more success with shaq from 98-04: wade vs kobe

[mehyaM24]

kobe
- better shooter, midrange player and possibly volume scorer
- horrific shot selection, monopolizes possessions, is selfish

wade
- better on ball defender, playmaker, more efficient style of play
- lazy, sits out games when he doesnt need to, streak shooter

assuming each player starts playing with shaq their rookie season, on the lakers, who has more titles when its all said and done?

[mehyaM24]

oh and FWIW, i began with 98 because i felt that was the season shaq began his prime (04/05 could be argued, in terms of his exit, but this comparison has a bit more substance with just one franchise).

[DMAVS41]

how are you doing it for Wade?

98 was Kobe's 2nd year and he still wasn't a starter. Wade's 2nd year...he was elite and one of the best players in the game.

[kuniva_dAMiGhTy]

I'd roll with Wade. His positive and negatives outweigh Kobe's.. plus I've always felt in the triangle, he would have been deadly (at least his passing would've been).

[mehyaM24]

how are you doing it for Wade?

98 was Kobe's 2nd year and he still wasn't a starter. Wade's 2nd year...he was elite and one of the best players in the game.

wade starts his rookie campaign during the 98 season, the year Shaq entered his prime.

[DMAVS41]

wade starts his rookie campaign during the 98 season, the year Shaq entered his prime.

Roughly the same. Could see 2 titles minimum. Could see 4 titles maximum...

Assuming we aren't talking about injuries here.

[Im so nba'd out]

kobe thread...

[mehyaM24]

Roughly the same. Could see 2 titles minimum. Could see 4 titles maximum...

Assuming we aren't talking about injuries here.

i see 3 or 4 titles as well, and yes, everything the same....injuries/coaches/personnel etc.

[SouBeachTalents]

Anywhere from 2-4

[T_L_P]

I think they win in 99, 00, 01 and 04 with Wade.

[chazzy]

Rookie Wade - no
2nd year Wade - hurt in the playoffs
3rd year Wade - yes
4th year Wade - injured
5th year Wade - injured
6th year Wade - close call. Both Kobe and Wade dealt with injuries in their respective playoffs

[DMAVS41]

Rookie Wade - no
2nd year Wade - hurt in the playoffs
3rd year Wade - yes
4th year Wade - injured
5th year Wade - injured
6th year Wade - close call. Both Kobe and Wade dealt with injuries in their respective playoffs

he said no injuries (I'm assuming that means when Kobe was hurt...Wade would be hurt in the hypothetical)...otherwise...you'd have to rule out his rookie year (no chance), and his 2nd, 4th, and 5th years....seems pointless to debate that. also, that is a 7 year span...

Which I believe would be Wade in 10...real possibility that 10 Wade wins with the 04 Lakers.

[royalbluecosby]

kobe
- better shooter, midrange player and possibly volume scorer
- horrific shot selection, monopolizes possessions, is selfish

wade
- better on ball defender, playmaker, more efficient style of play
- lazy, sits out games when he doesnt need to, streak shooter

assuming each player starts playing with shaq their rookie season, on the lakers, who has more titles when its all said and done?

Kobe is a better on ball defender but wade is the better help defender

[mehyaM24]

basically everything the same with the lakers. if kobe misses games, then so does wade. just common sense.

applying the same injuries wade had in miami to LA and the hypothetical is pointless.

i see that most feel that wade wins anywhere from 3 - 4 rings. dude is underrated when comparing him to kobe as players and not legacies. no doubt about it.

[DMAVS41]

basically everything the same with the lakers. if kobe misses games, then so does wade. just common sense.

applying the same injuries wade had in miami to LA and the hypothetical is pointless.

i see that most feel that wade wins anywhere from 3 - 4 rings. dude is underrated when comparing him to kobe as players and not legacies. no doubt about it.

I really don't think Wade is under-rated anymore. You won't see many balanced fans act like there is some huge difference between Kobe and Wade from 04 to the present.

The difference between them is that Kobe has had far better longevity for his career as before Wade even stepped foot on the basketball court...Kobe was a good player in 99, very good in 00...and a top 5 or so player each of the next 4 years. That 6 years is where Kobe had the edge on Wade....not from 04 to present...where this just isn't much difference either way.

04 to present...regular season:

Wade 24/5/6 57% TS
Kobe 28/6/5 56% TS

04 to present....playoffs:

Wade 23/5/5 55% TS
Kobe 28/5/5 55% TS

Any gap offensively in favor of Kobe over that time is made up by Wade playing considerably better defense most of the years in question. Like always...it remains a toss up as to who has been the best shooting guard in the NBA over the last 10 years when objectively looking at it.