2005-2006 and 2006-2007 Kobe with Pau

[DMAVS41]

Obviously we are talking hypotheticals here.

I will still take Kobe, Pau, Odom and Fisher from 06-10 over Duncan, Manu, Parker and Bowen any day of the week.

Specially when you consider we are talking about 06-07 Kobe here. The human torch.

Well, I'd definitely take them from 08 through 10.

Absolutely not in 06. The Spurs were great in 06...the 06 Lakers with Gasol are still not on the caliber of the 06 Spurs. That doesn't mean they couldn't upset them or win, but it would have been damn tough.

They have a much better chance in 07...I totally agree with you there.

[PickernRoller]

Well, I'd definitely take them from 08 through 10.

Absolutely not in 06. The Spurs were great in 06...the 06 Lakers with Gasol are still not on the caliber of the 06 Spurs. That doesn't mean they couldn't upset them or win, but it would have been damn tough.

They have a much better chance in 07...I totally agree with you there.

It's a big hypothetical, no right or wrong answer other than informed speculation.

It would have depended on playoff seeding too. For a second imagine the Mavs and the Spurs in the same bracket. If we go by what happened in the West that year the Mavs beat the Spurs. Lakers beating the Mavs would of been an easier task given the match ups.

A lot of "If"

[DMAVS41]

It's a big hypothetical, no right or wrong answer other than informed speculation.

It would have depended on playoff seeding too. For a second imagine the Mavs and the Spurs in the same bracket. If we go by what happened in the West that year the Mavs beat the Spurs. Lakers beating the Mavs would of been an easier task given the match ups.

A lot of "If"

Yea, but even then, you have to beat the Heat in the finals. And I'm not willing to just grant a for sure win over the Mavs either...

Both are not impossible or for sure, but the road in 07 was most likely going to be far easier.

[tpols]

so basically competition on par with 08-10.. slightly harder western conference but easier Finals (C's>cavs and heat), except kobe is peaking instead of being at the end of his prime.. nothing short of championships would be a failure.

Its the same team.. Kobe/Pau/Odom + shooters except Kobe is better in those years and pau wouldve been about the same in that second option role.

[BlackVVaves]

A more interesting and realistic hypothetical, as it was rumored at the time, is what if the Lakers would have bit the bullet for trading him within the same conference, and had sent Shaq to Dallas for Dirk?

[PickernRoller]

A more interesting and realistic hypothetical, as it was rumored at the time, is what if the Lakers would have bit the bullet for trading him within the same conference, and had sent Shaq to Dallas for Dirk?

06-10 sweep without a question.

[BlackVVaves]

06-10 sweep without a question.

LoL, don't know about a 5 peat brother, but definitely dominates that time frame. More importantly, 2011 would have also possibly ended different for the Lakers.

Say Dirk gets 3-4 rings playing alongside Kobe. Is he Top 8?

[DMAVS41]

so basically competition on par with 08-10.. slightly harder western conference but easier Finals (C's>cavs and heat), except kobe is peaking instead of being at the end of his prime.. nothing short of championships would be a failure.

Its the same team.. Kobe/Pau/Odom + shooters except Kobe is better in those years and pau wouldve been about the same in that second option role.

Well yea...but we are only talking about two years here...06 and 07.

06 is certainly harder than 07.

Also, the 06 Heat were better than the 09 Magic...considerably better in my opinion.

06 would be something like a 30% chance depending on the road. Could easily have to beat the Mavs, Spurs, and then the Heat. That is one of the toughest roads ever.

07 would be easier, but there were still 3 solid teams in the conference in the Mavs, Suns, and Spurs. But you are obviously right about the finals being a joke.

So it would depend on the seedings and road to get through the conference in 06. If they have to beat the Mavs, Spurs, and Heat...I don't give them a great chance.

Better chance in 07, but if they'd still have to beat a 07 Spurs team that was just better than the 08 team. The 07 Spurs played better defense and offense than the 08 team. It's hardly a sure thing.

The 07 Spurs, in my opinion, have become a bit undervalued here. And I think it's mainly because of the weak competition in the finals and with the Mavs getting upset.

They had an expected record of 64-18 and had the 5th best offense and 2nd best defense in the league. And they were healthy pretty much start to finish iirc. That team was better than a lot remember...

[DMAVS41]

06-10 sweep without a question.

Nah, they could have still lost to the 06/07 Spurs and the 08 Celtics.

They win at least 3 titles from 06 through 10 though...with the potential of 4.

If you did it from 06 through 11...I think they win 4.

Kobe is top 3 all time and Dirk would be top 8...LOL at how different NBA history would be.

[K Xerxes]

Nice hypothetical. I can think of an even better one. Garnett doesn't get injured and the Celtics 3 peat. Kobe's legacy ends with no FMVPs and Garnett is probably seen as all time better.

In all seriousness though, statements like 'they would have won easily every year' is just absurd. Best case scenario is they win 06 and 07. They're not beating the Boston Big 3 in 2008, but they still make the finals. You're looking at them making 5 straight finals in the 06-10 period and that's a lot to ask. Just look at how tired the Heat look in their quest for a 4th straight final.

[DMAVS41]

Nice hypothetical. I can think of an even better one. Garnett doesn't get injured and the Celtics 3 peat. Kobe's legacy ends with no FMVPs and Garnett is probably seen as all time better.

In all seriousness though, statements like 'they would have won easily every year' is just absurd. Best case scenario is they win 06 and 07. They're not beating the Boston Big 3 in 2008, but they still make the finals. You're looking at them making 5 straight finals in the 06-10 period and that's a lot to ask. Just look at how tired the Heat look in their quest for a 4th straight final.

For sure about KG. Shit, they were up 3-2 on the Magic without him.

One thing is for sure, the Finals in 09 would have been legendary either way with a healthy KG. It would have either been Lebron vs Kobe...or the rematch Lakers vs Celtics.

We really got robbed of a historic finals in 09 with the KG injury...

[TheMarkMadsen]

Kobe & Dirk from 06-11 is 4 titles. 06 & 07, 09, 10. Possibly 11 but by then they both would have been pretty fatigued.

Good luck closing out a team that has dirk and Kobe in crunch time.

[DMAVS41]

Kobe & Dirk from 06-11 is 4 titles. 06 & 07, 09, 10. Possibly 11 but by then they both would have been pretty fatigued.

Good luck closing out a team that has dirk and Kobe in crunch time.

Could you imagine? Imagine all the wide open shots Dirk would get playing with Kobe.

And conversely, imagine how much space Kobe would have to work with...with Dirk drawing a big 25 feet from the basket.

Imagine the pick and roll!

So sick...

[BlackVVaves]

Nah, they could have still lost to the 06/07 Spurs and the 08 Celtics.

They win at least 3 titles from 06 through 10 though...with the potential of 4.

If you did it from 06 through 11...I think they win 4.

Kobe is top 3 all time and Dirk would be top 8...LOL at how different NBA history would be.

This is what I think as well. Spurs and Celtics would still qualify as formidable opponents.

Man, shit would have changed NBA history. Kind of like if Barkley had gone to LA in the late 80s like it was rumored back then.

[TheMarkMadsen]

Could you imagine? Imagine all the wide open shots Dirk would get playing with Kobe.

And conversely, imagine how much space Kobe would have to work with...with Dirk drawing a big 25 feet from the basket.

Imagine the pick and roll!

So sick...

It would have been incredible. And unlike the super teams of today, I don't see Dirk or Kobe having to sacrifice their individual success to be able to work together.

Obviously Kobe doesn't average 35ppg but I could see Kobe averaging 27-30 while Dirk averages 25-27 for some of those years and possibly splitting MVPS in 06 & 07