Figure we could use a junk thread for random stats we see on Twitter like Korver shooting a crazy percentage from the right corner, stats we find interesting, etc..... I was bored this morning and with the recent news of DRose being out, I looked at Kobe vs Lebron in terms of opponent win percentage in the regular season as gauge for how tough of competition they play in the playoffs. Thoughts are that Lebron always coasts in the Eastern Conference and Kobe has always played in a tough conference. Let's see what the stats say..... Lebron James Playoff Opponents 2013-2014 (143 -103) Charlotte – 43-39 Brooklyn – 44-38 Indiana – 56-26 2012-2013 (132-113) Bucks 38-44 Bulls 45-37 Pacers – 49-32 2011-2012 (117-81) Knicks – 36-30 Pacers – 42-24 C Bags – 39-27 2010-2011 (159 – 87) Philly – 41-41 Boston – 56-26 Bulls – 62-20 2009-2010 (91-73) Bulls – 41-41 Boston – 50-32 2008-2009 (145-101) Pistons – 39-43 Hawks – 47-35 Magic – 59-23 2007-2008 (109-55) Wizards – 43-39 Boston – 66-16 2006-2007 (135 – 111) Wizards – 41-41 Nets – 41-41 Detroit – 53-29 2005-2006 (106 – 58) Wizards – 42-40 Pistons – 64-18 Total – 1137 – 782 1137/1919 – 59% winning percentage (Lebron actual) 1266/1919 – 66% winning percentage (Corrected for Kobe's competition) Difference – 129 wins added to the opponents to match Kobe’s opponents win % 129/24 teams faced- ~ 5 more wins per year for each team Kobe Bryant Playoff Opponents 1996-1997 (113 – 51) Portland – 49-33 Utah – 64-18 1997-1998 (169 – 77) Portland – 46-36 Sonics – 61-21 Utah – 62-20 1998-1999 (68 – 32) Rockets – 31-19 Spurs – 37-13 1999-2000 (156 – 90) Kings – 44-38 Suns – 53-29 Portland – 59-23 2000-2001 (163 – 83) Portland – 50-32 Kings – 55-27 Spurs – 58-24 2001-2002 (168 – 78) Portland – 49-33 Spurs – 58-24 Kings – 61-21 2002-2003 (111 – 53) Minny – 51-31 Spurs – 60-22 2003-2004 (160 – 86) Rockets – 45-37 Spurs – 57-25 Minny – 58-24 2005-2006 (54-28) Suns – 54-28 2006-2007 (61-21) Suns – 61-21 2007-2008 (160 – 86) Nuggets – 50-32 Jazz – 54-28 Spurs – 56-26 2008-2009 (155 – 91) Jazz – 48-34 Rockets – 53-29 Nuggets – 54-28 2009-2010 (157 – 89) OKC – 50-32 Jazz – 53-29 Suns – 54-28 2010-2011 (103 – 61) NOH – 46-36 Mavs – 57-25 2011-2012 (85 – 47) Nuggets – 38-28 OKC – 47-19 2012-2013 (58-24) Spurs – 58-24 Total – 1941 – 997 1941/2938 – 66% winning percentage (Kobe actual) 1733/2938 – 59% winning percentage (Corrected for Lebron's opponents win percentage) Difference – 208 added losses by opponents to match Lebron’s winning percentage Perspective 54 – 28. Average regular season record of an opponent Kobe faced in the playoffs - 4-5th seed in West last year - #1 seed in East 2011-2012, 2006-2007, 2002-2003, 2001-2002 - #2 seed in East last year, 2012-2013, 2005-2006, 2004-2005 - 3rd seed in East 2009-2010, 2007-2008, 2003-2004 - 4th seed in East 2010-2011, 2008-2009 48 – 34 – Average regular season record of an opponent Lebron faced in the playoffs - 3-4 seed in Eastern conference last year - Missed the playoffs in West last year, 2009-2010, 2007-2008 - 6th seed in West 2012-2013, 2010-2011, 2006-2007, 2005-2006 - 7th seed in West 2003-2004, 2002-2003, 2001-2002 - 8th seed in West 2008-2009, 2004-2005 Kobe - On average went against a team that would be top 4 in the East every series Lebron - On average went against a team that would be a bottom playoff team in the West or missed the playoffs entirely. *Excluded NBA Finals, only a conference look **Doesn't take into account if the opponents were even healthy come playoff time
I didn't think it would be that obvious in the stats, but clearly that's been one of the issues I've had with LeBron's "success" in the NBA. If he had to play every season over here, he wouldn't be doing the numbers he's been doing. Hell he wouldn't be as healthy as he is.
The only good team LeBron has faced in the East were the C Bags, and they only had about a 3-year window. In 07, he went against the Spurs and got swept. A lot of people were saying how good he was at such a young age (and to be fair, he was really good for a 22 year old), but he was not Kobe-good. He would have been knocked out in the first round in the West. The Cavs 50-32 record would have been good for 6th seed in the West, which would have meant...*drum roll*...facing the Spurs in the first round! Lol. Even if you dock a few wins because the West is obviously tougher, he would have faced either the Suns or the Mavs. So yea, he basically would have lost in the first round no matter what. In the East, you can get away with taking your time "developing" because you can still grab some wins. If we were in the East, Kobe could play less minutes. He could be more patient as our players develop because we'd still grab some wins and be in the playoff hunt. Not in the West. In the East, you can always say, "We'll come back again and fight for a championship" because of the lack of competition. Not in the West. You might not even make the playoffs. Just take a look at OKC as they battle for the 8th seed after winning 59 games last year. Spurs have gone from champs to the 7th seed.
That 4th Q was brutal for the bulls. Pau is sick and Kirk is hurt, Thibs said they'd probably be sitting if they weren't so depleted. Gibby is on a boot, Butler has a bad elbow, Noah clearly isn't 100% yet, and Rose is obviously out. But the rookie had a hell of a game.
Lebron James - could have been the next magic johnson but his ego tripped him up like a 19 year old who does not know how to tie his shoes before he runs full.
I'm putting this in here for two reasons.... 1.) The Cavs starting lineup has been pretty good 2.) The Lakers starting lineup (The official one if we were competing with Kobe) is really really bad.
To add onto this, Utah Jazz were near last in defensive efficiency (27th) 10 games ago. Since then, they've held 9 of their last 10 opponents under 90 points. Those 10 games alone boosted them up to 18th. They've been #1 in defensive efficiency since Feb 1st, and more importantly, they're actually winning games.
I am so intrigued by the Utah Jazz now, what is going here? Is it the coach, the players, both? All I know is this is ridiculous.... It will be nice when the Lakers FO stops chasing "names" for head coaches and actually look at the candidate for what he offers to the table. To answer my question above, it starts with Quin Snyder and ends with the players, this is what happens when a coach with good fundamentals gets good players to buy in to the system.
It's Rudy Gobert man. That guy's growth this season makes no sense! He came out of nowhere, but he's one of the best defensive players I've seen in a while. Great rim protection, good footwork, and he's athletic too. Then you've got Hayward and Favors as a 1-2 punch in the half court. Really solid building blocks they've got over there. Hopefully we can get a Top 5 pick that gives us three solid young players like that.
Tom Haberstroh ✔ @tomhaberstroh Shooting since All-Star: Russ: .416/.320/.870 Harden: .393/.328/.859 Steph: .485/.509/.963 CP: .517/.410/.903
in fairness, the rondo trade coincided with a pretty significant injury that ellis chose to play through.
At first I thought it had to be a typo. How the hell do you shoot 17% from deep on the year. http://vorped.com/1-nba/2014-2015/player/1237/lance-stephenson/shotchart/
Saw this on another board . At least one of these three players ( Kobe , Duncan , Wade) played in the Finals each season since 98-99 ... 16 seasons in a row Crazy "stat"
