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Despite facing lower league-wide DRtg, MJ put up better stats during his SECOND 3-peat than Kobe's prime/MVP years (2008-2010) when he was #1 option..
Here are the league-wide DRtg's from 1996-1998 vs. 2008-2010: [/COLOR]
League-Wide DRtg in Regular Season:
1996: 107.6
1997: 106.7
1998: 105.0
2008: 107.5
2009: 108.3
2010: 107.6
Source:
http://www.basketball-reference.com/...NBA_stats.html
League-Wide DRtg in Playoffs (each year is link to source):
1996: 107.4
1997: 106.8
1998: 105.6
2008: 107.4
2009: 107.7
2010: 108.6
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But despite facing lower DRtg defenses, MJ still put up better stats: [/COLOR]
REGULAR SEASON - 1996-1998 vs. 2008-2010
MJ:[COLOR="White"]...[/COLOR] 29.6 ppg.. 48.2% fg.. 2 MVP
Kobe: 27.4 ppg.. 46.1% fg.. 1 MVP
PLAYOFFS:
MJ:[COLOR="White"]...[/COLOR] 31.4 ppg.. 45.9% fg
Kobe: 29.8 ppg.. 46.4% fg
FINALS
MJ:[COLOR="White"]...[/COLOR] 31.1 ppg.. 43.4% fg.. 3 FMVP
Kobe: 29.2 ppg.. 41.3% fg.. 2 FMVP
Source: basketball-reference.com
At 33-35 years old, MJ had better stats against better defenses than 29-31 year-old Kobe - these were Kobe's prime and MVP years as a #1 option (post-Shaq)..
Also, 1998 Utah Jazz had a lower DRtg in the playoffs (100.3) than any team Kobe ever faced as the #1 option (post-Shaq)..
So as the #1 option, it was JORDAN who faced the toughest defense from an individual team, not Kobe.. Of course, this is no surprise, since again, the stats show MJ faced the lower
league-wide DRtg in both the regular season and playoffs.
Imagine if we DIDN'T give Kobe a head start and actually peak at MJ's prime instead of his old man stats??.. Better not..
.. It's amazing how much better MJ was than Kobe..
.