Magic+Kareem vs. Shaq+Kobe. Which duo was better.?

Question

If you dont know basketball in depth, then your answer will be obvious and shallow.
This is not a no-brainer.
Think what could have happened if Shaq and Kobe were still together.
Analyze everything.
Then provide an intelligent answer.

I know that basketball is a team game. I think everyone knows that, so there is no need to state the obvious. Thats not what I am asking. If you cant provide a relevant answer, then don't even bother posting, or you will be reported for abuse.

and also, don't bother if you think the comparison is unfair, because obviously you don't understand the question

Answer 1

Dear iakny,

i think the answer to that question is Magic and Kareem.

While Shaq and Kobe won three rings together, a couple of their rings were almost not. Had Portland not choked one year and had Robert Horry not hit a miracle three against the Sacramento Kings- the Lakers might only have won one of the three rings they won with that dynamic duo.

Magic and Kareem won 5 titles and one year they were undefeated up until the finals, but both Magic and Byron Scott got hurt and the Lakers ended up getting swept by the Pistons- so they actually could have won 6 titles in 8 years. And remember during this stretch Kareem was near the latter part of his career and even then during stretches he could dominate.

Also i think the Magic and Kareem championships were more impressive because it was against Bird and the Celtics and Isaiah and the Pistons and arguably those teams are much better than the Sixers, Pacers, and Nets teams that the Kobe-Shaq Lakers beat.

Also down the stretch Magic and Kareem have both hit big shots with the clock running down. Kobe we know can do that historically with the best, but not Shaq. Free throw wise both Magic and Kobe are at around 85-90% while Kareem was always in the mid-70(s) versus Shaq who we know is a horrendous free-thrower- which is another reason.

In terms of the team aspect- Magic and Kareem had better teammates and the big thing would be that Michael Cooper would make life a little bit more difficult for Kobe Bryant. In a sense you need to consider teammates because that is a big part of Shaq's effectiveness- he demands a double team which causes the ball to move around and this is why players like: Horry, Fisher, B. Shaw, Rick Fox, Glen Rice, were so key to the Lakers championship runs.

Anyhow that's my analysis.

Nickster

Answer 2

I don't think this is a very fair comparison, I mean of course it's Magic and Kareem they won five titles and went to eight NBA Finals. It's not fair though, because they had Big Game James and Bob McAdoo and Michael Cooper and the others. These were the showtime Lakers and Shaq and Kobe were basically just SHAQ and kobe (I hope that you understand which I think was more important there). Even if they were still together I don't think they'd be winning titles right now, it's not like they didn't lose the last one they played together, and with the wheels coming off the last year they were together, could Shaq have kept the other guys who came to the Lakers to play with him from leaving? I don't think so. Let's also remember that Magic could play all five positions, and did by the way, while Kobe is what Kobe is and Shaq is what Shaq is. I mean, Magic by himself may be better than both of them, and don't get me wrong I love Shaq, but Magic was just so much better than almost everyone, you can't really have a discussion about the greatest of all time without having Magic in the top three, and even that's pushing it a bit. I just don't think it's a fair comparison.

Answer 3

i say magic and kareem. magic is the best big guard in the league. in their championship against dr. j and the sixers, kareem was injured. he started center, and played guard-forward. they went on to defeat the sixers. plus, kareem is a 6-time MVP, the most by any player in the league. together with another great, oscar robertson, he led the bucks to their first and only championship.

shaq is a great center, and surely he didn't win as much MVP's as kareem. though, i would say he and kareem would match each other. kobe is a great shooter, and that 81 pts is nearly as unbeatable as wlit's 100. but he's not an all around player compared to magic, who rebounds and passes better. just look at those showtime fastbreaks. if it were kobe, he'll dunk and make himself look good, whereas if it's magic, he'll make a no-look pass and make his team look good.

Answer 4

No brainer. Magic and Kareem. They are just onstoppable. Magic can runt he floor better than Kobe and can dish the ball to his big man, the all time leader with the most points in NBA history no other than Karreem Abdul jabar. Kareem is better than shaq even in shaq's prime. Kareem is just too good. With magic feeding him the ball no problem magic and Kareem

Answer 5

Its tough to say which duo was better because a team is not about two players, its about a whole team effort.
That being said, this one is close to call but im going with magic-kareem because the ball moved around better and they also had James Worthy.
Shaq-kobe was a great duo, but they did not have to deal with another great team (except when they lost to the pistons)
Magic and kareem had Larry Bird and the Celtics to deal with.
Shaq-Kobe was great, but my vote goes to magic-kareem

Answer 6

haha Kobe+shaq.

Answer 7

i analyzed. magic+kareem > kobe+shaq.