Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 4:48 pm Post subject: Better Duo: Kobe/Shaq or Kobe/LBJ?
Kobe/Shaq obviously won us 3 awesome titles.
But if Kobe/LBJ could have teamed up together, how many could they have won together?
Of course there are many variables such as what the supporting cast would be, etc., but if we approximate the same types of role players around them, and also factor in team chemistry, etc., which would you go with as being the better duo that could win more rings overall?
I go with Kobe/LBJ. Could have been the best duo ever. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Kobe and LeBron for sure you are talking about 2 players who have high IQ and are 2 of the best competitors in sports history, there will always be what ifs but what if LeBron didn’t go to Miami and he joins the Lakers in 2010?
Joined: 19 Nov 2007 Posts: 4372 Location: Lake Nacimiento
Posted: Mon Jan 11, 2021 5:03 pm Post subject:
One season where everyone is at there peak? Kobe/Shaq easily imo
but...
Overall careers or if they are teaming up around there primes and going from there it's easily Kobe/LBJ as both are among the greatest athletes of all time at keeping there bodies right year around. Plus there's much more versatility to easily reload and add any player at pretty much any position kind of what makes LBJ/AD so special as well imo. This is my answer even in a world where Kobe and Shaq never got in a huge pissing contest.
I think Kobe would have respected LBJ’s work ethic more and there would be less chemistry issues. Just don’t see how Kobe and Shaq could ever do exist beyond those years they had. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Kobe and LBJ. If Shaq 2000 was same in other years, I would say otherwise. That year he had one of the best seasons ever.
LBJ with Kobe would have been much better over the years. Not just better. Better than MJ Pippen too, even with Scottie being the best defender of the group by a decent amount. Better than Magic and Kareem since Kareem was older by that point. Probably the best duo in history in terms of results.
There's just too much LBJ and Kobe could do in tandem with mix and match teammates. Too much offense, too much defense, too much skill, too much dedication, too much will, too much wisdom, too much high consistent standards, too much leadership with Kobe being the stick, Lebron the carrot (or good cop, bad Kob) at the highest level probably.
Kobe and LBJ. If Shaq 2000 was same in other years, I would say otherwise. That year he had one of the best seasons ever.
LBJ with Kobe would have been much better over the years. Not just better. Better than MJ Pippen too, even with Scottie being the best defender of the group by a decent amount. Better than Magic and Kareem since Kareem was older by that point. Probably the best duo in history in terms of results.
There's just too much LBJ and Kobe could do in tandem with mix and match teammates. Too much offense, too much defense, too much skill, too much dedication, too much will, too much wisdom, too much high consistent standards, too much leadership with Kobe being the stick, Lebron the carrot (or good cop, bad Kob) at the highest level probably.
Yeah I see literally no weakness with that duo. Don’t get me wrong leak shaq was one of the most dominating things I’ve ever seen. But longevity wise I go Kobe/LBJ and I think they top 3 rings together. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Kobe and LBJ. If Shaq 2000 was same in other years, I would say otherwise. That year he had one of the best seasons ever.
LBJ with Kobe would have been much better over the years. Not just better. Better than MJ Pippen too, even with Scottie being the best defender of the group by a decent amount. Better than Magic and Kareem since Kareem was older by that point. Probably the best duo in history in terms of results.
There's just too much LBJ and Kobe could do in tandem with mix and match teammates. Too much offense, too much defense, too much skill, too much dedication, too much will, too much wisdom, too much high consistent standards, too much leadership with Kobe being the stick, Lebron the carrot (or good cop, bad Kob) at the highest level probably.
Yeah I see literally no weakness with that duo. Don’t get me wrong leak shaq was one of the most dominating things I’ve ever seen. But longevity wise I go Kobe/LBJ and I think they top 3 rings together.
I say they top 6 rings together
Although Shaq and Kobe should have topped 5 rings together too...if Shaq was less fun and more boring. I wonder if Kobe and Tim would have won four or more.
I digress. Kobe + LBJ = dynamite. I forgot to add, or separate out from "too much dedication," "too much discipline and innovation in taking care of their bodies during the season and offseason.
And then one more factor, Kobe's impact on a young LBJ's mentality. Deadly. King indeed then.
What does that even mean?... Lebron probably prolong Kobe's career. Lebron will do most of the work load like always. Kobe can focus on scoring, which is what he was great at.
What does that even mean?... Lebron probably prolong Kobe's career. Lebron will do most of the work load like always. Kobe can focus on scoring, which is what he was great at.
I was old enough to remember Chris Paul as a Laker for 10 minutes. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
What does that even mean?... Lebron probably prolong Kobe's career. Lebron will do most of the work load like always. Kobe can focus on scoring, which is what he was great at.
I was old enough to remember Chris Paul as a Laker for 10 minutes.
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 22841 Location: La Jolla, San Diego
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 1:03 am Post subject: Re: Better Duo: Kobe/Shaq or Kobe/LBJ?
yinoma2001 wrote:
Kobe/Shaq obviously won us 3 awesome titles.
But if Kobe/LBJ could have teamed up together, how many could they have won together?
Of course there are many variables such as what the supporting cast would be, etc., but if we approximate the same types of role players around them, and also factor in team chemistry, etc., which would you go with as being the better duo that could win more rings overall?
I go with Kobe/LBJ. Could have been the best duo ever.
Would they be around the same age? If yes, Kobe and LBJ would rival MJ/Pippen accomplishments. Kobe is slightly lesser than MJ, but LBJ is waaaay more than Pippen. It would be the greatest duo ever.
What does that even mean?... Lebron probably prolong Kobe's career. Lebron will do most of the work load like always. Kobe can focus on scoring, which is what he was great at.
You think Kobe would have done that? Naw. When you put two ball-dominant players on a team, it usually doesn't end well. _________________ Internet Argument Resolved
But I reckon that the basis for debate among all of the possible imaginary pairings - and to an remarkably uncomfortable extent - depends heavily on which version of each guy and which era of rule enforcement we agree to consider coupled to each pair of duos. It's all hooey anyway, but trying to eliminate much of the hooey helps define to discussion.
I lean towards liking the 2001 Shaq-Kobe pairing above all others, largely because it is something we actually saw and so can understand the absolute strengths. A pretty stout and proven offense, with inside-outside, low post and driving potential. Pretty capable defensively with properly chosen complementary supporting players. Shaq had become as impossible to officiate as anyone ever was IMO, and that condition was to trigger much of what followed in terms of the new rights granted to ball-handlers in space, in years following. The league moved away from allowing Shaq-like domination inside ever again. Meaningful impact, which make comparison to any next generation (LeBron era) team pretty hard to assess.
They pretty much had the exact same USG in their prime, Shaq and LeBron.
LeBron and Kobe. You may not get a 16-1 playoff run, but you definitely get more years in the playoffs/Finals runs.
Quote:
You think Kobe would have done that? Naw. When you put two ball-dominant players on a team, it usually doesn't end well.
Even Kobe and Dwyane Wade had similar USG until Kobe had to go supernova 2010/2011.
Kobe, Wade, and LeBron all had USG around 30%+ when they were championship players.
Yup. To me, LBJ is an overall better player than Shaq. Shaq's peaks were amazing. But it was not sustained as long due to his poor work ethic and poor conditioning.
I think with LBJ/Kobe, they would work out, even with having to figure out sharing the ball. Easier to fill a team around those two pieces. Literally no weaknesses with that pairing to me. _________________ From 2-10 to the Western Conference Finals
Joined: 10 Apr 2001 Posts: 65135 Location: Orange County, CA
Posted: Tue Jan 12, 2021 8:27 am Post subject:
Quote:
I think with LBJ/Kobe, they would work out, even with having to figure out sharing the ball. Easier to fill a team around those two pieces. Literally no weaknesses with that pairing to me.
Only one has to be willing to share the ball, and that's been LeBron his entire life. I mean, it just seems obvious to me considering how well LeBron/Wade played during those Miami years, except this time it's Kobe. It's not like we didn't get a sample of what that could actually look like, and Wade and LeBron were both equally as dominant during those years, if not, LBJ moreso, especially sharing the ball.
I mean, I look at that elite wing pairing, think about Kawhi/PG, and chuckle at the comparison. _________________ Resident Car Nut.
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