T or F. Kobe should still be better than Dirk and Duncan next season.

[yinoma2001]

Why don't we use "win-shares" as a stat then?
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From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals

[Four Decade Bandwagon]

"Better" is too vague a concept. Even "impact" is tough to compare but is at least a starting point in the discussion.

I think considering expectations and outcome would be relevant when comparing the three.

Duncan is on a loaded team with several players ahead of him that the Spurs rely on more. Still good but limited role. Spurs can actually rest him and not miss a beat.

Dirk is fairly one-dimensional and is expected to hit shots. Others do the defending., rebounding, playmaking and assists on the team.

Kobe is expected to be the best player on the team. By himself and others. He will be asked to score, assist and probably be a tough wing defender. Team has no chance to win if he does not play at a top 10 level.

Actually think he can have a good year if healthy. 32mpg/22pts/6ast while being the focal point of the offense. Lin running the RnR, Young playing solid SG mins, athletic front court will help him this year.

Curious- If Lakers led by Kobe can get 45 wins this year (or longshot 8th seed), would that be more "impactful" then Duncan or Dirk?

[BROW GOAT 23]

http://www.sbnation.com/nba/2014/7/18/5915259/kobe-bryant-lakers-free-agents-salary-cap-failure

UGH!
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[mettaElbow]

dirk posted near 50/40/90 last year , kobe with his best efficiency cannot do that, plus his team cannot win so i highly doubt you can make a case of kobe> for next year, plus the injuries of course, will kobe be more exciting? maybe, for laker fans

[Illusions Johnson]

Kobe will put up the most impressive stats of the three. The other two will do more to help their teams win, both because they have better players around them and because they are more willing to lessen their role for the betterment of the team.

[dmills]

Some of these responses are so backhanded lol. Anyway, He can roll out of bed and score 25 points and grab 4-5 rebounds. My only concern is that assist to turnover ratio. He's been a turnover machine in recent times.

As to the question, yes I expect that as a player he'll be more effective than those two as in I suspect that he'll be around he's career numbers across the board whereas they (Dirk and TD) are clearly not. And then the pundits will all act shocked that he's still so effective.
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A key that has the ability to unlock many locks is a master key. But a lock that can be opened with any key is useless.

[GigaPaladin]

Kobe's defense was horrible two years. Can't imagine how bad its gonna be now so false

[NYClakerguy]

meh. they're all pretty old now. Dirk is probably going to be the best out of the three. But the Spurs have a team that can do most of the heavy lifting for Duncan nowadays.

Kobe is gonna give the good ol' college try, but by the end of the season his menisci are gonna be dust.

[psy123321123]

Kobe, overall a better offensive weapon. Duncan, better all around player, which includes rebounding, boards, blocked shots etc. Obviously you don't depend on Duncan for a 3 point shot, or making clutch free throws. But if you need that board for another possession, Duncan by a long mile. You see a big man going towards the rim, just Duncan's size is going to lower the opposing big man's FG%.

This one is really tough. I would say that Duncan overall. But I guess that the opposing party can say that it was under good management by Pop.

Also to note, Kobe won 5 in 7 attempts. Duncan won 5 in 6 attempts.

[VegasLakerFan]

[VegasLakerFan]

[LakersNewEra]

Before his injury, Kobe still looked like an immortal, still had a case for being the best player in the league. Now obviously, everybody expects him to be a top 10 player at best.
I think since 2001 Kobe was always better than Dirk and Duncan except MAYBE in 2002 when Duncan was amazing and in 2004, not Dirk or Duncan but KG was likely better that year. All other years though, Kobe, Kobe, Kobe.

He will still be better individually.
I think many people forgot just how good Kobe is. Even if he is just at 80 %.

The 2013 team was deemed failure but they onluly gor swept by the Spurs because Kobe got injured. Otherwise, it would have been a series. Who knows how far the Lakers would've advanced.

[nashftw]

i think he will be a more mature player this year considering what he went through and what he has seen the team go through last year. i hope he can be more of a teacher and pace his play, letting his teammates shine. then at opportune times (crunch time), he can strike.

if he plays wiser, he will be better, and the team will be better

[kinein]

[LakersNewEra]

[ringfinger]

[Man with No Name]

False

[KobeBryantCliffordBrown]

[KobeBryantCliffordBrown]

[deal]

IF Kobe is healthy, there's not much else to talk about. He's always hungry for the win, always intense, clutch...

I wouldn't give this much thought aside from Kobe being healthy, like I mentioned...

[KobeBryantCliffordBrown]

[yinoma2001]

[70sdude]

[Chick-N-Stew]

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Mama, There Goes That Mamba.

[shove-orange]

He was better than both of them before the injury (27 5 5 top 5 player) so I don't see why he couldn't be if he has made a good recovery. We are talking individual play not team success correct?