What is Kobe's legacy if he beats Miami's big 3 in the finals?

[PowerGlove]

Only one year?

It depends on what happens after. If Lebron/Wade and Co dominate the league winning 5+ titles the rest of the way, I think it will boost him up a little. Maybe to the six spot, but if he wins multiple times, he's top five no question.

[Andrei89]

If he averages above 25 points above 5 assist and 5 rebounds + 2 steals + shoots above 45% and they win = GOAT

we'l see

[tpols]

Huh everyone talking about how the Lakers frontcourt its the main reason why Lakers are still favorite and (some say) will destroy the Miami Heat ....and Kobe would be top 5 because of that? .Just like the other 5 Kobe rings, its an amazing player on a amazing loaded team. Winning another ring on this situation doesnt make him better than 5 years ago when he was playing with Smush Parker's.

What? So adding rings to your resume as the man doesn't boost your legacy? Especially against the most stacked team of the last twenty years in terms of raw talent? Name another team since magic's era that had the best player in the league, the 2nd/3rd best player in the league, and the second best PF in the league on the same team. You can't. If kobe plays well against them and wins another ring he's top 5.

[Bring-Your-Js]

The second fiddle argument is rather weak IMO. The only season it's even arguable from my point of view is 2000, when Kobe became a 22+ ppg scorer and sprained his ankle in the Finals against Indiana. What's my argument?

Wade 06 playoffs: 28.4 ppg/5.9 rpg/5.7 apg

Kobe 2001: 29.4 ppg/7.3 rpg/6.1 apg
Kobe 2002: 26.6 ppg/5.8 rpg/4.6 apg

So basically, Kobe as a sidekick is equivalent to Wade's most heralded playoff run as the Man? Ridiculous.

Finals are what kill Kobe's chances and any non-homer will admit this. However, even that is vastly overstated. You hear much about 2000 and 2004 and nothing of 2002 when he averaged 27 ppg on 52%. People downplay an otherwise impressive 32/5/7 2009 Finals against Orlando, the No. 1 ranked defense in the league that year. They'll also claim 2010 as the "worst ever". Ridiculous. Compare to Jordan's '96 Finals.

MJ's first 3peat sets him well apart, however.

[NuggetsFan]

It's all about how he plays. If Miami dominates this year and meets L.A in the finals and Kobe actually has a GREAT finals it would be extremely good for his legacy. If he shoots 38% and scores like 26 points and It's a TEAM effort than obviously it's still great cause he got his 6th ring but wouldn't be the same thing IMO.

Kobe's legacy is in a great situation tho. He's just got to the run with it.

[rzp]

What? So adding rings to your resume as the man doesn't boost your legacy? Especially against the most stacked team of the last twenty years in terms of raw talent? Name another team since magic's era that had the best player in the league, the 2nd/3rd best player in the league, and the second best PF in the league on the same team. You can't. If kobe plays well against them and wins another ring he's top 5.

Adding rings to boost your legacy its a matter of situation, its about domination, how the player embarass the oponent...people say Wilt its a top-3 even with 2 ring, one as sidekick, some people say Hakeem its ahead of Shaq even with half of his rings. TD legacy its highly boosted because he dominated and won it all with young Parker and Manu. MJ won 6 times without a dominant frontcourt. Kobe never dominated like that, actually he sucked big time on many finals, u can't put automatically him at top five just counting his rings as a 25-5-5 player (just to turn off that Robert Horry bs).
About the bolded, 2004 lakers say hi (not only more raw talent but also mutch more balance)...

[thomaspynchon]

Well, first off, the Lakers win more often in spite of Kobe than due to Kobe.

Second, nobody knows how good the Heat will be.

Third, to many people, Kobe's legacy will be that of someone who so thoroughly trashed his teammates, ownership, and organization (admitted implicity he wasn't good enough) that he was able to receive an illicit trade that was able to get him championships.

[rzp]

Wade 06 playoffs: 28.4 ppg/5.9 rpg/5.7 apg

Kobe 2001: 29.4 ppg/7.3 rpg/6.1 apg
Kobe 2002: 26.6 ppg/5.8 rpg/4.6 apg

So basically, Kobe as a sidekick is equivalent to Wade's most heralded playoff run as the Man? Ridiculous.

No its not ridiculous... check Miami's second best scorer numbers.

Then check the freakin insane Lakers Shaq's numbers.

Wade carried the team, Kobe not. Thats the little difference

Kobe never carried the team in his 5 rings btw.

[chazzy]

It really comes down to how he plays, like Nuggetsfan said. It's a boost either way, but a bigger one if he has an incredible series.

Well, first off, the Lakers win more often in spite of Kobe than due to Kobe.

Second, nobody knows how good the Heat will be.

Third, to many people, Kobe's legacy will be that of someone who so thoroughly trashed his teammates, ownership, and organization (admitted implicity he wasn't good enough) that he was able to receive an illicit trade that was able to get him championships.

Strong first post

[G-Funk]

Huh everyone talking about how the Lakers frontcourt its the main reason why Lakers are still favorite and (some say) will destroy the Miami Heat ....and Kobe would be top 5 because of that? .Just like the other 5 Kobe rings, its an amazing player on a amazing loaded team. Winning another ring on this situation doesnt make him better than 5 years ago when he was playing with Smush Parker's.

wtf? In that case Wade was a player who happend to play on a loaded team. So if he wins 3 more he gets no credit for playing along side James,Bosh. Lebron shouldnt either, Oh and tell Magic and Kareem to return their rings for playing in loaded teams, tell that to MJ as well. Oh and Don't forget Bill Russell. BTW Wlit didn;t win until he was in a loaded team.

[baseketball4life]

His legacy is what it is right now, the best player of his generation easily.

[rezznor]

[thomaspynchon]

It really comes down to how he plays, like Nuggetsfan said. It's a boost either way, but a bigger one if he has an incredible series.



Strong first post

Sorry, I have posted here before but lost my account info.

But I don't see how you (presumably a Kobe/Lakers fan) can explain away a 6-24 performance in a Finals Game 7. The only difference between Kobe and guys like Dirk and Lebron are his teammates (although Lebron no longer has this excuse).

[tpols]

You realize this is dissing lebron right?

[TROLL_HUNTER]

Well, the thread title starts from a wrong standpoint:

either its Kobe vs Lebron or its Kobe AND Gasol vs the Big Three

Kobe 's nutters make it sound as if it were Kobe standing up against the whole Miami team on his own and THAT FAILS