Replace 2000-3 Kobe with Wizards Jordan

[jongib369]

Do they still 3 peat? He wasn't what he was, but he could still play (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBGyh-CmePk)

With no need to stress himself AS much as he did on the Wizards he'd likely have less injuries and play at a higher level for a longer period of time...But is it enough?

http://sneakernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/michael-jordan-scottie-pippen-first-game-4.jpg

Side note, Lakers with Jordan VS Blazers with Pippen would of been really fun to watch. Not that it didn't happen during the regular season, it'd just be a movie like ending to their careers

[moe94]

They win 2000, without question. Then it gets murky.

[jongib369]

They win 2000, without question. Then it gets murky.
Even though it would be Shaqs teams I couldn't imagine if they did....9 rings?

O_O

[Vienceslav]

I think they win in 2000 and 2001, you gotta remember they went 16-1 in the playoffs in 2001 which still gives them room to not get these 40+ games from Kobe and win the series 4-2 a comfortably get to the finals where they beat the Sixers probably even without MJ, just with Shaq, serviceable SG and the same supporting cast.
The real challenges are in the WCSF and WCF, Blazers,Kings and Spurs.
The 2001 Spurs and Kings series was very Kobe heavy, but if Shaq got more shots I'm pretty sure he could do the same he did in 2000 and MJ still could play on All Star level.
2002 is when Kobe really comes to his own and is the year where he scores 55 against the Wizards so I'm not getting into that.

[andgar923]

Do they still 3 peat? He wasn't what he was, but he could still play (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rBGyh-CmePk)

With no need to stress himself AS much as he did on the Wizards he'd likely have less injuries and play at a higher level for a longer period of time...But is it enough?

http://sneakernews.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/michael-jordan-scottie-pippen-first-game-4.jpg

Side note, Lakers with Jordan VS Blazers with Pippen would of been really fun to watch. Not that it didn't happen during the regular season, it'd just be a movie like ending to their careers

Playing with Shaq will take away all the pressure off MJ. Less minutes, less pressure on defense, less pressure on offense so his efficiency and productivity will go up.

[IGOTGAME]

no they don't....not even close. They might not even win one title. Wizards MJ would break down every year.

[Papaya Petee]

1999-2000 Only.

Jordan was old and slow, and Young Kobe was actually a great defender while Wizards Jordan was not.

[Nashty]

Replace 2000-3 Kobe with me past my prime and Lakers still 3-peat.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

Absolutely. Playing with peak Shaq, Jerry Stackhouse and Jamal Crawford would have netted some chips.

[Eric Cartman]

Absolutely. Playing with peak Shaq, Jerry Stackhouse and Jamal Crawford would have netted some chips.

:roll: :roll:










Oh wait you are serious :facepalm :biggums:

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

:roll: :roll:










Oh wait you are serious :facepalm :biggums:

In 2000? 2001? (didnt LAL sweep through the playoffs that year?) Hell yeah. :confusedshrug:

[jongib369]

no they don't....not even close. They might not even win one title. Wizards MJ would break down every year.

Playing with Shaq will take away all the pressure off MJ. Less minutes, less pressure on defense, less pressure on offense so his efficiency and productivity will go up.

Not disagreeing with you it's a hypothetical, so we don't know. But given that does it change much? He was overplayed on the Wizards

[Eric Cartman]

Sub Prime Gasol for Shaq and they still win 3 rings.

[Nikola_]

which 38-39-40 year old was second fiddle in championship teams?

[ImKobe]

People do realize Kobe put up 25 11 7 in Game 7 WCF of 2000 and in that game they needed a huge comeback in the 4th against the Blazers, just to make the Finals?

People look at Kobe's 2000 Finals numbers (where he played injured) and think that's what he did for every other Playoff series in the 3-peat era. They disregard Kobe averaging 22.8 ppg 4.4 rpg 4.5 apg 1.6 spg 1.5 bpg on 46% shooting against the Western teams in 2000, they look at a Finals series, where no one can stop Shaq, and think he could win with Jerry Stackhouse rofl

2001 Lakers swept the West, but it was thanks to Kobe putting up

31.6 ppg 7.0 rpg 6.2 apg 1.6 spg on 49,2% shooting against the Western Conference, there's no way a 38 yr old Jordan does that.

I think they'd win one title at best.

[Dragonyeuw]

2000, I would say yes. After that, likely not and not from a standpoint of skill. MJ was still plenty skilled enough to play a second banana role to Shaq, but I doubt his body could have withstood the rigors of back to back to back long seasons. Not only that, but Kobe was playing outstanding two-way ball during that run, 40 year old Jordan wouldn't have been able to do that at nearly the same level.

[SamuraiSWISH]

If Jordan joined Phil Jackson's Lakers in 2000, which was a possibility as they reached out to him, I definitely think he could've been a great sidekick to Shaq and they still would've won a ring.

Would've been very entertaining watching Shaq / Jordan's Lakers v.s. Sheed / Pippen / Smith's Blazers in the 2000 WCF.

I picture Jordan by that time at age 36 turning 37, given how he performed at 38 turning 39 a few years later ... I could see him putting up 25 / 5 / 5 on good percentages, and playing good defense.

I don't rule out the possibility of him winning with the 2001, and then 2002 Laker squads but it would've been much more difficult to do than it was with a youthful, energetic, physically capable Kobe who rose to superstardom during the 2001 season.

[MMM]

Sub Prime Gasol for Shaq and they still win 3 rings.

:biggums:

don't know about prime Gasol vs. The Twin Towers.

[navy]

The first year? Yes. After that, no.

[chazzy]

Wizards jordan really wasnt that good. It was cool to see him adapt his game at that age and still put up great performances, but his overall effectiveness as a whole was meh. Among the least efficient scoring years ever I think, 47 and 49 TS%