So Kobe has rang as "The Man", or has he?

[Troll Assassin]

So we know that during the threepeat, Kobe was never once seen as "The Man" responsible for the success they had during that time, except by Laker fans, who like to forget just how dominant Shaq was in that time and in the finals. Let's compare numbers:

Shaq Finals averages

2000
38.0 PPG, 16.7 RPG, 2.4 APG, 2.8 BPG, 61% FGs.

2001
33.0 PPG, 16.8 RPG, 4.8 APG, 3.4 BPG, 57% FGs.

2002
36.3 PPG, 12.3 RPG, 3.9 APG, 2.8 BPG, 60% FGs.

2000-2002
35.8 PPG, 15.2 RPG, 3.7 APG, 3.0 BPG, 59% FGs.

In 99-2000, Kobe missed 14 games, the Lakers went 12-4 without him.
In 2000-2001 Kobe missed 14 games, the Lakers went 11-3 without him.
In 2001-2002 Kobe missed 2 games, the Lakers went 2-0 without him.

Kobe's finals
Game 1 v. Indiana - 14 points 3 rebounds 5 assists 1 steal 2 blocks 6-13 FG 2-2 FT
Game 2 v. Indiana - 2 points 1 rebound 4 assists 0 steals 1 block 1-3 FG 0-0 FT
Game 3 v. Indiana - DNP
Game 4 v. Indiana - 28 points 4 rebounds 5 assists 1 steal 2 blocks 14-27 FG 0-0 FT
Game 5 v. Indiana - 8 points 5 rebounds 3 assists 2 steals 0 blocks 4-20 FG 0-0 FT
Game 6 v. Indiana - 26 points 10 rebounds 4 assists 1 steal 2 blocks 8-27 FG 8-9 FT
Game 1 v. Philadelphia - 15 points 3 rebounds 5 assists 1 steal 3 blocks 7-22 FG 1-1 FT
Game 2 v. Philadelphia - 31 points 8 rebounds 6 assists 2 steals 2 blocks 11-23 FG 8-8 FT
Game 3 v. Philadelphia - 32 points 6 rebounds 3 assists 2 steals 0 blocks 13-30 FG 6-6 FT
Game 4 v. Philadelphia - 19 points 10 rebounds 9 assists 1 steal 1 block 6-13 FG 7-12 FT
Game 5 v. Philadelphia - 26 points 12 rebounds 6 assists 1 steal 1 block 7-18 FG 10-11 FT
Game 1 v. New Jersey - 22 points 3 rebounds 6 assists 1 steal 0 block 6-16 FG 10-11 FT
Game 2 v. New Jersey - 24 points 8 rebounds 3 assists 2 steals 1 block 9-15 FG 3-4 FT
Game 3 v. New Jersey - 36 points 6 rebounds 4 assists 1 steal 2 blocks 14-23 FG 7-10 FT
Game 4 v. New Jersey - 25 points 6 rebounds 8 assists 2 steal 0 blocks 7-16 FG 9-11 FT

By those numbers, you see just how inferior Kobe was to Shaq. Kobe couldn't handle not being the main guy, so we all know what happened next. Kobe with and without a dominant post scorer: (highlighted when Kobe was actually the man)

Lose to Pistons
Lose to Phoenix
Lose to Phoenix
Miss playoffs
Lose to Boston - No Bynum, No Ariza
Beat Boston - Healthy Bynum, Ariza
Beat Orlando - Bynum, Gasol providing the dominating post presence
SWEPT by Mavs

Both Bynum and Gasol disappeared against Dallas, therefore exposing how much Kobe NEEDS a dominant post presence. He had an all star team around him in 04, and and still lost. Kobe tolerated Bynum and Gasol carrying him because he knew no one would view them as better than Kobe or as valuable as Shaq. He only cared about winning if it looked like he was responsible for it.

[WeNeedLength]

I foresee Giuseppe commenting on this thread with a Duncan/Kobe rings comparison. I gotta hunch...

[manufan10]

I foresee Giuseppe commenting on this thread with a Duncan/Kobe rings comparison. I gotta hunch...

:lol

Surprised he hasn't already!

[Giuseppe]

^I would've of, but, I went to Whataburger for the Patty Melt. I got an extra good one, absolutely scrumptious.

As for this Thread, I'm not going to stoop.

[Reck]

Where did this guy came from? lol

[manufan10]

^I would've of, but, I went to Whataburger for the Patty Melt. I got an extra good one, absolutely scrumptious.

As for this Thread, I'm not going to stoop.

:tu

[pass1st]

Bynum didn't disappear vs Dallas, tho

Well, until he was ejected

[Calispursfan11]

So the question is whether he is an assasin of trolls or a troll that is an assassin. So which is it?

[TDMVPDPOY]

dont forget trend setter

[Leetonidas]

^I would've of, but, I went to Whataburger for the Patty Melt. I got an extra good one, absolutely scrumptious.

As for this Thread, I'm not going to stoop.

Patty melts kick ass :tu you lucky old coot you

[VBM]

^I would've of, but, I went to Whataburger for the Patty Melt. I got an extra good one, absolutely scrumptious.

As for this Thread, I'm not going to stoop.

http://www.eatdrinksetx.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/spciy-ketchup.jpg

[BanditHiro]

Lies have feed his legend...nothing new.

[Cry Havoc]

^I would've of, but, I went to Whataburger for the Patty Melt. I got an extra good one, absolutely scrumptious.

As for this Thread, I'm not going to stoop.

Sorry that you had to go there instead of In N Out, TBH.

[midnightpulp]

He was never the man, or "1b" on those Lakers teams. If I remember, I think Shaq even averaged more in the 4th quarter than the supposed "closer."

[Giuseppe]

Sorry that you had to go there instead of In N Out, TBH.

It's all an exercise in futility at In N Out. You have to fight thru the lettuce to get to the beef.

They cart those freshly cut potoatoes around and they look absolutely delicious, but, then when you get them on the plate, they're without taste.

Only the crunchiness of the bun appeals to me.

[Samuel Eto'o]

Cubby isn't grey. That's it, I am done.

[Giuseppe]

^Bend over. I'll showin' ya fuckin' done.

[Deuce Bigalow]

He was never the man, or "1b" on those Lakers teams. If I remember, I think Shaq even averaged more in the 4th quarter than the supposed "closer."

29.4/7.3/6.1 in '01 PO

29-7-6 has never been done in the playoffs by a player who won the championship

[midnightpulp]

29.4/7.3/6.1 in '01 PO

29-7-6 has never been done in the playoffs by a player who won the championship

:tu Nice arbitrary stat.

I can come up with one too.

Has any player ever averaged 30-15-3 on 55% (Shaq's '01 playoff stats) enroute to winning the championship?

[Baron Davιs]

Huge stretch by OP, tbh. (obviously to troll the FakerFans)

Diesel was "The Man" during Lakers' first three-peat, but Kobe clearly was during '09 & '10 was saved by Gasol and Co. during game 7, but him winning Finals MVP was justified nonetheless.

[Deuce Bigalow]

:tu Nice arbitrary stat.

I can come up with one too.

Has any player ever averaged 30-15-3 on 55% (Shaq's '01 playoff stats) enroute to winning the championship?

nope and neither has any one done 29-7-6 enroute to a championship, it goes both ways

[Spur_Fanatic]

nope and neither has any one done 29-7-6 enroute to a championship, it goes both ways

Wait. Shaq not only did that, he averaged that during the threepeat.
Anyway, what matters here is that Kobe is a good Pippen.

Kudos to Kobe. :toast

[Deuce Bigalow]

Wait. Shaq not only did that, he averaged that during the threepeat.
Anyway, what matters here is that Kobe is a good Pippen.

Kudos to Kobe. :toast

I guess it was Scottie Pippen raping your team in 2001 and 02 then :lol

[Spur_Fanatic]

Dude, wtf. I'm praising Kobe, and you snap too?!?

[TheMACHINE]

lol Finals stats. As if the East was any good to begin with.

[pass1st]

Dude, wtf. I'm praising Kobe, and you snap too?!?

Kobe isn't a good Pippen, though. Pippen was a complementary player that filled in the gaps Jordan created. Kobe was a 2nd option player that took pressure off Shaq because he required either a defensive expert or a double team.

Pippen knew his role, Kobe just played how he wanted to play. Kobe wasn't the glue that kept LAL together like Pippen was for the Bulls, but quite the opposite.

[Spur_Fanatic]

pass1st, you are a cool dude.

But let me play with the Kobe fanbois.

[Josepatches_]

Pippen 6
Kobe 5

[pass1st]

Pippen 6
Kobe 5

Phil: 13
Pop: 4

[lakerddan]

I seem to remember Kobe having one of the greatest series ever against your spurs in 01, when the lakers sweep the Spurs in the western conf. finals.

[Calispursfan11]

I seem to remember Kobe having one of the greatest series ever against your spurs in 01, when the lakers sweep the Spurs in the western conf. finals.

Kobe is a punk bitch foo patnah. No humility at all. He old and his teammates olda. They ain't even makin' the playoffs tbh. In a year, he'll be done and so will the Lakeshow. Peace out, rookie.

[Troll Assassin]

Phil: 13
Pop: 4
Shaq w/o Phil - 1
Kobe w/o Phil - 0

[lakerddan]

during that 3peat Kobe was better than shaq in the Playoffs, Shaq was better in the finals

[Deuce Bigalow]

during that 3peat Kobe was better than shaq in the Playoffs, Shaq was better in the finals

not in 2000 or 2002
that is only arguably true for 2001