NBA Finals: 2000-02 Diesel vs 1991-93 MJ

[LikeABosh]

I think it's just ridiculous to compare a center to a guard. Why do NBA fans do this? In the NFL people rank the players based on their positions. It's like comparing Ray Lewis to Peyton Manning. Stupid.

[riseagainst]

Why do some people think Shaq didn't carry Kobe?

[LikeABosh]

If I had to choose I'd take Shaq though. I go by the rule of always taking the bigman. Shaq was just too dominant those years. You HAD to double team him, it wasn't an option. He was just too much for the opposition.

[crisoner]

Ummm this is like comparing apples to Oranges.

Both dominate both put up great numbers.

I say Shaq though around that time was the most dominate force in B-ball history though. So I will have to go with the big man.

[crisoner]

Why do some people think Shaq didn't carry Kobe?

Did Jordan carry Pippen?
Did Magic carry Worthy and Kareem?
Did Bird carry McHale and Parish?

Shut the f*ck up with that BS already.

[Hands of Iron]

I think it's just ridiculous to compare a center to a guard. Why do NBA fans do this? In the NFL people rank the players based on their positions. It's like comparing Ray Lewis to Peyton Manning. Stupid.

In the NFL, there are 22 starters on a single team....

And not really; In fact, it's done virtually all the time when people discuss the current top 10 players in the league or put up their numerically ordered greatest players list, citing numbers and accolades that were won by comparing players regardless of their positions.

Why do this? Because they are the only two players to win three consecutive Finals MVPs while putting up some of the most impressive Finals performances and series of the modern era and one of them is widely considered the greatest basketball player that ever lived. They were even the same age span over these runs (27-29). Jordan overcomes most bigs because of his immense scoring volume that is typically greater than any big man on damn near comparable efficiency and his versatility as a scorer making him a more capable closer, not to mention his being a better passer/playmaker and reeling in a solid 6-8 boards a game. And you thought he was being picked on? He shits on most.

[KyrieTheFuture]

It's more like comparing QB's to RB's. Score in totally different ways.

[Asukal]

I'd take Jordan but you couldn't go wrong with either. My only reason is Shaq has a weakness in FT which can be exploited in certain stretches of the game, Jordan has none.

[OldSchoolBBall]

Jordan - comparable/better production, more able to raise his game on command when needed (see: game 1 of the '92 Finals, game 4 of the '93 Finals, game 2 of the '91 Finals), provided all the 4th quarter and clutch heroics that Shaq needed Kobe for, was not a liability in any way (such as FT shooting), and faced far better teams. He also had expended way more energy defensively, having to guard Magic/Scott, Majerle/KJ, and Drexler/Porter, which was worlds better than the offensive scrubs Shaq guarded in the Finals. Jordan had better intangibles, too.

More than the numbers, though, you have to realize how Jordan completely imposed his will on every Finals series:

- In a must-win game 2 vs. LA in Chicago after an opening loss, he plays perhaps the best Finals game of all time with 33 pts/7 reb/13 ast on 15-18 FG, including 13 consecutive made FG's capped off by "the move."

- In game 1 of the '92 Finals, after media talk about how Clyde is on the same level as Jordan, he comes out and demolishes the Blazers for 35 first half points on like 14-19 FG, including an NBA record 6 threes in the half. He does this despite sitting out 7:00 of the half. Could have easily been a 42+ point half with how on fire he was. On the biggest stage. Against his main rival. All while neutralizing Drexler defensively. Cruises in the second half in a Bulls romp and finishes with 39 pts/11 ast.

- Averages 41/9/6+/51% FG vs. Phoenix and pours in 55 points in game 4 with Phoenix having a chance to tie the series. Scores all of Chicago's 14 fourth quarter points in the clinching game 6 before Paxson's jumper to seal it. On top of all this, he averaged nearly 46 mpg this series. Superhuman stamina.

That said, three-peat Shaq was beast, and it's definitely close. He's without a doubt the second greatest Finals performer of all time.

[KOBE143]

MJ

Shaq competition was a joke.. The real finals there happened in the west where Kobe performed better and dominated most of the game.. Kobe dominates tougher opponent (Spurs, Portland, Kings) while Shaq dominates weaker ones (Sixers, Nets).. To all people saying Shaq carried Kobe are idiot..

[DirtySanchez]

MJ

Shaq competition was a joke.. The real finals there happened in the west where Kobe performed better and dominated most of the game.. Kobe dominates tougher opponent (Spurs, Portland, Kings) while Shaq dominates weaker ones (Sixers, Nets).. To all people saying Shaq carried Kobe are idiot..

This I really true. Kobe always had huge games in the WCF. Even in 09 and 10.

[tpols]

Shaq was going up against some of the weakest offensive frontcourts of all time.. Past prime mutumbo, and Dale Davis, and Jason collin s/Todd mccallough.. No competition. Those ecf champs were so weak. I'd take a mj in a second.

[Jacks3]

Why do some people think Shaq didn't carry Kobe?

Probably because Kobe put up 22/6/5/2 with elite defense in 2000, 29/7/6/2 in 2001 with elite defense, and 27/6/5/2 with elite defense in 02.

[tpols]

Probably because Kobe put up 22/6/5/2 with elite defense in 2000, 29/7/6/2 in 2001 with elite defense, and 27/6/5/2 with elite defense in 02.

La would've lost to Portland in 00 if not for kobes game 7.. They would've never beat the spurs in the following years either. Shaq and chuck would be arguing with each other on tnt right now for whose the biggest loser of all time if not for bean. Don't get it twisted, shaqs cut from the same mold as vc.. He never had any heart and cruised on pure talent his own whole career.

[Hands of Iron]

La would've lost to Portland in 00 if not for kobes game 7

Why is it only Game 7 that matters? Considering the extreme lengths Portland went to stop Shaq and the attention he drew, Kobe should've at least had the better series. He didn't, and it wasn't really particularly close. I can see why Kobe fans wax on about it though considering he also heaved up brilliance such as:

13/3/6 on 4-9
12/4/2 on 2-9
18/4/7 on 5-15
17/5/4 on 4-13

You ****in serious? They would've been toast long before that.

They would've never beat the spurs in the following years either.

Probably not in 2002, really the only series throughout the entire 3-peat in which Kobe outplayed Shaq by a sizable margin. People make the biggest crow about that 2001 series when Shaq put up 27/13/3 himself.

Shaq and chuck would be arguing with each other on tnt right now for whose the biggest loser of all time if not for bean. Don't get it twisted, shaqs cut from the same mold as vc.. He never had any heart and cruised on pure talent his own whole career.