even after 10 years of #24. Kobe is still #8 to me.

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[IMG]http://cdn.bleacherreport.net/images_root/slides/photos/001/148/342/1483180_crop_650x440.jpg?1312261880[/IMG]


[IMG]http://d1warraxuf7xh1.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/kobebryant2006.jpg[/IMG]









this sh*t will never look right to me


[IMG]http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kobe+Bryant+Los+Angeles+Clippers+v+Los+Angeles+ZuGtWAAbAMDl.jpg[/IMG]

same with his autograph... this is the one i remember


[IMG]https://encrypted-tbn1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT0BhajdBXkHSjk22D8KWsPmfBUX67bpNL5lhAQofDDBLywi-G9CQ[/IMG]


this is his new one



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I liked Kobe the most during the late 90's & early 00's.
Still most of his best years came as #24.

06
07
08
09
10

The only year pre-06 that can really "hang with" those years is 2001.
Some might say 2003 but when you factor in his early playoff injury I wouldn't take it over any of the above 5 years.

Some people say 2002 is also up there but it really isn't.
He had a pretty mediocre playoff run that year.
Honestly his playoff run (against the West) in 2002 was probably worse then his 2000 run.
He was fantastic in the Finals though.

[QUOTE=ShaqTwizzle]I liked Kobe the most during the late 90's & early 00's.
Still most of his best years came as #24.

06
07
08
09
10

The only year pre-06 that can really "hang with" those years is 2001.
Some might say 2003 but when you factor in his early playoff injury I wouldn't take it over any of the above 5 years.

Some people say 2002 is also up there but it really isn't.
He had a pretty mediocre playoff run that year.
Honestly his playoff run (against the West) in 2002 was probably worse then his 2000 run.
He was fantastic in the Finals though.[/QUOTE]



in terms of level of play/skill



#1 - 2006 ( #8 )
#2 - 2008 ( #24 )
#3 - 2009 ( #24 )
#4 - 2007 ([B] #24[/B] )
#5 - 2003 ( #8 )
#6 - 2001 ( #8 )
#7 - 2010 ( #24 )
#8 - 2002 ( #8 )
#9 - 2013 ( #24 )
#10 - 2012 ( #24 )
#11 - 2004 ( #8 )
#12 - 2011 ( #24 )
#13 - 2005 ( #8 )
#14 - 2000 ( #8 )
#15 - 1999 ( #8 )
#16 - 1998 ( #8 )
#17 - 2015 ( #24 )
#18 - 2014 ( #24 )
#19 - 1997 ( #8 )

I forgot that Kobe was still #8 in 2006.
Anyway this is how I would rank his years (I factor in injuries).
I added letters for years that I think were hard to differentiate in terms of value/ability.

1a. 2008
1b. 2009
1c. 2006
1d. 2007

5a. 2010
5b. 2001

7. 2003
8. 2004

9a. 2002
9b. 2000

11. 2005
(injury but when healthy still very potent)
(I feel like based on "ability" this year maybe should be ranked higher)

12a. 2011
12b. 2012

14. 1999
15. 1998
16. 1997
(developmental years)

2013 would have been ranked fairly high but the injury makes that season worthless to me.
Same for 2000 Duncan.
If a guy can't play in the playoffs then what value does he have?
He was amazing that year though before the injury so don't wanna hate.

:kobe:

Forever SideKickBe :applause:

#8 Kobe was fantastic he was crazy athletic and explosive with a great first step. My personal opinion I like older smarter wiser #24 Kobe he wasn't as athletic as his younger days but he was much more skilled with better fundamentals top of being good leader and teammate he matured grow up.

#8th best laker

Agreed, when I think of Kobe I think #8. Those were his best, most exciting years. 2003 Kobe >>> any other version of Kobe.

[QUOTE=kennethgriffin]in terms of level of play/skill



#1 - 2006 ( #8 )
#2 - 2008 ( #24 )
#3 - 2009 ( #24 )
[B]#4 - 2007 ( #8 )[/B]
#5 - 2003 ( #8 )
#6 - 2001 ( #8 )
#7 - 2010 ( #24 )
#8 - 2002 ( #8 )
#9 - 2013 ( #24 )
#10 - 2012 ( #24 )
#11 - 2004 ( #8 )
#12 - 2011 ( #24 )
#13 - 2005 ( #8 )
#14 - 2000 ( #8 )
#15 - 1999 ( #8 )
#16 - 1998 ( #8 )
#17 - 2015 ( #24 )
#18 - 2014 ( #24 )
#19 - 1997 ( #8 )[/QUOTE]
Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kevin-garnett-reaction.gif[/IMG]

[QUOTE=Smoke117][IMG]http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kevin-garnett-reaction.gif[/IMG][/QUOTE]

What are you sipping on my friend?

[QUOTE=Young X]2003 Kobe >>> any other version of Kobe.[/QUOTE]

I can't rank that year so highly because of the injury he suffered right before the 2nd round.

In the first 2 games of the Spurs series (both losses) he averaged*
32 / 1.5-apg / 5-TOV on .475%TS*

Then in G6 (elimination game) he had 20 / 6-ast / 7-TOV on 50%TS.

He was great in the middle 3 games so it wasn't by any means a terrible series but it wasn't a great one either.

He also kind of struggled that year before Shaq came back.

In the first 12 games (before Shaq returned) LAL went 3-9.
Kobe averaged 29 / 9 / 6-apg on .498%TS over those games.

The production was good but his efficiency was Iverson level without Shaq around.
I think for example 2006 Kobe would have done much better in that situation.

[QUOTE=warriorfan]What are you sipping on my friend?[/QUOTE]

The mortgage and his kids tuition. :applause:

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://gifrific.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/kevin-garnett-reaction.gif[/IMG]

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.[/QUOTE]
Owned.

Kennethgriffin has no life

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.[/QUOTE]

lol

[url]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfr64zoBTAQ[/url]

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.[/QUOTE]

[IMG]http://imagesmtv-a.akamaihd.net/uri/mgid:file:http:shared:mtv.com/news/wp-content/uploads/2015/09/Shock-1443284232.gif[/IMG]

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#8 Kobe was the better version due to his athletic abilities but #24 Kobe is the smarter player and a leader. 2006 Kobe was GOAT-level though.

[QUOTE=SamuraiSWISH]Yet you claim to be a fan? Always making Kobe threads hahah ... Don't even have his jersey number matching corresponding seasons. 2007 was Kobe's first season as #24.[/QUOTE]

:lol :lol :lol :lol :lol :lol

lol i spit out a list in under a minute and momentarily forgot kobes jersey number was 24 in 2007




created a sh*t storm circus show reaction... this is why i'm the greatest poster on ISH

[QUOTE=kennethgriffin]lol i spit out a list in under a minute and momentarily forgot kobes jersey number was 24 in 2007




created a sh*t storm circus show reaction... this is why i'm the greatest poster on ISH[/QUOTE]

getting caught like ur boy kobe did in 2004 isn't something to be proud of. take the L.

[QUOTE=Beastmode88]getting caught like ur boy kobe did in 2004 isn't something to be proud of. take the L.[/QUOTE]

gggrrr!!



i'm so mad right meow

Cause Kobe riding shotgun was>>> Kobe on his own

[QUOTE=bluechox2]Cause Kobe riding shotgun was>>> Kobe on his own[/QUOTE]


The funny thing is you fail to see how you just gave kobe a compliment


If you think kobe was better than a 2 time fmvp, 81 point level player when he played with shaq... go right ahead

[QUOTE=kennethgriffin][IMG]http://static.sportskeeda.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/56704175-1410853594.jpg[/IMG]

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this sh*t will never look right to me


[IMG]http://www1.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Kobe+Bryant+Los+Angeles+Clippers+v+Los+Angeles+ZuGtWAAbAMDl.jpg[/IMG][/QUOTE]

Agreed. Once a sidekick, always a sidekick.

I'll always think of him as #8 but I'm not a huge Lakers fan or anything so it doesn't really matter what I think.

But as a Mavs fan I feared #8 a lot more than #24.

Of course it was probably #34 that I really feared.

[QUOTE=miles berg]I'll always think of him as #8 but I'm not a huge Lakers fan or anything so it doesn't really matter what I think.

But as a Mavs fan I feared #8 a lot more than #24.

Of course it was probably #34 that I really feared.[/QUOTE]



the funny thing about your attempt at trolling is that the lakers and mavs never met in the playoffs since shaq and kobe joined the team up until 2011 when shaq was gone and kobe was hurt

Oh trust me I wasn't trolling. You are free to go back the last 14 years I've posted here and see the praise I've had for Kobe. Forget the playoffs I'm talking just the thought of having to avoid the Lakers to get into the Finals. That is the kind of stuff that goes through your head as a Mavs fan in the Big 3 days which happened to be the Shaq/Kobe years. Always felts a lot better about Finley on Kobe than I did Bradley or LaFrentz on Shaq. Obviously.

Not everyone trolls. Some of us just like to talk basketball. I never felt scared of the Lakers post Shaq. That has nothing to do with Kobe. But I do think the Shaq/Kobe years, and their lasting memory on a Mavs fan mind, is why I think of Kobe as #8.

I'd love to discuss what the '88 WCFs have done to my psyche over the last 3 decades if you go that far back as a Lakers fan. I'll never get past my belief that had they played Tarpley & Donaldson together in the 4th of Game 7 that we are facing Detroit. McLeod really blew that.

[QUOTE=miles berg]Oh trust me I wasn't trolling. You are free to go back the last 14 years I've posted here and see the praise I've had for Kobe. Forget the playoffs I'm talking just the thought of having to avoid the Lakers to get into the Finals. That is the kind of stuff that goes through your head as a Mavs fan in the Big 3 days which happened to be the Shaq/Kobe years. Always felts a lot better about Finley on Kobe than I did Bradley or LaFrentz on Shaq. Obviously.

Not everyone trolls. Some of us just like to talk basketball. I never felt scared of the Lakers post Shaq. That has nothing to do with Kobe. But I do think the Shaq/Kobe years, and their lasting memory on a Mavs fan mind, is why I think of Kobe as #8.

I'd love to discuss what the '88 WCFs have done to my psyche over the last 3 decades if you go that far back as a Lakers fan. I'll never get past my belief that had they played Tarpley & Donaldson together in the 4th of Game 7 that we are facing Detroit. McLeod really blew that.[/QUOTE]


All I see is a trash ass Mavs fan who was lucky to face The Lakers at the end of their run. That Team was burnt out and Dirk had a career Playoff, any other year ya ni99as would've been swept. Real Talk.

[QUOTE=HOoopCityJones]All I see is a trash ass Mavs fan who was lucky to face The Lakers at the end of their run. That Team was burnt out and Dirk had a career Playoff, any other year ya ni99as would've been swept. Real Talk.[/QUOTE]

Can you say this in adult human again?

[QUOTE=ArbitraryWater]Can you say this in adult human again?[/QUOTE]
Can you say all you do is post on an internet Basketball forum?

[QUOTE=HOoopCityJones]All I see is a trash ass Mavs fan who was lucky to face The Lakers at the end of their run. That Team was burnt out and Dirk had a career Playoff, any other year ya ni99as would've been swept. Real Talk.[/QUOTE]

Are you retarded? You must be dumber than a rock.

He actually posted an intelligent response.

BTW, if you are really mentally deficient I'm sorry. I didn't mean any harm. I respect your struggle.

[QUOTE=HOoopCityJones]All I see is a trash ass Mavs fan who was lucky to face The Lakers at the end of their run. That Team was burnt out and Dirk had a career Playoff, any other year ya ni99as would've been swept. Real Talk.[/QUOTE]

I wouldn't take his post as a diss. Shaq's Lakers were just better all-around (16-1 in the playoffs doe). Kobe did a great job helping Diesel :confusedshrug:

00 Laker's VS 11 Maverick's

Who wins?

:kobe:

Early 00s Lakers of course. Jordan's Bulls are the only team that I could see giving that prime (as a duo) Shaq/Kobe team a real series in a Finals scenario. They were that good. Mavs fans literally came up with scenarios every spring on how to avoid those Lakers and maybe sneak into the finals.

[QUOTE=bluechox2]Cause Kobe riding shotgun was>>> Kobe on his own[/QUOTE]

I always love this diss because it ignores that Shaq didn't win anything other than a sidekick ring when he didn't have Kobe saving his ass.

Agreed, you just can't respect what he's done on the court since he raped that white girl and changed his number to 24

[QUOTE=SpecialQue]I always love this diss because it ignores that Shaq didn't win anything other than a sidekick ring when he didn't have Kobe saving his ass.[/QUOTE]

I always love these retorts because it ignores the fact that 3peat Kobe (outside of his 01 run) was nothing special as a sidekick.

Early 90's Pippen and even late 00's Gasol performed at a comparable if not flatout higher level in a secondary role and had better playoff runs.

[B]00 Kobe :[/B] 21.1 / 4.5 / 4.4 on 52%TS [COLOR="Red"](19.3 PER)[/COLOR]
[B]92 Pipp :[/B] 19.5 / 8.8 / 6.7 on 54%TS [COLOR="Red"](20.6 PER)[/COLOR]
[B]09 Gasol :[/B] 18.3 / 10.8 / 2.5 on 62%TS [COLOR="Red"](21.9 PER)[/COLOR]

[B]02 Kobe :[/B] 26.6 / 5.8 / 4.6 on 51%TS [COLOR="Red"](20.5 PER)[/COLOR]
[B]91 Pipp :[/B] 21.6 / 8.9 / 5.8 on 56%TS [COLOR="Red"](22.0 PER)[/COLOR]
[B]10 Gasol :[/B] 20 / 11 / 3.5 on 60%TS [COLOR="Red"](24.0 PER)[/COLOR]

[B]02 Kobe (pre-Finals) :[/B] 26.6 / 5.9 / 4.4 on 49%TS

I mean he was a solid All-Star no doubt, but plenty of guys like 95 Drexler, 12 Wade etc... are all on the same tier as 00 & 02 Kobe.

So please knock it off.
Kobe [B]was[/B] Shaq's Pippen level sidekick no matter how hard it is for you to stomach.
[COLOR="Red"]Number's don't lie. Stan's do.[/COLOR]

This ignorant ploy where people try to diminish Shaq's 3peat rings based on the completely false assertion that Kobe was better then the average sidekick or #2 needs to stop.
Kobe started out Pippen and became Jordan.

Shaq should not be hated on because his Pokemon eventually evolved while Jordan's didn't.

^Agree with most of this, but don't forget about Kobe's defense those years, especially in 2000 (1st team all-defense & 5th in DPOY voting) and 2002 (1st team all defense and 3rd in DPOY voting :eek:)

I would take Kobe over all those guys. Without hesitation. Dude hit big shots for us, played elite defense, was the Lakers primary facilitator, and in 2001, was already the games best perimeter scorer. Phil was quoted around that time, saying Kobe did more for a team than anybody he has ever coached and asked to do.

Honestly? Kobe was the GOAT sidekick in 2000 and 2002 (in 2001, he was closer to a 1B although Shaq was still clearly the better player).