Did Kobe peak the highest of his era’s 2 guards?

[LAL1947]

,Not only did kobe peak the highest he is the best player from 2000-2010.

He wasn’t the best player at any point during that span, let alone over the entire decade.

Agree, it was Shaq, then briefly Duncan/Wade and then Lebron from 08 on.

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

[thebigbird]

He wasn’t the best player at any point during that span, let alone over the entire decade.

Agree, it was Shaq, then briefly Duncan/Wade and then Lebron from 08 on.

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

[druggas]

Agree, it was Shaq, then briefly Duncan/Wade and then Lebron from 08 on.

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

You forgot one. LeBorn out choked Kobe too.

[thebigbird]

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

You forgot one. LeBorn out choked Kobe too.

LeBron choked in the 2011 Finals against the same team Kobe got swept by the month before.

[bbalnation]

Agree, it was Shaq, then briefly Duncan/Wade and then Lebron from 08 on.

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

"The Cavs finished the regular season with 66 wins and 16 losses, the best record in the NBA. LeBron James won his first MVP Award. The Cavaliers had the fourth best team offensive rating and the second best team defensive rating in the NBA.[1]

In the playoffs, the Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons in the First Round in four games, swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Semifinals in four games, before losing to the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals in six games, despite the Cavaliers being heavily favored to beat the Magic.[2] The Magic would go on to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in five games."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

2009:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

[elchengue20]

You can argue Wade peak was higher.

Better scoring efficency in the same volume, better defender and better playmaker.

Didnt have the scoring explosiveness where he could go for 60 or 80 or score 50+ for several games in a row, but he was more consistent and efficient.

Otherwise he was just as good or better. Still, its a very close call and im fine with people picking Kobe.

I dont think Tmac peaked higher and the other ones dont have a case.

[JN61]

Why people think Manu is anywhere near in conversation with superstar level players? Manu was fringe all-star <5 years.

[elchengue20]

Agree, it was Shaq, then briefly Duncan/Wade and then Lebron from 08 on.

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

Thats just facts. Also dominated Kobe in most matchups despite having an inferior team.

Lebron was the best player in the league for at least a decade, 2008 to 2018. Its something only MJ has done. And MJ retired in between, so you can argue its something nobody else has done.

[LAL1947]

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

Then by using your own logic, Duncan was only the best player for 1 season in the 2000s, i.e., 2002-03... because Kevin Garnett had better stats than Duncan across the board in 2003-04 and 2004-05... and Duncan was not in the picture for Top 3 after that.

So, Duncan vs Garnett is very debatable in Garnett's favor, but we give those years to Duncan as his team won 2 titles in 2002-03 and 2004-05. Similarly, it was close between Kobe and Lebron in 2008-09 and 2009-10, but those years go to Kobe as he lead his team to the titles.

[thebigbird]

Disagree. Jordan retired after the 1997-98 season. So...

1998-99 to 2001-02: Shaq
2002-03 to 2004-05: Duncan or Garnett
2005-06 to 2009-10: Kobe
2010-11 to 2017-18: Lebron

Since 2017-18, there's been too much movement between KD, Kawhi, Giannis, Jokic to say one was clearly best.

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

"The Cavs finished the regular season with 66 wins and 16 losses, the best record in the NBA. LeBron James won his first MVP Award. The Cavaliers had the fourth best team offensive rating and the second best team defensive rating in the NBA.[1]

In the playoffs, the Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons in the First Round in four games, swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Semifinals in four games, before losing to the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals in six games, despite the Cavaliers being heavily favored to beat the Magic.[2] The Magic would go on to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in five games."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

2009:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

And this is supposed to prove that Kobe was the better player that year? Against the Magic LeBron averaged 39/8/8 on 59% TS. Kobe averaged 32/7/6 on 52% TS. Kobe had a far better supporting cast and, most importantly, big men who could contain Dwight Howard. That doesn't make him the better player that year.

For fun, here's the playoff comparison in 2009:
PPG - 35.3 / 30.2
RPG - 9.1 / 5.3
APG - 7.3 / 5.5
STL - 1.6 / 1.7
BLK - 0.9 / 0.9
PER - 37.4 / 26.8
WS/48 - .399 / .238
BPM - 17.5 / 9.1
VOP - 2.9 / 2.6 (with LeBron playing 9 fewer games).

There's no pro-Kobe argument here. There's zero pro-Kobe argument regarding him being the best player in the NBA for half a decade. And there's a strong pro-Wade argument for peak shooting guard during Kobe's era. Kobe simply was not the player that so many of his fans want to argue that he was.

[bbalnation]

Kobe absolutely was not the best player in the league for half a decade lol. It went Shaq then Duncan then LeBron.

2008 LeBron vs. Kobe:

PPG - 30.0 / 28.3
RPG - 7.9 / 6.3
APG - 7.2 / 5.4
STL - 1.8 / 1.8
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 29.1 / 24.2
WS/48 - .242 / .208
BPM - 10.9 / 5.8
VOP - 9.8 / 6.3

LeBron has him beat across the board and the gap only widened after that.

2009 LeBron vs. Kobe:
PPG - 28.4 / 26.8
RPG - 7.6 / 5.2
APG - 7.2 / 4.9
STL - 1.7 / 1.5
BLK - 1.1 / 0.5
PER - 31.7 / 24.4
WS/48 - .318 / .206
BPM - 13.2 / 5.9
VOP - 11.8 / 5.9

LeBron obliterated him from 2009 on.

"The Cavs finished the regular season with 66 wins and 16 losses, the best record in the NBA. LeBron James won his first MVP Award. The Cavaliers had the fourth best team offensive rating and the second best team defensive rating in the NBA.[1]

In the playoffs, the Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons in the First Round in four games, swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Semifinals in four games, before losing to the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals in six games, despite the Cavaliers being heavily favored to beat the Magic.[2] The Magic would go on to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in five games."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

2009:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

And this is supposed to prove that Kobe was the better player that year? Against the Magic LeBron averaged 39/8/8 on 59% TS. Kobe averaged 32/7/6 on 52% TS. Kobe had a far better supporting cast and, most importantly, big men who could contain Dwight Howard. That doesn't make him the better player that year.

For fun, here's the playoff comparison in 2009:
PPG - 35.3 / 30.2
RPG - 9.1 / 5.3
APG - 7.3 / 5.5
STL - 1.6 / 1.7
BLK - 0.9 / 0.9
PER - 37.4 / 26.8
WS/48 - .399 / .238
BPM - 17.5 / 9.1
VOP - 2.9 / 2.6 (with LeBron playing 9 fewer games).

There's no pro-Kobe argument here. There's zero pro-Kobe argument regarding him being the best player in the NBA for half a decade. And there's a strong pro-Wade argument for peak shooting guard during Kobe's era. Kobe simply was not the player that so many of his fans want to argue that he was.

Thank you for sharing.

We're talking about a period time, right?

You brought forward playoff stat comparisons, and surrounding players, from individual years.

Do you mind sharing Lebrons 2010 Playoffs stats when he played for the Heat?

Then, do you mind sharing Kobes 2010 Playoff stats when he played for the Lakers? For context: they won a championship that season.

I dislike using box scores to compare players.

I dislike choosing stats selectively to rank players above others (whether intentionally or not). Its not necessary for me.

Both players are great.

[LAL1947]

There's no pro-Kobe argument here. There's zero pro-Kobe argument regarding him being the best player in the NBA for half a decade. And there's a strong pro-Wade argument for peak shooting guard during Kobe's era. Kobe simply was not the player that so many of his fans want to argue that he was.

Thats just facts. Also dominated Kobe in most matchups despite having an inferior team.

Lebron was the best player in the league for at least a decade, 2008 to 2018. Its something only MJ has done. And MJ retired in between, so you can argue its something nobody else has done.

Would you guys like to take it up with Lebron? Here are two clips from 2009 and 2010 where Lebron says Kobe is the best player in the world in both those years. Has anyone ever heard a rival who is competing against another player, say that the other is better at that moment and the best in the world without meaning it? Hats off to Lebron for being gracious though. He was well on his way to becoming the undisputed best player in the world himself, which he was from 2010-11 to 2017-18 (that's 8 whole years, a long time!).

So, I think it makes you two look dumb arguing with Lebron, when he's saying it to you himself... but you do you.

Quote from 2009:

Watch on YouTube

Quote from 2010:

Watch on YouTube

[DAWill1128]

Kobe had the highest peak. I am a Warriors fan so saw a ton of KD with and against us and I will say I thought T-Macs peak was as good as Durants was. KD had far better rosters around him, the Grant Hill injury issue IMO held them back from coming out of the East during those years. As a ball handler and passer T-Mac was much ahead of Durant in those regards, on the block and on the move maybe even T-Mac on those as well. Athleticism T-Mac. But KD and his length since nobody can contest really trumps so many players all-time.

T-Mac and Kobe put up great numbers, but they also peaked during a time that it was a considerably slower pace, teams scored less, offensive ratings were lower. In 2021 the average team scored 112ppg, in 2004 it was 93ppg. So these guys would be putting up even crazier numbers today.

[Doranku]

LeBron had the worst playoff performance in NBA history in 2008 and probably the worst four game stretch ever from a superstar in the playoffs. Zero argument over the 2008 MVP. None.

[thebigbird]

"The Cavs finished the regular season with 66 wins and 16 losses, the best record in the NBA. LeBron James won his first MVP Award. The Cavaliers had the fourth best team offensive rating and the second best team defensive rating in the NBA.[1]

In the playoffs, the Cavaliers swept the Detroit Pistons in the First Round in four games, swept the Atlanta Hawks in the Semifinals in four games, before losing to the Orlando Magic in the Conference Finals in six games, despite the Cavaliers being heavily favored to beat the Magic.[2] The Magic would go on to lose to the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals in five games."

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008%E2%80%9309_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

2009:

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/2009%E2%80%9310_Cleveland_Cavaliers_season

And this is supposed to prove that Kobe was the better player that year? Against the Magic LeBron averaged 39/8/8 on 59% TS. Kobe averaged 32/7/6 on 52% TS. Kobe had a far better supporting cast and, most importantly, big men who could contain Dwight Howard. That doesn't make him the better player that year.

For fun, here's the playoff comparison in 2009:
PPG - 35.3 / 30.2
RPG - 9.1 / 5.3
APG - 7.3 / 5.5
STL - 1.6 / 1.7
BLK - 0.9 / 0.9
PER - 37.4 / 26.8
WS/48 - .399 / .238
BPM - 17.5 / 9.1
VOP - 2.9 / 2.6 (with LeBron playing 9 fewer games).

There's no pro-Kobe argument here. There's zero pro-Kobe argument regarding him being the best player in the NBA for half a decade. And there's a strong pro-Wade argument for peak shooting guard during Kobe's era. Kobe simply was not the player that so many of his fans want to argue that he was.

Thanks for sharing.

We're talking about a period time, right?

You brought forward playoff stat comparisons, and surrounding players.

Do you mind sharing Lebrons 2010 Playoffs stats when he played for the Heat?

Then, do you mind sharing Kobes 2010 Playoff stats?

I dislike using box scores to compare players.

I dislike choosing stats to put players above others. Its not necessary for me.

Both players are great.

Do you mean 2011? LeBron didn't play for the Heat in the 2010 playoffs.

In 2011:

PPG - 23.7 / 22.8
RPG - 8.4 / 3.4
APG - 5.9 / 3.3
STL - 1.7 / 1.6
BLK - 1.2 / 0.3
PER - 23.7 / 20.6
WS/48 - .198 / .099
BPM - 7.1 / 3.4
VOP - 2.1 / 0.5

Even if you think they're both great, one guy is a consensus top 3 player while the other is 10th-15th.

[elchengue20]

Loool thats your argument? Ok boy.

I guess MJ isnt the Goat because he said so.

[thebigbird]

LeBron had the worst playoff performance in NBA history in 2008 and probably the worst four game stretch ever from a superstar in the playoffs. Zero argument over the 2008 MVP. None.

What are you even talking about?

[Doranku]

LeBron had the worst playoff performance in NBA history in 2008 and probably the worst four game stretch ever from a superstar in the playoffs. Zero argument over the 2008 MVP. None.

What are you even talking about?

How soon we forget...

[bbalnation]

And this is supposed to prove that Kobe was the better player that year? Against the Magic LeBron averaged 39/8/8 on 59% TS. Kobe averaged 32/7/6 on 52% TS. Kobe had a far better supporting cast and, most importantly, big men who could contain Dwight Howard. That doesn't make him the better player that year.

For fun, here's the playoff comparison in 2009:
PPG - 35.3 / 30.2
RPG - 9.1 / 5.3
APG - 7.3 / 5.5
STL - 1.6 / 1.7
BLK - 0.9 / 0.9
PER - 37.4 / 26.8
WS/48 - .399 / .238
BPM - 17.5 / 9.1
VOP - 2.9 / 2.6 (with LeBron playing 9 fewer games).

There's no pro-Kobe argument here. There's zero pro-Kobe argument regarding him being the best player in the NBA for half a decade. And there's a strong pro-Wade argument for peak shooting guard during Kobe's era. Kobe simply was not the player that so many of his fans want to argue that he was.

Thanks for sharing.

We're talking about a period time, right?

You brought forward playoff stat comparisons, and surrounding players.

Do you mind sharing Lebrons 2010 Playoffs stats when he played for the Heat?

Then, do you mind sharing Kobes 2010 Playoff stats?

I dislike using box scores to compare players.

I dislike choosing stats to put players above others. Its not necessary for me.

Both players are great.

Do you mean 2011? LeBron didn't play for the Heat in the 2010 playoffs.

In 2011:

PPG - 23.7 / 22.8
RPG - 8.4 / 3.4
APG - 5.9 / 3.3
STL - 1.7 / 1.6
BLK - 1.2 / 0.3
PER - 23.7 / 20.6
WS/48 - .198 / .099
BPM - 7.1 / 3.4
VOP - 2.1 / 0.5

Even if you think they're both great, one guy is a consensus top 3 player while the other is 10th-15th.

Thank you for correcting me: I got the years wrong.

We're talking about peaks. Imo, the end of Kobes peak crossed during the beginning of Lebrons.

Dwyane's peak was shorter, but the end of Kobes peak also crossed with his.

I dont know why you brought all-time fan-opinion rankings into it.

I disagree with you: Lebron from 2008-2011 was in the conversation with Kobe as the best players in the league. It's unfortunate we never got to see them match up in the playoffs, with a relatively even surrounding cast of players.

From 1999 to 2011:

Kobe, Shaq, Carmelo, Tim, Dwyane, Dwight, Allen (Iverson), Dirk, Lebron & Kevin (Garnett) were also in the conversation imo.

[thebigbird]

LeBron had the worst playoff performance in NBA history in 2008 and probably the worst four game stretch ever from a superstar in the playoffs. Zero argument over the 2008 MVP. None.

What are you even talking about?

How soon we forget...

The Cavs literally won two of those games lmao. Calling it "the worst four game stretch ever from a superstar in the playoffs" is so ridiculous that it doesn't even warrant a response. It was a low scoring series against the #1 defense in the NBA.

The Cavs pushed the Celtics to a game 7 which they lost by 5 points. LeBron scored 45 points in that game. Almost half of his team's 92 points.

Kobe lost to those same Celtics in 6 games. He shot 7-22 in game 6, which the Lakers lost by 39 points. THIRTY-NINE POINTS.