Kobe / Dwight

[hpantazo]

Regarding the OP, I could care less about what Kobe has to say about Dwight. I know and everyone knows Dwight is a tool but he is the most talented big man tool in the league and when 100% healthy, is one of THE most dominant forces in this league.

Kobe is also a tool. I could care less how competitive he is or how much of a warrior he is. He's a tool and he doesn't win a single ring without playing alongside two of the best big men in the game over the last 20 years in Gasol and Shaq. The guy is a massive chucker who has turned one of the best PGs of this generation into a role playing, occasional, shooter and one of the best big men of this era into a screen setter so Kobe can continue to put up his 30 PPG.

They deserve each other and I hope neither wins a ring anytime soon or ever.

Shaq yes, but Gasol is not one of the best big men of the last 20 years.

Sure he is. There's Shaq, TD, KG, Dwight and Gasol.

I think Hakeem, Robinson, Barkley, and Malone were too much in decline and/or didn't play well enough, long enough in the era to consider them.

ha really gasol top big man of last 20 years?

I think i'd push Bosh over him but neither for me would be a top 5 center or Pf over the last 20 years.

he had a good 3 year stretch where he was one of the top big men in the game but it's not like gasol is heading to Springfield or anything

Gasol is definitely one of the top big men in the last 20 years. When healthy, he has been dominant and is the reason why Kobe won his last 2 rings.

As others said, Dwight at even 80% is a dominating force in the league, easily a player worth building around. To say otherwise is absurd. Is he a tool? Sure he is. So is Kobe, In fact, Kobe is the biggest tool in the league. Never gives credit to anyone who helps him win and destroys the images and egos of his teammates.

[hpantazo]

lebron = arguably the best player all-time, nba champion, olympic champion, mvp, finals mvp

dwight = superman cape

Then Howard should get some credit for beating Lebron's Cavs in the playoffs, don't you think? The supporting casts were relatively equal, or a slight advantage to Lebron's Cavs.

Not saying Howard is better than Lebron, but he is a legit superstar to build a successful team around.

I don't think so.  Orlando was bad after DH, the Cavs were god-awful post-Lebron.

They were both awful once Lebron and Dwight left. If anything the cavs were better. Did I miss something? Did Orlando legitimately contend for a playoff spot since Dwight left? They just got more young talent in exchange for Dwight than the cavs got for Lebron. That is the only difference.

[hpantazo]

Dwight Howard today, 16 points, 21 boards, 4 blocks in a lakers win over the bulls. The lakers and Dwight are on a roll since the all-star break.

[CelticConcourse]

Lakers are good.

[hpantazo]

Lakers are good.

Yep. I hate to say it, but Howard is getting healthy and they are looking very good. If Gasol comes back healthy, they will be tough to eliminate. Ugh.

[Onslaught]

If you build a team around Dwight Howard and give him a decent supporting cast, he will contend for a championship for many years. He carried a poor Magic team past Lebron "alpha dog" James' Cavs.

Lebron became an "alpha dog" in game 6 vs the Celtics last year and hasn't looked back after that. Before that he had alpha dog potential at times but sometimes seemed to back away. 


Howard on the other hand is a clown.

[Lord of Mikawa]

lebron = arguably the best player all-time, nba champion, olympic champion, mvp, finals mvp

dwight = superman cape

Bill Russell would take issue with that first statement. He has all of those credentials with the exception of Finals MVP but that trophy is named after him.

[guava_wrench]

lebron = arguably the best player all-time, nba champion, olympic champion, mvp, finals mvp

dwight = superman cape

Then Howard should get some credit for beating Lebron's Cavs in the playoffs, don't you think? The supporting casts were relatively equal, or a slight advantage to Lebron's Cavs.

Not saying Howard is better than Lebron, but he is a legit superstar to build a successful team around.

I don't think so.  Orlando was bad after DH, the Cavs were god-awful post-Lebron.

That means little. Neither left their team midseason.

Orlando even got to trade Howard while Howard was still under contract. Clev was just hung out to dry.

Besides, no one is saying that Howard is better than Lebron. No one is better than Lebron. That doesn't mean that only Lebron can lead a team to a championship.

[CelticConcourse]

They're a good combo when all is well, but if either is badmouthing the other in public, problems surface on the court as well.

[Chelm]

Regarding the OP, I could care less about what Kobe has to say about Dwight. I know and everyone knows Dwight is a tool but he is the most talented big man tool in the league and when 100% healthy, is one of THE most dominant forces in this league.

Kobe is also a tool. I could care less how competitive he is or how much of a warrior he is. He's a tool and he doesn't win a single ring without playing alongside two of the best big men in the game over the last 20 years in Gasol and Shaq. The guy is a massive chucker who has turned one of the best PGs of this generation into a role playing, occasional, shooter and one of the best big men of this era into a screen setter so Kobe can continue to put up his 30 PPG.

They deserve each other and I hope neither wins a ring anytime soon or ever.

Shaq yes, but Gasol is not one of the best big men of the last 20 years.

Sure he is. There's Shaq, TD, KG, Dwight and Gasol.

I think Hakeem, Robinson, Barkley, and Malone were too much in decline and/or didn't play well enough, long enough in the era to consider them.

Hakeem, Robinson, Barkley & Malone all won NBA MVP trophies in the last 20 years.  As did Nowitzki, Duncan, Shaq, and KG.  Pau hasn't even been an all-NBA first teamer in his career.

Additionally, there's also Alonzo Mourning, Chris Webber, Mutombo, Rasheed/Ben Wallace, Amare, Yao, Bosh, Howard...

I guess it just depends how many people you'd be willing to define "[one of] the best big men of the past 20 years".