Just a reminder:A 22-year-old Kobe in the 2001 Playoffs:
• 29.4 ppg
• 7.3 rpg
• 6.1 apg
• 1.6 spg
The Lakers went 15-1 on their way to their second of three straight championships.
They swept the 50-win Blazers (Kobe 25/4/8), the 55-win Kings (Kobe 35/9/4), and the 58-win Spurs (Kobe 33/7/7) before defeating the 56-win 76ers (Kobe 25/8/6) 4-1 in the finals.
Coach Paul Westphal after the Lakers won:
"Who is to say Kobe Bryant isn’t going to be better than Michael Jordan? Let’s get that out on the table right now. He’s a lot better than Jordan was at the same age.”
This series ended the Kobe vs Duncan debate. Getting gentlemen swept by your rival with a good team should be unacceptable but for Duncan it’s swept under the rug when comparing the two.
Kobe swept Duncan once and gentlemen swept him twice. Once was right here in front of everyone in 2008. No Shaq and his second option Gasol put up 13 PPG.
Kobe finished the series 29PPG on 53% shooting while playing excellent defense. This ended the debate I’m sorry.