Great Article on Kobe being overrated

[bksballer89]

Kobe Bryant Is Still One Of The Most Overrated Players in NBA History :: TheSportingTruth.com

 

[bksballer89]

Before you read what I have to say, I just want to ask you one favor. Please read the rest of the article with an open mind, especially Lakers’ fans, or you will fail to see the truth.

Kobe Bryant, in reality, wasn’t as big as a factor with the Lakers during their championship runs as perception makes it seem.


If you took Shaq off the Lakers during their title runs, the Lakers wouldn’t be guaranteed to make the playoffs. When O’Neal was injured during his three peat, the Lakers had a regular-season record of 12-11 (.5217%).


When Kobe was injured, the Lakers regular season record was 25-7 (.78%). Interestingly, the Lakers’ entire regular-season record during their three-peats was 181-65 (.735%), which is a lower record than when Kobe wasn’t playing. The Lakers therefore actually had a better record when Kobe wasn’t playing.


But how could this be possible? Well as a big Lakers’ fan during their championship runs, I watched the games very closely. One thing I will tell you is that the team was at its best when the team played through Shaq.


The Lakers were most dangerous when the Lakers would play through Shaq, wait for him to get double teamed, and have players such as Rick Fox, Robert Horry, Kobe Bryant and Derek Fisher spot up for the open shot, or cut in the lane.
However, the Lakers often failed to play through Shaq enough, and it would cost them games sometimes. However, never was this more obvious than at times when Kobe would try to steal the show.


A young immature Kobe Bryant would constantly take difficult contested shots, instead of just playing through Shaq, then cutting into lane or spotting up for that open shot.
I‘ll admit that when Kobe Bryant was playing through Shaq, he was a great asset to have. Unfortunately for all the times he was an asset, he was also a cancer when he tried to be the “man”.
The Lakers’ record without Kobe and without Shaq is not a stat many people know of, as I couldn’t find it anywhere. I personally had to look at every game by game during the Lakers’ championship runs to find those stats out.


As I said earlier, I watched the Lakers very closely. One thing I noticed was that when Shaq was on the bench, the team frankly was just a mediocre team.


Bryant to me is one of the luckiest players of all time. Not many all time greats can say that they started their career playing with the best player in the NBA.


Every time Kobe looks at his first three rings, he should thank god everyday that he had the opportunity to play with Shaq. In reality the young Kobe Bryant who won three championships isn’t as good as the Kobe leading the Lakers right now.


The record books, unfortunately, will not have an asterisk that says “led by Shaq.” When Kobe is compared to the all time greats such as Michael Jordan, his first three championships to the naked eye will looks just as good as Michael Jordan’s first 3 championships.


If Kobe never played with Shaq, he likely would have one ring. Thus without most of his rings, Kobe wouldn’t be perceived to be the top five player of all time many perceive him to currently be.

 

[bksballer89]

Kobe Bryant is One of The Most Under-Performing Finals Player Ever



Kobe Bryant has shot 40.5 % or under in four out his six NBA Finals appearances (Around 36% in his first and 38% in his fourth appearance). How many all time greats have shot 40.5% or under once, let alone four times in the NBA Finals? Also keep in mind that in three of those four in which he shot that poorly, Shaq, not him, was the one being double teamed.


Kobe is perceived as one of the best clutch players of all time, yet on the biggest stage there is, Kobe consistently performs his worst.


In year 2000, during the regular season, Bryant averaged almost 29 points and five assists per game. How did these stats translate over to the NBA Finals? They lowered to 15 points and four assists per game.


Shaquille O’Neal, on the other hand, raised his scoring average, from 28 in the regular season to 38 in the finals.
In 2001, the Lakers once again won the NBA Finals. Kobe’s scoring average dropped in the clutch once again, forcing O’Neal to step up his scoring from 27 per game in the regular season to 33 in the finals.
In 2002, For the third straight year, Kobe’s scoring and assists declined in the series and O’Neal of course stepped it up in the finals.


Most greats like Shaq, Jordan and Duncan, all raised their level in the finals, but yet Kobe lowered his tremendously. Charles Barkley once said that stars are made in the regular season, but superstars are made in the playoffs.


Well, I would like to add on to that statement and say that stars are made in the regular season, superstars are made in the playoffs, but Legends are made in the NBA finals.

 

[bksballer89]

It is a long read but there are some very valid points in that article. BTW this was written in 09 before the Lakers won the title but still most of the points remain very accurate.

 

[Lakers+USC=#1]

Seen articles on Magic, Bill, Jordan, etc being overrated. None of them changed the mind of people. This is no different.

Next!!!

 

[RobToxin]

Makes sense though.

Doesn't matter all the talented, greatest ball players ever you have on your team, you get a dominant big man (something nobody really has today), and that team will be the team to beat.

The only real exception to that rule was Jordan.

But what happened when Jordan was playing baseball?

The Rockets won their titles. With some guy named Olajuwon.

 

[Sman2011]

Kobe Bryant is One of The Most Under-Performing Finals Player Ever



Kobe Bryant has shot 40.5 % or under in four out his six NBA Finals appearances (Around 36% in his first and 38% in his fourth appearance). How many all time greats have shot 40.5% or under once, let alone four times in the NBA Finals? Also keep in mind that in three of those four in which he shot that poorly, Shaq, not him, was the one being double teamed.


Kobe is perceived as one of the best clutch players of all time, yet on the biggest stage there is, Kobe consistently performs his worst.


In year 2000, during the regular season, Bryant averaged almost 29 points and five assists per game. How did these stats translate over to the NBA Finals? They lowered to 15 points and four assists per game.


Shaquille O’Neal, on the other hand, raised his scoring average, from 28 in the regular season to 38 in the finals.
In 2001, the Lakers once again won the NBA Finals. Kobe’s scoring average dropped in the clutch once again, forcing O’Neal to step up his scoring from 27 per game in the regular season to 33 in the finals.
In 2002, For the third straight year, Kobe’s scoring and assists declined in the series and O’Neal of course stepped it up in the finals.



Most greats like Shaq, Jordan and Duncan, all raised their level in the finals, but yet Kobe lowered his tremendously. Charles Barkley once said that stars are made in the regular season, but superstars are made in the playoffs.


Well, I would like to add on to that statement and say that stars are made in the regular season, superstars are made in the playoffs, but Legends are made in the NBA finals.

You might want to recheck your stats. LOL...

They're all wrong....

in 2000 Kobe didn't average 29, he averaged 22.5 pts in the regular season...

LOL...Who wrote this article, all the stats are way off....

And Ofcourse Kobe only averaged 15 pts in the finals in2000. He only played the first quarter in game 3 since he sprained his ankle and missed the next game...If you only play half a quarter and go scoreless in a 5 game series your average is affected enormously..

In 2001 Kobe had a higher average in the finals then the regular season...

LOL..

Where did you get these stats from..They're nonsense...LOL..

Nice try.

 

[Sman2011]

Kobe Bryant is One of The Most Under-Performing Finals Player Ever



Kobe Bryant has shot 40.5 % or under in four out his six NBA Finals appearances (Around 36% in his first and 38% in his fourth appearance). How many all time greats have shot 40.5% or under once, let alone four times in the NBA Finals? Also keep in mind that in three of those four in which he shot that poorly, Shaq, not him, was the one being double teamed.


Kobe is perceived as one of the best clutch players of all time, yet on the biggest stage there is, Kobe consistently performs his worst.


In year 2000, during the regular season, Bryant averaged almost 29 points and five assists per game. How did these stats translate over to the NBA Finals? They lowered to 15 points and four assists per game.


Shaquille O’Neal, on the other hand, raised his scoring average, from 28 in the regular season to 38 in the finals.
In 2001, the Lakers once again won the NBA Finals. Kobe’s scoring average dropped in the clutch once again, forcing O’Neal to step up his scoring from 27 per game in the regular season to 33 in the finals.
In 2002, For the third straight year, Kobe’s scoring and assists declined in the series and O’Neal of course stepped it up in the finals.


Most greats like Shaq, Jordan and Duncan, all raised their level in the finals, but yet Kobe lowered his tremendously. Charles Barkley once said that stars are made in the regular season, but superstars are made in the playoffs.


Well, I would like to add on to that statement and say that stars are made in the regular season, superstars are made in the playoffs, but Legends are made in the NBA finals.

Also everyone knows the real finals back then was the western conference finals. Did you know Kobe always ouperformed shaq. Like in 2001, Kobe averaged 34 pts against S.a in sweeping them.

That's the same team that swept Lebron in the finals when lebron shot 34 pct in the finals...LOll


Learn the game, asswipe.

 

[Sman2011]

Kobe Bryant is One of The Most Under-Performing Finals Player Ever



Kobe Bryant has shot 40.5 % or under in four out his six NBA Finals appearances (Around 36% in his first and 38% in his fourth appearance). How many all time greats have shot 40.5% or under once, let alone four times in the NBA Finals? Also keep in mind that in three of those four in which he shot that poorly, Shaq, not him, was the one being double teamed.


Kobe is perceived as one of the best clutch players of all time, yet on the biggest stage there is, Kobe consistently performs his worst.


In year 2000, during the regular season, Bryant averaged almost 29 points and five assists per game. How did these stats translate over to the NBA Finals? They lowered to 15 points and four assists per game.


Shaquille O’Neal, on the other hand, raised his scoring average, from 28 in the regular season to 38 in the finals.
In 2001, the Lakers once again won the NBA Finals. Kobe’s scoring average dropped in the clutch once again, forcing O’Neal to step up his scoring from 27 per game in the regular season to 33 in the finals.
In 2002, For the third straight year, Kobe’s scoring and assists declined in the series and O’Neal of course stepped it up in the finals.


Most greats like Shaq, Jordan and Duncan, all raised their level in the finals, but yet Kobe lowered his tremendously. Charles Barkley once said that stars are made in the regular season, but superstars are made in the playoffs.


Well, I would like to add on to that statement and say that stars are made in the regular season, superstars are made in the playoffs, but Legends are made in the NBA finals.

And shaq never average 38 in the finals. Where did you get these stats from? LOL

 

[Heatles84]

Also everyone knows the real finals back then was the western conference finals. Did you know Kobe always ouperformed shaq. Like in 2001, Kobe averaged 34 pts against S.a in sweeping them.

That's the same team that swept Lebron in the finals when lebron shot 34 pct in the finals...LOll


Learn the game, asswipe.

So in 2001 the Lakers swept the Spurs (before Parker, Manu, and Bruce Bowen). Yet Lebron met the Spurs in the Finals while with the Cavs in 2007 (6 years later) when they had Parker, Manu, and Bruce Bowen. So please tell me again how they're the same teams. That's like saying Dirk finally beat the same Heat team in 2011 that he faced in 2006 (only Udonis Haslem and Dwayne Wade were part of both teams). Learn the game, asswipe.

 

[RobToxin]

So in 2001 the Lakers swept the Spurs (before Parker, Manu, and Bruce Bowen). Yet Lebron met the Spurs in the Finals while with the Cavs in 2007 (6 years later) when they had Parker, Manu, and Bruce Bowen. So please tell me again how they're the same teams. That's like saying Dirk finally beat the same Heat team in 2011 that he faced in 2006 (only Udonis Haslem and Dwayne Wade were part of both teams). Learn the game, asswipe.

And David Robinson was on the 2001 Spurs team but had retired by 2007.

Yeah, Tim Duncan and Pop were about the only common denominators those two Spurs' teams had.

 

[BOTSLAYER]

1st, that article is super outdated and 2nd, you will never "teach" a laker fan (or any fan for the matter) that Kobe is one of the most overrated players of all time unless they are rational. Fans are not rational.

The same fans that think Kobe is top 5 are the same people who think MJ was the GOAT time, neither are true but media wants you to believe that because it makes everything they are doing relevant and that makes money for them.

 

[Triplexxx23]

Am gonna tell you this... when I watched my heat play against the lakers. Shaq would dominate us on the paint. Zo being one of the best defenders in league. Would throw his hands up frustrated looking at the heat bench saying " what the fuck am I suppose to do!!!" Every team in the NBA felt that way. Nobody really gived a shit about Kobe. Key to winning a game vs the Lakers is try keeping the ball away from Shaq and let Kobe shoot 30 something shots. He's only going to makes less then half of those anyways. To me Shaq will always be a greater Lakers then Kobe. The most unstoppable man I ever seen.

 

[bksballer89]

1st, that article is super outdated and 2nd, you will never "teach" a laker fan (or any fan for the matter) that Kobe is one of the most overrated players of all time unless they are rational. Fans are not rational.

The same fans that think Kobe is top 5 are the same people who think MJ was the GOAT time, neither are true but media wants you to believe that because it makes everything they are doing relevant and that makes money for them.

I agree it is outdated but a lot of the points are pretty valid still.

Kobe aint no Jordan

 

[tlance]

The part about Kobe's leadership and the excerpt from Curt Shilling was eye-opening. Intangibles are hard to quantify. Some guys have them and some don't. Kobe is too negative to be an effective leader. Still a great player, but his ego gets in the way too much.

 

[OutlawImmortal]

Anyone who actually watched Kobe play knows this is a bunch of BS. Most Heat fans are kids who idolize LeBronze.

 

[tlance]

Anyone who actually watched Kobe play knows this is a bunch of BS. Most Heat fans are kids who idolize LeBronze.

The truth is somewhere in the middle. Obviously Kobe is great, but that doesn't mean that he can't also be a little overrated (still top 10 overall IMO). If Kobe were a better leader, he would be top 3 overall. He clearly has the talent and the work ethic to match anybody.

 

[bksballer89]

Anyone who actually watched Kobe play knows this is a bunch of BS. Most Heat fans are kids who idolize LeBronze.

D-Wade & Mourning are most true Heat fans favorite player. LBJ is the best player in Heat history but those 2 along with Eddie Jones are my favorite Heat players

 

[BOTSLAYER]

My favorite Heat player is the guy who can hit the 3 so LBJ can drive the lane at will...that turned into LBJ this Finals

 

[BOTSLAYER]

All said and done, give me Duncan in a heart beat.