Luka/Durant/Jokic vs Kobe/Pippen/Shaq

[durantbird]

What trio would you prefer? Kobe/Pippen/Shaq has the better defense overall - also all three are very accomplished playoff perfromers, but Luka/Durant/Jokic seems like a more smooth offensive fit to me.

[70sFan]

I actually like Kobe/Pippen/Shaq offensive fit, especially for 1990s and 2000s. Their defense isn't amazing, but it's definitely a strong point in this comparison.

On the other hand, I have a hard time imaging Luka with Durant and Jokic on offense. Joker is so versatile, that it's possible that it would work anyway, but what role would Doncic have on a team where he's not the best passer and he's arguably the weakest scorer? His defense is also problematic, especially with Jokic guarding the paint.

[dygaction]

I actually like Kobe/Pippen/Shaq offensive fit, especially for 1990s and 2000s. Their defense isn't amazing, but it's definitely a strong point in this comparison.

On the other hand, I have a hard time imaging Luka with Durant and Jokic on offense. Joker is so versatile, that it's possible that it would work anyway, but what role would Doncic have on a team where he's not the best passer and he's arguably the weakest scorer? His defense is also problematic, especially with Jokic guarding the paint.

Is there any reason to not like the fit? You give the best DUO ever a perfect wing with great defense and playmaking...
Obviously Kobe/Pippen/Shaq is the easy and safe choice, especially we do not know whether Luka and Jokic have peaked yet. Your logic, though, should not the other team worry that Doncic, who is far better as a passer than any of Kobe/Pippen/Shaq, is not the best passer on his team? Let's not forget Doncic was playing off ball when he won in Europe and not underestimate the adaptability of great players. And while it is indeed arguable Doncic being the weakest player on his team, but again that's what the other team need to worry about as they may be facing three top 10 offensive players ever on the same team - two of them being the most efficient, two of them among the best passers, and all three have ranges from everywhere. Defense to stop Kobe/Shaq though, too headache to think about...

[parsnips33]

I think we almost did get Kobe-Pip-Shaq if I'm not mistaken. Phil was trying to get Pippen to join up in '99

[dygaction]

I think we almost did get Kobe-Pip-Shaq if I'm not mistaken. Phil was trying to get Pippen to join up in '99

but that time Pippen already could not tolerate playing off MJ, he would not be happy 20 yr Kobe taking all the spot light after Shaq

[kendogg]

Team 1 is a mess defensively. No rim protection and no great man defenders either. Traditionally Luka and Jokic have both guarded the weakest offensive player, but they can't both do that. Obviously Jokic is a poor switch defender and the Nuggets are generally forced to play drop, which leaves them more vulnerable to 3's. Offensively, Luka and Jokic are somewhat awkward as neither is particularly great off ball, and Jokic isn't a lob threat so some passes are not as possible off the PnR or via offball screens. But still they'd be effective offensively overall and in the PnR overall, just not as effective as they are as the single point man. Obviously Durant would feast but he might not like being more relegated to mostly offball play when he's the best scorer of the bunch. It worked on the Warriors because all 3 of the top scorers on that team were offball threats so they could share the ball better.

Team 2 seems much stronger overall. Kobe/Shaq is already proven as an unstoppable duo offensively, and they'd be even better defensively with Pippen. Offensively Pippen slots in great as a ball handler similar to Fisher's role. Kobe can play more offball and be effective. And if Kobe has the ball on a play or late in the clock, Pippen is a decent enough shooter and a fantastic slasher and lob threat so he has offball value as well. Also remember that if you are porting them to this era you also have to give them the same advantage that all other players in the league have and that is that they grew up shooting 3's so everyone minus Shaq would be better in this regard. Defensively this team has 2 great man defenders in Kobe and Pippen. Shaq isn't a great switch defender obviously, but he is a great post defender. And Shaq is a near GOAT level rim protector. If you could factor in all the plays where the offensive player avoided driving into the paint to meet Shaq his defensive value would be shown to be a lot higher. Not a lot of players have the balls to try and dunk on prime Shaq. Defensively though Shaq would obviously be forced to play drop and give up more 3's like Jokic.

[dygaction]

Team 1 is a mess defensively. No rim protection and no great man defenders either. Traditionally Luka and Jokic have both guarded the weakest offensive player, but they can't both do that. Obviously Jokic is a poor switch defender and the Nuggets are generally forced to play drop, which leaves them more vulnerable to 3's. Offensively, Luka and Jokic are somewhat awkward as neither is particularly great off ball, and Jokic isn't a lob threat so some passes are not as possible off the PnR or via offball screens. But still they'd be effective offensively overall and in the PnR overall, just not as effective as they are as the single point man. Obviously Durant would feast but he might not like being more relegated to mostly offball play when he's the best scorer of the bunch. It worked on the Warriors because all 3 of the top scorers on that team were offball threats so they could share the ball better.

Team 2 seems much stronger overall. Kobe/Shaq is already proven as an unstoppable duo offensively, and they'd be even better defensively with Pippen. Offensively Pippen slots in great as a ball handler similar to Fisher's role. Kobe can play more offball and be effective. And if Kobe has the ball on a play or late in the clock, Pippen is a decent enough shooter and a fantastic slasher and lob threat so he has offball value as well. Also remember that if you are porting them to this era you also have to give them the same advantage that all other players in the league have and that is that they grew up shooting 3's so everyone minus Shaq would be better in this regard. Defensively this team has 2 great man defenders in Kobe and Pippen. Shaq isn't a great switch defender obviously, but he is a great post defender. And Shaq is a near GOAT level rim protector. If you could factor in all the plays where the offensive player avoided driving into the paint to meet Shaq his defensive value would be shown to be a lot higher. Not a lot of players have the balls to try and dunk on prime Shaq. Defensively though Shaq would obviously be forced to play drop and give up more 3's like Jokic.

Agreed. Switch Kobe and Doncic the question will be more interesting.