Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?

 
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madsen35
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:04 pm    Post subject: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?

It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?

A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002

Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:30 pm    Post subject:

The 2000 team won 67 games with Kobe missing 16. I wonder if they could have hit 70 with him playing all 82.

2000 seemed to have better depth with Glen Rice, Ron Harper, etc.
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:31 pm    Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?

madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?

A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002

Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?


The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.

The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.

Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.

The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.

I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.

I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.
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JUST-MING
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:46 pm    Post subject:

2002 > 2000

They beat the Spurs in the playoffs.


Last edited by JUST-MING on Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:56 pm; edited 1 time in total
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:51 pm    Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?

activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?

A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002

Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?


The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.

The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.

Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.

The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.

I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.

I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.



I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years.
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madsen35
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PostPosted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:52 pm    Post subject:

I'd go with the 2002 team. Kobe was significantly more of a complete player in 2002. They had title experience and grit.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 1:21 am    Post subject:

Shaq's MVP season was was the main reason for those 67 wins. But as you can see, the games are different come playoff time and if Shaq could be the force, the MDE, etc. that people like to bestow on him, then we wouldn't have been in that situation in game 7. Truth is Shaq does not score anytime he wants, and because of that I'll take 2002 Lakers because Kobe was significantly better than 2000 Kobe. And in this battle between 00 and '02, it wouldn't be a loosey goosey regular season game, it would be a tight battle, so I'll take the team with 2002 Kobe.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:42 am    Post subject:

2000 v 2002 - better player in CAPS

HARPER v Hunter
Kobe v KOBE
RICE v Fox
Green v WALKER
SHAQ v Shaq
Fisher v FISHER
Horry v HORRY
Fox v GEORGE
SHAW v Richmond/Shaw
Salley v Slava

Hmmmmm . . . I'd go with 99-00 because of more consistent defense.

Game 5 (closeout) vs SAC - held Kings to 86 points, 33.8% FG
Game 5 (closeout) vs PHX - held Suns to 65 points, 28.8% FG
Game 7 vs POR - held Blazers to 84 points, including a paltry 13 in the 4th
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:58 am    Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?

CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?

A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002

Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?


The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.

The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.

Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.

The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.

I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.

I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.



I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years.


Oh, sure. The 72-win Bulls were the #1 defensive team too.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:02 am    Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?

activeverb wrote:
CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?

A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002

Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?


The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.

The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.

Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.

The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.

I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.

I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.



I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years.


Oh, sure. The 72-win Bulls were the #1 defensive team too.


Why were the Kobe/Pau Lakers so middling on defense if not for Phil? Fisher? Pau?
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oasisdude77
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:47 am    Post subject:

Gotta go with the 2000 team. They had wins streaks of 19, 16 and 11 games. They had Fish, Fox and Horry coming off the bench.

If I remember correctly, they won 19 straight, then lost by a few points to the Wizards and then reeled off another 11 games.

If they didn't lose that game to the Wizards, I really think they would have surpassed the 33 in a row from the '72 team.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:52 am    Post subject:

oasisdude77 wrote:
Gotta go with the 2000 team. They had wins streaks of 19, 16 and 11 games. They had Fish, Fox and Horry coming off the bench.

If I remember correctly, they won 19 straight, then lost by a few points to the Wizards and then reeled off another 11 games.

If they didn't lose that game to the Wizards, I really think they would have surpassed the 33 in a row from the '72 team.

that was a shocking loss at the time. we need a video of it. or not perhaps.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 2:15 pm    Post subject:

2000 when we had dominant Shaq.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 2:27 pm    Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?

CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?

A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002

Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?


The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.

The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.

Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.

The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.

I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.

I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.



I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years.


Oh, sure. The 72-win Bulls were the #1 defensive team too.


Why were the Kobe/Pau Lakers so middling on defense if not for Phil? Fisher? Pau?



In the two last ring years, we were 4th and 6th in the league in defense.
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 5:39 pm    Post subject:

2002 team was coming off of two straight seasons of deep playoff runs. That weighs heavily for any team. Considering that the 2000 team was inexperienced but hungry for a championship, I would take the 2000 team in a head to head. 2000 Shaq was as dominant as they come, even though certain big bodies were able to contain him.

The 2001 team (from April on through the playoffs in ‘01) had one of the most dominant runs in NBA History, and was essentially the best of both worlds when it comes to comparing the 2000 and 2002 teams. We literally flipped a switch after an ugly late season lost (I think it was to the Knicks at home??)
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Cutheon
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 6:05 pm    Post subject:

That 2000 defense was so impressive.
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Steve007
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:08 pm    Post subject:

One thing that makes the comparison more awkward for me is the rules changed between those seasons. Weren’t zone defenses made legal during that time?

I’d go with the 2000 team.
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