The Shaq and Kobe feud is now back. All the talk has been about how Kobe can't win without Shaq. O'Neal won without Kobe in 2006, but Kobe has yet to win a championship. However, Shaq didn't REALLY win anything without Kobe. Kobe has never had a big man in the middle since Shaq left.
He's never had any help, except this year. Shaq, on the other hand, had the second reincarnation of Kobe - Dwayne Wade. Wade was one of the best players in the league during their championship run at the same position Bryant played with the Lakers. How can anyone say, "Shaq won without Kobe?"
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He didn't. Shaq had even better production at the guard position in Miami than he did with Kobe. Over the three seasons that Kobe and Shaq won NBA titles, Kobe averaged 25.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 5.1 apg during the regular seasons. In Wade's NBA title season with Shaq, Wade averaged 27.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg and 5.7 apg.
Wade had better production in all three major categories. However, what about during the playoffs, you ask? During the three runs for the Lakers, Kobe averaged 25.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 5 apg. Wade - 28.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg and 5.7 apg. Again, Wade better in all three major categories.
Dwayne Wade gave Shaq even a better outside presence in Miami than Kobe did in LA. Never did Shaq win anything by himself. Kobe, however, has not had even close to the same inside production since Shaq left. In addition, the one-year he did (this year), he went to the NBA finals. I'm sick of hearing that Kobe can't win without Shaq, but Shaq can win without Kobe. Shaq DID win in Miami with Kobe - Dwayne Wade.
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2 months ago
your whole article is moot because kobe had pau gasol who did a houdini-like disappearing act in the finals. bottom line: shaq made the most of his most recent stint in the finals. kobe didn't
from 2 months ago
I noted this year in the article, and said now that Kobe actually has someone to play with, they went to the finals. Shaq is a hall of fame player and will be known as one of the best big man to ever play the game, there is no way you can compare Gasol to Shaq and say Kobe had his chance. The two are not even close to being equal, where as Wade and Kobe were.
2 months ago
Wonderful article Alex. It's pathetic how some people think Kobe had absolutely nothing to do with those Championships. To here he haters tell it, Kobe was just some player who happened to be on the team when they won Absolutely pathetic. Keep these articles coming
2 months ago
sorry but just because dwayne wade had a big year that season doesn't mean he's comparable to kobe
from 2 months ago
Career wise, are Kobe and Wade comparable? No way. Not even close. Kobe is light years ahead of Dwayne, especially since Wade hasn't been the all-star player the last two years. But, when talking about Shaq winning championships... they most certainly are comparable. It is not unreasonable to compare the stats of two all star players that play the same position. Is Wade better than Kobe? Not right now. But during that season, he was certainly right there with him. Not anymore.
2 months ago
shaquille o'neal has taken 3 guards to the finals. thats right 3. do any of you people remember a young shaq with Penny Hardaway another guard who got all the glory but fell off the map when shaq was traded to l.a. just accept the fact he is the MOST DOMINANT BIG MAN EVER u haters1
from 2 months ago
i'm not taking anything away from shaq because i agree he is definitely one of the most dominant centers in history, but saying shaq took 3 guards to the finals is completely wrong. those 3 guards, arguably in the class of most talented guards in history (penny's career got cut short due to injuries, kobe still is, and wade had his moment and still could come back), equally took shaq's fatass to the finals. do you really think if shaq didn't have somebody like penny, kobe, or wade, he would even sniff the finals? too much credit is given to shaq and too little to the equally responsible guards. remember, before kobe started getting major playing time in his 3rd season and before jackson came as coach, the lakers were constantly kicked out of the 2nd or 3rd round in the playoffs when shaq was running the team. shaq NEEDED kobe just as much as kobe NEEDED shaq.
2 months ago
During the Heat's 2006 championship run, Shaq contributed about as much as lamar odom did this year for the lakers. 13 points, 10 rebounds a game. If it weren't for d wade there is no way in hell the heat would have won that series. Shaq takes way too much credit for something that he was really not a part of. 13 and 10 aren't dominant big man numbers, he is just lucky d wade stepped it up to a kobe-esque level in the finals. If not, Shaq would still be looking for his first ring since the lakers dynasty.
2 months ago
Wait a minute.
"Kobe Bryant" IS NOT "Dwayne Wade."
Just as "up" IS NOT "down" and "left" IS NOT "right!"
Neither is George Clinton Bill Clinton, nor George Washington Theotis Washington!
What utter nonsense the writer of this blog has written.
I just surfed in here trying to gather more info about the feud between Kobe & Shaq. I'll just surf right on out of here to, hopefully, never come back. See ya!
from 2 months ago
When Wade bust on to the scene as one of the best players in the game at a young age, he wasn't comparable to Kobe? He was most certainly on that track, now he's off. I believe I showed the numbers, too. So surf right out, and dont let the door hit you on the ass! We're not gonna miss you.
2 months ago
wow are you really tyring to say Shaq aint great!
get a life dude.
SHaq's been there without kobe.
kobe aint done that.
he disappeared in the finals.
and when your leader disappears, your team disappears.
it's kobe's team right? he's been telling us that all year.
then lay the blame where it belongs.
KOBE CANT GET IT DONE!
(that changes when he does but until now ive seen him quit in 3 playoff runns)
period.
from 2 months ago
I'm not saying Shaq isn't great. I'm not saying Kobe can get it done, because he just proved he can't. What I am saying, is that Shaq had a VERY good guard to team up with in the finals and its not fair to say Shaq can win without Kobe.
2 months ago
wow!!! You're missing the point, the reason people say Kobe can't win without Shaq and not the other way aorund, is because when the lakers won their championships, Shaq was Batman and Kobe was robin. Shaq won those three finals mvps, while getting doubled and tripled team while Kobe had great robin statistics being free because shaq was getting so much attention. Shaq in his prime was unstoppable, so those 3 titles really belong to Shaq. Even if Shaq never won in miami, and he did( by the way he may have had Lamar odom like never, but Lmar Odom wasn't being double team and Shaq was) Kobe would still have to prove that he could be batman on his own team and win without Shaq.
I just think people put to much emphasis on titles, its not about the titles, its about how you win the titles. I think that the lakers wouldn't have a couple of those title without Horry or Fsher, does that mean that because fisher hasn't won a title since, that we are going to say he can't win without Shaq. Because Horry has are we going to say he can with without shaq. no it's jsut stupid, who cares about just winning a title. It's how you win it that counts. Shaq never in my opinion needed to prove he couldn't do it on his own when he's the one completley dominating and winning three straight finals mvp's. Kobe, the one who shot 37% in the nba finals in 2004, while attempting twice as much shots as a 26 ppg, 60% shooting Shaq, is the one who needs to prove he can be batman. He failed this year. If you compare Kobe's finals numbers to Shaq, it amazing how much better shaqs is.
2 months ago
ust think about it this way, I looked at the records of the lakers back in the day with Shaq playing and not Kobe and with Kobe and not Shaq, and with just Shaq the lakers record stayed around the same, but without shaq and just kobe, they were a .500 team. Look at old video tape and notice how when Kobe was out of the game the lakers played the same and when Shaq was out they weren't effective.
keep reading below!
Now in my opinion the most important players on those team besides Shaq were the three point shooters, like Fox, Horry, Fisher, because when Shaq was being double teamed, he would have people to hit those open threes. I know your thinking I"m crazy but Kobe didn't have as big as a role as people think. He was a great player, but in some way he only took possesions away from Shaq. Shaq getting the ball was crucial to that offense and when Kobe went crazy and shot some fadeway it just hurt their offense. Now I think his most valuable part with the lakers was actually when he lead the team when shaq was on the bench. Because when shaq was out that team wasn't very good. Kobe is a mcuh better player now than he was when he played with Shaq. I'm just saying that he was robin and that why he has to prove he can be batman, while Shaq doesn't have to prove he can be batman, cause he already was 3 times.
2 months ago
To all you haters that jock-ride Kobe what hsa he done since Shaq left? this year was the first time they've made it out of the first round. Follow the greats you clowns, and quit suckin Kobe off!
2 months ago
Oh by the way, yes Shaq has 3 rings with Kobe on the team, but it is the Diesel with ALL 3 MVP'S! Kobe just now got a league MVP which he really wasn't deserving of! you guys need to watch the game instead of Kobe's jock-strap!
2 months ago
As Shaq would say, "Tell me how my *** tastes, tell me how my *** tastes."
about 1 month ago
Kobe fans, I know it's hard to accept but Dwyane Wade had what was arguably one of the best post-seasons in the game when the Heat won the title. His absurd stat lines against the Pistons and Dallas are lines for the ages.
Just because Kobe's numbers go down once the playoffs start, just because the Mamba went underground again in this post-season, this time waiting until the Final, doesn't mean you have to hold off giving Wade his due.
Wade's line and mark have nothing to do with Kobe. Give Wade what's Wade's and Kobe what's Kobe's. The sad truth about that -- performances in the Finals -- may not look good for the Mamba, but hey he has three rings.
14 days ago
Alex your article is point on! Many people can't accept the reality of the facts you've laid out because of their blind hatred for a multi-millionaire they've only read about. We're to believe that Mr. I MAKE NO FREE THROWS and the man for which an entirely new offensive strategy (Hack-a-Shaq) was devised to defeat his entire team, won championships alone???!!! Um....., Please. Kobe and his other teammates cleaned up his messes with their offense and used Shaq's size to stop others defensively. Any of those bunnies that Kobe threw into Shaq, also counted as assists for him and his other teammates.
Kobe had an injured shooting hand, a young team playing poor defense, a center new to their offensive scheme, and were short another major front court player. Despite all of that, Kobe carried this young team to the finals and came with a couple games of willing them to victory! A lot closer than the other NBA teams in the playoffs this year outside of Boston.
from 14 days ago
"Kobe ans his other teammates cleaned up [Shaq's] messes ... "? Do you watch basketball, play it? Kobe and his teammates cleaned up all right -- because Shaq was collapsing defenses, fouling out the front court of the opposing team, putting that team in the penalty early in the quarter, offering up wide open looks and ensuring that whenever a player like Kobe showboated off a steal or traipsed into the lane, no one was going to lay a hand on him.
"Kobe carried a young team to the finals ..."? Funny, because according to every major media source, Pau Gasol coming on board was largely seen as taking a clearly playoff-bound squad and making it the NBA favorites, which they were until Kobe led the charge in disappearing.
I think after taking three teams to the Finals and winning with two, you have to conclude Shaq was the reason. Slice it up all you like, Shaq did win a ring without Kobe -- the fact that DWade played the same if not larger role in delivering the victory should -- and yet some how doesn't -- demonstrate how replaceable Kobe is -- that is any high-scoring 2 guard.
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