08-10-2004, 04:59 PM
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#46 (permalink)
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Yup!
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: LA
Posts: 1,755
Rep Power: 8
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Quote:
Originally posted by <b>Minstrel</b>!
McGrady and Bryant are clones of each other, on the court. Both have some warts off the court, which leads to a lot of people disliking each player.. Do we need to be reminded that many people felt Jordan had warts, as a selfish and arrogant player, prior to age 27? Then he teamed with Pippen to win six titles in eight years and it became blasphemous to consider Jordan as anything but the greatest leader the game has ever known. 
The moral of the story is that a lot can change in terms of perception over a career and both McGrady and Bryant are still young. McGrady is finally getting a start with a team that has potential to be a future championship contender, and he didn't handle losing well personally, and Bryant is getting a start, for the first time, as something other than the callow youth who fought the game's most dominant player for control.
On the court, they both have a similar style and a complete offensive game. They are both great slashers and finishers, tremendous post-up players, possess strong mid-range games and are streaky-dangerous from outside. They both pass and rebound well for their positions. They both play very good defense when they're not carrying the entire offensive burden.
They both have Jordan's patented turn-around fall-away, which is ridiculously hard to hit and impossible to defend. Neither hits it with the regularity Jordan did, but they are the only two in the league today who hit it with any consistency.
Both have hit clutch shots. Bryant has hit them on a bigger stage because he's had the team to allow him to reach that bigger stage. McGrady has stepped up in nationally hyped games and stuck big shots, he's hit big shots in the playoffs and his overall playoff numbers are fantastic. So, there's no evidence that either player is affected by pressure.
They are both unlikely to be appreciated as much during their careers as after their careers are done and they take on the rosy glow of being historical all-time greats rather than current news-makers for their latest quote or miscue.
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Greatest. Post. Ever. (In a TMac-Kobe debate of course )
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