The other hoops thread got me thinking.... What if Shaq never left the Lakers? How many years would that dynasty have lasted? Would Kobe have shattered MJs rings record? Shaq was the most physically dominating center of all time, and Kobe a top 3 SG of all time. I think they would have reeled off another 3-4 rings over the next 5 year period had they gotten along.
They only have a chance if Phil Jackson stays with them. Not sure he could have coached them together for that many more years. Jordan rings record? Bill Russel has 11 There are several above him on that list. sent from my samsung note 2
If Kobe wasn't such a whinny little diva, they could have stayed together and I'm sure Phil would have stayed. I agree they could have been one of the greatest combo's of all time, but Kobe is a primadonna.
How about this question: Put year 2000 Shaq on this Heat team, and remove Wade and Bosh. How dominant is that team? Moreso than the Kobe/Shaq Lakers dynasty?
No question, Shaq in his prime was a beast. I often wonder how many more points he would have scored if he could have made his free thows.
A top 5-10 player all time with 5 rings destroyed the laker dynasty? Lol Shaq was just as much to blame for their split as Kobe, Shaq is just liked more by media for his antics. No doubt, Lebron and Shaq is a better combo than Kobe Shaq though.... By that's because Lebron is better than Kobe lol.
Because they could have gotten several more, yes I would say he did. At the time Kobe was very immature and was a ME player. He couldn't stand playing in Shaq's shadow. Shaq is 10 time the man that Kobe is, both on and off the court.
There were no real threats to that Dynasty if they had stayed together. I think they easily could have won 2-3 more. The NBA didnt have an answer for the diesel. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy s4
Also...look how much more Kobe was driven to winning in the playoffs in the mid 2000's. That team would have been unbelievable. Sent from my Samsung Galaxy s4
Was he that much more driven BECAUSE Shaq wasn't there and he had to prove he could do it without him.
Maybe... But that talent would have still been there reguardless. Maybe he would have forced less and been less selfish too... Sent from my Samsung Galaxy s4
Absolutely this was the reason Kobe was driven to win championships after Shaq left. He wanted to prove that he could do it on his own.
Kobe has always been about winning. He developed his selfish reputation after Shaq left and their teams were garbage... He was required to be selfish if they had any shot at winning. He toned it back when they picked up more talent (and subsequently won two more)
