you know I forgot to add what they said about Kobe. Kobe lost in the finals twice. Vs Detroit, Tashon Prince did a fantastic job on him. Vs Boston, Paul Pierce made him work. Kobe is clearly a superior player than both of them. But he can be D-ed up one on one. Go back to Clutch City 101 class and reread the chapter on defense. Oh, let's not forget that if anyone got beat by their man and there's this Dream guy waiting in the paint to help. Clutch City is forever.
I have to really question myself and say could this year's or last year's version of the Lakers even beat some of teams below: 92-93 Knicks 92-93 Suns or 93-94 Suns 91-92 Trailblazers 93-94 Jazz 94-95 Spurs 94-95, 95-96 Magic 96-97 Heat 96-97 Hawks 96-97, 97-98, 93-94 Jazz 95-96 Supersonics 99-00 Trailblazers Outside of the Trailblazers look at what all of those teams have in common. Again, the same advantages the Lakers have against current teams would disappear against alot of these teams. I even think the weakest teams of this group the Trailblazers and Hawks would give the current Lakers a very hellish series.
Also look at the Pacers, 76ers, and Nets series, he really did not play all that spectacular in those series, either. I know Kobe fans hate to admit it, but I think you could replace Kobe in those series, more than you could Shaq for the Lakers to still win.
