Quote:
Originally Posted by King Glorious
12 times either first or second team all-NBA (nine first)
13 times either first or second team all-defense (eight first)
Three finals MVP
Two league MVP
Four titles in hand and good shot at a fifth
It's really been an incredible career for him. I remember that year you are talking about. It's just really been a treat watching him in these playoffs. You watch him all season and think he's done. Wondering why is he holding on to the end of his career? Then he comes out and shows that he's not only still got it but he's got a lot of it. Same has been true of Kevin Garnett this year. It also shows you the difference between coaches like Popovich and Rivers and coaches like Mike Brown. Pop and Doc realize that the regular-season is not where titles are won. They don't worry about stuff like best record and home-court advantage. They properly dole out the minutes to their aging stars in order to have them ready for when it really counts. Meanwhile, Brown was over there working the hell out of Bryant. There's no reason by Kobe should have been among the league leaders in minutes played (at least until he got hurt and missed those seven games at the end) at his age and with all of those miles under his belt. In the playoffs, Kobe was visably worn down.
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I can't stand Mike Brown, but in all fairness, the Spurs and Celtics bench compared to the Lakers is like Secretariat vs some nickel claimer.