Playoffs Only: 2009 Kobe vs 2025 SGA

[f4p]

Yeah I think yesterday pretty much ended the "best guard season since Jordan" stuff that SGA had going.

Weird game to have ended it when the biggest question with him was his playmaking instincts and they were phenomenal

I don't think it was the best guard season since Jordan, but certainly not because of his Game 7 performance

I mean more in the sense that he needed to recapture that label with a great game and he didn't really do anything amazing. Following up an 8 turnover clunker with an 8 for 27 game is not getting it done. His numbers this season, both regular season and playoffs, look very much like 2018-2020 hardens numbers, with actually worse dropoffs in the playoffs and worse postseason on/off. So I would say it's largely in line with those seasons. Whereas a great playoffs could have really solidified this as the best since Jordan.

[1993Playoffs]

I’d rather have SGA stylistically. Not a fan on Kobe’s shot selection. Even if the stats are close.

[Elpolo_14]

The Only thing SGA take is he a better Team defense and able to fit in space better.

Other than that Kobe is better - he a better playoff scorer / a better offensive engine and anchor better Offensive team in playoffs / better playmaker and court facility in general / better at countering or maneuver pass the defensive scheme. He produce the same as SGA while having better efficiency when doing so. Kobe face MUCH MUCH better defense ( make him résilience ) compare to lackluster Defensive team SGA face this playoff run. The Magic series in the final from Kobe is better than any series SGA has shown. ( SGA literally was -1.7 rts Adj. In the Final against a mid defense -0.5 D from the Pacers )

This playoff run seem a bit disappointing relative to the regular season Shai have.

[Elpolo_14]

I’d rather have SGA stylistically. Not a fan on Kobe’s shot selection. Even if the stats are close.

You can talk about shot selection but when Kobe is more efficient relative to era and relative to the defense he was facing ( Kobe opponent -3.0 D which he was +3.8rTS adj / 2.6 TS+ vs SGA opponent -0.5 D which he was +0.5rTS adj / 0.3 TS+ ) does it really matter? SGA also have ebad shot selection game to be fair

While Kobe help produce a much better Offensive impact to his team ( both their primary role )Kobe on court +8.4 O vs SGA on court +1.3 O

[Elpolo_14]

Yeah I think yesterday pretty much ended the "best guard season since Jordan" stuff that SGA had going.

Weird game to have ended it when the biggest question with him was his playmaking instincts and they were phenomenal

I don't think it was the best guard season since Jordan, but certainly not because of his Game 7 performance

I mean more in the sense that he needed to recapture that label with a great game and he didn't really do anything amazing. Following up an 8 turnover clunker with an 8 for 27 game is not getting it done. His numbers this season, both regular season and playoffs, look very much like 2018-2020 hardens numbers, with actually worse dropoffs in the playoffs and worse postseason on/off. So I would say it's largely in line with those seasons. Whereas a great playoffs could have really solidified this as the best since Jordan.

I'm sorry to interrupt but 2020 Harden was elite in the playoffs. Might be his best year as a performer

[f4p]

Weird game to have ended it when the biggest question with him was his playmaking instincts and they were phenomenal

I don't think it was the best guard season since Jordan, but certainly not because of his Game 7 performance

I mean more in the sense that he needed to recapture that label with a great game and he didn't really do anything amazing. Following up an 8 turnover clunker with an 8 for 27 game is not getting it done. His numbers this season, both regular season and playoffs, look very much like 2018-2020 hardens numbers, with actually worse dropoffs in the playoffs and worse postseason on/off. So I would say it's largely in line with those seasons. Whereas a great playoffs could have really solidified this as the best since Jordan.

I'm sorry to interrupt but 2020 Harden was elite in the playoffs. Might be his best year as a performer

I agree. 2021 after the first round was heading for even better numbers (actually his playoff numbers pretty much went up every year from 2014 to 2021) but since 2020 wasn't a face off with the warriors , people ignore it more for whatever reason. So I just blended 2018 to 2020 as his best regular seasons and playoff numbers to show shai didnt really even outperform a 3 year average, much less a singular year.

[IlikeSHAIguys]

Guess we'll have to go win like 70 next season.

[BusywithBball]

4

Yeah I think yesterday pretty much ended the "best guard season since Jordan" stuff that SGA had going.

Weird game to have ended it when the biggest question with him was his playmaking instincts and they were phenomenal

I don't think it was the best guard season since Jordan, but certainly not because of his Game 7 performance

I mean more in the sense that he needed to recapture that label with a great game and he didn't really do anything amazing. Following up an 8 turnover clunker with an 8 for 27 game is not getting it done. His numbers this season, both regular season and playoffs, look very much like 2018-2020 hardens numbers, with actually worse dropoffs in the playoffs and worse postseason on/off. So I would say it's largely in line with those seasons. Whereas a great playoffs could have really solidified this as the best since Jordan.

Must disagree. I think he was great in game 7. Didn’t shoot well but did everything else. You also can’t ignore defense.

[f4p]

4

Weird game to have ended it when the biggest question with him was his playmaking instincts and they were phenomenal

I don't think it was the best guard season since Jordan, but certainly not because of his Game 7 performance

I mean more in the sense that he needed to recapture that label with a great game and he didn't really do anything amazing. Following up an 8 turnover clunker with an 8 for 27 game is not getting it done. His numbers this season, both regular season and playoffs, look very much like 2018-2020 hardens numbers, with actually worse dropoffs in the playoffs and worse postseason on/off. So I would say it's largely in line with those seasons. Whereas a great playoffs could have really solidified this as the best since Jordan.

Must disagree. I think he was great in game 7. Didn’t shoot well but did everything else. You also can’t ignore defense.

There's a difference in playing the right way and playing well. He got others involved and played defense, but 8 for 27 is 8 for 27. It's a large volume of possessions at poor efficiency. The other things.mean it wasn't a terrible game or anything but the 8 for 27 keeps it from being great. Just like no matter how many rebounds Kobe got in game 7, 6 for 24.still isn't good.