Is Kobe's 05-06 season overrated?

[ThePhantomCreep]

He's had better seasons.

[DonDadda59]

06-07 doesn't look any different than 04-05

2006-07 scoring leaders
1. Kobe Bryant-LAL 31.6
2. Carmelo Anthony-DEN 28.9
3. Gilbert Arenas-WAS 28.4
4. LeBron James-CLE 27.3
5. Michael Redd-MIL 26.7

04-05 there were 2 PFs in the top 5. But you are correct in that the officiating in '06-'07 calmed down after the first season the rules were implemented to a ridiculous agree. Let's not forget what happened in the finals:

For the series, Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals -- and this in a slow-paced series (neither team cleared the century mark in regulation in any of the six games). His basket attacks were so deadly because the Mavs couldn't stop fouling him. [COLOR="Red"]Wade shot a whopping 97 free throws in the six games -- the most of any player since the merger -- including 25 in Game 5.[/COLOR]

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012...formances-no-1

I want everyone reading this to stop and seriously think about this for a minute- the 7'1" 325+ lb Shaq, who was so dominant in his prime that teams employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy, does not hold the record for most FTs in a finals. That record belongs to his then teammate- the 6'4 Wade.

Just think about that...

[Cold soul]

Nope, not at all.

[LAZERUSS]

You would be hard-pressed to find another "GOAT" with a worse supporting cast (maybe Wilt's 62-63 Warriors)...

He did about as much as anyone could have with that POS roster.

[tpols]

Yes, definitely overrated. Still great though. And I know, I know here comes Dadda the Bean hater blah blah blah. But look at the facts before you crucify me, stans:

2004-05 NBA Scoring Leaders
1) Allen Iverson 30.1
2) Kobe Bryant 27.6
3) LeBron James 27.2
4) Dirk Nowitzki 26.1
5) Amar'e Stoudemire 26

[COLOR="Red"]2004-05
• New rules were introduced to curtail hand-checking, clarify blocking fouls and call defensive three seconds to open up the game.[/COLOR]

2005-06 NBA Scoring Leaders
1) Kobe Bryant 35.4
2) Allen Iverson 33
3) LeBron James 31
4) Gilbert Arenas 29.3
5) Dwayne Wade 27.2

Bean's scoring (as well as other perimeter players) was a product of the NBA going overboard with the rule changes.

Kobe's FT shooting in his prime

01-05
21 FGA and 8.5 FTs = 2.5 shots per FT attempt

06
27 FGA and 10.2 FTs = 2.7 shots per FT attempt

07-10
21 FGA and 8.3 FTs = 2.5 shots per FT attempt


Refs may have been calling games tighter, but relative to the amount of shots he was taking, Kobe got LESS free throws in 2006 than he did for the beginning and end of his prime.

[magnax1]

04-05 there were 2 PFs in the top 5. But you are correct in that the officiating in '06-'07 calmed down after the first season the rules were implemented to a ridiculous agree. Let's not forget what happened in the finals:

For the series, Wade averaged 34.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.7 steals -- and this in a slow-paced series (neither team cleared the century mark in regulation in any of the six games). His basket attacks were so deadly because the Mavs couldn't stop fouling him. [COLOR="Red"]Wade shot a whopping 97 free throws in the six games -- the most of any player since the merger -- including 25 in Game 5.[/COLOR]

http://espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2012...formances-no-1

I want everyone reading this to stop and seriously think about this for a minute- the 7'1" 325+ lb Shaq, who was so dominant in his prime that teams employed the Hack-a-Shaq strategy, does not hold the record for most FTs in a finals. That record belongs to his then teammate- the 6'4 Wade.

Just think about that...

Wade shot a shit ton of free throws because the Mavs let him in the paint every play. If they played a different team with another all time great slasher that guy would probably have the record.

[DonDadda59]

Kobe's FT shooting in his prime

01-05
21 FGA and 8.5 FTs = 2.5 shots per FT attempt

06
27 FGA and 10.2 FTs = 2.7 shots per FT attempt

07-10
21 FGA and 8.3 FTs = 2.5 shots per FT attempt


Refs may have been calling games tighter, but relative to the amount of shots he was taking, Kobe got LESS free throws in 2006 than he did for the beginning and end of his prime.



The funny thing is you highlight 05 to 06 as some major transition period where Kobe was afforded more whistles.. but he got the same amount of FTs per game in 05 as he did in 06 except on 7 less shots.

The rule changes weren't just about FTs brah. Handchecking was outlawed and the 3 second rule was instituted. That gave perimeter players unprecedented freedom and ability to get off shots/drive to the basket. The scoring explosion reflects that. No way you could argue against that with a straight face. Unless of course you believe a bunch of perimeter guys all magically had career scoring years the same season which by pure coincidence happened after the league made these rules changes in the summer.

Compare game footage from the '04 finals (one of the main catalysts for the rule changes being Bean's performance) where Kobe put up 22.6 PPG (38% FG) to the 06 ECF against the same squad when Wade put up 26.7 PPG (62% FG).

This was a top 5 Defense in '06

[tpols]

The rule changes weren't just about FTs brah. Handchecking was outlawed and the 3 second rule was instituted. That gave perimeter players unprecedented freedom and ability to get off shots/drive to the basket. The scoring explosion reflects that. No way you could argue against that with a straight face. Unless of course you believe a bunch of perimeter guys all magically had career scoring years the same season which by pure coincidence happened after the league made these rules changes in the summer.

Compare game footage from the '04 finals (one of the main catalysts for the rule changes being Bean's performance) where Kobe put up 22.6 PPG (38% FG) to the 06 ECF against the same squad when Wade put up 26.7 PPG (62% FG).

This was a top 5 Defense in '06

Kobe was still leading the league in scoring despite a bunch of players going off though.. and he scored the most points in the league the next year.. and the next year. So I dont see how leading the NBA in scoring during years where there was a tough race would be better than say now where the second leading scorer is Carmelo Anthony at 27.5 ppg. If anything its easier to lead the league now then it was then

[ImKobe]

81 points you should try it

[sportjames23]

You would be hard-pressed to find another "GOAT" with a worse supporting cast (maybe Wilt's 62-63 Warriors)...

He did about as much as anyone could have with that POS roster.

I hear tale that Lebron's 2007 cast and Duncan's 2003 cast were worse. That's what I hear.

[Artillery]

Overrated especially considering his disappointing post-season against a weak Suns team.

[HomieWeMajor]

It was just a standard "pad your stats on a poor team " season that most top 10 players have had in their career. Nuttin moe nuttin less

[ImKobe]

Overrated especially considering his disappointing post-season against a weak Suns team.

50 points 8 rebounds 5 assists in a game, where his teammates completely shat the bed at the end, when they left Nash wide open in the corner and Tim Thomas wide open from the top of the key after Nash bricked his three.

The Suns team made it to the WCF & Took the Mavs to 6 games. I wouldn't call that a weak team.

[Yao Ming's Foot]

Jordan mythologists talking about rule changes when the league went from insanely inefficient scoring leaguewide to simply innefficient scoring leaguewide.

How does 05 scoring compare to average "prime" Jordan seasons leaguewide?

[Trollsmasher]

Not as much as this year's Durant