From 08-10 who was better Kobe or LeBron

[SouBeachTalents]

Kobe was better in '08, LeBron was better in '09 & '10. I feel like that 2 season stretch has almost become underrated since fans discount seasons that players didn't win championships, but LeBron was phenomenal over those two years minus the last 3 games against Boston.

[ImKobe]

tatum is contending for top 5 in many impact metrics, you're only looking at tatum's box score stats which arent that impressive but his impact is high a lot of because of his defense. That's something that gets overlooked, lebron being much better on defense than kobe in 09-10 too.

Lebron had his flaws back then and bad series but a big reason he didnt make the finals was he ran into better teams. There's no universe where you can argue kobe didnt have a significantly better supporting cast. Comparing lebron/kobe from 09-10 is not far off from comparing giannis and tatum this year(yes that's how dominant lebron was in 09/10). Ik giannis lost and had a meh series vs bostpn while tatum made the finals but it doesnt matter, giannis is just better

Nah, like JT's numbers are actually mid if we're trying to put him at a top 5 level. He's a really good defender but not even the best defensive player on his own team, and his numbers are a little better than Jaylen's as he's more of a playmaker & a better ballhandler, but their consistency on offense is about the same. KB's raw and advanced numbers were superstar level, and while Bran did more & played more minutes as that's how his team played, it did not work to the benefit of his teams. We've had this argument with Luka in these POs (even though I'm a Luka defender) and it really depends on match-ups and how the opposing team is choosing to play defense. KB played off-ball a lot more and his usage numbers were lower so his numbers weren't as flashy, but they were still ATG in a historical context and led to more wins.

Lebron was a better help defender but Kobe was better 1 on 1, some of the advanced metrics can get out of whack when a team is heavily reliant on one player, like we saw with Jokic this season.

Lebron had monster averages in the '09 Playoffs, but KB had the better On/Off and RAPM numbers. Sometimes sharing the ball isn't a bad thing, and teams did play Bran in single coverage in order to tire him out and not get his teammates as many open looks while KB was more of a play finisher like a 2nd 3-Peat Jordan and played within a team concept.

[Phoenix]

This is one of the most obvious 'you can expect A,B,C poster to answer Kobe and X,Y, Z poster to answer Lebron' questions in existence.

[ShawkFactory]

This is one of the most obvious 'you can expect A,B,C poster to answer Kobe and X,Y, Z poster to answer Lebron' questions in existence.

Seriously.

Anyone who says it’s easily either is dumb.

[NBAGOAT]

Nah, like JT's numbers are actually mid if we're trying to put him at a top 5 level. He's a really good defender but not even the best defensive player on his own team, and his numbers are a little better than Jaylen's as he's more of a playmaker & a better ballhandler, but their consistency on offense is about the same. KB's raw and advanced numbers were superstar level, and while Bran did more & played more minutes as that's how his team played, it did not work to the benefit of his teams. We've had this argument with Luka in these POs (even though I'm a Luka defender) and it really depends on match-ups and how the opposing team is choosing to play defense. KB played off-ball a lot more and his usage numbers were lower so his numbers weren't as flashy, but they were still ATG in a historical context and led to more wins.

Lebron was a better help defender but Kobe was better 1 on 1, some of the advanced metrics can get out of whack when a team is heavily reliant on one player, like we saw with Jokic this season.

Lebron had monster averages in the '09 Playoffs, but KB had the better On/Off and RAPM numbers. Sometimes sharing the ball isn't a bad thing, and teams did play Bran in single coverage in order to tire him out and not get his teammates as many open looks while KB was more of a play finisher like a 2nd 3-Peat Jordan and played within a team concept.

You can’t really use rapm for the playoffs, it’s a great stat but best used for looking at multiple regular seasons, sample size is too small. It wasn’t just advanced metrics, that was the common opinion too for the defense. Personally I can’t disagree with what you said I just think brons edge as a help defender is a lot bigger.

I would argue how lebron and Luka played was to the benefit of the team as the offensive talent on their team wasn’t there. Equal opportunity offenses are usually superior but don’t think they work well on not talented teams. I’ll ask you or anyone else to name a roster with one superstar and pure role players besides 1 or 2 guys that had great success and shared the ball and used their top guy as a play finisher predominately instead of feeding their top guy and asking him to create. I can’t think of one. Like the 94 rockets didn’t play around a ball handler but same idea. They fed hakeem in the post and he kicked out to others when doubled, it wasn’t anything like the current warriors or 14 spurs or any of Jackson’s title teams

[3ba11]

Kobe in 08 and 09. Bron in 10

After wetting the bed against the 08' Celtics (26 on 35%), Lebron averaged 21 on 34% to lose a 2-1 lead to the 10' Celtics - that means Kobe was better - mentally stronger and knew how to win.

So the 2011 Finals wasn't a one-off - Lebron consistently wet the bed against top teams from 07-11'.. he was nowhere near Kobe

[Wally450]

'08 - Kobe
'09 - LeBron
'10 - LeBron

Here's your answer folks.

[kawhileonard2]

'08 - Kobe
'09 - Kobe
'10 - Kobe

Lebron was losing with HCA to inferior teams that Kobe beat.

[ShawkFactory]

After wetting the bed against the 08' Celtics (26 on 35%), Lebron averaged 21 on 34% to lose a 2-1 lead to the 10' Celtics - that means Kobe was better - mentally stronger and knew how to win.

So the 2011 Finals wasn't a one-off - Lebron consistently wet the bed against top teams from 07-11'.. he was nowhere near Kobe

Bro Lebron won MVP in 2009 and I still took Kobe.

He was better in 2010. An overall more impactful and stronger player. Jumper started to come around slightly more that year. The bed-wetting he absolutely did in the last 3 games were due to extraneous factors. When he was engaged he dominated the Celtics in a way that Kobe wasn’t capable of at that time.

[RRR3]

Seriously.

Anyone who says it’s easily either is dumb.

It’s easily Kobe in 2008 and easily LeBron in 09 and 10. Simple.

[ShawkFactory]

It’s easily Kobe in 2008 and easily LeBron in 09 and 10. Simple.

No it isn’t simple. With my life on the line in 2009 I’m taking Kobe.

He started to decline a little bit in 2010 and Lebron surpassed him. Kinda like Giannis and KD right now. This time last year I’m probably taking KD but now it’s Giannis.

[3ba11]

Bro Lebron won MVP in 2009 and I still took Kobe.

He was better in 2010. An overall more impactful and stronger player. Jumper started to come around slightly more that year. The bed-wetting he absolutely did in the last 3 games were due to extraneous factors. When he was engaged he dominated the Celtics in a way that Kobe wasn’t capable of at that time.

2007 Finals..... 22 on 35%
2008 ECSF....... 26 on 35%
2010 ECSF....... 21 on 34% (last 3 games)
2011 Finals..... 18 ppg

Lebron's horrific performance each year against the top teams confirms that he was nowhere near Kobe

Even in 2009, he confirmed that he isn't good enough to beat a top 5 SRS opponent with poor scoring and efficiency from a sidekick (like Mo's 18 on 37%).. Lebron can't beat good teams with bed-wetting teammates because his high scoring levels are too ball-dominant to beat good teams.. He can only beat Finals teams with near-equal-scoring partners because his own high scoring levels are too ball-dominant... He needs to "tone it down" and have an equal-scoring partner - he can't just score a ton and have it be a winning brand of ball like Kobe/MJ

[Axe]

2007 Finals..... 22 on 35%
2008 ECSF....... 26 on 35%
2010 ECSF....... 21 on 34% (last 3 games)
2011 Finals..... 18 ppg

Lebron's horrific performance each year against the top teams confirms that he was nowhere near Kobe

Even in 2009, he confirmed that he isn't good enough to beat a top 5 SRS opponent with poor scoring and efficiency from a sidekick (like Mo's 18 on 37%).. Lebron can't beat good teams with bed-wetting teammates because his high scoring levels are too ball-dominant to beat good teams.. He can only beat Finals teams with near-equal-scoring partners because his own high scoring levels are too ball-dominant... He needs to "tone it down" and have an equal-scoring partner - he can't just score a ton and have it be a winning brand of ball like Kobe/MJ

[ShawkFactory]

2007 Finals..... 22 on 35%
2008 ECSF....... 26 on 35%
2010 ECSF....... 21 on 34% (last 3 games)
2011 Finals..... 18 ppg

Lebron's horrific performance each year against the top teams confirms that he was nowhere near Kobe

Even in 2009, he confirmed that he isn't good enough to beat a top 5 SRS opponent with poor scoring and efficiency from a sidekick (like Mo's 18 on 37%).. Lebron can't beat good teams with bed-wetting teammates because his high scoring levels are too ball-dominant to beat good teams.. He can only beat Finals teams with near-equal-scoring partners because his own high scoring levels are too ball-dominant... He needs to "tone it down" and have an equal-scoring partner - he can't just score a ton and have it be a winning brand of ball like Kobe/MJ

I already have stated that I thought Kobe was ultimately better in 2009. You having to formulate the argument based on what you need isn’t healthy for anyone.

[Cold soul]

Kobe was better than Lebron from 08-10 winning MVP in 08 and back to back FMVP in 09-10 takes this over Lebron just better playoff runs and success.