pau gasol was the MVP in the first and finals series, on BOTH ends. kobe was the MVP in the middle 2 series for the lakers. kobe is a bigger name, so obviously he'll garner more of the props, and as he should. but without pau shutting down the paint v. the celtics, the lakers would have lost in 5 or 6.
You can say without Artest they would have lost in 5 or 6 games and that'd be true too. They ain't that much better than Celtics. Kobe was the only guy that demands double team in finals. Gasol got most his shots off him. It's not like Gasol backing down KG or Perkins with ease and just shot over them. Of course Kobe's the MVP. In the few games Kobe's absent in the season, it's clear Gasol didn't play better or get better numbers.
Because Shaq was out of shape, no motivation, wanted 30M and any bit less than that was disrespect and shouted "pay me" in front of Buss in preseason game? You think a rich owner like Buss has no ego? Shaq ended up with 20M/y contract, and that's after opting out his final 30M+ year deal. Gasol never made all NBA team before joining Lakers. Once he did they started to make and win finals. And he's now hyped to be best bigman in the league. That's how good Kobe is. A 18/8 Shaq right off an all star year, a 20/10 Jamison, all star 2 years ago, was scrub in Cavs, so much about making teammates better. Maybe LeStat should give his MVPs back? Kobe demanded a trade to make a point, he never left Lakers, and he won 2 after that. You think Lakers fans feel betrayed? Are LeQuitter fans 3 years old?
No, they are not one of the best teams in the NBA. But they are a playoff contender. For past 3 years, Lakers without Kobe, with yearly Bynum injury, would be lucky to make playoff too. They are not better than what Gasol had in grizzles. And that 07 team without Kobe, is the worst in the league. They may not even win 10 games. 3 of 5 starters could not make rotation right now.
NO! ITS NOT TRUE! KOBE SAVED THE DAY WITH HIS 6 for 24 COLD BLOODED ASSASSIN SHOOTING! KOBE IS GREATEST THING IN HISTORY OF THINGS! We all know, if kendrick perkins doesnt go down and miss game 7, boston wins the series....
http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/199606160CHI.html If Jordan could win with 5-19 shooting, what's the big deal for Kobe to shoot 6-24 with 15 rb?
good find, so so true. Sure jordan was the undisputed leader and best player for the bulls, but they were a very strong team without him and got to ecf during his baseball experiment... So why hold kobe to a different standard? They both had/have great teams. Lebron on the other hand, did not have a great team, and how well he carried them was extremely impressive during his 7 years
those games are rare for MJ. they're not for kobe bryant. jordan is a career 49% shooter in the playoffs, and averages 33 points per game in 6 finals series. kobe is a 45% shooter in the playoffs, and shot 40% in the finals this past year. and he shot worse v. the pistons in another finals series. you can always tolerate a few bad games here and there b/c EVERY PLAYER (great or not) will have bad games. they're not superhuman. kobe shooting 40% for an entire finals series? after shooting 40% in the first round? that wasn't a rarity. so that's why we can tolerate it with jordan b/c you're SHOCKED if jordan has such a bad game. i'm not shocked if kobe has a bad shooting game.
As those stats demonstrate, both Kobe and Jordan could afford to have off nights in the playoffs and have other players step up and still get the W. Nobody was ever there to do that for lebron, so if doesn't put up god-status numbers every game, they couldn't win. esp in the playoffs
in 2 of the 3 championships in the first laker 3peat, kobe shot 43% for the playoff run. and you're wondering why? can you imagine if jordan shot 43% for A SERIES, let alone a playoff run? the world would be over. so please, stop the comparison. jordan played at a much higher level than kobe in the playoffs and that isn't even arguable.
ha! except kobe shot 6-24 in game that came down to the wire while the bulls had a 14 point lead mid-way through the 4th vs. the sonics and stated milking the clock and jacking up bad shots.
Shaq was out of shape and had no motivation? I guess that's why his first two seasons in Miami he put up PERs of 27+ and 24+. Gasol probably never mande an All-NBA team because he was trapped in such crappy market. His PER remained about the same with the Lakers. LOL at you saying the Cavs were good because they had a washed up Shaq (right after you called Shaq out of shape and lazy). Jamison isn't bad, but he's hardly a 2nd option and his defense sucks. And I hope you are joking about Kobe demanding a trade to make a point. You seriously cannot be trying to twist his trade demand into an example of his "leadership."
Lol I never post but I just have to say goodbug just got destroyed I think kobe fans should refrain from bringing up statistics when it comes to kobe/lbj or kobe/jordan arguments cuz you guys will just get killed. Use your nonsensical broad subjective statements to make your claims (i.e Kobe is such a fierce competitor). Statments like this have no substance and just continue to prove that you guys really have your head up your as.
Excuse after excuse, check MJ's number in the entire 96 series. 1996 finals And if you are so obsessed with numbers. Why don't you bring up LeBron's numbers in finals and compared to Kobe's? 2007 finals
WTF? Jordan shot 41.5% in 1996 finals and the world wasn't over. http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_1996_finals.html And in Kobe's worst finals series, he never shot 35.8% like LeBron did. http://www.basketball-reference.com/playoffs/NBA_2007_finals.html so please, stop the comparison. Kobe's closing in on Jordan, but LeBron is not in the same league.
No, you please stop. Check the career stats. It's not even close. Look up career PER and WS, it's a landslide for Jordan. Jordan put up FOUR seaons with a PER above 31. Kobe managed ONE above 27. LOL!
Different league, different style. The late 1980 league averaged 110 a game, today 100 and as low as 93 in 2003. Jordan's number was inflated and he went to the hoop more. Jordan didn't have to face zone. And Kobe couldn't get the benefit of handchecking like Wade and LeBron did. In 2006 his FTA/FGA went down big. That's just the way it's. He's not in Stern's agenda but thrived nonetheless. Kobe's no MJ yet, but he's as close as you can get since MJ. And when he got the 7th ring, you'll hear him in the GOAT conversation.
i like how goodbug uses the same tired old arguments over and over after they have repeatedly been proven to be false. lol jordan didn't face zones.
