Some people just don’t understand how good Kobe was...

So, here’s the absurd story of the time Kobe EXTORTED the TOUGHEST CONFERENCE in NBA HISTORY.

2008 Postseason Kobe. Analyzed.

THREAD

The ‘08 Western Conference was arguably the most tenacious conference in the history of the league.

Every single team who made the playoffs in the West won 50 or more games, meaning the 48-win Warriors, who had a top 5 rated offense in the entire league, MISSED the playoffs.

The five best offensive teams in the league were all in the West, and 7 out of the 11 best defensive teams were in the West.

The bottom playoff teams of the West were top contenders in the East... so any top seeded West teams did NOT have it easy in the first round.

After winning MVP, All NBA First team and All Defensive First team honors, Kobe was having one of the best seasons of his illustrious career.

But we all know the playoff are a different animal.

It was the toughest conference ever, and NO player was “expected” to overpower it.

Since Kobe led the Lakers to 57 wins and the first seed in the West, they would face the 50-win Nuggets in the WCFR.

One of the absolute best 8th seeded teams ever.

This team was top five in PTS, REBS, ASTS, STLS, and BLKS, had a top 10 defense, and the 11th ranked offense.

Their elite offense ran through the duo of Iverson and Melo, while their defense was anchored by DPOY runner-up Marcus Camby.

They weren’t only good at the top, though... they were as deep as any other team in the league.

This would... well, should... be a hard fought series.

But it didn’t matter... for four straight games, they’d get BOMBED by Kobe.

For the series, Kobe put up averages of 34-5-6-2-2, shooting 50.0% from the field (59.4 TS%).

He SWEPT the 50-win Nuggets, having incredible performances in game two and a closeout game four.

In game two, Kobe put up 49 PTS and 10 ASTS on 18/27 FG, including 19 PTS and 3 ASTS on 6/7 FG in the 4th Q.

In game four, Kobe was again a different animal, boasting a statline of 31-7-6-3-2 on 12/24 FG.

He closed out the Nuggets in the 4th Q, putting up 14 PTS on 5/7 FG.

After beating the 55-win Rockets in the first round, the Jazz were up next.

They won 54 games were the league’s best offense (#12 defense).

They were top five in both PTS and ASTS, and were the second most efficient team in the entire league, shooting 49.7% from the field.

The Jazz had two All NBA members (Deron Williams and Carlos Boozer) who led the charge for a team with WILD offensive depth.

They only won three less games than the Lakers, and had a better offense, so the series was, even more so now, going to be hard fought both ways.

In game one, Kobe would lead the Lakers to a 109-88 win, putting up 38-6-7 on 8/16 FG shooting.

Kobe was again great in game two, putting up 34-8-6 on 11/18 FG shooting.

In the second half alone, Kobe had 22-4-4 on 7/11 FG shooting. Closer.

2-0 heading to Utah.

In game three, Kobe put up 34-6-7 on 10/20 FG, and 26 of those points came in the 2nd half ALONE on 9/15 FG, but they would lose the game because no other Laker had more than 14 PTS.

Game four was a second loss, w/ Kobe having 33 PTS and 10 ASTS.

Headed back home for game five.

In game five, Kobe put up 26-6-7-2 on 6/10 FG shooting.

3-2 Lakers lead.

Game six was the deciding game.

Kobe boasted a statline of 34-8-6 on 9/15 FG shooting.

He closed out the series in the 4th quarter, scoring 12 PTS on 2/4 FG, 1/1 3PT, and a perfect 7/7 FT.

4-2 Lakers.

For the series, Kobe averaged 33.2 PPG, 7.0 RPG, and 7.2 APG on 49.1% FG shooting (62.9 TS%).

He led both teams in scoring in 5 out of the 6 games, and had three ultra clutch performances, including a 34-point, closeout game six to end it.

He would be facing the Spurs next.

The defending champ Spurs were the #3 seed in the West, winning 56 games.

In the RS, they were the league’s #3 defense, holding their opponents to the 3rd fewest PPG.

The trio, with Parker just coming off of winning a FMVP and Manu having his best season, was at it’s peak.

In the playoffs, the Spurs were going nuts.

They had beaten the 6th seeded, 55-win Suns in the WCFR in five games.

They then beat the 2nd seeded, 56-win Hornets in the WCSF in a very hard fought 7-game series.

People forget these were the ‘07 DEFENDING CHAMPIONS.

Game one was off to a rough start... Kobe would end the first half with only 2 points.

But... well we all know how this ends...

After coming back from the locker room, Kobe put up 25-4-4 in the 2nd half, including 14 PTS (6/9 FG) in the 4th.

Lakers take game one, 89-85.

Kobe would lead the Lakers to a win in game two as well, w/ 22-5-5 on 10/17 FG.

Game three was a loss, despite Kobe having 30 pts on 13/23 FG and 4/9 3PT... 12 of those PTS coming in the 4th Q on 4/7 FG.

The next highest scoring Laker was Pau, with 15 PTS on 39% FG (2 in 4th).

Kobe would again have a heavy load to shoulder in game four, but the outcome was different.

He put up 28 pts and 10 rebs on 14/29 FG (0 FT’s).

No other Laker cracked 20 PTS, but four players scored in the low double digits.

3-1 Lakers... headed back home.

At home with a chance to close out the defending champs, Kobe did this:

39 PTS, 3 REBS, 3 ASTS, 2 STLS

(16/30 FG - 5/5 FT) (60.6 TS%)

28 of Kobe’s 39 PTS came in the 2nd half, and he scored 17 PTS (6/11 FG and 4/4 FT) in the 4th quarter ALONE.

Took matters into his own hands.

The Spurs were done. The team that had just won the Finals the year prior was done... in five games.

Despite being guarded by the BEST on-ball defender at the time, Bruce Bowen, Kobe was just utterly unstoppable.

It was clear that not a single soul on the planet could stop him.

For the series, Kobe averaged 29-6-4-2 on 53% FG, 33% 3PT, and 90.9% FT (58.5 TS%).

His next two best teammates:

Gasol: 13.2 PPG (45% FG / 47.3 TS%)
Odom: 12.8 PPG (40% FG / 48.4 TS%)

He CARRIED the Lakers to victory.

One of the best series’s of his career.

Through the west, Kobe had faced absolute hell...

The 50-win, super deep Nuggets w/ Melo, AI, and Camby.

4-0.

The 54-win, #1 offense, super deep Jazz w/ Deron and Boozer.

4-2.

The 56-win, #3 defense, defending champion Spurs w/ Duncan, Manu, and Parker.

4-1.

12-3 record.

In this run, Kobe put up averages of:

31.9 PPG - 6.1 RPG - 5.8 APG

(50.9% FG / 60.5 TS% / 54.4 eFG%)

32-6-6 on 60.5 TS%, while going 12-3, against THAT Western Conference.

His performances were just incredible.

These are some of his clutchest performances from this run.

In arguably the toughest conference in NBA history, Kobe was an animal.

Put on performances for the ages, with or without help, and was the best player on the court every time he stepped out there.

He was the best player in the world, and was clearly, and utterly, unguardable.