Burks at #12
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vslice02
Well-Known Member
Exactly. Kobe shot those 3 airballs in OT as an 18-year old rookie, then got schooled by Shandon Anderson and Bryan Russell as a 19-year old. As a 21-year old he was scoring 6 points in the final 2 minutes of OT in Game 4 of the NBA Finals. He figured it out quickly.
I think part of Kobe's mental toughness and ability to perform in pressure situations came from his obsession in becoming "the next Michael Jordan." As a young player, that was the one thing he wanted so bad (even changing his FT form to imitate MJ's) and Kobe knew that pursuing that goal required him taking the biggest of shots in the biggest of situations. IMO LeBron wants to be a global icon while Kobe wants to be the greatest basketball player ever. Big difference in mentalities and focuses.
Brown Notes
Well-Known Member
Close. LBJ believes he already is and the world accordingly owes him extraordinary accolades including championships. This is why he's never shown interest in the dirty work or non-flashy things like developing post moves or rotating to take a charge.
Fantastic post.
Jazz4ever
Well-Known Member
For those who haven't seen it, this is what Lebron thinks of the common man.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph7qFvAIRCk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ph7qFvAIRCk
Brown Notes
Well-Known Member
Thanks. Now I feel like a dick for getting all touchy in the other thread. Guess I'll stop drinking and go to bed now.
Edit: forgot to say, Cheers.
Interesting read on Burks from some Colorado guys:
Check it out here https://www.theutahjazzblog.com/2011-articles/july/inside-alec-burks.html
Funniest part was this though.
Check it out here https://www.theutahjazzblog.com/2011-articles/july/inside-alec-burks.html
Funniest part was this though.
Love that guy .............................................................................................
The Thriller
Well-Known Member
There are very few punks I kinda wish could get injured. Lebron, Cam Newton, and the Bears Jay Cryler, are 3 guys I would love to see tear ACLs and never come back to sports.
In response to Lebron's question, "Do you want me to just disappear?"
Yes!!! Please!!!
In response to Lebron's question, "Do you want me to just disappear?"
Yes!!! Please!!!
The Thriller
Well-Known Member
I might be seen in the minority here, but I still don't see Kobe as that mentally tough...
Not after seeing Bird, Magic, Duncan, Jordan, Stockton, Malone, Nash, Barkley, Hakeem, AI, Payton, Kidd, Zo, Tim Hardaway, Reggie Miller, etc in my lifetime.
He had Shaq in the first 3. I could have started for the lakers at that time and still won rings. Shaq was the most dominate force in the league at that time.
He was a good scorer for a number of years but didn't do anything in the playoffs other than get closlined by Raja Bell.
He was quickly disposed of by the Celtics.
He squeaked by the 3 point shooting soft as tissue Magic (who won the east because of KG's knee injury).
Then, he sucked in game 7, was bailed out by a Ron Artest/AK47 like 3 point shot, with the Celtics starting Center out with injury.
Then, he was swept by the Mavs. Even the Blazers, took a game or two against the Mavs. The easiest series the mavs had this entire playoffs, was against the Lakers (who had HC advantage).
Perhaps my expectations are too high??? Or perhaps this league has become soft with the additions of "stars" like Carlos Boozer???
I just think that Kobe's mental toughness isn't all that great. He still couldn't sniff Jordan's jock (or most of the stars of the past decade) IMO.
Not after seeing Bird, Magic, Duncan, Jordan, Stockton, Malone, Nash, Barkley, Hakeem, AI, Payton, Kidd, Zo, Tim Hardaway, Reggie Miller, etc in my lifetime.
He had Shaq in the first 3. I could have started for the lakers at that time and still won rings. Shaq was the most dominate force in the league at that time.
He was a good scorer for a number of years but didn't do anything in the playoffs other than get closlined by Raja Bell.
He was quickly disposed of by the Celtics.
He squeaked by the 3 point shooting soft as tissue Magic (who won the east because of KG's knee injury).
Then, he sucked in game 7, was bailed out by a Ron Artest/AK47 like 3 point shot, with the Celtics starting Center out with injury.
Then, he was swept by the Mavs. Even the Blazers, took a game or two against the Mavs. The easiest series the mavs had this entire playoffs, was against the Lakers (who had HC advantage).
Perhaps my expectations are too high??? Or perhaps this league has become soft with the additions of "stars" like Carlos Boozer???
I just think that Kobe's mental toughness isn't all that great. He still couldn't sniff Jordan's jock (or most of the stars of the past decade) IMO.
gomretat
Well-Known Member
Not a Kobe fan but I do disagree. IMO he has great mental toughness and it separates him from the vast majority of NBA players. The same type of list you have made on Kobe can be made and in fact is much longer for almost every player you listed above.
