Posted: Mon Sep 21, 2015 7:54 pm Post subject: Kobe-Tim vs Kobe-Shaq
Probably asked ad nauseaum back in the Shaq or early postShaq days but in these dog days of postSummer, and seeing a clip of Kobe allstar game pass to the running Duncan for the dunk made me reflect...how good would they have been together? Better than Kobe Shaq in the long run? Personalities might have meshed a bit better with Kobe's Alpha ness and Duncan's mellower style. Duncan still would have lost to Shaq mostly when Shaq was fired up and if he had a good team (when they theoretically might face each other), but then maybe Kobe takes over.
I just think it would have been fast, more simpatico overall, and more even keeled. But maybe not any more rings necessarily. With their mutual love of fundamentals on both defense and offense, it might have been fun. Maybe Kobes obsessiveness would wear Tim raw eventually but not if they kept winning.
Or if this has more or less been settled in LG's collective mind, what was the consensus view?
I float back too often to yotube clips of Laker past glories but it is a slow time.
Kobe and Duncan would have 100% been better in the long run. They would have won 7-8 championships together.
7-8 is a bit too much but I think from a longevity standpoint a better result. But shaq at his peak was >>> Duncan. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Damn, that would have been amazing. That actually would've been a good personality blend. I don't think 7 or 8 is too high, honestly...
But that's if Kobe was on the Spurs. Honestly not sure if that happens with Duncan on the Lakers. Lakers could never cry poverty with Duncan and he would've had to be maxed out. Lakers run into the same financial squeeze where they have to sell draft picks to reduce spending. And would the Lakers have the foresight/will to limit Duncan's minutes like Pop did? Probably not.
On the other hand, it's hard to see Kobe playing on the Spurs and taking less than max money.
This is one of those scenarios that's hard to envision even hypothetically.
Not sure about 7-8 rings or even a 3peat. I think Kobe/TD would've won four or maybe even 5 throughout a longer period though. Nice debate topic though
Personally, I don't think it a surefire thing that they win multiple championships. I've always thought that Garnett and Kobe would be a better duo than Tim and Kobe.
Tim has had more help than anyone. From management to teammates. Tim's situation is low stress and he's never had to deal with adversity because Pop kills it before it hits Tim. I really don't see Tim having the longevity he's had in a city like Los Angeles. He's basically been done for about 6-7 years. It's RC and Pop who are keeping him alive by stocking the team. _________________ “There are no limits. There are plateaus, but you must not stay there, you must go beyond them. If it kills you, it kills you. A man must constantly exceed his level.” ―Bruce Lee
I don't know whether chances would have been enormously better for more titles in a Kobe/Timmy pairing compared to the actual runs Kobe experienced with Pau and Shaq. I will say I think they'd have won more with Tim and Kobe together, but dunno how many more.
I think Id have liked the teams more if we'd had Duncan, comparatively. I think Duncan is more professional person than Shaq or Kobe, as well as someone who is more stable in personal attitude than either Laker. I think that Duncan as a Laker sets up for better dividends long term than with Pau pr Shaq. I think his presence may have led to a longer and continuous retention of Phil as well.
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 35812 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Tue Sep 22, 2015 7:50 am Post subject:
Who was more skilled offensively: Duncan or Pau? Would Kobe/Duncan win in 08-09 and 09-10 or was Duncan too far past his prime by that point? _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Yeah, maybe 5 year window, Kobe/Shaq works b/c due to age differences, was always going to be tough.
I do have Kobe/Duncan over Kobe/KG b/c I think the latter would not have survived as too many bad cop/bad cop there. Kobe/Duncan would be a perfect good/bad cop duo. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Let's do 7 year run. Which group would you take in prime?
Let's do a 10 year run. Which do you take?
Kobe and Shaq, I know that will produce titles. Anything else is just make believe.
Sure, but all 4 have won a championship.
In a short grouping, say 3-4 years, probably Shaq, but the age difference really hurt as both their respective peaks were so far apart. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Let's do 7 year run. Which group would you take in prime?
Let's do a 10 year run. Which do you take?
Kobe and Shaq, I know that will produce titles. Anything else is just make believe.
Yup. Same here.
Other titles from those combos might win every year or they might not.
Of course this is "make believe," which is the point of the exercise.
Shaq/Kobe was amazing, but ultimately marred by infighting/Shaq's conditioning issues.
Kobe/KG may have been the most intense team ever, but despite their talents, not sure how long that kind of intense partnership could last.
Kobe/Duncan IMO would have been the best long-term match, a perfect mix of yin/yang in every sense of the word. Pau was like that to a degree but after the failed CP3 trade everything unraveled for him as a Laker. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Kobe and Duncan but I think they would be best on the Spurs than the Lakers.
Tim Duncan's deadpan personality wouldn't fit as well in La La Land.
He has a lot of the characteristics of players who helped balance Kobe (Odom, Fisher, Fox to name a few).
Now Kobe/KG would have been downright nasty and scary (for teammates).
And to think, that was almost a reality too.
Teammates would be leaving the locker-room with cuts and scratches, crying and asking for their moms. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
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