MJ’s East vs. Kobe’s West — Who Had the Tougher Title Gauntlet?
If we’re talking decade-long depth, it’s hard to beat the 2000s West.
Case for Kobe:
You had Duncan’s Spurs, Dirk’s Mavs, Nash’s Suns, Webber’s Kings, KG’s Wolves, Yao/T-Mac Rockets, etc.—multiple 55–60 win outfits at the same time.
The 2001 Lakers ran a historic gauntlet, beating four 50-win teams on the way to the title (three in the West, plus the 56-win Sixers) and went 15–1.
From ’08–’10, Kobe went through a steady stream of 50-win clubs (Jazz/Nuggets/Suns) and then Celtics/Magic in the Finals. Those runs are criminally underrated.
Case for MJ:
Early 90s East still had Bad Boy residue, then the 57-win Knicks, Price/Daugherty Cavs, and later Reggie’s Pacers.
Chicago usually was the 60-win buzzsaw everyone else had to survive.
So, which specific run felt toughest to you? ’01 Lakers or ’93/’98 Bulls?
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