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- 07/16/2012, 03:15AM ET
Kobe's 81 vs. Wilt's 100
harrisplz said 07/16, 06:01 PM
I understand why many of you would automatically assume Wilt's 100 to be better than Kobe's 81. But if you guys keep an open mind and look closely at the two performances, you will see that they are more comparable than you think.
Let's dissect what we know about Wilt's performance:
-Wilt took 63 shots and 32 FT's
-Wilt played against the Knick's BACK UP center. The starter was injured
-By the end of the 1st quarter, the score was 42-26. The game was effectively over in the first 12 minutes
- in 1962, the average points scored in the NBA was 118.8 points per game
- the truth is, in 1962 the league was watered down due to racism
-they employed the "Hack-a-Shaq" tactic on Wilt. The Knicks coach fouled Wilt on every play to get the ball back. The Knicks sucked so much all they could do was foul Wilt. (off-sets Kobe playing against Toronto)
Kobe's 81:
-the Lakers were down 63-49 at half time. Kobe HAD to get going to win
-Kobe took 46 shots and 20 FT's
-in 2005, the average points scored in the NBA was 97.2 points per game. The league has become decisively more difficult to score in, compared to the 1962 at least
Mitch_Woulf said 07/17, 08:12 PM
Wilt Chamberlain's 100 point game is clearly the best performance in NBA History even more then the 81 point performance by Kobe Bryant.
While you might think they are comparable lets go and look deeper into stats to see why not only the points was more impressive but also the Game. Wilt Chamberlain not only had 100 points but he also had 25 rebounds in the game, Chamberlain wasn't just waiting to get the ball passed to like Kobe was and Kobe currently does. Kobe only had 6 rebounds and 2 assists ( the same amount as Chamberlain ) They did not keep track of steals and blocks back then but im sure Chamberlain had quite a few of those as well.
- Kobe had 7 threes in the game, there was no three point line when Wilt scored 100
- Kobe's role was to just shoot the ball, currently on that team he was the only scorer which made it simple, all he had to do was wait for the ball to be passed to him.
The popular response would be to say that Kobe's game was better, but you need to take all factors into consideration, Wilt made 36 FG which is amazing.
There is a reason why only 1 person has scored 100 points in a game.
harrisplz said 07/17, 10:09 PM
So pretty much your entire argument boils down to the fact that Wilt grabbed more rebounds and scored more points.
In 1962, the NBA was still rampant with racism. In the introduction of Wilt and Baylor in the NBA was an extraordinary event. Meaning, Wilt was pretty much playing against an inferior opponents and just the mere fact that he was 7 feet tall was unfair.
That's not to say what Wilt did was not amazing;I'm just saying that maybe in a league so watered down, 25 rebounds isn't as amazing as it sounds.
And the fact that Wilt didn't have the three point line is stupid. You mention yourself that he pretty scored all his points by grabbing tons of rebounds and putting up lay-ups. Wilt's game was oriented in the paint and expanded to a 17 foot jumper.
And maybe in your next argument, you might want to dispute some of the points I made:
-Wilt was abusing a back up center in a watered down league
-Kobe actually HAD to go off to get the win
-Wilt played in an era where scoring points was much easier
Mitch_Woulf said 07/17, 10:53 PM
Wouldn't the player with more points and more boards have had the better game?
You want talk about height? There were 37 players in the 1960s that were at least 6'9, which means they could at least put up an effort against Chamberlain. The Center that Wilt went up against was 6'10 so he was no slouch. Your point about Chamberlain not playing against an inferior opponent could just as easily be said about the Raptors that Kobe was playing against.
Last time I checked 25 rebounds was very good even in the 1960s. There were still big time players like Bill Russell and Jerry Lucas that were great rebounders. And so what if Wilts game was oriented in the paint
-That Backup Center was still an NBA Center,im sure Chamberlain went against worst guys then him before
-Wilt also had to go off to win the Knicks scored 147 points
-Scoring points may have been easier, but Chamberlain's other teammates were more involved then Kobe's teammates.
-And again there was no three point line in the 60s and Wilt had 19 more points and Boards then Kobe
harrisplz said 07/18, 05:35 PM
If there's one thing that you can't really dispute in this TD, its that the NBA in 1962 was completely lackluster in terms of talent compared to the NBA of today.
37 players who were at least 6'9? Last time I remember, being tall doesn't merit any kind of freakish athleticism that Wilt had. Have you seen Ilgauskas play?
And where in the world did you get the idea that Wilt's teammates were more involved than Kobe's teammates?
Wilt's coach, Frank McGuire had an interview about Wilt's 100 point game. He mentioned that his teammate Guy Rodgers said"Lets get the ball to Dip. Let's see how many he gets."
Pretty involved teammates there.
And again with the three pointers! Wilt did not even have the range put up shots from 22 feet and beyond! If anything, Kobe's versatile driving and shooting game is more impressive than Wilt's ability to grab rebounds over dummies and put up a lay-up.
Wilt's 100 point game is legendary, but everyone knows there is an asterisk that comes with it. It's kind of like his regular season stats: 50 points a game..!? That's a combination of Wilt's talent AS WELL as the inferior 1962 NBA talent level.
Mitch_Woulf said 07/19, 02:05 PM
There may be more talented players now in the NBA then in 1962, but you have to remember that Kobe was playing against the Toronto Raptors, you could argue that they were lackluster in terms of talent.
I was just using height as an example, maybe it was a bad example,my point was that Wilt wasnt playing against a bunch a midgets.
Where did I get the idea Wilts teammates were more involved?Paul Arizin Hall Of Fame, Tom Meschery quality forward who was an all star, Guy Rodgers 4 time all star,2 time assist leader, compared to Kwame Brown, Lamar Odom,Chris Mihm, and Smush Parker who combined for 0 all star games, there game plan was simply get the ball to Kobe, let Kobe shoot.
And you dont think that Phil Jackson told Lakers players every game to get the ball to Kobe? I bet Phil Jackson wondered several times how many points Kobe would score when he was on.
With no three pointers in 1962 Wilt did not need the range to put up threes,The threes if anything helped Kobe's total because it was an extra point then if he shot it from inside the Arc
Lets just Remember that *The Raptors were 29th in the NBA in Defense that year and Kobe was mainly guarded by Morris Peterson
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Comments (96) Add A Comment
I just happen to catch a replay of Kobe's 81 (for the billionth time) and I thought it would be fun to TD whose performance was better: Wilt's 100 or Kobe's 81.
Of course as an avid Kobe fan, I'm going to have my share of reasons why I think Kobe's 81 is more impressive. If anyone specifically wants this TD, let me know. Otherwise, I think I'll have an argument up by at the least the end of Monday.
harrisplz
Total Comments (382)
I'd take it.
sportsfan809
Total Comments (55)
But since you didn't actually start it, we'd never know. But in this world, you know, "reality", you can't prove to anyone how 81 is more than 100.
Gruden
Aurora, CO
Total Comments (298)
To begin with, Kobe had the advantage of 3 pointers that Wilt didn't have. That's an extra 7 points. Wilt also had 32 free throw attempts, meaning he was hacked to death. Kobe only had 20. Wilt also made his shots inside the paint, while Kobe was shooting only 5 of his baskets from inside the paint. Wilt had it MUCH more difficult.
Gruden
Aurora, CO
Total Comments (298)
Vote gruden
Bloggers Needed
Total Comments (2505)
Yep.
W_A_M_U?
Total Comments (64481)
If Kobe had the advantage of 3pointers how did you come up with a sum of 7extra pts?
wanna get blank!!!
Total Comments (140)
I think you mean 7 3's that he made, right? He went 7 for 13. 7*3=21 Math is fun.:)
bestintheweston
Total Comments (14)
This is one sports feat that is impossible to compare.
Only 4,000 people saw Wilt's 100 point game which was not even on television. There is also no video footage of the game.
Therefore, the only way possible I see to compare this is that 100 > 81 so therefore Wilt's was more impressive.
we_are___
State College, PA
Total Comments (266)
Also there are statments from people at the game,(players, reporters, ect) who said that most of Wilt's shots where from the 10-12ft range. Any time he went into the post he either got double or triple teamed, or hacked to death, hence the 32 free throws.
bestintheweston
Total Comments (14)
Math
Gruden
Aurora, CO
Total Comments (298)
Not when you're getting hacked and headed to the free throw line all game
Gruden
Aurora, CO
Total Comments (298)
Math is fun but if someone just throws out random #'s without the stats, how is anyone going to know what they are talking about?
bestintheweston
Total Comments (14)
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