Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:04 pm Post subject: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?
A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:31 pm Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?
A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002
Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?
The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.
The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.
Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.
The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.
I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.
I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 36128 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Sun Jun 28, 2020 6:51 pm Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?
activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?
A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002
Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?
The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.
The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.
Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.
The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.
I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.
I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.
I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years. _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Joined: 19 Apr 2003 Posts: 22883 Location: La Jolla, San Diego
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 1:21 am Post subject:
Shaq's MVP season was was the main reason for those 67 wins. But as you can see, the games are different come playoff time and if Shaq could be the force, the MDE, etc. that people like to bestow on him, then we wouldn't have been in that situation in game 7. Truth is Shaq does not score anytime he wants, and because of that I'll take 2002 Lakers because Kobe was significantly better than 2000 Kobe. And in this battle between 00 and '02, it wouldn't be a loosey goosey regular season game, it would be a tight battle, so I'll take the team with 2002 Kobe.
HARPER v Hunter
Kobe v KOBE
RICE v Fox
Green v WALKER
SHAQ v Shaq
Fisher v FISHER
Horry v HORRY
Fox v GEORGE
SHAW v Richmond/Shaw
Salley v Slava
Hmmmmm . . . I'd go with 99-00 because of more consistent defense.
Game 5 (closeout) vs SAC - held Kings to 86 points, 33.8% FG
Game 5 (closeout) vs PHX - held Suns to 65 points, 28.8% FG
Game 7 vs POR - held Blazers to 84 points, including a paltry 13 in the 4th _________________ On Lakersground, a concern troll is someone who is a fan of another team, but pretends to be a Lakers fan with "concerns".
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 8:58 am Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?
CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?
A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002
Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?
The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.
The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.
Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.
The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.
I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.
I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.
I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years.
Oh, sure. The 72-win Bulls were the #1 defensive team too.
Joined: 24 Dec 2007 Posts: 36128 Location: Santa Clarita, CA (Hell) ->>>>>Ithaca, NY -≥≥≥≥≥Berkeley, CA
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 9:02 am Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?
activeverb wrote:
CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?
A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002
Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?
The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.
The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.
Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.
The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.
I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.
I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.
I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years.
Oh, sure. The 72-win Bulls were the #1 defensive team too.
Why were the Kobe/Pau Lakers so middling on defense if not for Phil? Fisher? Pau? _________________ Damian Lillard shatters Dwight Coward's championship dreams:
Posted: Mon Jun 29, 2020 2:27 pm Post subject: Re: Which Laker team was better: 2000 or 2002?
CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
CandyCanes wrote:
activeverb wrote:
madsen35 wrote:
It seems like a foregone conclusion that most fans believe the 2001 Lakers were the best out of the threepeat. But which team was better between the 2000 and 2002 Lakers?
A few points to consider:
- Shaq wasn't in as good of shape in 2002, but still managed to turn back the clock when needed.
- 2000 Lakers had a much better regular season but struggled in the playoffs
- Kobe was certainly improved in 2002
Which team do you consider to be stronger? Which would win in a hypothetical seven game series?
The 99-00 team won 67 games and was 5th in the league in offense and 1st in defense.
The 01-02 team won 58 games and was 2nd in offense and 7th in defense.
Both teams have some injury issues. The 02 team went through the playoffs more easily, but the 00 team probably faced tougher competition.
The 00 team probably had a better roster after Shaq and Kobe, but Kobe moved from the #2 guy to a more equal footing with Shaq in 02.
I'd say 00 was better but its not a huge difference.
I can't get into the what-if of the 00 and 02 teams playing each other, since Kobe and Shaq matching up against themselves seems too unrealistic even in a hypothetical.
I never realized a Phil Jackson coached team had the #1 defense. It wasn’t even in the top 10 during the Kobe-Pau years.
Oh, sure. The 72-win Bulls were the #1 defensive team too.
Why were the Kobe/Pau Lakers so middling on defense if not for Phil? Fisher? Pau?
In the two last ring years, we were 4th and 6th in the league in defense.
2002 team was coming off of two straight seasons of deep playoff runs. That weighs heavily for any team. Considering that the 2000 team was inexperienced but hungry for a championship, I would take the 2000 team in a head to head. 2000 Shaq was as dominant as they come, even though certain big bodies were able to contain him.
The 2001 team (from April on through the playoffs in ‘01) had one of the most dominant runs in NBA History, and was essentially the best of both worlds when it comes to comparing the 2000 and 2002 teams. We literally flipped a switch after an ugly late season lost (I think it was to the Knicks at home??)
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