Replace Big 3 Era Lebron with Prime Kobe

[Doranku]

Kobe struggles with physical Eastern Conference defenses. Particularly KG / Pierce's Celtics. He'd have a tough time in that 2012 ECF.

LeBron's superior athleticism, and physicality getting to the rim, along with Wade is why both those guys performed better against the mid 2000s Pistons, and early 2010s Celtic teams. Defenses Kobe really struggled with.

Prime Kobe plays better in 2013 v.s. the Spurs than Bron did. And the 2014 Heat supporting cast, even with prime Kobe isn't enough to win. He'd go down swinging in more of those games though shooting the pill.

Good joke. Past prime '12 Kobe with a washed up Gasol went 2-0 against the 2012 Celtics.

You put PRIME Kobe with Wade and Bosh? Forget about it.

[Jameerthefear]

Honestly they wouldn't win any.

[Magic 32]

correction

2008 - 2012 Celtics:

08 and 12 Celtics are worlds apart.

LeBron had that 45 point game 7 pre-prime.

Well, I don't have to show you the rest of his stats from that series.

Bryant struggles with the Eastern Conference gritty style, period.

I think this an over-exaggerated claim.

We never saw peak Kobe against the lesser teams coming out of the east.

He only played the best (08).

[SamuraiSWISH]

Good joke. Past prime '12 Kobe with a washed up Gasol went 2-0 against the 2012 Celtics.

LOL the 2011 Bulls went 3-1 v.s. the Heat in the REGULAR SEASON. Post season is a different monster entirely. A small sample size like that means nothing against consistent game plans against guys and their tendancies over the course of a series. Kobe struggles with elite Eastern Conference defenses. Always has.

[DMAVS41]

Good joke. Past prime '12 Kobe with a washed up Gasol went 2-0 against the 2012 Celtics.

You put PRIME Kobe with Wade and Bosh? Forget about it.

dude. come back to reality.

through the first 5 games in that series Lebron was averaging 32/10/4 56% TS and the Heat were down 2-3. Lebron ended up averaging 34/11/4 59% TS...LOL

Acting like Kobe for sure wins that series is laughable. If anything, the Celtics should be favored.

That was peak Lebron....dude was a beast. And they were still down on the verge of elimination...and Kobe is not a good elimination game player. His teams fold often.

[SamuraiSWISH]

08 and 12 Celtics are worlds apart.

In overall quality? Of course. Healthy KG, as opposed to prime Rondo. Younger Pierce, Allen, and Tony Allen off the bench. But strictly as a defense? They were both ranked 1st in the league. That's what they relied on by that point. Their offense was slowing down with age.

Well, I don't have to show you the rest of his stats from that series.

Like I said, pre-prime LeBron. Prime Kobe in 2008 didn't have a caliber game like that against them though in the Finals, now did he?

prime Kobe with younger Shaq in 2004 Finals:
23 ppg on 38%

pre-prime Wade with older Shaq in 2005 ECF v.s. near identical Pistons:
26 ppg on 44%

prime Wade with way older Shaq in 2006 ECF v.s. slightly worse Pistons:
27 ppg on 62%

[sportjames23]

No way. Maybe one ring, but Kobe and Wade are too similar. Plus then there is no one to defend 1 - 5 like Lebron, and Kobe isnt a good fit for a pressure defense playing small ball which was the Heats staple. They decrease defensively and the team doesnt mesh as well with Kobe instead of Lebron. I saw 1 final and 0 championships.

[Heavincent]

lol at bringing up the 2012 Celtics like they were some stacked super team. They were old as dirt and I don't how they even pushed that series to 7 games tbh. And the Pacers?

Are people forgetting that Kobe played in them much tougher Western conference? He didn't get any bye rounds, like the 76ers, Bucks, JV Bulls, or Bobcats. He was playing 50 win teams in the first round.

[DMAVS41]

lol at bringing up the 2012 Celtics like they were some stacked super team. They were old as dirt and I don't how they even pushed that series to 7 games tbh. And the Pacers?

Are people forgetting that Kobe played in them much tougher Western conference? He didn't get any bye rounds, like the 76ers, Bucks, JV Bulls, or Bobcats. He was playing 50 win teams in the first round.

Well, I'd argue the 12 Celtics were actually better than you are letting on...

And, it certainly wasn't Lebron's fault.

34/11/4 59% TS...and the Heat were on the brink of elimination with a road game 6.

To argue that Kobe just easily wins that series in place of Lebron is ****ing absurd and everyone with a brain that isn't beyond biased knows it.

[Magic 32]

Like I said, pre-prime LeBron. Prime Kobe in 2008 didn't have a caliber game like that against them though in the Finals, now did he?

Game 3 was pretty close.

45 points on 48% shooting (FG 14-29) vs. 36 points on 60% shooting (FG 12-20).

And Kobe took control of the game from the very beginning, and finished off the game as well (2 monster clutch shots).

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZWI7umzJ_7w

[9erempiree]

Give me the dominant scorer in Kobe than an efficient one like Lebron.

Miami gets over the hump with Kobe.

[crisoner]

80 peat

[SamuraiSWISH]

Game 3 was pretty close.

45 points on 48% shooting (FG 14-29) vs. 36 points on (FG 12-20).

Great game from Kobe
Legendary game from LeBron

It was not THAT close.

Plus game 7 pressure on road >>> Game 3 at home

I'm as unbiased as it comes when comparing these two. I'm telling it like it is, no real fandom interrupting. You have your bias, obviously.

[Heavincent]

Well, I'd argue the 12 Celtics were actually better than you are letting on...

And, it certainly wasn't Lebron's fault.

34/11/4 59% TS...and the Heat were on the brink of elimination with a road game 6.

To argue that Kobe just easily wins that series in place of Lebron is ****ing absurd and everyone with a brain that isn't beyond biased knows it.

It's also absurd to argue that Kobe didn't face any teams that were as good or better than those Celtics. You don't think Kobe ever put up monster series against really good teams?

Put up 34/8/7 52% FG against the 2010 Suns, who were loaded (prime Nash and Amare with elite shooters all over the court).

34/6/6 48% FG in 09 WCF

29/6/4 53% FG in 08 WCF against the defending champs (only needed 5 games to beat them too)

Those are just a few examples.

[Magic 32]

Legendary game from LeBron

It was close, not THAT close.

Legendary?

His team was trailing the entire game and he never seemed to have control over anything. His scoring looked like an extended version of what he did again the Spurs this year. And he was 1-4 in the last 4 min of the game.

Game 5 against Detroit was legendary, same with game 6 against Celtics in 2012.

A player needs to put up mind-blowing numbers to be "legendary" in defeat (Jordan's 63).