many shots as Iverson, he'd average over 30 points a game too!
Defensively, Bryant is a tremendous man-to-man defender. Don't read too much into his defensive stats, which don't necessarily jump out at you. This guy can flat-out defend. He is routinely guarding some of the NBA's best players. His height and athleticism create problems for opposing players and he has already shown that he can shut down the best, including Iverson.
In short, I would select Bryant over Iverson because of his potential. In time, he will become an even greater offensive player and a peerless defender. His leadership skills, his basketball I.Q. and his ability to dominate a game will fall into place.
Iverson may be known as "The Answer," but Bryant is the one who formulated the question.
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By the way, I never said anything about Shaq or any other player. I said Kobe or Iverson...
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GIMME SHAQ! lol
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point is.. shaq all the way baby
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I should have made this a poll...
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Derrick man please!! Everytime I come to CU I see nothing but stupid debates on Kobe this or Kobe that. Who cares! Try and come
up with something new and original. You bore me and others with this stupidness.
Wantlist: The greats like Jabbar, Magic, Julius, Bird, Chamberlain. I'm also a Shaq collector and always looking for auto's or game used.
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Derrick there's so much more to the Lakers than Kobe or even Shaq. There's so much more to the NBA than kobe or Iverson.
Your a good debator and everything and come up with some good stats and stuff but dam..... Kobe this Kobe that! Yawn!
Just like you throw your two cents in on other posts here's my full nickle! Keep the change.
Wantlist: The greats like Jabbar, Magic, Julius, Bird, Chamberlain. I'm also a Shaq collector and always looking for auto's or game used.
<< <i>Kobe or Iverson??? I wasn't asking about any other player. I was asking about Kobe Bryant or Allen Iverson? Plain and simple.
I should have made this a poll...
Iverson simply because of his defense, shooting ability, and speed. Then just found a good power forward who can catch alley-oops and then a good center with size (bulk). If Iverson had another scorer on the team, he wouldn't have to shoot as many shots. But of course, there are no other scorers on the 76er's team.