Replace rookie Kobe with rookie Duncan, would LA 3-peat still?

[Dragic4Life]

Rookie Duncan comes into the league with peak/prime Shaq on the team. Does LA still 3-peat?

[NZStreetBaller]

nah they already had a great post guy.

One of the things that made Shaq and kobe so great together was they were two totally different players. and made it hard for the defence. Dominant perimeter and post man.

all it would do is weaken the lakers perimeter play.

[Dragic4Life]

nah they already had a great post guy.

One of the things that made Shaq and kobe so great together was they were two totally different players. and made it hard for the defence. Dominant perimeter and post man.

all it would do is weaken the lakers perimeter play.
so Duncan and Shaq won't win any championships?:facepalm

[NZStreetBaller]

they'd win two but by the third year (assuming kobe is in the spurs) Kobe would've stepped into his prime and taken out the duncan shaq lakers:rockon:

[T_L_P]

they'd win two but by the third year (assuming kobe is in the spurs) Kobe would've stepped into his prime and taken out the duncan shaq lakers:rockon:

Duncan against LA in 02: 29/17/5/4

Kobe against Spurs: 26/5/5

Spurs lost in 5 because the team was so shit. Kobe would have to average about 40 to win, which he never has.

[NZStreetBaller]

Duncan against LA in 02: 29/17/5/4

Kobe against Spurs: 26/5/5

Spurs lost in 5 because the team was so shit. Kobe would have to average about 40 to win, which he never has.

Hey its an imagination thread bro.... Butterfly effect. Who knows what would've happened.

throwing superstars together doesnt always mean an improvement in the team (howard Kobe pau Nash)

[Human Error]

Rookie Duncan comes into the league with peak/prime Shaq on the team. Does LA still 3-peat?
7 peat.

[Combat Wombat]

so Duncan and Shaq won't win any championships?:facepalm

:facepalm

FFS, who unbanned this ass bandit?

[red1]

I find it awesome how the three best players of their era could all be found in the same playoff series


:facepalm

FFS, who unbanned this ass bandit?
you are no better son

[ZMonkey11]

If Duncan could win 2 championships with the Admiral, I'm thinking he could win at least 4 with Shaq.

David Robinson was nearing the end of his career at that point while Shaq was just entering his prime. 99-2003 would be theirs no question.

[Y2ktors]

If Duncan could win 2 championships with the Admiral, I'm thinking he could win at least 4 with Shaq.

David Robinson was nearing the end of his career at that point while Shaq was just entering his prime. 99-2003 would be theirs no question.


They'd probably win a couple, but Duncan's legacy wouldn't be as great as it is.

[uber]

Of course they win. Since Shaq was the key player of this 3 peat they win with every other top 10 player.

The better question is do they win without Phil Jackson?

[Y2ktors]

Of course they win. Since Shaq was the key player of this 3 peat they win with every other top 10 player.

The better question is do they win without Phil Jackson?
No.

[uber]

No.

No to the Phil Jackson question or no to Shaq was the key player?

[K Xerxes]

Hey its an imagination thread bro.... Butterfly effect. Who knows what would've happened.

throwing superstars together doesnt always mean an improvement in the team (howard Kobe pau Nash)

I find it ironic that the example you chose to use involves Kobe.

[AnaheimLakers24]

kobe wins from 2000 - 2014 with pop
prive me wrong

[elementally morale]

I'm not sure they win it all too many times and they certainly don't win without a very good perimeter player or two. Winning it all is not as easy as assuming things on a message board. Replace X with Y rarely gives the desired results in practice. (Yeah, we talkin' bout practice.)

[DMAVS41]

LOL....

Possibly a 5 peat.

They win in 99, 00, and 01 for sure.

My guess is that they likely win 2 of the next 3 years for 5 total. Could see them losing to the 02 Kings, but then winning in 03 and 04.

[Hey Yo]

Hey its an imagination thread bro.... Butterfly effect. Who knows what would've happened.

throwing superstars together doesnt always mean an improvement in the team (howard Kobe pau Nash)
We do know for a fact though that Rookie Duncan riding the pine his first 2yrs wouln't have happened, like Rookie Kobe did.

[DMAVS41]

We do know for a fact though that Rookie Duncan riding the pine his first 2yrs wouln't have happened, like Rookie Kobe did.

The Lakers won 61 games in 98 with Kobe being a detriment to the team essentially with the whole Eddie Jones thing...etc. This is not a knock on Kobe really...just saying it to show how much better they would have been with Duncan. The Lakers would have just kept Eddie Jones (a great fit next to Shaq/Duncan). They won 56 essentially without him (rookie...wasn't that good yet) in 97. Those teams were already very good to great...You put Duncan on them and they become all time great.

Duncan, in 98, was probably one of the top 5 or so players in the league.

You put Duncan on that 98 team and they'd have a great chance to beat both the Jazz and Bulls actually.

A title in 98 was hardly unrealistic.

It took Kobe until the 01 season to get as good as rookie Duncan.

With Duncan and Shaq, the Lakers would have had chances to win in 98, 02, and 04...while being pretty much locks to win in 99, 00, 01, and 03...

[wakencdukest]

NOBODY would score in the paint against them. They'd lead the league in rebounds, offensive and defensive. Kobe would be replaced with a perimeter shooter or two. Teams would not be able to penetrate, causing them to rely solely on 3 point shooting. Fivepeat at least.

[Geezer]

nah, 4 peat minimum

[gcvbcat]

replace shaq with duncan & they probably do.

[Cocaine80s]

A rookie Jeremy Lin would win atleast 3 rings with Shaq

[Marchesk]

A rookie Jeremy Lin would win atleast 3 rings with Shaq

The Kobe hate is strong on ISH, but come on man. :lol

[NZStreetBaller]

I find it ironic that the example you chose to use involves Kobe.

Well its true.... It doesnt take anything away from Kobe. he played great individually that season. even destroyed his ACL in the process.

The mechanics and chemistry of that team just didnt fit despite the fact that their were alot of great individuals.

Kinda like trying to throw v8 forged pistons into a RB25dett. great parts. but not a good fit.

[Inferno]

Yes

[NZStreetBaller]

A rookie Jeremy Lin would win atleast 3 rings with Shaq

To be fair rookie lin is better then prime lin. :applause:

[Combat Wombat]

I find it awesome how the three best players of their era could all be found in the same playoff series


you are no better son

:rolleyes:

Take a look in the mirror, Mr "kobe is a rapist lol".

Pathetic ****wit.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Is this a joke? They'd win like 5-7 titles. '99-'04 for sure, with a very good shot at '98 and '05 as well.

[T_L_P]

kobe wins from 2000 - 2014 with pop
prive me wrong

There's no 20/10 big man.

[JellyBean]

so Duncan and Shaq won't win any championships?:facepalm

Who knows. There are so many variables. When the Rockets had Ralph Sampson and Hakeem, there was talk of them winning titles. We all know how that turned out. Could Shaq/Duncan win titles? On paper, yeah. But who knows what could have happened on the court.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Kobe Hater go to comparisons...

Young Kobe vs the greatest peak player of all time Prime Shaq
Kobe vs the greatest perimeter player of all time Michael Jordan
Fresh out of high school Kobe vs the greatest PF of all time after 4 years of college ball

:roll:

[MiseryCityTexas]

shaq and duncan on the same team would 6-peat instead of 3-peat.

[MiseryCityTexas]

Kobe Hater go to comparisons...

Young Kobe vs the greatest peak player of all time Prime Shaq
Kobe vs the greatest perimeter player of all time Michael Jordan
Fresh out of high school Kobe vs the greatest PF of all time after 4 years of college ball

:roll:

Kobe would be on Paul Pierce's level of popularity if he woulda started his career on the Hornets instead of the Lakers. People would be calling him another underrated, really good player on a mediocre/bad team.

[MiseryCityTexas]

Who knows. There are so many variables. When the Rockets had Ralph Sampson and Hakeem, there was talk of them winning titles. We all know how that turned out. Could Shaq/Duncan win titles? On paper, yeah. But who knows what could have happened on the court.


Duncan won championships with a past his prime David Robinson on the same team. Of course Duncan and prime Shaq would have almost been the Bill Russell championship era all over again. 2004 championship Pistons would have no chance against a team with Duncan and Shaq on it, and would sweep a J Kidd Nets team with ease.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Kobe would be on Paul Pierce's level of popularity if he woulda started his career on the Hornets instead of the Lakers. People would be calling him another underrated, really good player on a mediocre/bad team.

Kobe would have a top 10 resume even if you ignore the fact he rang 5 times.

:confusedshrug:

[Cali Syndicate]

Utter and pure domination.

[moe94]

Kobe would have a top 10 resume even if you ignore the fact he rang 5 times.

:confusedshrug:

Hilariously delusional.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Hilariously delusional.

No other player has more All-NBA team selections.
Only Tim Duncan has more all defensive team selections.
Only Kareem has more all star selections.

:confusedshrug:

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

No other player has more All-NBA team selections.
Only Tim Duncan has more all defensive team selections.
Only Kareem has more all star selections.

:confusedshrug:

And only one MVP, which was really Chris Paul's.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

And only one MVP, which was really Chris Paul's.

11th all time in MVP award shares

:confusedshrug:

[Purch]

Do people realize that Duncan was all nba 1st team, and top 5 in MVP voting his rookie season?