E-Balla wrote:Really? I'd give a large edge to Kobe. Shaq was +55 in 44 minutes per game in that series while Kobe was +66 in 40 mpg. Looking at the boxscore Shaq put up 27/16/3 on 53 TS% and a 113 ORTG (9 TOV% and 18 offensive boards in 3 games saved his overall efficiency) while Kobe put up 25/4/8 on 57 TS% with an absolutely absurd 122 ORTG (8 TOV%!!! while nearly averaging 8 assists a night).In 2nd round against the Kings, Shaq played better.
What makes you say this? Kobe averaged 35/9/4 while being more efficient and he had a higher +/- than Shaq in the series and in each game other than game 1.
We agree the rest of the way but I think Kobe's performance is the only difference between 01 and 00. If Shaq in 00 played just as hard and played with 01 Kobe playing that hard to prove himself LA in 2000 is the GOAT regular season team. That's the main difference between the two years IMO.
Kobe averaged 31.6/7.0/6.2, had over a 30 PER, a 24.2 GameScore, a 121 ORTG, and was better than Shaq statistically in all 3 series if we just go off aggregate stats like PER and Game Score. I think that postseason run by Kobe is so underrated, he was playing like early 90s Jordan for those few weeks, maybe a bit better since he's a better passer than MJ. To this day I'm pretty sure outside of the 2017 Warriors Kobe has the highest postseason on/court rating of any player to make the Finals since 01.
Shaq's gravity helped Kobe so much in that year. Kobe performed great, there's no doubt about that. And Shaq took advantage of it. But as for the advantages taken, I think Kobe's the one that got the bigger. Shaq's efficiency sucked in the 1st round, especially compared to his usual self. Kobe was the more efficient one and his ast/tov ratio is great. Shaq scored more despite efficiency issues and 15.7 rebounds are no joke.
BTW, I usually go by EFF over PER and Game Score. Especially over game score. If I ever mention it, I simply use it in case of anyone cares and wants to see it. To me, it's even more useless than PER. Shaq was 28.7 in the series and Kobe was 25.7 and their eff per min ratio is nearly identical. So, Shaq is the more productive and the better one for me.
TBH, I watched the series at the time, I don't remember exactly how it went down and I don't want put effort to looking for full games. Maybe one of them performed better in a way more decisive game or moment and that's more conclusive than we reading box scores in this one.
I have searched and watched most of 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007 etc, even way after they happened. But there are some seasons like I do not put much effort into it for some reason.
In 2nd round, the gap is bigger than the 1st round. The 1st round was a toss up mostly but I find Shaq's stats considerably more impressive in this one. (Their ts is nearly identical btw. Kobe wasn't more efficient than Shaq despite Shaq's ft performance)
Kobe, 31.8 eff and 0.734 eff/m. Shaq, 36.5 eff and 0.890 eff/m. PER and GmSc can't convince me this is close enough for a debate. And I remember some footages of this series a bit, Shaq was a very troubling defensive presence.
The last 2 are already agreed upon.
] and I generally loathe the term). Fantastic locker-room/bench leader, too.
