The Torch has now been Passed / Durant / Best Closer?

[KG Living Legend]

 With 5:26 to go in the forth quarter of the Lakers Thunder game, Kobe dribbles to his left, puts it around his back and comes right. Dribbles between his legs and takes a step back, (threatening to shoot)  Then looks Durant in the eyes and explodes to the hoop to take a Pull up fall away Jump-shot.
 
 Only problem was Six Foot ten inch Kevin Durant. That stayed on him like glue and turned Kobe shot back. Then ten seconds later with 5:16 to go it's the kid's turn. West brook feeds him the ball 18 feet from the hope posting up against the Six foot six Kobe Bryant, Durant gets the ball pulls a textbook rip through move, two dribbles to his right and shoots a six foot teardrop over Gasol, who Durant is just two inches shorter than.  

 I have a lot of respect for Lebrons game. But give me anybody in the game to build my team, and I want Durant. 23 points 18 rebounds with 5 mins to go. And he's having a bad shooting night. Wow.

[Bahku]

I hope you're right, because I really like the kid, and I can't stand LeBron and Kobe. But I think he's got a long way to go before he's proven himself enough to have taken "the torch" from those other guys.

[PosImpos]

I hope you're right, because I really like the kid, and I can't stand LeBron and Kobe. But I think he's got a long way to go before he's proven himself enough to have taken "the torch" from those other guys.

He's already the second best player in the league, in my opinion.  Kobe is still a great, clutch player in the playoffs and the 4th quarter, but statistically it's not even close.

LBJ, Durant, and Wade are by far the 3 best players in the game this season if you look at the stats (PER, VA, EWA etc).

You're right, though.  Until Durant wins something of note we can't really say that the torch has been passed.

[LB3533]

I would start with Durrant as well to build a franchise around.

I would pick Westbrook 2nd right afterwards.

[liam]

I hope you're right, because I really like the kid, and I can't stand LeBron and Kobe. But I think he's got a long way to go before he's proven himself enough to have taken "the torch" from those other guys.

He's already the second best player in the league, in my opinion.  Kobe is still a great, clutch player in the playoffs and the 4th quarter, but statistically it's not even close.

LBJ, Durant, and Wade are by far the 3 best players in the game this season if you look at the stats (PER, VA, EWA etc).

You're right, though.  Until Durant wins something of note we can't really say that the torch has been passed.

Out of Wade, Kobe, LBJ, or Durant, who do you want at the line at the end of the game shooting free throws?

[PosImpos]

I hope you're right, because I really like the kid, and I can't stand LeBron and Kobe. But I think he's got a long way to go before he's proven himself enough to have taken "the torch" from those other guys.

He's already the second best player in the league, in my opinion.  Kobe is still a great, clutch player in the playoffs and the 4th quarter, but statistically it's not even close.

LBJ, Durant, and Wade are by far the 3 best players in the game this season if you look at the stats (PER, VA, EWA etc).

You're right, though.  Until Durant wins something of note we can't really say that the torch has been passed.

Out of Wade, Kobe, LBJ, or Durant, who do you want at the line at the end of the game shooting free throws?

Durant.

[jackson_34]

Durant is a breath of fresh air into the league. A superstar you can actually root for regardless of their team. His humble nature, commitment to a young franchise, Passion on the court and his unbelievable skills should deservedly see him as the face of the League in the coming years.

...what I would do to see him in Green.

[KCattheStripe]

WADE is a breath of fresh air into the league. A superstar you can actually root for regardless of their team. His humble nature, commitment to a young franchise, Passion on the court and his unbelievable skills should deservedly see him as the face of the League in the coming years.

...what I would do to see him in Green.

Fixed.

[PosImpos]

WADE is a breath of fresh air into the league. A superstar you can actually root for regardless of their team. His humble nature, commitment to a young franchise, Passion on the court and his unbelievable skills should deservedly see him as the face of the League in the coming years.

...what I would do to see him in Green.

Fixed.

Don't really see that, but I like Wade a lot too.  Durant is such a great guy, though, and clearly a very hard worker.  His ceiling is sky high, as well.  I hope he wins multiple titles for the Thunder.

[rav123]

He's good. Probably the second-best. But Lebron is still the one to build a team around.

KD still has many flaws in his game. One quarter of good defense on Kobe doesn't excuse the fact that he is a below-average defender. He is not a great passer (not saying he's unselfish, but just doesn't have great court vision). Right now, he's only a scorer (but then, the best one in the NBA).

[BuckeyeCelt]

You're right, though.  Until Durant wins something of note we can't really say that the torch has been passed.

Since when do you have to win anything...I was under the impression that Russell, Bird, and Magic needed to bow down and worship lebron...what has he won (individual crap doesn't count).

Oh, there may have been a bit of sarcasm in that statement...if you didnt pick that up...

[clover]

How Danny would have been pilloried here if he'd drafted first  and picked KD!

[nickagneta]

In fourth quarters, there is no better finisher of a game than Kobe Bryant in this league. That includes LeBron, Wade, Durant and anyone else. When the game is on the line, there isn't any other player in the league I feel more confident in winning that game than Kobe Bryant.

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

[Fafnir]

I hate the guy. I hate the Laker. I hate the person, I think he's a scumbag. But he's still the best closer in the game and one of the two best players in the game.

LeBron took that title three years ago for me in the ECF, and hasn't given it up since.

Kobe can be well defended and forced to take bad shots by just one player now. LeBron requires at least 2, usually 3 to keep him away from the rim. Now that his jump shooting is respectable he's the best.

Durant still has to prove it in more than one playoff game.

[bdm860]

Durant is a breath of fresh air into the league. A superstar you can actually root for regardless of their team. His humble nature, commitment to a young franchise, Passion on the court and his unbelievable skills should deservedly see him as the face of the League in the coming years.

...what I would do to see him in Green.

I like Durant too, but I think it's kind of hard to label a guy as unselfish and committed to a franchise when he's still on a rookie contract.

Will he be like Garnett, and toe the line for 10+ years trying to turn a franchise around?

Or will he be like Kobe, and play the free agent market and then demand a trade at the first sign of a bad season.

Or maybe he'll be like LeBron/Wade, and sign a short extension and test the free agent waters giving no indication to your current team what you're going to do.

There were probably a lot of guys who looked unselfish and loyal their first few years in the league (though I do think/hope Durant will turn out to be a good guy).