That was one series where they both balled out. Kobe was guarded the whole time by a 36-year-old ready-to-retire Bruce Bowen and feasted. Duncan put up ridiculous stat lines, but that was the year his supporting cast started aging out (Bowen, Finley, Barry, Horry all ready to retire yet Bowen and Finley starting and Barry was their #4 scorer). And Ginobli had a shyt series. Parker should have feasted against Fisher but laid an egg the first two games. I give Kobe credit for shooting well in that series, but it doesn't define their careers.
Some of the lines Duncan put up:
30-18-2-2-4
22-21-5
29-17-3-3-3
19-15-10
That was the ONE time that Kobe faced Duncan without Shaq, even though he's been balling 13 years since then and the Spurs made at least the 2nd round in 11 of those years.
And it sucks for them that that's been most of the time TheColi has been around.
That's why so many Kobestans have "
4000 posts,
3000 daps,
negative 2000 rep" stat lines.