How many contending seasons did Kobe and Bird each have?

[Matt15]

Same idea as other threads

[rk2023]

Every year Bird played (1980-92) was a contending year I’d believe so. Even without McHale, the Celtics fared well from 1984-88 iirc. Even as he aged and injuries started to kick in, the Celtics still were a formidable team in the tail end of Birds’ career

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=celtics+net+rating+with+larry+bird+1990-91+to+1991-92

https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask?q=celtics+record+with+larry+bird+1990-91+to+1991-92


As for Kobe, I would view 1998-2004 and 2008-2011 as contending seasons - with the caveat that in 1998 and 1999, he wasn’t as polished as 2000 or 2001 on offense / as a potential primary. I am under the impression he took two about-equal leaps year over year from 1998-99 through 2000-01 in regards to his offensive value.

[Cavsfansince84]

Kobe:
98 .5
99 .25
00 1.0
01 .75
02 .75
03 .25
04 .50
08 .75
09 .50
10 .75
11 .50
12 .25

Bird
80 .50
81 .75
82 .75
83 .25
84 .75
85 .75
86 1.0
87 .50
88 .50
91 .25

[MiamiBulls]

Bird
'80: 1.0
'81: 1.0
'82: 1.0
'83: 0.5
'84: 1.0
'85: 1.0
'86: 1.0
'87: 0.5
'88: 0.5
'89: 0
'90: 0.25
'91: 0.25
'92: 0 25

Kobe
'98: 0.75
'99: 0.25
'00: 1.0
'01: 1.0
'02: 1.0
'03: 0.75
'04: 0.75
'05: 0
'06: 0
'07: 0
'08: 1.0
'09: 1.0
'10: 0.75
'11: 0.5
'12: 0.25
'13: 0

[f4p]

Kobe:
98 .5
99 .25
00 1.0
01 .75
02 .75
03 .25
04 .50
08 .75
09 .50
10 .75
11 .50
12 .25

Bird
80 .50
81 .75
82 .75
83 .25
84 .75
85 .75
86 1.0
87 .50
88 .50
91 .25

You don't have the '01 and '02 lakers as full contenders? i would think of them as co-favorites with spurs/kings, respectively.

and the '84 celtics led the league by 8 wins and 2.4 SRS. is there a mitigating circumstance i'm not remembering?

[Cavsfansince84]

You don't have the '01 and '02 lakers as full contenders? i would think of them as co-favorites with spurs/kings, respectively.

and the '84 celtics led the league by 8 wins and 2.4 SRS. is there a mitigating circumstance i'm not remembering?

Probably just a difference in how we are interpreting 1.0. I thought it was strong favorite compared to the rest of teams. 84 probably does qualify. 02 is close too. Maybe more so since teams that win it tend to not try as hard in the rs.

[Owly]

Kobe:
98 .5
99 .25
00 1.0
01 .75
02 .75
03 .25
04 .50
08 .75
09 .50
10 .75
11 .50
12 .25

Bird
80 .50
81 .75
82 .75
83 .25
84 .75
85 .75
86 1.0
87 .50
88 .50
91 .25

You don't have the '01 and '02 lakers as full contenders? i would think of them as co-favorites with spurs/kings, respectively.

and the '84 celtics led the league by 8 wins and 2.4 SRS. is there a mitigating circumstance i'm not remembering?

Depends on point in time where tiering takes place but "being in the east" was a ding to your chances. Bucks and 76ers SRSes are each lower than they would be in nearby years earlier and later and one got upset early on, and by securing top seed Boston, as it transpired couldn't meet both (going back to, "when does the tiering occur?").

Without a close parsing of the tiers, teams etc I'd be inclined to go 1.0 too, but in terms of title odds being in the East was factor.