He had Lamar Odom who was probably in his prime plus squeaking into the playoffs with a almost .500 record is not an impressive feat. Hell the Rockets 4 games over .500 with Kevin Martin as our best player.
That 07 Cavs team didn't play a team with a winning record in the playoffs until they ran into a fading Detroit team in the ECF. Mike Miller was the second best player on that Magic team.
It is when 3 of the other 4 starters weren't starting caliber players. Prime Odom was an above average starter but not all star caliber.
Yep. LeBron deserves all the credit in the world for an amazing series against the Pistons at the age of 22 but the rest of that journey was pretty meh.
Durant never had Shaq, please remember, Kobe was NOT the man back then, no D, no shot. Diesel was the lakers at that time, and KD is infinitely better with his efficiency, KD all the way.
Dirk had HoF teammates tho, and a very good supporting cast that year. Duncan had the Admiral twice and TP and Manu 3 times, forget if they were top 15 at the time, they were still really, really good.
Shaq limited Kobe's greatness and career achievements minus championships. Kobe didn't have a quality team built around him until he was leaving his prime. You throw Jordan in the same situation that Kobe was in and he probably doesn't end up as the GOAT. Not saying Kobe is on Jordan's level because he is not but having a team be yours from the get go is often beneficial for the legacies of ball dominant players like Jordan, Kobe, LeBron, Durant etc.
I imagine Durant just getting better with age. I think he'll start going more to the post, and with that lethal length and height combination, he'll be something like Dirk on the post, which will make him very effective for many years to come. He's definitely better than Kobe Bryant.
Kevin Durant is actually playing at the same level as Kobe Bryant in 2005-06, in my opinion should have won MVP that season over Nash. That Lakers team in 06 was pretty terrible, Kwame Brown as their Center, Brian Cook PF, Smush Parker, and the crackhead Lamar Odom. OKC has some nice talent on this team, but KD is definitely MVP this year and is balling out his mind!
You don't get MVP for being on a bottom playoff team. KD has been leading the team with the best record in the WC and 1 game behind the the pacers for the best record in the NBA all while sustaining one of the best seasons in NBA history.
Honestly, if you take Kobe away from that team, they would have owned the worst record in the NBA...seems pretty amazing for one player to put his team on the back and take them to the playoffs, especially in the Wild west. However, I understand where you are coming from, especially KD is the only active superstar on the team and they have the #1 in the West.
That is speculation. But what isn't speculation is that taking LeBron off the '10 Cavs took them from the best record in the NBA to the second worst.
I wonder if how many rings MJ would have if he was gifted Scottie Pippen? I wonder how many rings LBJ would have if he didn't pick to join 2 other superstars in MIA? I wonder how many rings Magic would have if he didnt have the greatest center of all time? The Kobe hate is out of control
Always get confused as to what people call someones prime. As of right now KD is in his prime. The question is how long will his prime last.
