Replace Larry Bird with Kobe Bryant on the 80s Celtics

[Jacks3]

2-3 titles. Kobe would destroy with the weak, pathetic defenses of the 80's.

His 30/7/6/2/1/55% TS stat-line in 03 would look more like 31/8/7/2/57% TS in the 80's.

[Scoooter]

I don't think either Mchale or Parish were the caliber of player to carry Kobe a la Shaq or Pau. No rings.

[BEAST Griffin]

He'd win 1 ring and then destroy the team's chemistry

[OldSchoolBBall]

1-2 rings. I don't even think they make the Finals some years Boston did. Kobe is not as good as Bird, and doesn't do as many of the little things that help to win games. He doesn't infuse Boston with his gritty, hustling, team-first character the way Bird did because he simply is not as gritty or hustling or team-first.

[IGOTGAME]

I don't think either Mchale or Parish were the caliber of player to carry Kobe a la Shaq or Pau. No rings.

[jlauber]

I'll say the same thing I said for Dirk. Given the year-by-year comparison, i.e. 97 Kobe on the 80 Celtics, 98 Kobe on the 81 Celtics, etc. (and I'll even consider the fact that he plays longer and put 2010 and 2011 Kobe on the 1993 and 1994 Celtics) and he wins 1 title in 1986 (2003 Kobe).

Bird won his first title at age 24, and was nowhere near the pure scorer that Kobe was at 24 ...ANYTIME in his career, much less at 24. IMHO, Kobe wins in '81 at 24 (especially against the 40-42 Rockets.). At age 27 Kobe had surpassed Bird as a pure offensive machine (35.4 ppg in a league that averaged 97.0 ppg), and with the same luck that Bird's Celtics had in '84, Kobe wins #2. In '86, and with the Rockets shocking the Lakers, a 29 year old Kobe probably wins #3, again, playing against a 51-31 Rockets team. The real question would be how much better Kobe would have played in the post-seasons at age 30, and 31... BUT, I don't see Kobe taking the Celtics in '87 any further than Bird did. Those Lakers were CLEARLY a better team than the '87 Celtics. And while Bird choked against the Pistons in '88, I don't think a better Kobe would have beaten the Pistons, much less Magic's Lakers.

Probably as many as Bird, and in the same seasons...

[Da Heroic One]

They'd win 3-4 rings. I don't think epople realize how close this comparison is and how neither Bird or Kobe should be insulted if one is considered better or greater than the other.

[Jacks3]

http://www.backpicks.com/2011/06/29/...tition-part-i/

Absolutely laughable how much better the defenses Kobe has seen in the PS are.

[The-Legend-24]

If the celtics won 3 rings with Bird, with Kobe they win 4 maybe even 5.

[G-Funk]

1-2 rings. I don't even think they make the Finals some years Boston did. Kobe is not as good as Bird, and doesn't do as many of the little things that help to win games. He doesn't infuse Boston with his gritty, hustling, team-first character the way Bird did because he simply is not as gritty or hustling or team-first.

I dont think he needs to be all that! he led his team to 5 tittles, his way!

[G-Funk]

He'd win 1 ring and then destroy the team's chemistry

Just like he destroyed this repeat team?

[ballerz]

I don't see how kobe makes this team better because bird can score and pass as well as kobe

[Jacks3]

lol @ bird being a better scorer.

[All Net]

I would say 3 but 4 is possible

[Rnbizzle]

Kobe > Bird.