Better NBA Finals: Jordan in '96 or Kobe in 2010

[ProfessorMurder]

Hmm let's see...

The Bulls won in 6. Lakers in 7 (because the Celtics collapsed).

The Sonics were the second best team in the league. The Celtics were tied for 9th in the league.

Jordan was guarded by one of the GOAT perimeter defenders in a prime GP. Kobe was guarded by old Ray Allen and Tony Allen (who played less than 15mpg).


Yeah, Jordan.

[SamuraiSWISH]

Both players faced fantastic teams, and defenses these season.

While Kobe's stat line is marginally better. Context however says Jordan. Who faced superior man defenders @ his position in Nate McMillan, and especially Gary Payton ... one of the all-time great defenders.

Jordan was fantastic in game 3 in Seattle, which in essence ended the series with a 3-0 series lead. The Bulls collectively took their foot off the pedal for two games, then sealed the deal in Chicago for game 6. So by the time MJ was having his worst games, the series was all but over.

Plus nearly everyone shot bad for Chicago. Rodman was critical on the offensive boards, but was still non existent on the score board for that end of the floor. So MVP is out of the question for contrarians, Jordan haters, or LeBron stans. MJ was the best player on both sides of the floor, and took over in the most critical game of the series on the road in Seattle.

So I basically consider this a draw, slight edge to Kobe. But with context? Definitely Jordan. MJ's worst Finals performance by far though. He was missing so many jumpers he was routinely hitting.

If I rank both MJ, and Kobe's Finals performances:

1) '93 MJ - W FMVP
2) '91 MJ - W FMVP
3) '92 MJ - W FMVP
4) '97 MJ - W FMVP
5) 2009 Kobe - W FMVP

6) 2001 Kobe - W
7) '98 MJ - W FMVP
8) '96 Jordan - W FMVP
9) 2010 Kobe - W FMVP
10) 2002 Kobe - W

11) 2008 Kobe - L
12) 2000 Kobe - W
13) 2004 Kobe - L

[riseagainst]

Hmm let's see...

The Bulls won in 6. Lakers in 7 (because the Celtics collapsed).

The Sonics were the second best team in the league. The Celtics were tied for 9th in the league.

Jordan was guarded by one of the GOAT perimeter defenders in a prime GP. Kobe was guarded by old Ray Allen and Tony Allen (who played less than 15mpg).


Yeah, Jordan.

[SouBeachTalents]

Not sure what's so funny about this. Seattle went 64-18, had two players in Payton & Kemp finish in the top 10 in MVP voting and make All-NBA 2nd teams, Payton was the DPOY of the year, and even Schrempf made the All-NBA 3rd team

[ArbitraryWater]

My bad man sorry. I'm little pissed off ATM.

Got y'all panties in a bunch

[ProfessorMurder]

Not sure what's so funny about this. Seattle went 64-18, had two players in Payton & Kemp finish in the top 10 in MVP voting and make All-NBA 2nd teams, Payton was the DPOY of the year, and even Schrempf made the All-NBA 3rd team

Yeah and apparently overall record doesn't mean anything.

[riseagainst]

Yeah and apparently overall record doesn't mean anything.

right, and the 2001 Lakers (2nd best team by your standards) just happened to sweep the best team, 3rd best team, and backdoor sweep the 2nd best team.

[The_Pharcyde]

right, and the 2001 Lakers (2nd best team by your standards) just happened to sweep the best team, 3rd best team, and backdoor sweep the 2nd best team.

Okay enough with dodging the argument, who is 2nd beat team in 1996?
The magic? Who the bulls swept
Or the 1996 jazz who the bulls beat in the finals the next 2 years