Pierce is not better than Kobe! Period!

[Truth Hurts]

Kobe and Wilt = great players
Paul and Russell = great winners

Hey Kobe, how's my a$$ taste?

[xmuscularghandix]

agree on pierce, kindly disagree on russell.

[twistedrico]

Right now if I had my choice I would take PP on my team instead of Kobe.  I would also take Lebron instead of him, Chris Paul instead of him, Dwight Howard, Tim Duncan even. Kobe Bryant is a jack ass, you can have him.

[Roy Hobbs]

Pierce reiterated / clarified his comments (in English, this time):

HAWTHORNE, Calif. - Paul Pierce  said it. He meant it. And he still means it.

The Boston Celtics  small forward/guard recently was asked by a Spanish publication whether he thought Kobe Bryant was the best player in the world.

Pierce said no. The NBA Finals MVP called himself the "best player."

He added, "There’s a line that separates having confidence and being conceited. I don’t cross that line, but I have a lot of confidence in myself."

On Thursday, Pierce stood by his comments, saying he is entitled to his opinion.

"That’s what I said. I am a confident player and a lot of people might look at it like ’Oh, another cocky attitude,’ but I don’t look at it that way," said Pierce, who is in Hawthorne for his annual youth basketball camp at Hangar Athletic Xchange.

"I have an opinion, I have a right to have one and that’s the way I feel. I felt I’ve played against the best over the years and felt right now that I’m the best player in the world."

Pierce said his comments were not a knock on Bryant, who was named the league MVP. Nor was he saying that Bryant was conceited and he was confident.

"You could have asked me about any other player and I would have given you the same answer," Pierce said.

He added, laughing, "I would have said that (if he thought Bryant was conceited)."

Pierce also maintained that the best team won the NBA title last season. The Celtics defeated the Lakers, winning the best-of-7 series, 4-2.

"I think the Lakers are a great team, but I think they ran into a better team," he said. "They (Lakers) beat the best in all the Western Conference, they had the guy who was named MVP and the best record after the arrival of (Pau) Gasol. But they just ran up against the better team.

"I think they will be a great team next year. Maybe we’ll see them back in the Finals."

Link.

[Celtsfan33/34]

Would anyone around here flip out if Tom Brady said he was the best football player in the NFL??  Despite it not being true?? 

[Roy Hobbs]

Would anyone around here flip out if Tom Brady said he was the best football player in the NFL??  Despite it not being true?? 

Well, I don't think anybody around here is really flipping; it's more the media and fans of opposing teams (like the original poster in this thread).

But, for argument's sake, I think that a credible argument can be made that Brady is the best player in the NFL.  The same can't be said for Pierce.

Still, I have absolutely no problem with the comment.

[ManUp]

Kobe is a more skilled basketball player, but Pierce takes him to school head to head.

Kobe's finesse game doesn't do well against Pierce's more physical one.

Kobe's never really had a worst team then Pierce prior to this year. Remember the Celtics had been rebuilding since mid 2003, cycling through coaches and players. Every time Pierce has had a half way decent roster he's done well as has Kobe.

[SamuelAdams]

Hey fan4life,   I remember your name from the Lakers Top Buzz forums during the finals. They are true believers on their forums just as we are here. Overall they are very good fans. Kobe is skilled 4shur but it still is a team game.

http://lakers.topbuzz.com/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-15347.html#184612

Check out a little fun I had on LakersTopBuzz. You have to scroll up to get to the first post on their boards.

[Triboy16]

on offense and dunking shows kobe is better but pierce is still in the elite level.

On defense and other things like being a half decent teammate pierce is better

overall crown to pierce

[timepiece33]

IMO, Kobe is better than Pierce one on one.   In terms of team play, I tend to agree that Pierce is the better teammate and team player. 

[JSD]

Hey fan4life,   I remember your name from the Lakers Top Buzz forums during the finals. They are true believers on their forums just as we are here. Overall they are very good fans. Kobe is skilled 4shur but it still is a team game.

http://lakers.topbuzz.com/PNphpBB2-viewtopic-t-15347.html#184612

Check out a little fun I had on LakersTopBuzz. You have to scroll up to get to the first post on their boards.

Haha I laughed so hard when i read this post.

"That was an obvious jab at Laker fans. Just look at his icon. Not funny."

I looked at your icon and died laughing. TP!

[JSD]

Another great quote:


"Gullible, party of one? This was obviously a troll. Come on guys, we need to get better at spotting things like this. The guy's name is Sam Adams. Did you not think he was from Boston? And look at his photo. Obvious troll. Good job Dave. Keeping our site free from Green fungus."

[dark_lord]

kobe is a far more talented player, but i would never want him on my team.  i'd take pierce over kobe.

[Dybdal]

Kobe Bryant is one of a very select few players that has that "something" special when it comes to raw basketball ability and potential, Bryant is both faster, a better pure shooter, a better finess player when it comes to driving to the basket and a better man to man defender (but with a very small margin) but i find Pierce to have an edge when it comes to driving in heavy trafic and finishing around the rim in set heavy trafic.

Pierce is also the more desirable person to have as a teammate, from what the media is telling me but these days its hard to determain whats factual and what isnt with regards to what the media tells the public and what it dosnt tell.

If i were a GM from a team out shoping for a superstar right here, right now and my only factor i was weighting in is raw basketball ability then its kobe bryant hands down and its not even close!

That said, would i switch Kobe and Pierce? no i most likely would not do so, Pierce has a fond place in the hearts of the people here and that wont change, while Kobe is the public enemy number2 (after Stern) but i dont share that point of view, i actualy respect the man for what he does on the court and i dont follow what he does/did off the court.

[JSD]

Let's check the resume on who's a better team player. I take Paul he's more of a blue collar Boston type of guy.

Kobe belongs is the self-centered world of Hollywood.