Kobe Still Not Jerry, Magic or the Rest

Now that the Los Angeles Lakers have some time to kill before the start of the NBA Finals on Thursday, Kobe Bryant can think about his obsession. It's trying to win a world championship without You Know Who.

Actually, that's just part of it. Here's the rest for Bryant: It's also trying to prove that Jerry West is correct beyond right now.

As for right now, West delivered a backdoor-play compliment to Bryant the other day by saying LeBron James has surpassed Bryant as a player, but adding, "If I had to have somebody make a last-second shot, it would be Kobe Bryant."

To translate, West anointed Bryant as the game's best closer -- for right now. Despite Bryant's latest spurt of brilliance in the Western Conference Finals, where he virtually singlehandedly shoved the Denver Nuggets into the offseason, Bryant still isn't among the NBA elite of all-time closers at playoff time. He remains a work in progress compared to the others.

For one, West set a pick years ago to block Bryant's way.

In reverse order, here are the league's Top 5 closers ever.

5. Jerry West: The man's silhouette is the NBA's logo for a reason. He also was called Mr. Clutch for a reason. Plus, you know he loves pressure since he bleeds purple and gold, but he still told the truth that LeBron is better than Kobe. There were so many ways to show West's greatness under stress, ranging from his Lakers making the NBA Finals nine times during his 14 seasons to his ability to prosper despite several broken noses and cracked fingers. But here's all you need to know: Only Michael Jordan averaged more points per game during the playoffs than West at 33.5 to 29.1.

4. Larry Bird: No way, this guy had as much talent as the other guy he eternally was matched against during the playoffs. The other guy will be mentioned shortly. As for Bird, he always (and I mean ALWAYS) was deadly down the stretch with his offense, his defense, his mind and his mouth. He used that quartet to destroy foes along the way to a trio of league MVP awards and two NBA Final MVP awards among the three world championships that he helped his Boston Celtics win. I know that Bird had Kevin McHale and Robert Parrish, but it was more that McHale and Parrish had Bird.

3. Magic Johnson: He's the other guy. See, this is Kobe's problem: Forget the NBA. Bryant isn't even within a fast break of becoming the best closer ever for the Lakers. This goes beyond the fact that Johnson has five world championship rings to Bryant's three. Unlike Bryant who had that You Know Who named Shaquille O'Neal as at least a co-reason for those titles, Johnson was the primary reason for his Lakers' success. Depending on what the moment needed, Magic always (and I mean ALWAYS) delivered with a shot, a pass, a steal, a block or a smile.

2. Michael Jordan: Ask Craig Ehlo. And folks either don't remember or don't know about something else involving these two. Yes, Jordan nailed that buzzer beater over Ehlo to push the Chicago Bulls past the Cleveland Cavaliers with The Shot along the way to other Shots. But after one of those slew of times that Jordan returned from retirement, he nailed another game-winning shot over Ehlo who had migrated to the Atlanta Hawks by then. I digress. In addition to all of those Shots, Jordan has more world championship rings (6) than West, Bird and Johnson, which is why he trumps everybody in NBA history as a closer except . . .

1. Bill Russell: Let's see, five league MVP awards, 12 All-Star Game appearances and 11 world championships in 13 seasons. Questions, anyone?

Terence Moore is a national columnist and commentator for FanHouse. He is a frequent panelist on "Rome Is Burning," an ESPN show hosted by Jim Rome, that is seen Monday through Friday at 4:30 PM ET. Moore spent more than three decades working for major newspapers, including 26 years as an award-winning sports columnist for the San Francisco Examiner and the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. He resides in Atlanta.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

5-30-2009 @ 4:44PM

Jock said...

is a defensive center really the defintion of a closer?

Michael gifford said...

Kobe will be remembered for being Kobe, not for wanting to be somebody else. It's only the pathetic that consistently seek some sort of comparison in order to validate their opinion. EVERY situation for EVERY player, in EVERY era is unique...and therefore, not truly comparable other than by some desperate statistical analysis which NEVER takes into account the era, the competition, the coaches, the fellow players, the opposing players, the level of training/nutrition/performance enhancement measures/historical experience/background/media pressure or lack thereof/knowledge and/or advancements in the game/athleticism...for example, there are probably at least 30 players in the game today who would have smoked Craig Ehlo on that play...but to compare his defense to what happens defensively with rule changes etc. today is ludicrous...here's a thought...Give each person the comparison of their later play against their earlier play, i.e. against themselves

5-30-2009 @ 5:17PM

Gman said...

What I think is very funny is that Kobe has championships with Shaq and never won any without him even though its only been a few years, but Magic won without any other big name on his team, so did Michael, so did Larry, so did Russell, I am a die hard laker fan but i cant comment on Jerry West cause i never seen any of his games i've only been die hard since mid 80's, but my point is its very funny to always throw that at kobe and make it sound like magic had no one to pass to and jordan didnt have any help on the defense cause he played all 5 games man up by himself i just hate that they still use that, hey Terence why dont you try coming up with something original and stop biting off other people analysis if you want to be respected as a writer, peace.

6-04-2009 @ 11:34AM

wyattfitz said...

I think Kareem Abdul Jabbar, James worthy, Byron Scott are all big names dude

5-30-2009 @ 5:20PM

oh and whene the lakers were donw by 17 in Portland, i dont remember shaq hitting all those 3's to win us the game, as i recall we always had to take shaq out of the end of games when they were close so that we could win and not have the other team rely on his poor free throw shooting to get rebounds, Kobe needed to close those games but thats just my opinion

5-30-2009 @ 5:29PM

slimidy said...

As being a Lakers fan I dont agee with this crap! I always loved Magic Johnson! He was a great player but he definetley wasn't a better closer than Kobe. The only prson that i might want the bal at the end of the game is MichaeL jordan. The other 4 are a joke compared to Kobe when it comes to clutch time. He is an assasin. I wouldn't want any Laker in history tkin my last second shot compared to Kobe! Not takin anything away from these players cause they were alll great

5-30-2009 @ 5:35PM

Bryan said...

this is the same writer that said Lebron was getting into "MJ territory"

It is only appropriate that he comes out with an article hating on Kobe Bryant the next day

http://nba.fanhouse.com/2009/05/10/lebron-entering-mj-territory-and-beyond/1#c18753292

5-30-2009 @ 5:43PM

"Until then, when LeBron James will use the NBA Finals to turn Kobe Bryant into just another superstar, there will be more Cleveland blowouts."

A quote from Mr.Moore's previous article

Maybe it's because Mr.Moore can no longer have his lips firmly planted on LeBron's rear that he takes a shot at Kobe place in the eschelon of elite closer's?

Bill Russell? Really? He played in an era when the league was little more than a white man's rec league.

5-30-2009 @ 11:55PM

claytor said...

Really? Who knew Wilt Chamberlain was a "little white dude", because that was the obstacle consistently in Bills path on a yearly basis, and if i recall, numerically speaking? Wilt is the greatest player ever.

And did someone say Bird, Magic, and West are a -ahem- JOKE compared to Kobe???

Really.

5-30-2009 @ 5:54PM

obamaizadope said...

And Terrence Moore, you're no Tony Kornheiser..

5-30-2009 @ 6:06PM

Sephiroth FFVII said...

What a horribly biased piece of writing. The author is so full of himself he can't see past his rather moronic bias. Best closer? West lost seven NBA Finals before finally winning one. Seven. If he was in the current media environment, he would be labeled "Mr. Choke." It just so happens we remember an incredible half-court shot. Don't get me wrong, West is a great player, but not looking at the facts is stupid. Looking at PPG between eras is also stupid because the league played at a way faster pace back then. Chamberlain would never average 50 PPG in the current league; Phoenix doesn't even play that fast.

Bird had two of the top fifty players of all time in McHale and Parrish. Magic had Kareem and Worthy. Even Jordan had Pippen. And on the topic of closers, how is Bill Russell even in the discussion? Are you even aware what a closer is Mr. Moore, or are you so small-minded that everything is justified in your little world? He was a superb defensive center, but never consistently hit the big shots. His HoF teammates did it for him. Only guy I would give the ball before Kobe is MJ.

5-31-2009 @ 1:06PM

dinohealth said...

Amen! Well said! It appears my comment was dropped by aol! I only said this was the most stupid, politically correct commentary that I have ever read! I said that you have to be kidding me with Russell as a closer! I also said, though West was a great shooter, he was never known as a closer. Bryant should be up there, right after Michael, and the Russell and West totally off the list. Winning Shot after Shot, winning pass after pass, defining block after block, critical rebound after rebound, with a championship on the line, GIVE ME MJ ANYTIME! I will beat you, and close you out, nine out of ten times!

5-30-2009 @ 10:38PM

darryl said...

Mr. Moore is obviously another Kobe hater. What did Kobe do to you Mr. Moore to make you hate him so much. As we saw in Kobe "doin work" , this man is the best player in the NBA and makes his teammates better. Maybe we should pose the question to his current and former teammates. Does or did Kobe make you a better player? He is a real modern day player -coach in every aspect of the term. Mr. Moore,it's alright to like LeBron and Kobe at the same time. They won't change your life by giving you a million dollars of their money just because you pucker up for one of them. Their life will go on and so will yours.

5-30-2009 @ 6:33PM

Martin said...

Apparently the author of this ridiculous post learned everything he knows about basketball (and logic) in journalism school?
Next time, he should start off by defining the term"closer" so that the reader knows whether he is talking about 4th quarter scoring or last second shots.
Then, he should actually attempt to support his argument with facts rather than fiction.
He apparently doesn't realize that Magic Johnson had a couple of decent teammates named Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and James Worthy (as well as Byron Scott and Michael Cooper). And that every team that wins the championship generally has several stars. West had Baylor, Goodrich and even Wilt Chamberlain for a couple of years; Magic had Abdul Jabbar and Worthy: Bird had McHale and Parrish; Jordan had Pippen and Rodman; and Russell had the Joneses and Havelicek.

5-30-2009 @ 8:04PM

50 Million said...

You can't handle the TRUTH! Kobe is the best closer period! The guy who wrote this article is living in an alternative universe. I would have to say that if he is doing sports writing for a living he should find another profession.

5-30-2009 @ 8:47PM

jambulls98 said...

Bill russell beter than michael jordan you must be smoking dope man.russell played aganist white guys who were shorter and not talented at all.jordan was a guard usually doubled and tripled teamed.go smoke your dope michael is and always be the best.and yes i am white as casper.long live air jordan bill russell what a joke.

5-30-2009 @ 9:24PM

Giles said...

Tha Lakers have sure made a commitment to excellence, haven`t they? And the Celtics. Boston had the best role player in nba history, Russell, on the best small ball team in nba history. Russell, Heinsohn, Cousy, etc., STILL dominate nba championship stats in various categories. And the Lakers, Goodrich, West, Baylor, Bryant, Johnson, Jabbar, Chamberlain, etc. Not to mention old George Mikan, before the team moved from Minnesota to Los Angeles. Closers? In the traditional media seanse, of neglecting defense, thinking only gunning, Russ was never a closer, merely a winner and a true champion (which is better than a closer). He wasn`t a great shooter, from the field or the line. Never scored over 20 a game (though in the old days it was still enough he was at times among the scoring leaders). He rebounded, passed, set picks, played defense, and won. Sharman later Siegfried were the closers. They are no longer in the top ten, but were for a generation in FT%. But most of the team earned their way into the Hall of Fame. Would be interesting to see an article on the best of Russ` Celtics NOT in the Hall. But the Celtics always proved the triviality of the Lone Gun Man theory. Winning takes a team. Jordan, yeah, pretty good wing man. Robertson was a better guard, not as good a defender, but much better assit man, almost as good a scorer. Not on your list! Also a better guard than Bryant, who is more similar to Jordan, though a better perimeter shooter than Jordan, and thus a better closer if not necessarily a better player. Actually, I think Wilt probably WOULD average 50 and 20 in the modern nba, all the more readily since 3 pt shooting would draw off the collapsing defense Wilt used to face. They would be times he would literally have three guys hanging on him, and would go up and dunk the ball anyway. No one in his era came close to his rebounding, but Russ, and no one came close to his scoring. It wasn`t the era. It was him. A shame we`ll probably never see the like of either again. Wilt was a half foot taller version of James, but three times the rebounding. He wasn`t just strong. He lettered in Track and Field before basketball at Kansas. He was intelligent and athletic. A shame he never had kids. We could stand to have 120 Wilts in the nba right now! Easily better than any center or power forward we`ve got. Despite, like Russ, not hitting free throws well. As for Magic, never hear of MVP and Hall of Fame Bob McAdoo, or Hall of Fame James Worthy? Maybe all-star/rookie of the year, Jaamaal/Keith Wilkes? Kareem was the closer except the one game Earvin was a rook, not Magic. He`s not on your list? Highest scorer ever? Bird has the most playoff points and assists because they added another round to the playoffs, but he didn`t just have Parish and McHale, Walton was an MVP before he got to Boston. And West was a better assist man than Bryant, partly because he had Elgin Baylor to pass to. Bryant has passed Baylor in total points, but Baylor is still among the championship round leaders in rebounds and points. Not to mention Bryant`s original role models, like Julius Erving (and Doug Collins), or Karl Malone, or Rick Barry. Bryant is no longer at his peak, and James has just about reached his, in stats, though I hope he`ll continue to grow in skill. His team needs him to. He is below avergae as a 3 point shooter, and further below average as a mid range shooter. And these charge/block calls he may deserve right now, which are the bulk of his game, may begin to go against him at any time. But even an all time great like Baylor was retired before he could score as much as Bryant, and Bryant is still among the league leaders. He`s not so bad even now, for an old man!

5-30-2009 @ 9:32PM

marylulu325 said...

Kobe will be remembered as one of the best in this sport along with Michael, Magic, & Bird
and before that West. So much jealousy towards him is sad. The guy is the best right now....

5-30-2009 @ 11:59PM

I think a better article about Jerry West would be how his collusion induced influence on the Gasol trade helped Kobe land the help he needed to get anywhere at all in the playoffs, much less to the finals.

What exactly did Memphis get in return again?

5-31-2009 @ 3:44AM

fourklines said...

The article is crap...and weak crap at that. To say that Kobe virtually singlehandedly shoved the Nuggets into the offseason is to be both a blind and ignorant fan...and one who wishes to prove it to all who blunder onto his pile of manure. Pau Gasol contributed largely to the Lakers victory in the series as did Lamar Odom. To say otherwise is false.

Also...to write a paragraph about Magic Johnson winning titles without mentioning, arguably, the best center who ever played the game is very weak and duplicitous at best. Kareem Abdul Jabbar has 6 rings, including one without the always excellent Mr. Johnson at his side.

Lastly, congratulations on recognizing that having #6 on your team means you get a championship ring. He's the man, the cornerstone of any magical, mystical, mythical all-time all-star team.