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(Short Thread) A comparison between Kobe, MJ, and LeBron’s Finals numbers & why Kobe isn’t as bad of a Finals performer as many people think
The purpose of this thread isn’t to say Kobe was a better Finals performer, but that Kobe was at a disadvantage to put up great numbers
The purpose of this thread isn’t to say Kobe was a better Finals performer, but that Kobe was at a disadvantage to put up great numbers
A lot of NBA twitter thinks that Kobe fans are irrational and only use bag evaluations, but I’m only going to use facts in this thread, no opinions or baseless arguments
A comparison between their Finals competition through Defensive Rating:
Kobe: 100.5 DRTG
LeBron: 103.1 DRTG
Jordan: 104.6 DRTG
Kobe’s competition is the toughest, meaning that he’s obviously going to have deflated numbers
Kobe: 100.5 DRTG
LeBron: 103.1 DRTG
Jordan: 104.6 DRTG
Kobe’s competition is the toughest, meaning that he’s obviously going to have deflated numbers
So instead of comparing their numbers straight up, let’s use LeBron and MJ’s individual Finals series that were against similar defensive competition
Kobe’s Finals Opponents’ DRTG:
95.4
98.9
98.9
99.5
101.9
103.6
103.8
Kobe’s Finals Opponents’ DRTG:
95.4
98.9
98.9
99.5
101.9
103.6
103.8
LeBron’s Finals opponents that are closest to Kobe’s competition
95.4 - 07 SAS
98.9 - 07 SAS
98.9 - 07 SAS
99.5 - 07 SAS
101.9 - 13 SAS
103.6 - 16 GSW
103.8 - 16 GSW
*note: the 07 Spurs and the 16 Warriors have a worse (or equal) DRTG than every team I am comparing them to
95.4 - 07 SAS
98.9 - 07 SAS
98.9 - 07 SAS
99.5 - 07 SAS
101.9 - 13 SAS
103.6 - 16 GSW
103.8 - 16 GSW
*note: the 07 Spurs and the 16 Warriors have a worse (or equal) DRTG than every team I am comparing them to
MJ’s Finals opponents that are closest to Kobe’s competition
95.4 - 96 SEA
98.9 - 96 SEA
98.9 - 96 SEA
99.5 - 96 SEA
101.9 - 96 SEA
103.6 - 97 UTA
103.8 - 97 UTA
*note: the 96 Sonics and the 97 Jazz have a worse DRTG than every team I am comparing them to
95.4 - 96 SEA
98.9 - 96 SEA
98.9 - 96 SEA
99.5 - 96 SEA
101.9 - 96 SEA
103.6 - 97 UTA
103.8 - 97 UTA
*note: the 96 Sonics and the 97 Jazz have a worse DRTG than every team I am comparing them to
Now let’s take a look at the average DRTG of these teams:
Kobe: 100.5 DRTG
LeBron: 101.7 DRTG
MJ: 102.6 DRTG
The stats should still slightly favor LeBron and MJ (especially MJ), but the comparison of stats should be way more fair:
Kobe: 100.5 DRTG
LeBron: 101.7 DRTG
MJ: 102.6 DRTG
The stats should still slightly favor LeBron and MJ (especially MJ), but the comparison of stats should be way more fair:
LeBron:
25.5 PPG (22.8 FGA)
9.4 RPG
7.6 APG (4.6 TOV)
42.6 FG%
29.3 3PT%
49.8 TS%
45.8 eFG%
25.5 PPG (22.8 FGA)
9.4 RPG
7.6 APG (4.6 TOV)
42.6 FG%
29.3 3PT%
49.8 TS%
45.8 eFG%
MJ:
28.8 PPG (22.2 FGA)
5.8 RPG
4.7 APG (2.8 TOV)
42.9 FG%
31.7 3PT%
53.6 TS%
45.3 eFG%
28.8 PPG (22.2 FGA)
5.8 RPG
4.7 APG (2.8 TOV)
42.9 FG%
31.7 3PT%
53.6 TS%
45.3 eFG%
Kobe:
25.3 PPG (21.8 FGA)
5.7 RPG
5.1 APG (3.2 TOV)
41.2 FG%
31.3 3PT%
50.7 TS%
44.2 3PT%
25.3 PPG (21.8 FGA)
5.7 RPG
5.1 APG (3.2 TOV)
41.2 FG%
31.3 3PT%
50.7 TS%
44.2 3PT%
Now their stats look really similar, especially efficiency-wise
With proper context, I don’t understand how people can eliminate Kobe from the goat debate because of misleading numbers (including Finals numbers)
With proper context, I don’t understand how people can eliminate Kobe from the goat debate because of misleading numbers (including Finals numbers)
