Replace Kobe with AI

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bubonicphoniks
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Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#1 » by bubonicphoniks » Wed May 20, 2020 5:35 am

Settling a debate.

Could you replace Bryant on those Lakers Shaq teams with Iverson and get essentially the same results?

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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#2 » by RoundMoundOfRebound » Wed May 20, 2020 5:39 am

no
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#3 » by chitownsalesmen » Wed May 20, 2020 5:40 am

I think it's a lot closer then most would want to admit. Shaq was such a monster, I could really see them still three peating even if their not as good as they were with Kobe.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#4 » by Duke4life831 » Wed May 20, 2020 5:58 am

I think Sac would be viewed very differently if this was the case. The difference between Kobe and AI is enough not to pull out those 7 game series they had with Sac.

They still win 2001 though, the gap between them and everyone else in the posts was huge that year.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#5 » by PMONSTER » Wed May 20, 2020 6:21 am

They liked each other. I think Shaq always have a hard time with Kobe because he remembered how he came into the league. Straight out of highschool with much to learn.

Since Phil is the coach I'm going to say 2/3. Nobody will agree with that statement and I understand it. It is not me saying that AI was as good as Kobe but that's me saying that Shaquille O'Neal was that dominant during that run and Phil Jackson knew how to deal with personalities. Plus AI and Shaq were big fans of each other.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#6 » by MoochieNorris » Wed May 20, 2020 6:38 am

they'd win it in 1999 too. no disrespect to kobe. ai just came out of the draft an nba scoring machine.

i feel like shaq and ai would get along better too.

there's no real answer with these hypotheticals. you wish there was though.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#7 » by Optms » Wed May 20, 2020 6:54 am

Yes.

AI is the only player who took a game off of the peak Kobe-Shaq Lakers when when they were obliterating everyone in their way so yes. He was that good. Lakers would 4-peat from 1999 to 2002 and depending on how management actually handled the declining role players after 2002, they smoke the Spurs again in 2003. They might even win 5-6 since AI didn't care about practice either. Just like Shaq. The only worry would be the man-to-man defense gap from Kobe to AI.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#8 » by Slava » Wed May 20, 2020 7:02 am

This is hard to know, there were a lot possessions where all Kobe did was run the offense, make an entry pass and wait for a reason to cut. His playoffs usage during the three peat was at or well below 30. Compared to that, Iverson's usage during those playoffs was around 35.

Despite Kobe's reluctance to taking the back seat, he did exactly that for a large portion of those titles when Shaq was healthy and in shape. I think Iverson would have the same issues if not more in terms of toning down his usage around Shaq because he was more scoring minded than Kobe during those years.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#9 » by dhsilv2 » Wed May 20, 2020 7:18 am

I don't like the fit and I"m not sure I like AI in a triangle system in the first place.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#10 » by bubonicphoniks » Wed May 20, 2020 7:31 am

All good takes so far.

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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#11 » by o0dong » Wed May 20, 2020 7:49 am

Kobe's defence was pretty big for that Lakers three-peat team. He also had huge games against Sacramento to propel the Lakers over the top.

Also I don't think Iverson would fit the triangle, so I'm baffled that some are saying that they could win the same amount of rings let alone more than three.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#12 » by LarsV8 » Wed May 20, 2020 7:51 am

On the Shaq teams, easily, on the Gasol teams, probably not.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#13 » by Drou » Wed May 20, 2020 8:00 am

Iverson was nowhere near Kobe's level, so my answer is no.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#14 » by Chanel Bomber » Wed May 20, 2020 8:52 am

I don’t think Shaq and Iverson win 3. Probably 1, maybe 2.

The gap defensively between Frobe and AI cannot be understated. And Shaq needed efficient scorers around him that could play off him, rather than a ball-dominant guard who could carry an entire offense, often at the cost of efficiency. AI was a beast but Kobe was a more efficient scorer, a better fit for the triangle and a better defender.

No chance AI wins a ring with Pau, even in his prime.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#15 » by Sign5 » Wed May 20, 2020 9:03 am

They get AT LEAST 2, I'm certain of that. Shaq was that dominant to cover the gap between Kobe and AI (which isn't THAT sizable to begin with).
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#16 » by Up-And-Coming » Wed May 20, 2020 9:17 am

I don’t think they 3 peat. Maybe win 2 chips. Also AI would not win with the Gasol teams and I would go as far to say they wouldn’t even make the Finals. The Spurs or Nuggets w/ Kobe would be a tough matchup imo
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#17 » by Golden Knight » Wed May 20, 2020 9:49 am

They'd lose size/defense in the backcourt. They'd probably struggle in 2000 vs the Blazers, Pacers and 2002 vs Kings.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#18 » by og15 » Wed May 20, 2020 10:00 am

Sign5 wrote:They get AT LEAST 2, I'm certain of that. Shaq was that dominant to cover the gap between Kobe and AI (which isn't THAT sizable to begin with).

I don't know, the gap is pretty decent, Kobe was better on both ends, and it's not like they walked to championships. As dominant as Shaq was, he was getting first round exits before Kobe developed. How good is AI in the triangle? However good that is, is he as good as Kobe? Don't think anyone argues "yes". Then defensively, Kobe's contributions there was part of what put the Lakers over the edge in series', and AI just can't give you that, he's not anywhere as good defensively, and he makes you smaller in the backcourt.

Can AI get them over the hump vs the Blazers and the Kings? I'd say with AI they get one, but certainly not three.

Then with the Gasol teams, they aren't getting anything championships with AI instead of Kobe.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#19 » by Hellcrooner » Wed May 20, 2020 10:06 am

No rings.

The source of animosity between kobe and shaq was kobe wanting to shoot too much.
It finally exploded in 04 when kobe overshot, and the result was failure.

Iverson was 10 times more of a ballhog than kobe.


Then this little thing.
KObe was a workahcolic and was a cultivated dude wich sat well with Phil.

Iverson was a gansta style loving dude who said " are we talking bout practice" ? phil would probably have not even signed with the lakers if they had iverson instead of kobe.


on the court also, hils lack of centimeters would have shown agaisnt larger foes in the blazers and kings.
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Re: Replace Kobe with AI 

Post#20 » by Pennebaker » Wed May 20, 2020 10:21 am

bubonicphoniks wrote:Settling a debate.

Could you replace Bryant on those Lakers Shaq teams with Iverson and get essentially the same results?

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Yes, and here's why:

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Kobe played poorly in most of those Finals and the Lakers still won.

It would not have been difficulty for ANY All-Star caliber shooting guard to step in and do a better job, let alone Allen Iverson.
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