Ball Don't Lie - NBA


A look around the league and the web that covers it. It's also important to note that the rotation order and starting nods aren't always listed in order of importance. That's for you, dear reader, to figure out.

C: SRI. Dwyane Wade(notes) says Kobe's the best player in the game, but he's no Michael Jordan. Who is?
PF: Friedman, Rockets.com. High-flyer James White(notes) is focused on elevating his all-around game.
SF: Silver Screen & Roll. "Gasol figured out that being tough doesn't necessarily mean being a banger."
SG: D.C. Sports Bog. Stephen Curry is taking a class this summer involving The Hardy Boys and Tarzan.
PG: The Hoop Doctors. Nice to see Dwight Howard's(notes) feet are bigger than his incredibly tiny ears.
7th: The Grand National Championships. A look at the power forwards on the edge of "draftability."
8th: Cowbell Kingdom. Zach Harper ranks the Sacramento Kings' options at point guard.
9th: Liberty Ballers. Trade rumor: Dalembert going to the Bobcats for Mohammed and Radmanovic.
10th: NBA.com. Luke and Bill Walton write open letters to each other, in honor of Luke's first ring.

Got a tip/link for Ball Don't Lie? Hit me up at jeskeets@yahoo.ca or follow me on Twitter.

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88 Comments

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  1. Phoenix H
    1. Posted by Phoenix H Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:33 pm EDT

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    No one will be as great as MJ was. Some will start their own legacy, however.
    But Michael Jordan will always stand alone at the top.
  2. Rise With Us
    2. Posted by Rise With Us Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:34 pm EDT

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    Luke Walton is a waste of space
  3. stickfigureman3
    3. Posted by stickfigureman3 Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:38 pm EDT

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    ...7? what happened to 6?!
  4. J.E. Skeets
    4. Posted by J.E. Skeets Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:49 pm EDT

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    Ha! I didn't even notice that. Man, you guys are good ...
  5. Renardo F
    5. Posted by Renardo F Wed Jun 17, 2009 2:59 pm EDT

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    the ice-man said it best no hands,u and no 1 lately will be able to fully investigate the corruption that goes willie nill all over entire process of buisiness. We little people pay for lies w/o honesty to come a natural human, try to get the true story and u may as I found how fast mister big introduce himself . go to that higher level of search and u too will know CONSPIRICY to either take your job, knees or life which u will later gaurd w/ur life as others today have for obvious reasons allow harm,cost and unfairness across the board. If u have the heart the spine sports discrimination at all levels to correct wrongs w/far long awaited fines from damages done yrs.
  6. Anton
    6. Posted by Anton Wed Jun 17, 2009 3:45 pm EDT

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    I think Kobe is the closest thing you'll ever get to Michael Jordan in terms of talent. Lebron - I really don't know. Was Jordan ever a triple-double threat? You have to compare Lebron to some other great but I do not think Lebron will be the next Jordan; however, he is destined to take the "player of a generation" from Kobe though.
  7. joonlee
    7. Posted by joonlee Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:05 pm EDT

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    Jordan in his prime if you look at his stats was a triple double threat. Jordan and Lebron is two different type of players. But Best Player Ever is on the same category. Jordan is a better defender then Lebron and Kobe. I think Kobe is overrated. At the pace Lebron is going he can be better then Jordan. With all the help Kobe got he still is getting credit. Pau should of got all the credit he helped stop Dwight and has improved as a player and teammate. If they didnt have Pau they would not have won.!!!!
  8. Rise With Us
    8. Posted by Rise With Us Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:44 pm EDT

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    Kobe will NEVER be as good as Jordan!
    Walter E will NEVER get a girlfriend or a life for that matter!
    Kobe is one of the biggest ball hogs I've ever seen! LeBron passes it WAY more than Kobe even thinks about it.
    Walter E is madly in love with J.E. Skeets!
  9. Rise With Us
    9. Posted by Rise With Us Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:54 pm EDT

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    I picture Walter E sitting in the basement of his moms house, his hair all tweaked out and eyes blood shot. Empty energy drink cans all around him. The walls are covered with LeBron pictures but it looks like the scene from Ace Ventura Pet Detective with all the Dan Marino pictures. As he blogs he spits out all this jibberish about the Lakers and Kobe and LeBron......
    Oh and he likes to wear womens panties and put on lip stick.
  10. Travis M
    10. Posted by Travis M Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:15 pm EDT

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    Greg Lee (mentioned in Luke's letter) is the brother of my high school english teacher.
    Just saying.
  11. Rise With Us
    11. Posted by Rise With Us Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:16 pm EDT

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    LOL!!!!
    Lakers wont repeat! They barely made it this year. Kobe stole KGs MVP last season. They had Bynum this year and he still sucked! Hopefully Ariza and or Odem leave for more money some where else. Shaq and LeBron will have a hard time getting past the Celtics next year. KG is coming back and so is Boston. Dont get me wrong here, I'm not a Boston or Cleveland fan. I'm an anybody but LA fan!
    Go ask your mom is let you out of the basement for some fresh air. Maybe take a shower and throw on some pit stick and meet a girl. Whos knows, maybe you'll see theres more to life than stocking LeBron and Skeets.
  12. nicholas s
    12. Posted by nicholas s Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:20 pm EDT

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    FINALLY NO MORE HOOD BALL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! the three months of the year Idont have to see this crap has started,,,............................................................ stay in the hood basketball..
  13. joonlee
    13. Posted by joonlee Wed Jun 17, 2009 5:27 pm EDT

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    Walter E you are so blind. Pau when he was in Memphis was averaging 20/10 and you say that Kobe was the one that was rotating the ball??????? Did you even watch the game. Wow go live your imaginary world because the fact is that if any superstar had a combination of Lamar, Bynum, and Gusol they will get really far into the playoff or even win a championship. Lets see how did he do when the Lakers didnt have them??? no playoffs do i remember that right??????? rofl
  14. Benjamin S
    14. Posted by Benjamin S Wed Jun 17, 2009 8:04 pm EDT

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    13. Posted by Rise With Us Wed Jun 17, 2009 4:44 pm EDT Report Abuse
    Kobe will NEVER be as good as Jordan!
    Walter E will NEVER get a girlfriend or a life for that matter!
    Kobe is one of the biggest ball hogs I've ever seen! LeBron passes it WAY more than Kobe even thinks about it.
    Walter E is madly in love with J.E. Skeets! ----
    wow, your ignorance is appalling..huh?! lebron passes it way more than kobe is purely bollocks to me.. watch the games so you will have a bloody clue on what passing the ball and making your team mates better look like..more so, watch the lakers..
    i have not seen that in Lebron yet..watch the games..Lebron is predictable, he'll get the ball from the top of the key and drive hoping he'll get hacked then pass the ball, kobe on the other hand, reads the defense, wait till the bollocks come to double team him and commit at it then pass the ball to someone who's open who will then pass the ball if necessary.
    watch the games for the love of god, watch the games..
  15. Dez Dimez 37
    15. Posted by Dez Dimez 37 Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:58 am EDT

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    3. Posted by Walter E Wed Jun 17, 2009 11:51 pm EDT Report Abuse
    whateva - i got 1 word for you- rebuilding process and team chemistry.. wait, ahhh,,ls count how many words that is,ur fkn boring man.. AHAHAHAHAAAAAAA!!!
    And heres my man,rise with us, did u watch the vid link from SCSFAN? damn it why u crying all over again? AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!
    STILL:
    KOBE=4RINGS (2 AT AGE 24)
    LECHOKE= ZERO RINGS ( AGE 25)
    if that changes...let me know.. AHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAA!!!!!! 4-TIME CHAMPION BABY!!!!!!
    lets get this straight really quick. Kobe + Shaq = 3 rings; Kobe + Gasol = 1 rings; kobe + no one = a big cry baby that wanted to get traded. Lebron + a bunch of scrubs = unfortunately they got beat by the spurs but Lebron brought them team there by himself. Please Walter E, quit sucking on kobe's nutz sak because kobe wouldn't be a damn thing if he didn't have all that talents around him. no disrespect to his game but he is an arrogant dude. ALSO, KOBE is NOT MJ in anyway. MJ is GOAT.
  16. ade
    16. Posted by ade Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:08 pm EDT

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    you wanna know the next michael jordan? forget kobe, forget lebron...keep watching kevin durant..the boy's pure skillz!!!
  17. standingwatch
    17. Posted by standingwatch Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:17 pm EDT

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    I think Kobe is the closest PLAYER we have to compare to Michael Jordan. Now, MJ did get away with a lot of stuff. His three steps, hook, and a push allowed him to score a lot of points, game winning shoots, and he was always guarded by another guard. Kobe is pure talent. Always guarded by the best player (Guard or Forward) of the other team and still scores. Lebron - I really don't know. It seems that opposing teams don't use their best player to guard him. But he plays hard and scores. Oh saying that, he reminds me of another great forward. The Human Highlight (Dominique Wilkins). But He will fade out soon just like Nique. Who will everone remember? Kobe and MJ.
  18. standingwatch
    18. Posted by standingwatch Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:32 pm EDT

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    I think Kobe is the closest PLAYER we have to compare to Michael Jordan. Now, MJ did get away with a lot of stuff. His three steps, hook, and a push allowed him to score a lot of points, game winning shoots, and he was always guarded by another guard. Kobe is pure talent. Always guarded by the best player (Guard or Forward) of the other team and still scores. Lebron - I really don't know. It seems that opposing teams don't use their best player to guard him. But he plays hard and scores. Oh saying that, he reminds me of another great forward. The Human Highlight (Dominique Wilkins). But He will fade out soon, just like Nique. Who will everyone remember? Kobe and MJ.
  19. sketch
    19. Posted by sketch Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:37 pm EDT

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    Here's the thing... once you've become legendary, it's hard to crow bar you out! Jordan has solidified his legendary status and rightfully so based on what he's done and the standards that he's set! But at some point, you just have to make room for the new cats paving their own ways.
    At 1 point, Dr. J was the man, and Jordan seemed to have uprooted him. I think that Kobe's got the stuff to uproot Jordan. Having said that though, I think that he needs to win at least 1 more ring! 2 more will definitely help his case and 3 more, well then... enough said! Jordan was definitely the man and was pretty much unstoppable during his run and so is Kobe! When you look at the array of arsenal that Kobe's stock piled, he looks like that he's ready for WW 3, 4, and 5! The dude is well equipped when it comes to scoring and defense as well.
    Jordan just has all the war that he's won to prove his worth (in titles), Kobe has 4 of his own... he needs a little more. The thing is, if Jordan will be gracious enough to allow Kobe to secede him. If Jordan will come out publicly and declare that he thinks that Kobe has done enough to surpass him, then I think no one will have a problem with people claiming that Kobe's the best. I think that the ball is really in Jordan's court. If Jordan so desperately wants to HOLD ON to his GOAT title, then Kobe's not going to have a legitimate claim to it. But if Jordan graciously comes out and declares that he believes that Kobe is that player then NO ONE of any worth will have any problems stating that Kobe is the new GOAT!
    People want to think that Jordan was so crystal clean and that Kobe is this shady character! Are these people mad? The so called "rape" charge, we all know that that dirty skank was only looking to get paid! Her character credibility made Charles Manson look like he was an upstanding citizen. She was on par to break Wilt Chamberlain's record of sex partners! She made Pamela Anderson look like that she was a virgin! Remember what Jordan was doing? He was cheating on his wife too! He had multiple affairs for years! And during his off time, instead of working or practicing or studying like Kobe, he was hitting the casinos! This dude was a gambling degenerate! But once someone becomes ones HERO, it's hard to take them off of that pedestal! Just be OBJECTIVE people, and you'll see that Jordan was a GREAT PLAYER, but not necessarily a great person. That's the same with Kobe! Judge them for their game on the court! We are trying to determine the GOAT as a player not human... if that were the case, then trust me only one name gets to be on that pedestal and His Name is JESUS!
    So, let's stop all the hate and just appreciate! We are all witnesses to a brilliant player becoming all that he can be. He's trying to chase down a legend and a dream! He's not necessarily got his sights on Jordan's title, but in trying to be the GOAT, he kind of has to! He's not just trying to be the best that he can be but trying to be the BEST PLAYER EVER! We should be encouraging him and not saying "HOW DARE HE? THAT'S SO ARROGANT! HE'S SO PRESUMPTUOUS!" No, it's not! We live in America, where people can chase down their dreams and we all say "YOU CAN DO ANYTHING OR BE WHATEVER YOU WANT TO BE", but what, as soon as someone wants to chase down Jordan, it's all of the sudden the wrong thing to do? Be consistent people! Be honest!
    Props to Kobe on his 4th! Props to Fish getting his 4th as well! Props to Phil on getting is 10th! Props to the Lakers on getting their 15th! Good luck on chasing down the Celd!cks' record of 17!
  20. KOBE2008
    20. Posted by KOBE2008 Thu Jun 18, 2009 1:43 pm EDT

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    All of you are idiots. MJ had just as much help as Kobe in winning his championships. Do you forget the likes of Pippen, Grant, Rodman, the three-headed centers (Longley, Purdue, Cartwright, Wennington), not to mention the little dudes that hit game winning 3's (Paxson, Armstrong, Kerr). Man, all you young bucks shut up. So what if Kobe had Shaq, Horry, Gasol, and Odom? Basketball is a team game suckaz. It don't matter if you are Kobe, MJ, or LBJ you won't win without support. If you wanna see individual success, go watch tennis or golf.
  21. Henshsaw
    21. Posted by Henshsaw Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:03 pm EDT

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    Pippen is only famous and considered good because he has MJ to fuel his fire, Kobe will never be MJ and i don't think he's trying to be he's trying to be Kobe, i hate the lakers but i respect Kobe because he is the best individual player along with Dwade and Lebron, but Kobe is lucky enough to be on a team with other talent, get Dwade another superstar or two and look out. Dwade's coming to the Celtics, that'll be a scary day for everyone else.
  22. Lakergirl618
    22. Posted by Lakergirl618 Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:09 pm EDT

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    It's old, It's old, enough already...".Kobe is not MJ" It dosen't take a rocket science to figure it out....Kobe is Kobe, why get mad at him he never said he was Michael Jordan, everyone else is comparing him to MJ so he must be the next best thing to him....When you talk overrated LBJ is,he does nothing spectaular on the floor, Kobe made increditible shoots, he is more enjoyable to watch, and he has more moves than LBJ anyone can run hard down the floor and make a shoot he does nothing that great, but with all that said they are 2 different players and bring something different to the game, Kobe let his game speak for itself and no matter what is said about him he is always standing at the top at the end.
    Why is it any of our business of what the guys do with their personal life,Kobe is not the first and not the last to get blamed for something they didn't do,( again I say if it was black chick no one would give a damn) he is not the first to cheat on his wife "THIS IS NOT YOUR BUSINESS" judge him by what he does on the court which is he entertains by playing basketball, how would you like it if your employer judged you for your personal life? No matter what you try and find to say about Kobe or the Lakers the bottom line they are the NBA Champions and he is the NBA finals MVP, get over it!
    Magic, MJ, Paul P, Larry Bird, Tim Duncan & Shaq have all won with great players on their team, so don't try and say Kobe only won because of his teammates when it applies to everyone.....Stop being so biasis
  23. mrcarlyle217
    23. Posted by mrcarlyle217 Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:12 pm EDT

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    Alright fellas, listen up. lebron is a great player. kobe is also a great player. both guys can fill it up and dominate a game. lebron's d is a little suspect. kobe is the closest thing to basketball perfection, a la michael jordan. i must also throw in that michael wouldn't of won his rings without his supporting cast. period. so all you guys hating on kobe and the lakers are not true basketball fans. if you were u couldn't deny kobe's greatness. give lebron a few more years, he wiil be right there. but first, he has to get a ring. also, what is with people talking about kobe's personality? thats some gay, female stuff. who cares if he's cocky. lebron is too.
  24. prime
    24. Posted by prime Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:13 pm EDT

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    Ive read some comments say that kobe is overrated are you for real he wins four titles and his overrated scoring champ twice mvp of the entire league mvp of the finals 81 in one game all nba team 7 times dude if your going to make a comment lets give some respect to the game of basketball kobe has acheived something no one thought even possible being compared to the greatest in the game and his not done mj and kobe have the same amount of rings at their present age and as far as his team being more talented then mjs rodmon one of the greatest rebounders in the history of the game pippen one of the fifty greatest players does the lakers have anyone like that on their squad i dont hate on anyone i didnt like the bulls or mj but i respected him and his team give credit where credit is due. GO LAKERS 15th AND COUNTING
  25. Lakergirl618
    25. Posted by Lakergirl618 Thu Jun 18, 2009 2:17 pm EDT

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    #29 D Wade won his title with superstars on his team (Shaq, Mourning,Paton, etc) so my question is does he need to prove he can win without Shaq?, we know Shaq need superstars to win (Kobe, Fish, Horrey & D Wade)
    The facts show that Paul P could not win without superstars that's why it took KG & Allen to come to the Celtics before he won a titile. Celtic fans stop being so high an mighty, your time is up there is new Champions in town and no one care about what you did last year, it's about what you did this season...LOST and did not make it to the finals for a repeat, so what KG was out if your team is so good you should be able to win without him...Loosers

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