2001 Lakers V 1996 Bulls but with Peak Kobe

[Effigy]

If the Lakers get peak Kobe, do the Bulls get peak Robert Parish?

[tsherkin]

If the Lakers get peak Kobe, do the Bulls get peak Robert Parish?

Sounds like no, doesn't seem to be the point of the thread.

[Dave_R]

The 2001 Lakers would have won due to Shaq. Remember, the best center the Bulls faced (in any year Jordan played) was Ewing. As good as Ewing was, he was no Shaq (or Hakeem). Shaq would have destroyed the '96 Bulls from inside out (Bulls' centers were Wennington, James Edwards, Luc Longley, and Jack Haley). I'd also love to have seen the Bulls play one of Hakeem's teams (Hakeem was 13-10 in the regular season; they never met in the playoffs).

[HomoSapien]

The 2001 Lakers would have won due to Shaq. Remember, the best center the Bulls faced (in any year Jordan played) was Ewing. As good as Ewing was, he was no Shaq (or Hakeem). Shaq would have destroyed the '96 Bulls from inside out (Bulls' centers were Wennington, James Edwards, Luc Longley, and Jack Haley). I'd also love to have seen the Bulls play one of Hakeem's teams (Hakeem was 13-10 in the regular season; they never met in the playoffs).

Uh, the Bulls swept Shaq in 96 on their way to the finals. He was pretty good and pretty comparable to Shaq.

[Handlez]

I think 2001 team were a little overrated, but nobody from 96 Bulls could guard Shaq, even though no one from 2001 Lakers could guard MJ. Kobe would have a tough go with Pippen guarding him.

Lakers never faced an offensive threat as incredible as MJ, not a perimeter defensive player as good as Pippen.

Kobe would probably be focused on Jordan on both ends of the court. Not Scottie.

Hypothetically, if Scottie did guard Kobe, I doubt Scottie makes a positive impact. Scottie defense can be overhyped at times and in this case, he would be facing Kobe.

We’ve seen a better version of Kobe shoot his team out of a series like the 2004 finals. Shaq is the far bigger concern for the Bulls than Kobe. With Pippen, Jordan, and Harper the Bulls would be able to keep Kobe in check. And Kobe would have a hard time guarding MJ while trying to carry some of the scoring load. And Pippen would most likely be guarding Kobe, so Kobe being focused on Jordan wouldn’t matter if Pippen was to guard him on the other end.

Kobe was a much more overrated defender than Pippen ever was.

Kobe in 2004 is not real.

Obviously you know the factors as to why Kobe was not all there.

Peak Kobe would eat Pippen alive.

No one is keeping PEAK Kobe in check.

[Handlez]

The problem here isn't prime Kobe, I'm sure the barrage of Pippen and Jordan guarding him would slow him down significantly. And no one on that LAL team could effect MJs production. But Shaq then was having the most dominant peak of any player ever. Would be a very interesting 7 game series to watch.Problem is they both had the same HC

No one in the history of the NBA is slowing peak Kobe "significantly."

You can make it harder for him, but he's going to explode on any defense guaranteed 2-3 games in a 7 game series.

A second year Tayshaun Prince did.

Did what?

You talking 2004 when Kobe had severe off the court troubles?

We're talking about PEAK KOBE BRYANT, and that for damn sure isn't 2004.

[tsherkin]

No one in the history of the NBA is slowing peak Kobe "significantly."

You can make it harder for him, but he's going to explode on any defense guaranteed 2-3 games in a 7 game series.

A second year Tayshaun Prince did.

Did what?

You talking 2004 when Kobe had severe off the court troubles?

We're talking about PEAK KOBE BRYANT, and that for damn sure isn't 2004.

Also TBF, Prince wasn't the whole focus of Bryant's issues in that series. The whole team was set up to just let Shaq do his thing and to deny Kobe, and because Shaq wasn't Jokic-level as a playmaker, the team's offense couldn't dominate enough to overcome Kobe's performance. It's fairly similar to what happened in 08 and what nearly happened in 2010 to Bryant against Boston. It wasn't just one guy, it was a defensive wall shutting him off from the paint and baiting him into bombing jumpers.

Also, the Pistons had Rip on Kobe half the time anyway, and he STILL wasn't dominating.

[Hair Jordan]

The 2001 Lakers would have won due to Shaq. Remember, the best center the Bulls faced (in any year Jordan played) was Ewing. As good as Ewing was, he was no Shaq (or Hakeem). Shaq would have destroyed the '96 Bulls from inside out (Bulls' centers were Wennington, James Edwards, Luc Longley, and Jack Haley). I'd also love to have seen the Bulls play one of Hakeem's teams (Hakeem was 13-10 in the regular season; they never met in the playoffs).

Shaq would have destroyed the ‘96 Bulls? That’s interesting - considering Shaq played against the ‘96 Bulls in the ECF and got swept

[ReddoverKobe]

The 2001 Lakers would have won due to Shaq. Remember, the best center the Bulls faced (in any year Jordan played) was Ewing. As good as Ewing was, he was no Shaq (or Hakeem). Shaq would have destroyed the '96 Bulls from inside out (Bulls' centers were Wennington, James Edwards, Luc Longley, and Jack Haley). I'd also love to have seen the Bulls play one of Hakeem's teams (Hakeem was 13-10 in the regular season; they never met in the playoffs).

Shaq would have destroyed the ‘96 Bulls? That’s interesting - considering Shaq played against the ‘96 Bulls in the ECF and got swept

96 shaq was not 01 shaq.

96 shaq put up 27 and 11 though.

Meanwhile D. Scott and Anderson shot 6 for 34 on threes and the team shot 24%.

[Effigy]

Kobe would probably be focused on Jordan on both ends of the court. Not Scottie.

Hypothetically, if Scottie did guard Kobe, I doubt Scottie makes a positive impact. Scottie defense can be overhyped at times and in this case, he would be facing Kobe.

We’ve seen a better version of Kobe shoot his team out of a series like the 2004 finals. Shaq is the far bigger concern for the Bulls than Kobe. With Pippen, Jordan, and Harper the Bulls would be able to keep Kobe in check. And Kobe would have a hard time guarding MJ while trying to carry some of the scoring load. And Pippen would most likely be guarding Kobe, so Kobe being focused on Jordan wouldn’t matter if Pippen was to guard him on the other end.

Kobe was a much more overrated defender than Pippen ever was.

Kobe in 2004 is not real.

Obviously you know the factors as to why Kobe was not all there.

Peak Kobe would eat Pippen alive.

No one is keeping PEAK Kobe in check.

Peak Kobe wasn't efficient. Pippen on D would have made him less so but he'd take the same number of shots.

[Hair Jordan]

The 2001 Lakers would have won due to Shaq. Remember, the best center the Bulls faced (in any year Jordan played) was Ewing. As good as Ewing was, he was no Shaq (or Hakeem). Shaq would have destroyed the '96 Bulls from inside out (Bulls' centers were Wennington, James Edwards, Luc Longley, and Jack Haley). I'd also love to have seen the Bulls play one of Hakeem's teams (Hakeem was 13-10 in the regular season; they never met in the playoffs).

Shaq would have destroyed the ‘96 Bulls? That’s interesting - considering Shaq played against the ‘96 Bulls in the ECF and got swept

96 shaq was not 01 shaq.

96 shaq put up 27 and 11 though.

Meanwhile D. Scott and Anderson shot 6 for 34 on threes and the team shot 24%.

Stop with your nonsense. ‘96 Shaq averaged two fewer points and just as many rebounds as ‘01 Shaq. In fact, 2 of his 3 best scoring average years came in his 2nd and 3rd seasons. 2001 was his 9th season. Just because he won his first title in 2001 doesn’t mean it was the best version of Shaq - it was just the best team he was on up to that point.

[Showtime 80]

Shaq would have destroyed the ‘96 Bulls? That’s interesting - considering Shaq played against the ‘96 Bulls in the ECF and got swept

96 shaq was not 01 shaq.

96 shaq put up 27 and 11 though.

Meanwhile D. Scott and Anderson shot 6 for 34 on threes and the team shot 24%.

Stop with your nonsense. ‘96 Shaq averaged two fewer points and just as many rebounds as ‘01 Shaq. In fact, 2 of his 3 best scoring average years came in his 2nd and 3rd seasons. 2001 was his 9th season. Just because he won his first title in 2001 doesn’t mean it was the best version of Shaq - it was just the best team he was on up to that point.

Same thing I wrote before!

Shaq was a monster as early as 1994 and was surrounded by true contending teams from 1995 onward while his true athletic peak also came in the 90’s.

MJ for example started his peak in 1988 along with his first contending team and look at how he steadily climbed to the top until 1991 giving the Bad Boys headaches along the way even in losing efforts.

Shaq on the other hand has no excuse for bowing out of the playoffs from 94-99 with 5 sweeps and one 4-1 shellacking that might as well been another sweep. When MJ started contending in 1988 he was never swept again and his loses were in 5 games 88’ and 6-7 games in 89’, 90’ and 95’.

[Showtime 80]

For sure. It would have been a legendary series. I'd heavily favor the Bulls but in a very hard fought battle.

It would have been something epic to watch.

Always and forever for me, though, the greatest What-If we never got to see was Magic with Shaq. That would have been something else. An amazing book-end to Magic's career, filling the Cap role to Shaq as Buck in a beautiful mirror of him and Kareem.

Share the same sentiment

If I ever run into Magic the only thing I would talk about would be the hypothetical teams of 97 and 98 with him as the starting PG. They could’ve traded Van Exel for a more consistent outside scorer or another big body before the 97 season and the lineup would’ve been very interesting:

C: Shaq, Campbell
PF: Horry, Blount
SF: Fox, Bryant
SG: Jones, Barry
PG: Magic, Fisher

[Capn'O]

96 shaq was not 01 shaq.

96 shaq put up 27 and 11 though.

Meanwhile D. Scott and Anderson shot 6 for 34 on threes and the team shot 24%.

Stop with your nonsense. ‘96 Shaq averaged two fewer points and just as many rebounds as ‘01 Shaq. In fact, 2 of his 3 best scoring average years came in his 2nd and 3rd seasons. 2001 was his 9th season. Just because he won his first title in 2001 doesn’t mean it was the best version of Shaq - it was just the best team he was on up to that point.

Same thing I wrote before!

Shaq was a monster as early as 1994 and was surrounded by true contending teams from 1995 onward while his true athletic peak also came in the 90’s.

MJ for example started his peak in 1988 along with his first contending team and look at how he steadily climbed to the top until 1991 giving the Bad Boys headaches along the way even in losing efforts.

Shaq on the other hand has no excuse for bowing out of the playoffs from 94-99 with 5 sweeps and one 4-1 shellacking that might as well been another sweep. When MJ started contending in 1988 he was never swept again and his loses were in 5 games 88’ and 6-7 games in 89’, 90’ and 95’.

Well MJ was... a little better than Shaq.

What's really too bad though is that Chuck Daly didn't coach the Magic until after Shaq left. We all saw what he did in the playoffs with a great coach.

[tsherkin]

Share the same sentiment

I absolutely do this in 2k games where you can add players from older dynasty teams and stuff, just to enjoy a little of what it might have been like.

C: Shaq, Campbell
PF: Horry, Blount
SF: Fox, Bryant
SG: Jones, Barry
PG: Magic, Fisher

Right? And Magic was well capable of hitting the 3 at that point, so he had his own contemporary spacing, the ability to play the 4 (and indeed, that was defensively the more appropriate position for him at that stage). Probably couldn't have given you more than 30 mpg or so prior to the playoffs, but man... ooooh. Imagine the shooters feasting off of Magic, and the way Shaq and Eddie would have thrived... And Magic himself, wheeling and dealing in the post.

Too sweet, man.

[Rust_Cohle]

Kobe would probably be focused on Jordan on both ends of the court. Not Scottie.

Hypothetically, if Scottie did guard Kobe, I doubt Scottie makes a positive impact. Scottie defense can be overhyped at times and in this case, he would be facing Kobe.

Prime Pippen was on par as a defender with Kahwi's best years if not better. MJ was not far off his level. Not sure what you're on about Pip being overhyped. Him and MJ paired are probably the best all time perimiter defensive duo in their peak years.

I said "can be overhyped" which you seem to be doing. Pippen had mental lapse at time when it mattered. Jordan had to manage the roster just as much as Phil did.

Pippen to me is a non factor if he's guarding Kobe in the NBA Finals. Jordan would be on Kobe anyways.

The irony in you calling a player overhyped and acting like Kobe is the most unstoppable force in NBA History.

Kobe had MORE THAN HALF of his finals appearances shooting a pathetic sub 41% but yes, he would “eat Pippen alive” just wtf man good lord

[Rust_Cohle]

I think 2001 team were a little overrated, but nobody from 96 Bulls could guard Shaq, even though no one from 2001 Lakers could guard MJ. Kobe would have a tough go with Pippen guarding him.

Lakers never faced an offensive threat as incredible as MJ, not a perimeter defensive player as good as Pippen.

Kobe would probably be focused on Jordan on both ends of the court. Not Scottie.

Hypothetically, if Scottie did guard Kobe, I doubt Scottie makes a positive impact. Scottie defense can be overhyped at times and in this case, he would be facing Kobe.

Prime Pippen was on par as a defender with Kahwi's best years if not better. MJ was not far off his level. Not sure what you're on about Pip being overhyped. Him and MJ paired are probably the best all time perimiter defensive duo in their peak years.

I know, I had to a double take myself. Kobe shot horribly against far worse defenders than Pippen in the finals for most of them. Below 41% and horrible efficiency.

[ReddoverKobe]

Shaq would have destroyed the ‘96 Bulls? That’s interesting - considering Shaq played against the ‘96 Bulls in the ECF and got swept

96 shaq was not 01 shaq.

96 shaq put up 27 and 11 though.

Meanwhile D. Scott and Anderson shot 6 for 34 on threes and the team shot 24%.

Stop with your nonsense. ‘96 Shaq averaged two fewer points and just as many rebounds as ‘01 Shaq. In fact, 2 of his 3 best scoring average years came in his 2nd and 3rd seasons. 2001 was his 9th season. Just because he won his first title in 2001 doesn’t mean it was the best version of Shaq - it was just the best team he was on up to that point.

reality is nonsense, got it. The jordan cult is so strange.

[Rust_Cohle]

Kobe would probably be focused on Jordan on both ends of the court. Not Scottie.

Hypothetically, if Scottie did guard Kobe, I doubt Scottie makes a positive impact. Scottie defense can be overhyped at times and in this case, he would be facing Kobe.

We’ve seen a better version of Kobe shoot his team out of a series like the 2004 finals. Shaq is the far bigger concern for the Bulls than Kobe. With Pippen, Jordan, and Harper the Bulls would be able to keep Kobe in check. And Kobe would have a hard time guarding MJ while trying to carry some of the scoring load. And Pippen would most likely be guarding Kobe, so Kobe being focused on Jordan wouldn’t matter if Pippen was to guard him on the other end.

Kobe was a much more overrated defender than Pippen ever was.

Kobe had problems with bigger guards when he was younger. But peak Kobe (2003-2008) got stronger and was able to handle the bigger guards who could post up. He wouldn't have problems guarding Mike, espeically 96 Mike who was step slower then early 90s Mike. MJ would still get his since he is MJ. But it isn't one of those situations where Kobe would be helpless.

As for Scottie, Kobe is going to win that matchup more often then not.

No, he’s not. Again, against far worse defenders he’s shot under 41% in 4/7 finals he’s been. Kobe is the furthest thing from an efficient player and you out him up against Pippen’s length and the Bulls gladly take Kobe shooting an abysmal percentage which he did quite often in the finals. Shaq was always going to be the bigger issue in that hypothetical matchup.

[Hair Jordan]

We’ve seen a better version of Kobe shoot his team out of a series like the 2004 finals. Shaq is the far bigger concern for the Bulls than Kobe. With Pippen, Jordan, and Harper the Bulls would be able to keep Kobe in check. And Kobe would have a hard time guarding MJ while trying to carry some of the scoring load. And Pippen would most likely be guarding Kobe, so Kobe being focused on Jordan wouldn’t matter if Pippen was to guard him on the other end.

Kobe was a much more overrated defender than Pippen ever was.

Kobe had problems with bigger guards when he was younger. But peak Kobe (2003-2008) got stronger and was able to handle the bigger guards who could post up. He wouldn't have problems guarding Mike, espeically 96 Mike who was step slower then early 90s Mike. MJ would still get his since he is MJ. But it isn't one of those situations where Kobe would be helpless.

As for Scottie, Kobe is going to win that matchup more often then not.

No, he’s not. Again, against far worse defenders he’s shot under 41% in 4/7 finals he’s been. Kobe is the furthest thing from an efficient player and you out him up against Pippen’s length and the Bulls gladly take Kobe shooting an abysmal percentage which he did quite often in the finals. Shaq was always going to be the bigger issue in that hypothetical matchup.

Don’t forget about the 2004 Finals against Detroit where Kobe shot a horrific 38% from the field.