Replace Kobe with Ray Allen on 2000-2002 Lakers, do they still win?

[iamgine]

The thing is, even if you re-run those seasons with Kobe, it's far from a guarantee they'd win a threepeat again. It took some luck to win it all three times in a row.

[HoopsNY]

They needed Kobe just to get to the Finals though in 2000. Portland was far tougher than Indiana and Kobe iced them. 2001? Kobe scored on 116 ORTG which is elite efficiency with more volume and dimes in the playoffs. Im not saying Ray is a bum playmaker but he's just not on Kobes level as a creative finisher, passer, or dribbler. Or defender.

I agree they might lose with Allen in the Portland series. Kobe was crucial, especially in games 6 and 7. So you have a point there.

[SouBeachTalents]

I agree they might lose with Allen in the Portland series. Kobe was crucial, especially in games 6 and 7. So you have a point there.

True, but the counterargument would be Kobe was pretty dreadful in the first 5 games outside of Game 3, they may not have even needed the Game 7 heroics if he doesn't have awful performances in Games 2 & 5

[ImKobe]

Allen wasn't anywhere near Kobe's level defensively nor when it came to running an offense, so it's hard to say they'd win more than one championship, even one might be a reach considering Kobe was vital for the Lakers to get past the Blazers in '00 and Spurs/Kings in '01-'02 and that Shaq never won a title without a true elite 2-way wing player who'd carry the team in crunch time. Allen's 3PT shooting combined with Shaq's dominance inside the paint could have still been enough offensively but you lose out on a lot on the other end.

[StrongLurk]

They do in 2000

[TAZORAC]

I swear some people in here are stupid as ****

Shaq was the most important player on those teams mamba

[2much_knowledge]

Thats basically throwing lockdown defense and playmaking ability out the window. Ray allen was never ever in the same level as Kobe and with Kobe, they squeaked by Portland and Sacramento.

Short answer, 1 year if any

[Lebron23]

Shaq was the most important player on those teams mamba

This Shaq put up better numbers than 2nd 3 peat Jordan

[LAL]

Would prime Kobe win 2/4 with the Heatles playing in the East?

You're lucky i didn't create a new topic about this.

[dankok8]

I think they'd win 1-2 titles in 2001 and possibly 2000 with a prime Allen in place of Kobe but it would be way more difficult.