Looking back, was 2012 Kobe's last real shot at a title?

[ChrisKreager]

The lockout shortened season.

Had new coach Mike Brown, last year of the Gasol/Bynum big-guy duo.

Last time they won their division. Edged out the Clippers, got a #3 seed, almost blew a 3-1 series lead to Denver.

Went up against OKC with Harden in round 2.

While it went 5 games, the Lakers blew a late lead in game 2 and a big lead in game 4.

(Looking back, they haven't won a playoff game since game 3 of that series.)

And of course, they made the Dwight/Nash summer blockbuster additions, but they were behind the 8-ball so early in 2012-13 that they never were able to really get going because they fell into an early hole.

[Marchesk]

Would Kobe be considered top 10 if he had retired after 2012?

[Mr Feeny]

He really blew it in some pivotal games that series. Games 2 and 4 especially with costly turnovers in the final seconds and - read this again - 10 % (that's right, TEN percent) shooting in 4th quarters when guarded by Durant.
They lost in 5 and Kobe hasn't managed to make it back to the playoffs since. It is what it is.

[La Frescobaldi]

Nope 2010.

Anybody could see the next year they were done. Even during regular season you could see the blatant fade

[Magic 32]

all 2012 proved was that 09 and 10 really was all about kobe.

[Fire Colangelo]

Nope 2010.

Anybody could see the next year they were done. Even during regular season you could see the blatant fade

Nah, people still gave them the benefit of the doubt in 2011 iirc.

It's really when they got swept by the Mavs that we realized the Lakers were going down hill.