Be honest. Have you actually watched those Lakers team play. I dont mean youtube highlights. I mean actually watch them play year in and year out. I have folowed the entire career of both Kobe and Shaq and if you have like I have then you should know what Shaq's weakness was.... ....pick and pop and pick and roll defense. ...which is exactly how Warriors kill you. Warriors would be raining 3s all night long on Shaq's bum who couldn't move his feet on the perimeter. They would gladly trade his 2 point dunks for their 3 point shot every trip after running his fat bum out of the gym with a high tempo offense. It would be a statistical massacre.
heavily doubt AD would even think about staying here long term with CP0 and no Harden Rockets can’t win a chip with Harden, but AD can’t even make the playoffs
Yes I have seen Kobe/Shaq... Warriors could never stop neither Shaq nor Kobe. Kobe was a good defensive player also, Robert Horry, Shaq all very good defensive player. Ron Harper had super defense, Rick Fox was a decent player also. Harper/Kobe would've minimized Curry/Klay. Plus Warrior's wouldn't get favorable treatments from officials against Lakers.
And yet they never won 70+ wins nor did they steam roll the NBA in a way like the Warriors have. But back to the match up: 1) As I said, Warriors strength was Lakers's weakness (pick and roll defense). They would not be able to defend the Warriors offense. Just a bad matchup. 2) Length bothered Kobe. Kobe struggled against Prince in the finals. He struggled against Celtics defense. Durant would have made life very difficult for Kobe. 3) Warriors would let Shaq have his 2 point dunks and like I said, gladly trade that for their 3 point shots every trip down the floor. 4) Shaq would have stamina issues in that matchup. 5) Lakers' 3 point shooting was no where close to as prolific as Warriors 3 point shooting it. Lakers were a very good team. Warriors are arguably the best ever team assembled other than the 86 Celtics,
I still have this odd feeling Morey is gonna pull off AD to Houston. I’m not saying it’s gonna happen, but I wouldn’t put it past Morey
This is the reason we were able to compete with the Warriors. We don't give a damn if KD makes his contested midrange fadeaways while we go back on the other end and shoot 3s. As long as Steph and Klay didn't go off we had a shot every game.
Lillard showed us 2 things in the Blazers playoff run: 1) He's a superior basketball player to Russell Westbrook 2) He's not the same caliber of player as Harden, Curry, Durant, Leonard, James, etc.
70+ win resulted a loss to Cavaliers..so nothing much to say there. Kobe's length and athleticism and air movement (only second to Jordan who could adjust in the air depending on the opponent defender's movement) would cause more trouble to Curry/Klay than the other way around. Don't agree with any of other points either. Warrior's 3 championship so far: 1st one: against a Kyrie/Kevin Love less Cavaliers and struggled . 2nd one: Zaza injured Kawhi while Spurs was leading by 20+ 3rd one: Thanks to CP3 injury + super biased officiating from Scott Foster in Game 7 of WCF Though they have a chance this year to win one without the injury of key players of opponents.
Right but my point is that lakers would not be able to play with Shaq the way we do. Shaq on defense is a massive liability because he always refused to guard the pick and roll or pick and pop play.
That was before Durant joined the team and Draymond suspension had an effect. The year prior to that they won 73 games and won the ring. Curry and Klay have destroyed Lebron and he is longer, more athletic, and a better defender than Kobe. You are free to disagree but that wont change the fact that Shaq could never guard the perimeter even if his life depended on it.
I think you're suffering from amnesia...go and check..they lost to Cleveland the year they won 73 games.
No doubt. Shaq was an athletic freak but he wouldn't last having to pick them up on switches every possession from 30 ft out.
Exactly. I cant believe that someone who is saying that they have watched Shaq cant recall this major flaw in his game. Teams used to exploit this when playing against the Lakers and they were no where close to efficient as Warriors are at this. They would have picked Shaq apart trip after trip.
Lebron is stronger than Kobe but Kobe was more athletic and better defensive player. Plus Kobe had Shaq and better supporting cast that Lebron.
Since he name dropped me, it's only right we get clarification. I think Harden's a quitter. He's quit more than once here, and as a long time Rocket fan, through the heart of champion Rudy days, I don't like quitters. Zboy on the other hand supports guys quitting as long as their boxscore stats look good. He's a different cat. If the right deal came a long, I'd take Lillard, with a few assets & trade Harden while still being competitive. I watched Hakeem play hard every minute for almost 20yrs, the Rockets are bigger than James Harden imo
LOL on the first part. OK, that clears it up. Clearly you have not watched Kobe play if you think that. As for the second part, clearly you have not watched Shaq play either if you still dont understand why Shaq would be a liability in this series and not a strength.
Ofcourse I have watched most of their games because I was rooting for Robert Horry. Shaq would've demolished Warriors underheight/ understrength PF/Centers by sheer strength. Lebron's strength gave troubles to GS, Shaq was much more stronger than Lebron. Ron Harper/ Kobe would've contained Curry/Klay.
Even if your fantasy played out I guess Durant would be watching from the sideline and even if he was in, Kobe would have been able to defend Durant, Curry and Klay be cause he was that awesome.
