Yea, but do you agree that they both needed each other to win? I think they were both important to each other in winning the 3 Championships.

Quote Originally Posted by BigMix27

the above reads like communist propoganda the question should be what Kobe has done without Shaq.
well...

8-time NBA All-Star: 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
Has started in each of his appearances
8 consecutive appearances. (No All-Star game in 1999 due to league-wide lock-out)
NBA All-Star Game MVP: 2002
NBA Scoring Champion: 2006 (35.4)
8-time All-NBA:
First Team: 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006
Second Team: 2000, 2001
Third Team: 1999, 2005
6-time All-NBA Defensive:
First Team: 2000, 2003, 2004, 2006
Second Team: 2001, 2002
2-time NBA regular-season leader, points: 2003 (2,461), 2006 (2,832)
2-time NBA regular-season leader, field goals made: 2003 (86, 2006 (97
NBA regular-season leader, field goals attempted: 2006 (2,173)
NBA regular-season leader, free throws made: 2006 (696)
NBA All-Rookie Second Team: 1997
NBA All-Star Slam Dunk Champion: 1997
2nd highest single-game point total in NBA history: 81, set on January 22, 2006 vs. the Toronto Raptors. (The record is 100 points set by Wilt Chamberlain on March 2, 1962.)
7th highest single-season point total in NBA history: 2,832, 2005-06 (Top 6 held by Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan)
9th highest single-season scoring average in NBA history: 35.4, 2005-06 (Top 8 held by Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Michael Jordan, and Rick Barry)
Career triple-doubles (as of 2006): 14 [20]
Career statistics (as of 2006): 23.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.5 apg, 0.61 bpg, 1.50 spg, .451 FG%, .336 3FG%, .834 FT% [21]
Career playoff statistics (as of 2006): 22.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 4.5 apg, 0.73 bpg, 1.34 spg, .438 FG%, .329 3FG%, .791 FT% [22]

NBA milestones

Youngest player in NBA history to reach:
10,000 points (24 years, 193 days), set March 5, 2003 vs. the Indiana Pacers.
14,000 points (26 years, 240 days), set April 20, 2005 vs. the Portland Trail Blazers.
15,000 points (27 years, 136 days), set January 6, 2006 vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
16,000 points (27 years, 192 days), set March 3, 2006 vs. the Golden State Warriors.
Youngest player to start an NBA game (18 years, 158 days), making his first start for the Los Angeles Lakers on January 28, 1997.
Youngest player to start an NBA All-Star Game (19 years, 175 days), making his debut at the 48th annual All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden on February 8, 1998.
Youngest NBA All-Star Slam Dunk champion (18 years, 175 days), after winning the contest at the 1997 NBA All-Star Weekend.
Became the first player ever to outscore the opposing team through three quarters since the advent of the 24-second shot clock after scoring 62 points in three quarters of play on December 20, 2005 vs. the Dallas Mavericks.

NBA records (

Most three-point field goals made, one game: 12 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics; first player to reach this plateau; tied with Donyell Marshall). [23]
Most three-point field goals made, one half: 8 (March 28, 2003 vs. Washington Wizards; tied with 5 players). [24]
Most consecutive three-point field goals made, one game: 9 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics; first player to reach this plateau; tied with Latrell Sprewell and Ben Gordon). [25]
Most free throws made, one quarter: 14 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks; tied with 5 players). [26] [27]
Most free throws attempted, one quarter: 16 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks; tied with 6 players). [28] [29]
Most All-Star Game three-point field goals made, all-time: 11 (1997–present; tied with Tracy McGrady, Ray Allen, and Jason Kidd). [30]
Holds shot-clock era records for:
Greatest percentage of own team's point total (66.4% of the Lakers' 122 points)
Greatest percentage of both teams' combined point total (35.8% of the Lakers' and Raptors' 226 points)
(both set on January 22, 2006 vs. the Toronto Raptors).

Lakers franchise records (30)

Points
Season: 2,832 (2005-06; 7th highest NBA single season scoring output of all-time)
Game: 81 (January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors) [31]
Half: 55 (2nd half, January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors). [32]
Quarter: 30 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks) [33]
Overtime, playoffs: 12 (May 4, 2006 vs. Phoenix Suns) [34]
Scoring average, month: 43.4 (January 2006)
Games scoring 40 points or more, season: 27 (2005-06) [35]
Consecutive games of 40 points or more: 9 (February 6–February 23, 2003) [36]
Consecutive games of 20 points or more, season: 62 (December 9, 2005–April 19, 2006)
Field goals made
Half: 18 (2nd half, January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors). [37]
Quarter: 11 (February 2, 1999 vs. Seattle SuperSonics). [38]
Field goals attempted
Half: 28 (tied with Elgin Baylor; 2nd half, January 22, 2006 vs. Toronto Raptors). [39]
Free throws made
Game: 23 (twice, most recently on January 31, 2006 vs. New York Knicks). [40]
Half: 16 (January 30, 2001 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers) [41]
Quarter: 14 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks) [42]
Quarter, playoffs: 11 (tied with 3 players; May 8, 1997 vs. Utah Jazz). [43]
Consecutive: 62 (January 11–22, 2006). [44]
Free throws attempted
Quarter: 16 (3rd quarter, December 20, 2005 vs. Dallas Mavericks). [45]
Three-point field goals made
All-time: 799 (1996–present) [46]
Game: 12 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics). [47]
Half: 8 (1st half, March 28, 2003 vs. Washington Wizards). [48]
Quarter: 6 (2nd quarter, January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics). [49]
Without a miss, game: 7 (January 6, 2006 vs. Philadelphia 76ers). [50]
Consecutive: 9 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics). [51]
Three-point field goals attempted
All-time: 2,379 (1996–present) [52]
All-time, playoffs: 410 (1996–present) [53]
Season: 518 (2005-06) [54]
Game: 18 (January 7, 2003 vs. Seattle SuperSonics). [55]
Steals
Half: 6 (tied with 3 players; February 13, 2006 vs. Utah Jazz). [56]
Quarter, playoffs: 3 (tied with 6 players; May 17, 1999 vs. San Antonio Spurs). [57]

Personal records

Second-most points scored in a regular season game in NBA history: 81 (January 22, 2006).
One of only two players in NBA history to score 80 points in a single game (the other is Wilt Chamberlain).
One of only two players in NBA history to score 35-plus points per game for 13 consecutive games (the other is Wilt Chamberlain).
One of only three players in NBA history to score 40-plus points per game for 9 consecutive games (the others are Wilt Chamberlain and Michael Jordan).
One of only three players in NBA history to score 45-plus points per game for 4 consecutive games (the others are Elgin Baylor and Wilt Chamberlain), and the first to accomplish it since Chamberlain, who did it in November of 1964.
One of only three players in NBA history to average 40-plus points per game for an entire month at least once (the others are Wilt Chamberlain and Elgin Baylor)
One of only two players in NBA history to average 40-plus points per game for an entire month on three separate occasions (40.6 ppg in February 2003, 43.4 ppg in January 2006 , 40.1 in April 2006) (the other is Wilt Chamberlain).
Only player in NBA history with at least 2,800 points and 180 three-point field goals made in one season.

Other awards and achievements

1996 Naismith High School Player of the Year [1]
1996 Gatorade Circle of Champions High School Player of the Year [1]
1996 McDonald's High School All-American [1]
1996 USA Today All-USA First Team [1]
1995 Adidas ABCD Camp Senior MVP [1]
Named to the USA Today All-Time All-USA First Team in 2003. [1]
USA Today and Parade Magazine's 1996 National High School Player of the Year with a seasonal average of 30.8 points, 12.0 rebounds, 6.5 assists, 4.0 steals and 3.9 blocks per game. [2]
Led Lower Merion High School to a 31-3 record, including 27 straight wins, and the PIAA Class AAAA state title as a senior (1996).[2]
The all-time leading scorer in Southeastern Pennsylvania school history with 2,883 points.

Many things


Since Shaq moved to the eastern conference, the east has won both all star games, and shaq has been to the conference finals.


Do you think the Eastern Conference is tougher then the Western Conference I think the West is a much harder conference. If Kobe was on an Eastern Conference team he probably would make the Finals

I think that the Eastern Conference is an easier conference then the West, would you agree?

Since Shaq left the lakers, the lakers failed to make the playoffs the first year, and only made it the second year because T-Mac was injured. And the lakers lost in the first round after having a 3-1 lead. a testimony to mediocrity and incompetence.
A testimony to lack of experience and depth of the team

And for those 3 rings that Shaq got, make no mistake about it, Shaq had to play 4 years with the Lakers before they came.
Very true, so I guess the real pivitol piece was Phil Jackson.

With Orlando Shaq played 2 yrs and got the the finals, then he went to LA to restart. If he had stayed with Orlando they would have beaten the bulls and win, because that year the bulls swept them, penny and a bunch of others were injured.
He only played 2 years in Orlando

Now Shaq is with Miami, he went to the conference finals both years, and this being the second time, he might return to the NBA finals.
Like I said it's the Eastern Conference which is a weaker division in my opinion.

Kobe is all flash and no substance.
I don't think that.

Lebron by himself successfully took his team to the NBA playoffs and won a playoff series. Something that both Kobe and T Mac failed to do on their own. And in addition Lebron has an opportunity to go to the conference finals by beating the Detroit pistons. something both kobe and t mac failed to do.
The Lakers beat the Pistons as much times as the Caveliers did in the season(not including post season) and thats once. The Lakers also beat San Antonio in San Antonio

And LeBron does all these outbursts and leads in the Eastern Conference, against Western Conference top 4 teams he struggles

I DO have to give Lebron mad props for beating Detroit 3 games in a row, I thought the Cavs would get swept.

The 3 players of pure substance in the league are Shaq, Lebron and Duncan. The others are no where in their league in terms of leadership and accomplishments, and this include TMAC Kobe, IVERSON, Nowitzki etc.
I disagree very much with that. Shaq and Duncan are pure substance I will say, but LeBron hasnt even reached that level yet. Don't rush him.

With Shaq, Lebron and Duncan you have a team that will most likely always reach the conference finals and NBA finals. With Tmac,Kobe and Iverson you only have a team that would give you good highlights.
I really really really disagree with that. Iverson DID get to the NBA Finals once and they lost that position this year to the Bulls. And I think that T-Mac will do very well when he is healthy. And look at T-Mac on the Eastern Conference he had those tremendous scoring performances but he got to the West which is the more difficult conference, but him and Yao are a very good duo. When they are both healthy its good. And the way Yao was playing with T-Mac despite losing efforts if he plays that way and him and T-Mac is on the floor.

I say if both T-Mac and Yao are healthy I expect them to finish as the 4th seed in the West.

The next year will be a better year for the Lakers I expect them to get the 5th seed in the West and advance to the 2nd round but I don't know the further.

LeBron's team depending on who they get will probably be a Top 5 in the East next year.