David Stern: "Kobe is there with Michael"

[TheMACHINE]

But what Magic Johnson didn't feel like playing game 1 of the 1987 finals?

Kobe doesnt feel like playing game 1 this week? Link?

[Goran Dragic]

Kobe would have never won with washed up Shaq and ing Antoine Walker

So Wade > Kobe

So Wade is closer to MJ

Shaq averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds that season (18.4 points and 9.8 rebounds in the playoffs), not to mention all the double teams and attention he drew down low. 2006 Shaq > 2010 Gasol and it's not even close, Shaq still made a huge impact on a nightly basis in 2006. You can look at stats and say Shaq played like in the finals, but Avery Johnson at times had Dirk and Dampier doubling Shaq off ball, which completely opened up the court for Wade. It's a pretty ignorant stretch to make acting like Wade carried a group of hacks to a championship.

[Allanon]

Obviously too early to put Kobe equal to MJ but it's getting closer by the year.

Jordan didn't win #5 until he was 34.

#5 and another Finals MVP coming on up for 31 year old Kobester.

[lefty]

Shaq averaged 20 points and 9 rebounds that season (18.4 points and 9.8 rebounds in the playoffs), not to mention all the double teams and attention he drew down low. 2006 Shaq > 2010 Gasol and it's not even close, Shaq still made a huge impact on a nightly basis in 2006. You can look at stats and say Shaq played like in the finals, but Avery Johnson at times had Dirk and Dampier doubling Shaq off ball, which completely opened up the court for Wade. It's a pretty ignorant stretch to make acting like Wade carried a group of hacks to a championship.

Yes O'Neal had good numbers

But he wasn't much of a factor in the Finals

[Goran Dragic]

Yes O'Neal had good numbers

But he wasn't much of a factor in the Finals

reading comprehension fail

[Goran Dragic]

Wade can't get out of the 1st round without Shaq, and that was even the case in 2006. Wade for the most part played like against Chicago and Miami wouldn't have won without shaq exploiting their soft interior D.

[21_Blessings]

2007 proved Dallas and Miami getting to the finals was pretty much a fluke.

[lefty]

reading comprehension fail

DId you watch the Finals?

It was basically 1 on 5, Wade had the ball almost every single time

[Ghazi]

2007 proved Dallas and Miami getting to the finals was pretty much a fluke.

True. Also proved the Mavs were robbed of the Finals though.

an NBA champion going 44-42 the following year

[21_Blessings]

True
an NBA champion going 44-42 the following year

NBA finalist losing to the 8 seed the following year

[Ghazi]

lesser of two, IMO

[TE]

NBA finalist losing to the 8 seed the following year

[21_Blessings]

lesser of two, IMO

Not really. It just validated the backdoor sweep and the fact that Dirk led Dallas teams are nothing but massive ing bed ters.

Also, see 2010.

[Ghazi]

Kobe bout to lose to a team led by Rajon ing Rondo

[21_Blessings]

staaaaaaacked

[TE]

Not really. It just validated the backdoor sweep and the fact that Dirk led Dallas teams are nothing but massive ing bed ters.

Also, see 2010.

Dirk led teams have always chocked for some reason. In 2006, they played possibly the best any team could play against a Spurs team that fired on all cylinders. I can't possibly begin to show my delight in having the Mavs lose to Golden State the next year.

[Ghazi]

Only things to see in 2010 for the Mavs are a ref that has an anti-Mavs vendetta, a scrub hitting a few shots, and a coach not playing the best french PG in the NBA.

Dirk 27/8 on 50%+

Kobe about to lose to Rondo.