If Kobe gets his ring this year, how is he not the GREATEST?

I might have to actually argue that MJ's weakest runs were about as good as not better than Kobe's best runs with the Lakers, especially the last two or three and 2nd/3rd Shaq and Kobe runs.

This is who the Bulls faced in the playoffs

98: Nets, 51 win Hornets (Glen Rice, Divac, Anthony Mason), 58 win Pacer team, and 62 win Jazz team

97: Bullets (Webber and Howard), 56 win Hawks (Blaylock, Smith, Laettner, Mutombo), 61 win Heat (Zo, Hardaway, Mashburn, Brown, Marjerle), and 64 win Jazz team.

96: Heat (Zo and Hardaway), Knicks (Ewing and Co.), 60 win Magic team (Shaq in his prime, Hardaway and Grant), and 64 win Supersonic team.

95: Hornets (Zo and LJ), and lost to the Eastern Conference Champion Magic (Shaq and Co.) in the semi-finals

93: Hawks (Nique, Willis, Augmon, and Blaylock), 54 win Cavs (Daugherty, Hot Rod Williams, Mark Price), 60 win Knicks (Riley's version), and 62 win Suns.

92: Heat, 51 win Knicks (who came very close to beating the Bulls), 57 win Cavs, and 57 win Trailblazers (Drexler, Duckworthy, Williams, C.Robinson, Ainge, and Porter).

91: weaker version of Knicks (before Riley came, still Ewing and few other notable players), 76ers (Barkley), the defending Champion Pistons, and 58 win Lakers (Magic, Divac, Perkins, and Scott).


1. The Bulls had at least 3 runs out of 6 where they beat two 60 win teams. In the last 25 years or so, there is only about few teams I can point at for having a tougher run through the playoffs, mid 80s Celtics, late 80s Pistons, and mid 90s Rockets. From 91-98, the Bulls defeated 7-60 win or more teams (Knicks, Suns, Magic, Supersonics, Heat, and Jazz, twice). The Lakers, on the other hand have only beaten one in 60 win or more team in the playoffs this decade (Kings).

1-5, pre 99 against 60 win teams going back to 87-88 season in the playoffs.
1-3, 99 to present against 60 win teams.

2-8, since 87-88 against 60 win teams playoff, and knocked out of the playoffs 4 times by weaker teams (record wise). Also, not bolding in Kobe's favor is that the Lakers were actually favored to win by critics and Vegas against the Celtics and also held 3-1 lead over the Suns in 05-06.

MJ won every series, his team had a 3-1 lead, as the Bulls in his tenure never lost a series to a weaker team in the team in the playoffs. If Kobe loses this year, it would have happened twice in his career (04, this year). Then others might include the Suns series (with 3-1 lead) and the Celtic series.

Kobe in his career has only beaten 2 60 win team (Kings of 02-03 and Supersonics of 97-98), and host of 59 win and 58 win teams (Trailblazers, Pacers, Spurs [x2], T-Wolves, and Magic).




But, the Lakers, if they win it all this year, would have beaten a 50 win team in every round for the 2nd time in history (00-01 Lakers), and last season the weakest team they beat in the playoffs won 48 games. Also to their credit, they've had tougher teams to play in the first rounds compared to the Bulls and sometimes in the 2nd Round (not always though). Even though, the Bulls have beaten many more top-heavy teams.

2. In 96, they faced 6th, 4th, 12th, and 2nd best defense in the league. Weakest one of that bunch was Orlando with Shaq. In 97, they faced 13th, 3rd, 1st and 9th best defense in the league.

The Lakers last season beat the 10th, 4th, 8th, and 1st best defense.

Season before last, 10th (29th in points allowed), 12th, and 3rd, but lost to the best defensive team in the league.

3. The Bulls in their 6 title years and previously retired MJ season beat 11 teams with premier (star) centers in their prime. (Mourning, Shaq, Ewing, Brad Daugherty, and Mutombo). In 95-96, they beat 3 in a row. Why is that outstanding feat, because the Bulls did not have a great center or even a large front-line.

In Kobe's entire career, he has only beaten 7 teams with star center, this includes Tim Duncan (4, 00-01, 01-02, 03-04, 07-08 - two where with David Robinson). If you take Tim Duncan out of the argument, since he is often pegged as a power forward. That number falls to three, Yao Ming twice and Dwight Howard, once. Though with Yao Ming, he really did not play alot in 2nd playoff meeting, last year (injury). Most of those victories were either with Shaq or Bynum/Gasol duo.

4. Neither player won a championship being a 3rd seed or lower. The weakest MJ team to get the furtherst in playoffs was the 88-89 team (6th in East), which only won 47 games and beat a 57 win Cavs team and 52 win Knicks team before bowing out to the future champion Pistons. The weakest Kobe team to get to the 2nd round of the playoffs was the 02-03 version (5th in the West), which was already a 3x champion with Shaquille O'Neal on the roster as middle seed team.

5. Since 99-00 season, the Lakers are 4-1 in Final elimination games - game 7 or game 5 (first round). Teams - 09 Rockets, 06 Suns, 03 Kings, 00 Trailblazers, and 00 Kings.

From 88-89 to 98-99, the Bulls were 3-2 in final elimination games, but were 3-1 with MJ.

Teams - 89 Cavs, 90 Pistons, 92 Knicks, 94 Knicks (w/o MJ), and 98 Pacers.


6. Kobe's Lakers have beaten three previous champions (SA, x3). 00-01, Duncan was injured the playoff before that one; 03-04; and 07-08. Twice with Shaquille O'Neal.

MJ only beat the previous champion, once in his career (Pistons). Some people might consider the Lakers one as well (I don't though). Because, the Lakers did have 3 starters (Worthy, Scott, and Magic) with A.C. Green left over from the 87-88 team. The main spots replaced were Mychal Thompson and a 40 year old Kareem for a young Vlade Divac, Sam Perkins, and Elden Campbell.

Previous champion equals team that held the title before their (Kobe or MJ) team won the champion.