I hear the argument everyday
I HAVE the argument everyday it's a lot like...
Coke or Pepsi?
Chevy or Ford?
Burger King or McDonalds?
Chocolate or Vanilla?
Lebron or Kobe, there is even a vitamin water commercial about it. It all stems from the who is the next MJ that Brendan referred to in his earlier blog. I agree with Brendan when he said we are in an upcoming golden age of young talent that can be in the public eye, we are moving away from uber-talented born losers that will never win a ring because of contract woes, or contract worries (I.E. I need my payday, such as in increase in productivity the year of a contract extension)
Do not get me mistaken you do NOT have to win a ring to go down as one of the best to pick up a basketball, odds are unless your name was Jordan, Pippen, or Olajuwan you dont have a ring from the 90's era. We still enjoy classy, super human athletes such as Reggie Miller, Karl Malone, John Stockton, Patrick Ewing. I beleive I proved my point. Now the reason we look to these indivisuals as the best to do it.
They were team first, win at all cost athletes, you would never see Malone or Stockton increase productivity becasue their contract was coming to an end, they played every year to chase MJ, to chase the Championship trophy.
What does any of this have to do with Coke, Pepsi, or Lebron and Kobe?
David Steern and the rest of the NBA and it's followers have been looking for the next MJ since he left. I will help all of you right now and tell you, HE WILL NEVER COME.
That being said I maintain Michael Jordan was the best Basketball player to ever play in the NBA, not because of his offensive abilities, not because of his defensive prowess. He did posess deadly offensive ability and also (10 NBA scoring titles) and lock down defense (9 time NBA all defesnsive team) other players might be better at defense, some players like Kobe might be better offensivley (81 point game)
The one thing that made Michael Jordan that best that ever did it was "The Jordan Factor". The sheer ability to dominate, control and will a game to a win. Never has a guard on a court been able to completely dominate a game on both ends of the floor and control tempo and will the game to a win.
We have seen glimpses of this out of a few players since Jordan walked away from the game, AI brought his no talent sixers to the finals, with WARRIOR written on his back, he came up short for the ring against an inslanley talented lakers team. Kobe has been on a mision to prove he can win without Shaq, and almost proves so when he made it to the finals steam rolling the competition last year all the way to the final showdown against the celtics, he is a man on mission in the playoffs, but what Kobe was lacking in last years finals, was the "Jordan Factor".
Kobe Bryant never showed up to the Finials last year and the Veteran talent of the Celtics were too much, the team play, proved critical and Kobe never took over one game, and actually blew a 20 point lead to lose a game. Kobe might be the best offensive player to take the hardwood, he is still missing the ability to lift up the players around him, and to dominate a game on both ends of the floor when it matters most.
Now on to Lebron, who has been in the league about half the amount of time as Kobe. Lebron has shown glimpses of the "Jordan Factor" the most memorable would be his 4th quarter performance against the talented, crafty veteren (billupss era) Pistons when Lebron scored the Cavs final 25 points and was driking J-U-ICE from the parking lot and eating Rasheed wallaces children as a snack while posterizing him. This WAS the jordan factor. A young man taking his team to the finals. Unfaortunately Big Fundamantals was too much for young King James in the finals, since has not shown the jordan factor, until possibly this post season, the real season of the NBA.
I look to these playoff series with hope, I look to the future NBA stars with visions of a golden era, and dreams of what will come. I continue to look to the future to see what NBA Superstar will show me the Jordan Factor
Young talent such as Deron Williams, Brandon Roy, Derrick Rose, Rajon Rondo, Chris Paul and Dwight Howard spear head the youth movement.
Those players chase the juggernauts named Lebron and Kobe, two steam trains full throttle, headed for the finals.
How do you answer pepsi or coke indefintley, win a ring and show the Jordan Factor, no one can argue with hardware.
click the link below to view the Lebron or Kobe vitamin water commercial
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