Quote:
Originally Posted by FatalCloud
i think you're wrong also on saying kobe's not the same mentally tough as jordan...most guys would agree with me in saying he's the closest to jordan in terms of how he approaches the game and knowledge. jordan was obviously more talented physically though.
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there's a difference between approaching the game from a technical standpoint and being mentally tough all around, you're right when you say they approach the game in a similar manner, you can tell by watching their game interviews, they're eerily similar, but that's where the resemblance ends.
so gonna have to disagree and prove my point, I won't take long, just a sentence.... Kobe has been criticized in the past for "
taking himself out of the offense during games" to punish his teammates, give them the cold shoulder treatment to teach them some kind of lesson. Now this ain't an opinion of mine, it's a well known fact, plenty of articles out there about it and not just from the media but even from Phil Jackson himself. I'm not sure he does it anymore but he was doing it a lot around the 2006 and 2007 season, when he was extremely frustrated with the direction the Lakers were heading in and wanted a trade.
While on the other hand Michael Jordan's idea of teaching his teammates a lesson is the total opposite of Kobe's.... Jordan would fuck his guys up, literally! he used to get into fist fights at practice with Pippen, Rodman, even little white boy Stevie Kerr ! that's how intense he was, you couldn't catch Jordan slippin today if you tried
So while Kobe is sitting on the bench pouting because he's shootin 5 for 27
Michael is dropping 38 points, 7 boards, 5 assists, 3 steals, and a block while running a fever so high he couldn't leave the court under his own power, Pippen had to help him off court (oh yea I saw that game live)
don't get me wrong, Kobe IS mentally tough, but just growing up watching MJ play, his toughness was on another world, just eclipses everyone else playing the game today. I'd say out of all the players I've seen that come close to that level of intensity and toughness would be Allen Iverson. As much of a baby he could be at times, nobody could ever question his heart and will.