Suns @ 76ers game thread 12-4-17

[Cheesebeef]

Kobe was also a freak of nature when it comes to athleticism.

And could attack the rim in a way Booker can’t... not to mention post up... neither of which Booker has shown the ability to do yet.

And he’s not near the defender Kobe was the first half of his career. I love Booker and hate Kobe but there’s no comparison between them as players or even their game besides the fact that they’re both scorers.

 

[Carolinacacti]

Looks like Bookers toe is better. Its the only thing that slows him down.

 

[devilalum]

And could attack the rim in a way Booker can’t... not to mention post up... neither of which Booker has shown the ability to do yet.

And he’s not near the defender Kobe was the first half of his career. I love Booker and hate Kobe but there’s no comparison between them as players or even their game besides the fact that they’re both scorers.

They’re both clutch with a capital C. That’s the thing. IMO Booker’s game is more like Reggie Miller.


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[SirStefan32]

And could attack the rim in a way Booker can’t... not to mention post up... neither of which Booker has shown the ability to do yet.

And he’s not near the defender Kobe was the first half of his career. I love Booker and hate Kobe but there’s no comparison between them as players or even their game besides the fact that they’re both scorers.

Yeah, Kobe was a bit bigger (without looking it up, I'd say Kobe was probably a couple of inches taller with longer arms.) Pair that up with freakish athleticism, and you get Kobe Bryant. I love Booker, but you can't learn or develop athleticism, height, wingspan, and things like that. Problem with comparing anyone to guys like Kobe, James, or Jordan is that those are generational players who are just freaks of nature, so we are bound to compare apples to oranges. Now, if someone wants to make an argument that Booker will end up having an impact similar to the impact Kobe made, that's a valid argument. Looking at their stats, they are pretty comparable. Booker is very intelligent, competitive, and he has that elusive "it" factor. It really is scary just how good that kid is at his age. To compare him to Kobe is a disservice to him and to Kobe. Let Booker be Booker.

 

[Hoop Head]

Booker isn't as good as young Kobe and I'm not sure he ever will be but I do think Booker can be a similar player to the Kobe everyone saw during the 2nd half of his career, without Shaq and wearing #24. At that point he was more of a shooter than someone who constantly attacked the rim, which Booker will never be able to do with the same explosiveness or success. That is an aspect that Booker needs to add to his game to be unstoppable. If he was capable of doing that then I think more people would accept the comparisons. Booker at 21 plays like Kobe did at 31 though, when he settled for more jumpers and didn't attack like he did when he was young.

I don't think the Kobe comparisons are that far fetched if you compare Booker to the player that Kobe was when the Lakers were his team, after Shaq was sent to Miami and especially when he didn't have Jackson coaching him. Kobe didn't play defense all the time. He was a better defender than Booker but he only played defense regularly in the playoffs when he became the main option in LA. He also didn't play defense much at all when they had other coaches there. Jackson seemed to be the only coach to get through to him and have him play to his full potential and play positively with his teammates, even though that didn't work all the time. No one really liked playing Kobe, even when they were winning titles, while everyone seems to rave about playing with Booker, or even playing against him. Of all of the players who have left the Suns and thrown shade at the franchise no one has said anything negative about Booker, which is a good thing. If he had a coach like Phil Jackson who knows how great he could end up being but even without a coach like that he'll have a great career.

Jackson ran the triangle which helped Kobe a lot, he didn't produce as well or have as much of a positive effect with his style of play when the Lakers ran other systems under other coaches. The triangle is also what helped Kobe score in the post, since the rotations called for players to move around a lot on offense and position themselves in certain areas but the entire NBA has moved away from post play and is more about spacing the floor and pushing the pace which Booker excels at so while he doesn't have the post game that Bryant did, I don't think he needs it. Booker is solid with his mid-range shooting and his 3 point shooting is great for someone who is pressured like he defensively. Once the Suns can put another scorer on the floor with him I expect his shooting percentages to go up since teams won't be able to double him as often. Booker's game fits today's NBA better than Kobe's style would, that isn't to say that Booker is a better player overall just that he fits really well in today's game and should only get better as he gains experience.

 

[Cheesebeef]

They’re both clutch with a capital C. That’s the thing. IMO Booker’s game is more like Reggie Miller.


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Agreed.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Yeah, Kobe was a bit bigger (without looking it up, I'd say Kobe was probably a couple of inches taller with longer arms.) Pair that up with freakish athleticism, and you get Kobe Bryant. I love Booker, but you can'y learn or develop athleticism, height, wingspan, and things like that. Problem with comparing anyone to guys like Kobe, James, or Jordan is that those are generational players who are just freaks of nature, so we are bound to compare apples to oranges. Now, if someone wants to make an argument that Booker will end up having an impact similar to the impact Kobe made, that's a valid argument. Looking at their stats, they are pretty comparable. Booker is very intelligent, competitive, and he has that elusive "it" factor. It really is scary just how good that kid is at his age. To compare him to Kobe is a disservice to him and to Kobe. Let Booker be Booker.

Agree.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah, Kobe was a bit bigger (without looking it up, I'd say Kobe was probably a couple of inches taller with longer arms.) Pair that up with freakish athleticism, and you get Kobe Bryant. I love Booker, but you can't learn or develop athleticism, height, wingspan, and things like that. Problem with comparing anyone to guys like Kobe, James, or Jordan is that those are generational players who are just freaks of nature, so we are bound to compare apples to oranges. Now, if someone wants to make an argument that Booker will end up having an impact similar to the impact Kobe made, that's a valid argument. Looking at their stats, they are pretty comparable. Booker is very intelligent, competitive, and he has that elusive "it" factor. It really is scary just how good that kid is at his age. To compare him to Kobe is a disservice to him and to Kobe. Let Booker be Booker.

Just a tidbit on Kobe's height.

He’s a retired basketball player, so you best believe that he is not lacking in the height department, seeing as it is one of the main requirements for the job. The athlete stands tall at 6 feet 4 inches, but at some point (when he was first entered the NBA) his listed height was actually 6 feet 7 inches.

Wow! That’s a lot of inches shaved off. So how did we come across this tid bit of information about Kobe Bryant’s height? It was supplied by the athlete himself, we believe his exact words were, ‘ Everyone thinks I’m 6 feet 7 inches tall. But just between you and me, I’m really 6-4, I’m probably 6-5 in sneaks.’

https://heightline.com/kobe-bryants-height-body-measurements/

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yeah, Kobe was a bit bigger (without looking it up, I'd say Kobe was probably a couple of inches taller with longer arms.) Pair that up with freakish athleticism, and you get Kobe Bryant. I love Booker, but you can't learn or develop athleticism, height, wingspan, and things like that. Problem with comparing anyone to guys like Kobe, James, or Jordan is that those are generational players who are just freaks of nature, so we are bound to compare apples to oranges. Now, if someone wants to make an argument that Booker will end up having an impact similar to the impact Kobe made, that's a valid argument. Looking at their stats, they are pretty comparable. Booker is very intelligent, competitive, and he has that elusive "it" factor. It really is scary just how good that kid is at his age. To compare him to Kobe is a disservice to him and to Kobe. Let Booker be Booker.

I think their dimensions are almost exactly the same.

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[BC867]

Just a tidbit on Kobe's height.

'Just like the Chuckster being called 6'6" but was actually a 6'4 1/2" Power Forward.

There is more than height involved at the PF position. In Charles' case, it was bulk -- the "round mound of rebound". He took up space.

At Shooting Guard, height is a plus. But there are other factors involved as well.

 

[Phrazbit]

How does Booker not have a post up game? He routinely backs guys down n shimmies his way open. I don't know that any guard has had a similar offensive repertoire at such a young age.

 

[SirStefan32]

Fair enough! I am glad I threw the qualifier "Without looking it up, I think..." in there. It's funny how perception can be wrong. I could have sworn Kobe was a very big SG.

 

[SirStefan32]

How does Booker not have a post up game? He routinely backs guys down n shimmies his way open. I don't know that any guard has had a similar offensive repertoire at such a young age.

I agree. I see Booker post up every single game, especially when he ends up with a mismatch. Does a really good job converting too.

 

[Mainstreet]

'Just like the Chuckster being called 6'6" but was actually a 6'4 1/2" Power Forward.

There is more than height involved at the PF position. In Charles' case, it was bulk -- the "round mound of rebound". He took up space.

At Shooting Guard, height is a plus. But there are other factors involved as well.

Looking at a mug shot, it looks like Barkley was 6' 8."

http://www.mugshots.org/sports/charles-barkley.jpg

 

[JCSunsfan]

Fair enough! I am glad I threw the qualifier "Without looking it up, I think..." in there. It's funny how perception can be wrong. I could have sworn Kobe was a very big SG.

To be fair, he was listed at 6-7 and was very athletic. That is pretty big for a 2. Kobe's arms look about the same length, but his shoulders are clearly broader, giving him more wingspan than Booker.


Devin does not have the hops that Kobe had, but he has similar quickness.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I hate how these threads eventually devolve about some discussion about the tanking argument. Can't we take a minute to just appreciate what Booker and crew just did? We out played the darling of the tanking strategy, with Booker evolving into the player we've been searching for for years (decades?). Enjoy the win!

It wasn’t the tanking crowd that brought it up, so blame your compadres.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

Sorry. It was sarcastic. I truly enjoyed this win.

Right, you just wanted to take an unprovoked jab at some posters. I get it. Good for you!

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

I thought Jackson's d on simmons was excellent. Simmons drives by everybody, but Jackson didn't let him get by him.

Shows what an elite athlete Josh is, and with benders d potential, you have the makings of a team that can eventually be a decent defense.

Apparently Simmons was being crushed with the flu for three days.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Right, you just wanted to take an unprovoked jab at some posters. I get it. Good for you!

No. I wanted to admit that Tyson made a difference in this win. I was the one that had been arguing with Poker that Tyson did not impact the win total. I was taking a jab at myself.

Sometimes a mea culpa, you were right, I was wrong comment takes some pressure off. I did not do it very well I guess. I am sorry about that.

Here is what I originally said.

Suns with aggressive defense all over the court today. They made mistakes defensively but the effort was there. Josh Jackson played very good D on Simmons.

Chandler was a monster on D. Really frustrated Embiid. No win here without him. Yes, Poker. I admit it. He is just ruining the tank.

 

[Ouchie-Z-Clown]

No. I wanted to admit that Tyson made a difference in this win. I was the one that had been arguing with Poker that Tyson did not impact the win total. I was taking a jab at myself.

Sometimes a mea culpa, you were right, I was wrong comment takes some pressure off. I did not do it very well I guess. I am sorry about that.

Here is what I originally said.

Ah, I confused your post with another. My bad. Apologies.

 

[JCSunsfan]

Ah, I confused your post with another. My bad. Apologies.

No problem.