Kobe's 10 Greatest Playoff Games

[Sccit]

TOO MANY TO NAME


WE TALKIN BOUT THE ONLY PLAYER IN NBA HISTORY TO SCORE 600+ POINTS IN 3 CONSECUTIVE PLAYOFF RUNS


GOAT

 

[Killer Instinct]

I love his game 4 vs Utah in '09. Not only was he crazy efficient, he was coming off one of the worst playoff games of his career. Folks were chirping that Brewer & the Jazz had actually figured out how to contain him. This game is also so dope because he did 95% of his damage from the outside. He could have gotten to the rim much more than he did vs Utah, but Kobe was hellbent on making a point. The objective was never to just score on Brewer that night; it was to demoralize him.




I miss my dog.

 

[McPiff]

I love his game 4 vs Utah in '09. Not only was he crazy efficient, he was coming off one of the worst playoff games of his career. Folks were chirping that Brewer & the Jazz had actually figured out how to contain him. This game is also so dope because he did 95% of his damage from the outside. He could have gotten to the rim much more than he did vs Utah, but Kobe was hellbent on making a point. The objective was never to just score on Brewer that night; it was to demoralize him.




I miss my dog.

poetry in motion

 

[GilSho]

Crazy just how few of his best games were in the Finals compared to say MJ, Magic, Shaq and Bron.

He did most of his damage in the WCF.

 

[Controversy]

Crazy just how few of his best games were in the Finals compared to say MJ, Magic, Shaq and Bron.

He did most of his damage in the WCF.

he had a lot of great finals games, who do you think was the one bailing us out by hitting the big shots? Who do you think was the one taking on the toughest def assignments?

the most talented teams he faced were usually in the WCF, and that's where he stepped up. The finals required a diff gameplan.

 

[BlueHeffner]

One of my favorites



21 straight

 

[MJ Truth]

4th best team to not win a title since 1998 after the 2000 Blazers, 2002 Kings, and 2010 Celtics.

They were ridiculously talented. If they got past Kobe, they woulda murked the Magic. And if Bron hadn't choked, we could've seen Melo beat him in a Finals which would have been changed both their legacies.

That Denver team would've lost to those Cavs. You're overselling the Nuggets here. I know why you're doing it, but still.

 

[Controversy]

That Denver team would've lost to those Cavs. You're overselling the Nuggets here. I know why you're doing it, but still.

didn't they beat Cle on National tv that season in Cle

that nuggets team was really good

 

[Controversy]

One of my favorites



21 straight

boston implemented the Pistons strategy...play up on Kob & cut off his driving lanes with help

the fact he could even generate good looks against that def is remarkable

 

[Chris Cool]

suns game 6 wcf is my favorite.

 

[GilSho]

he had a lot of great finals games, who do you think was the one bailing us out by hitting the big shots? Who do you think was the one taking on the toughest def assignments?

the most talented teams he faced were usually in the WCF, and that's where he stepped up. The finals required a diff gameplan.

He wasn't that great in the Finals though. You can Juelz as much as you want though.

 

[Swagnificent]

That Denver team would've lost to those Cavs. You're overselling the Nuggets here. I know why you're doing it, but still.

Its all speculation at the end of the day. I simply believe that Cavs team was a regular season team (like last year's Bucks) while that Nuggets team was built for the playoffs. That Magic team that easily beat the Cavs was not very good. And remember they coulda swept them if not for Bron's lucky buzzer beater in Game 2.

I got the 09 Nuggets beating the 09 Cavs 4-2.

 

[Controversy]

He wasn't that great in the Finals though. You can Juelz as much as you want though.

28 in his 2nd full finals game, G3 vs Indy
26-10-4 in closeout game vs Pacers

31-8-6 G2 vs Philly
19-10-9 G4 vs Philly
26-12-6 G5 vs Philly

36-6-4 w/ 4 stls & a blk G3 vs NJN
25-8-6 w/ 2 stls G4 vs NJN

40-8-8 w/ 2 stls & 2 blks vs Orlando G1
32-8-7 w/ 2 stls vs Orlando G4
30-6-5 w/ 2 stls & 4 blks vs Orlando G5

30-7-6 vs Boston G1
29-7-4 w/ 2 stls & 3 blks vs Boston G3
38-5-4 vs Boston G5
26-11-3 w/ 4 stls vs Boston G6

 

[Chris Cool]

That Denver team would've lost to those Cavs. You're overselling the Nuggets here. I know why you're doing it, but still.

 

[Swagnificent]

Crazy just how few of his best games were in the Finals compared to say MJ, Magic, Shaq and Bron.

He did most of his damage in the WCF.

The toughest opponent Kobe faced in route to 4 of his 5 rings were in the Western Conference Finals. Those series against Portland in 2000, San Antonio in 2001, Sacremento in 2002, and Denver in 2009 were his toughest each of those years. Only the 2010 Celtics were the best team he played in the Finals.

So it makes sense that most of his greatest games came when the stakes were highest. Most of the Finals Kobe played in were not competitive. Lakers swept the Nets in 2002. 2001 and 2009 went 4-1. And the only reason the 2000 series went 4-2 is because Kobe missed Game 3.

Context matters. If you actually followed Kobe's career this wouldn't be surprising.