Bigger dropoff: 3peat Lakers w/o Kobe or current Heat w/o Lebron?

[NBASTATMAN]

I say current Heat still make the finals maybe even win them. 3peat Lakers would get bounced in the west.

The Heat would lose to the Knicks that I am sure of. The Lakers needed both players to win. The Lakers were horrible when Shaq was out during that period . When Kobe was out they had a very good record.. The West was much harder so I would say the Lakers would have only reached the second round without Kobe. If Shaq was out they would not have made the playoffs..


WHAT HAPPENED TO ALL THE FREE THROWS THE LAKERS WERE TAKING DURING THE REGULAR SEASON? Stern got them in the playoffs but can't help them anymore.. Too many people watching.

[chazzy]

Lakers were less balanced in 01 and 02. Look at how much of the offensive load the two had to carry. Who becomes the consistent #2 guy? At least with Miami you get Wade as your superstar and Bosh plays very well as a 2nd option.

[lebeast666]

They ain't beating Bulls/Pacers/Knicks/Celtics without LeBron. Lol they'd prob go to 7 games vs Bucks.

[KyleKong]

Lakers record w/o Kobe during threepeat: 25-7 (78%), compared to 12-11 w/o Shaq (52%).

Lakers won championship in '00 with Bean averaging 15.6 PPG on 37% shooting. Those are 3rd or 4th option #s on terrible shooting and the Lakers still won the title.

Shaq was the man on those teams, Kobe was the help. Better question would be 3peat Lakers w/o Kobe or current Heat w/o Wade.

All hail the Kazaam.

[GrapeApe]

Most would agree that there were other players who could have filled the "Kobe role" on the '00-'02 Lakers (Ray Allen, Vince Carter, etc..) and they would have had similar success due to Shaq's dominance. No one currently in the league is capable of doing what LeBron does for the Heat. Yes, a Wade/Bosh led team might be a title contender, but LeBron makes them a potential dynasty/GOAT type team.

[NBASTATMAN]

They ain't beating Bulls/Pacers/Knicks/Celtics without LeBron. Lol they'd prob go to 7 games vs Bucks.

Yea those teams would be hard to beat but they would beat the Celts and maybe the bulls..

[Lebron23]

Is this even a serious question? LeBron led his team in points, rebounds, steals, assists in the 2012 NBA Playoffs. The Lakers won an NBA title with Kobe averaging 15.6 ppg on 37 FG%.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Most would agree that there were other players who could have filled the "Kobe role" on the '00-'02 Lakers (Ray Allen, Vince Carter, etc..) and they would have had similar success due to Shaq's dominance. No one currently in the league is capable of doing what LeBron does for the Heat. Yes, a Wade/Bosh led team might be a title contender, but LeBron makes them a potential dynasty/GOAT type team.

No

[HelterSkelter]

Without LeBron, Heat's shooters wouldn't have open looks like it is now. Wade couldn't get to the basket that much anymore.

[chazzy]

Yeah, one misleading series average from the first championship is all the proof you need . I guess Wade isn't as good as you guys say

[miles berg]

Lakers would still be great, it was Shaq that was the reason they won.

Heat would fall back down to a 45-55 win team (depends on how many games Wade plays) without LeBron.

Nothing like Lakers falling into the lottery without Shaq.

[Lebron23]

Without LeBron, Heat's shooters wouldn't have open looks like it is now. Wade couldn't get to the basket that much anymore.

Repped

[Mr. Jabbar]

Dondadda99 just ended this thread.

lol you wish , theres a reason riley keeps bringing elite talent, he knows he cant count on lebron if it gets tough, team needs to be lebron-less ready, which it is

[GrapeApe]

No

Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I remember at the time it was widely speculated that any all star guard along side Shaq would make the Lakers a perrenial championship contender. That's not so much a knock on Kobe as it is a testament to Shaq's dominance during those years. Kobe was great, but I think LeBron is more akin to Shaq on their respective teams.

[Deuce Bigalow]

Maybe that's a bit of an exaggeration, but I remember at the time it was widely speculated that any all star guard along side Shaq would make the Lakers a perrenial championship contender. That's not so much a knock on Kobe as it is a testament to Shaq's dominance during those years.

Of course the team would be contenders with Shaq.