How close is SGA to Peak Kobe?

[ballzboyee]

Easy to win rings when you are playing with a peak SHAQ (top 3 peak of all time).

Then Kobe won 2 other rings with another stacked team (Gasol, Bynum, Odom, Ariza, Ron Artest)

SGA has played better, flat out.

A "stacked team" would be teams like Lebron's Miami, Cleveland, and Laker teams that have second options that were also franchise cornerstone players like Luka, Wade, Kyrie, AD, Bosh, Kevin Love, etc. Pau Gasol would have been like the Heat, Cleveland, or the Laker's third or maybe fourth best player. I am not even sure he is better than Bosh or Love. He's definitely not better than AD. Odom, Fisher, Bynum, Artest, etc. were all good but inconsistent players. They combined for like two all-star appearances in their careers. Solid players with great defense, but the Lakers were hardly a "stacked" team. Boston was more loaded than the Lakers, for example. Matter of fact, Lebron admitted that one of the reasons he went to Miami and teamed up with a player arguably better than him at the time was to build a team that could compete with Boston's big three. Lakers didn't have that kind of firepower of a Wade level player or a Paul Pierce level first option alongside a superstar like KG. Duncan's teams were far more loaded than those Lakers teams also with three hall of famers on one roster and loaded bench and role players. Kobe did more with less than Lebron, Duncan, Curry, etc. Curry's teams have also been far more loaded than Kobe's 2009 and 2010 teams.

[uncleduck13]

SGA with another 50 piece.

We sure this not a close debate?

[tsherkin]

. Kobe was more than just hoops.

No one cares. The OP specifically said "strictly hoops."

SGA with another 50 piece.

We sure this not a close debate?

Wild game. His 4th 50+ game this year (he'd had NONE prior to this year). 18/30, 5/9, 10/10.

[uncleduck13]

SGA with another 50 piece.

We sure this not a close debate?

Wild game. His 4th 50+ game this year (he'd had NONE prior to this year). 18/30, 5/9, 10/10.[/quote]

It was crazy seeing him average 30+ for two consecutive seasons without scoring more than 44 in a single game. Just incredible, steady consistency.

[uncleduck13]

. Kobe was more than just hoops.

No one cares. The OP specifically said "strictly hoops."

SGA with another 50 piece.

We sure this not a close debate?

Wild game. His 4th 50+ game this year (he'd had NONE prior to this year). 18/30, 5/9, 10/10.

It was crazy seeing him average 30+ for two consecutive seasons without scoring more than 44 in a single game. Just incredible, steady consistency.

[tsherkin]

It was crazy seeing him average 30+ for two consecutive seasons without scoring more than 44 in a single game. Just incredible, steady consistency.

Honestly, in a way, it's a good thing. He doesn't run as hot and cold as some other guys, which means he's a little more reliable in his way. He is shooting over 52% from the field in raw FG% for the second season, and that's wild. That's with a healthy number of 3PA/g, and that's a percentage guys STRIVED FOR in the 80s and 90s. He's shooting over 57% inside the arc again, and it makes him so dangerous. Third straight year shooting over 50% from 10-16 feet, murdering it on the short game...

He's just deadly.

[xinxin]

I think SGA is more efficient. & seems like he's a stronger player, which helps. I dont see him getting pushed around too much; unlike Kobe who would really have to fight his way in and out of the post.

Kobe had a lot of those head scratching moments of chucking up highly contested shots when passing to another team mate on the same play would have been the better option... I think this has been the biggest knock on Kobe....

skills-wise, there's probably none better but his basketball EQ - (Not IQ) probably caused his overall rankings in the pantheon of basketball's greatest to go down a bit.

[EmpireFalls]

He’s having a better regular season than Kobe ever had.

[uncleduck13]

I think SGA is more efficient. & seems like he's a stronger player, which helps. I dont see him getting pushed around too much; unlike Kobe who would really have to fight his way in and out of the post.

Kobe had a lot of those head scratching moments of chucking up highly contested shots when passing to another team mate on the same play would have been the better option... I think this has been the biggest knock on Kobe....

skills-wise, there's probably none better but his basketball EQ - (Not IQ) probably caused his overall rankings in the pantheon of basketball's greatest to go down a bit.

As crazy as it sounds, I think SGA makes the game look much easier than Kobe …Nothing ever looks forced. His level of poise is unreal.

[Hook_Em]

He’s having a better regular season than Kobe ever had.

Kobe had the 06’ Lakers 7th in NET rating. Starters that season:
.

[LarsV8]

The reality here is that the myth of Kobe Bryant and the actual Kobe Bryant are probably further apart than any other player in history, due to his circumstances.

Kobe was great, had maybe the best work effort of all time, tremendous team success and accolades, and he should be celebrated for that...but he stacks up poorly when compared to his peers from other eras, specifically those that came after him.

[slick_watts]

i think some of the reason he wasn't getting 50 point games before is that his game didn't scale quite as well. his three point rate was low last year. most of the best scoring guards these days get easy / low effort shots up from behind the 3pt line. shai attempted 6, 7, 9 and 10 three pointers in his four 50-point games this year. he only attempted 6 or more threes 11 times total last season.

like edwards i think shai has increased his 3pt volume to make his game scale better against defenses that really want to keep him away from the rim / out of the paint. he's up to 37.4% from three on the year btw and has been well over 40% since jan 1. scary stuff.

[LakerLegend]

The reality here is that the myth of Kobe Bryant and the actual Kobe Bryant are probably further apart than any other player in history, due to his circumstances.

Kobe was great, had maybe the best work effort of all time, tremendous team success and accolades, and he should be celebrated for that...but he stacks up poorly when compared to his peers from other eras, specifically those that came after him.

Pfft.

Kobe was playing on one knee from 08 on and those years alone would put him in the HOF.

Don't forget Kobe lost 3 years of his peak playing with the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown.

[IG2]

SGA is like watching '91 MJ without the hops, but similar explosiveness off the dribble and ability to get to his spots for the pull up J. His game is so refined.

[ThunderBolt]

. Kobe was more than just hoops.

No one cares. The OP specifically said "strictly hoops."

SGA with another 50 piece.

We sure this not a close debate?

Wild game. His 4th 50+ game this year (he'd had NONE prior to this year). 18/30, 5/9, 10/10.

It was crazy seeing him average 30+ for two consecutive seasons without scoring more than 44 in a single game. Just incredible, steady consistency.

I’ve been wanting him to break 50 for a while. Last year when he often had big games the team would sit him in the fourth because they’d be so far ahead. Mostly due to him going off in the first half for thirty or something. The potential has always been there but I don’t see him ending his career with a massive career high. Kobe’s 80 piece is probably safe.

[NCHeels2008]

I’ll wait and see how this foul baiting style translates when it matters

You mean he may suffer from James Harden/Trey Young disease?

[Sofia]

Tsherkin… I just don’t know how you have it in you to keep posting what you post when it is a lost cause.

My respects to you and your posts on this thread.

T and I clashed a few times over the years (I think that’s where most of my strikes come from) but I’m enjoying the post-moderation duty Tsherkin posts.

[Sofia]

The reality here is that the myth of Kobe Bryant and the actual Kobe Bryant are probably further apart than any other player in history, due to his circumstances.

Kobe was great, had maybe the best work effort of all time, tremendous team success and accolades, and he should be celebrated for that...but he stacks up poorly when compared to his peers from other eras, specifically those that came after him.

Pfft.

Kobe was playing on one knee from 08 on and those years alone would put him in the HOF.

Don't forget Kobe lost 3 years of his peak playing with the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown.

that was when his ego wouldn’t allow him to play with a better team mate, right?

Whose fault was that again? Undoubtedly someone else, I’m sure.

[SpreeS]

Lets wait how will end this season. So far Shai is on trajectory where Kobe have never been.

[MrGoat]

SGA with another 50 piece.

We sure this not a close debate?

Peak Kobe averaged 35+ PPG... in 2006. And that also happened to be the season he dropped the 81 point game. Kobe had 27 40+ point games that season, Shai currently has 9 with only 21 games to go

SGA doesn't belong anywhere near the Kobe conversation until he actually does something in the playoffs