Shaq helped Kobe win 3 titles, no doubt. But it's not like Duncan won 3 by himself. The first one came with David Robinson, Sean Elliot, Avery Johnson -- the other two he was surrounded by an even more unbelievable cast of talented role players. Duncan gets more scoring help from teammates and has for years. When Kobe scores 50+ points -- it's usually because HE HAS TO to give the Lakers a chance to win. In the game today, Kobe's killer instinct is unparallel with the exception of maybe DWade. I watched him score 17 points in the final 4:30 of regulation last night and drill a game tying 3 pointer with 11 seconds left to send it into OT! The Lakers lose that game by 15 if he doesn't come in and put them on his shoulders. Think about your team in the playoffs -- Do you REALLY want to play against this guy? He can single-handedly erase a 10 point lead in about a minute and a half on any given night. He just ran off 5 straight 50 point games -- all wins. In the playoffs, that's a killer. He's the best "closer" in the game. He may not have the MVPs but in the finals, the Lakers ran through Shaq. That was the team concept, and he accepted it even though he didn't agree with it. As for regular season MVPs, well, there are a handfull of great players in this league and then you look at a guy like Steve Nash who should win a 3rd this season. But again his supporting cast is more talented. I'd kill to have Stoudamire or Marion instead of Odom on the Lakers. Nash has TWO guys he can defer to with the game on the line. Nash makes guys better -- but he also has better guys. Duncan, same thing -- better players. But Kobe does the same thing with his guys -- they just are not as talented or experienced. It's one of the youngest teams in the league right now.Will Duncan win another MVP? Doubtful. Will Kobe win more than 1? I'd say it's inevitable. He's matured and his game gets better -- and the Lakers are getting better. Duncan is dominant at a totally different position, and when he has to, he brings it like no big man around. But when he's doubled and tripled in the post, guys like Ginobli and Parker and Finley are knocking down 3's or dancing down the lane for a layup in the space he created. I hold my breath every time Kobe passes it a wide open Smush Parker or Lamar Odom or Luke Walton. Those guys can play -- but the Spurs have a much stronger group of players. Spurs fans know -- their guys are going to knock down the shots -- which is why the Spurs win games with Duncan usually getting 21 & 13 every night. The Lakers are at a point where they rely on Kobe TOO MUCH -- and it's painful at times because when he's off -- like he was for much of the 2nd half last night against the Rockets -- the Lakers look powerless to put the ball in the hole.Sorry for the "I love Kobe" essay but watching this guy all season like I have, you see things you don't see in a guy like Lebron. Arenas is getting there -- But nobody takes over a game like Kobe Bryant right now. He wills the Lakers to victory almost by himself most nights. So when they blow it (like last night) he takes the blame. But comparing Duncan and Kobe -- You can't do it without looking at the guys they play with because simply put, Duncan's crew is usually better. Even when the Lakers beat them last time in the playoffs -- Duncan's crew was better. Like someone wrote above - if Derek Fisher doesn't make a ridiculous shot -- the Spurs win that series. Okay, I'm done.(edited for spelling & grammar)
Great thread, hopefully we get some more productive discussion here than in Kobe-Jordan threads! 
uncan has 3 championships as the pivotal player for his team.KobMe has 3 championships as a roleplayerAdvantage: Duncan
