My Player (Season 3) Magic/Lakers Preview - Hapshoops32's Dynasty

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My Player (Season 3) Magic/Lakers Preview Stuck

Posted on March 2, 2011 at 11:27 PM.

(5)

January 10, 2013
RIVALRY RENEWED: MAGIC SET TO BATTLE LAKERS

Jeffrey James
ESPN.com

It's not to the level of Lakers/Celtics just yet - but the rivalry between Los Angeles and Orlando is getting there. One of the key ingrediants of any major rivalry in sports is a pair of star players, seemingly connected at the hips, always locked in battle. Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Wilt Chamberlain and Bill Russell. Kobe Bryant and Brian Happel?? As the Lakers and Magic get ready to lock horns tomorrow night in Orlando, we're taking a closer look at 2 of the best players in the game right now, and whether the young gun Brian Happel can be mentioned in the same breath as Bryant, and if he may some day over take him as one of the best, if not the best player to ever play the game.

Marquee Matchup
Player		Stats
	Kobe Bryant	25.6 PPG, 2.1 SPG, 43.3% FG
	BRIAN HAPPEL	38.6 PPG, 13.6 RPG, 69.2% FG

On the surface, it seems Happel is the better player right now. He's much younger than Kobe, still with plenty of upside to his career, and many believe Happel is still a few years off from reaching his peak. Bryant is on the down slope of his career, and while he's still performing at a tremendously high level, his best days are behind him. Taking that into account, and looking at each player's current stats this year, it seems advantage Happel, right? Come on now, you didn't really think it was that easy, or shallow, did you?

Career Achievements
Player		Achievements
	Kobe Bryant	MVP: 1, NBA Champion: 5, Finals MVP: 2, All-Star: 14, 1st Team All-NBA: 10, Scoring Champion: 2, 1st Team All-Defense: 8
	BRIAN HAPPEL	MVP: 1, NBA Champion: 1, Finals MVP: 1, All-Star: 2, 1st Team All-NBA: 1, Scoring Champion: 1, Rebounding Champion: 1, Rookie of the Year

The bodies of work over their careers doesn't even compare. Happel has certainly reached some big accomplishments. Just look at the championships. Bryant has reached the top 5 times in his career, twice as the sole leader of the team (and without the services of Shaq). Happel has a ring - but again, that's "a" ring. He's simply too young to really compare to Kobe, at least when you want to talk about one of the all-time greatest players of the game.

Despite Happel sending Kobe and the Lakers home in the NBA Finals last year, Bryant has enough rings to fill up an entire hand

So, it's pretty well established that Bryant is far superior, obviously just because of doing everything he's done over an entire career. But, let's project outward a bit. Can Happel be as good, if not BETTER than Bryant? This is where it gets scary for how good Happel can be. Both entered the NBA with somewhat similar situations. Bryant joined the league right out of high school. Happel was one and done at Syracuse. So, you can argue that Happel benefited from one extra year of seasoning in college that Bryant didn't have. But, take a look at how the 2 stack up over their first three seasons:

Happel Stats - Career
Season	GP/GS	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	TOPG	FG%	3PT%	FT%
2010-11 (ORL)	72/59	38.6	19.6	10.1	3.9	2.7	.525	.154	.890
2011-12 (ORL)	80/80	42.8	32.5	15.1	3.5	1.8	.640	.482	.962
2012-13 (ORL)	26/26	41.8	38.6	13.6	4.9	1.9	.692	.488	.946

Kobe Bryant 1st 3 Years Stats
Season	GP/GS	MIN	PPG	RPG	APG	TOPG	FG%	3PT%	FT%
1996-97 (LAL)	71/6	15.5	7.6	1.9	1.3	1.6	.417	.375	.819
1997-98 (LAL)	79/1	26.0	15.4	3.1	2.5	2.0	.428	.341	.794
1998-99 (LAL)	50/50	37.9	19.9	5.3	3.8	3.1	.465	.267	.839

As you can see, Happel is dramatically ahead of Bryant in every statistical category through the first 3 years of their respective careers. Now, Brian has had the benefit of being able to start early on in his career with Orlando. The Magic bumped him into the starting position by November of his first season. Bryant didn't get a chance to start with the Lakers full-time until his third season. But, seeing that Happel is so far ahead, his final career numbers could be well past whatever Bryant is able to finish out with.

Some believe Happel is a slam dunk to have a better career than Kobe Bryant

Of course, there is a lot that needs to happen between now and then. Happel needs to stay healthy and out of trouble. He needs to continue performing at this level, or scary thought, better, as the years roll by. The name of the game is consistency. The potential is certainly there. Then again, all potential ever means - is that you haven't done anything yet. For now, sit back and enjoy one of the marquee matchups of the NBA today when Orlando welcomes Los Angeles to the Amway Center tomorrow night.

Comments

# 1 Shinyhubcaps @ Mar 4

Your presentation in these re-caps is amazing. The stats are ridiculous though, leading to some questions about your play style on the sim board. I can tell that you love this mode, and you're obviously maxing out your stats with the huge jump in 3PT%, so I certainly won't deter you. The game is really deep and fun when you can get into it like this, so keep up the good work.

# 2 Hapshoops32 @ Mar 4

First of all Shiny, thanks for your comments about the presentation. It takes a lot of work to do it lol, so it actually takes me a long time now to go through seasons. What are you talking about when you say there are questions about my play style on teh sim board? What sim board? As for the stats.. yeah, they're ridiculous. And, I know they're ridiculous. It doesn't feel quite right, but at the same time, it is fun being able to dominate sometimes. Admittedly, it's gotten boring and I will be increasing the difficulty. Every game is pretty much a blow out win now, so it's boring. I hit a game-winning (actually championship winning) shot with 0.3 seconds left my last season, and it was fun to have a close game like that. Not a single game this season has been close. As you correctly guessed, I'm a 99 overall - and actually, every single attribute is maxed now. I will say, because of that, and the fact that my team relies on me a lot whether I like it or not (when I pass to other guys, they either miss the shot or end up getting it back to me anyway), it's hard not to score. I'm torn sometimes.. I want to put up amazing numbers, but at the same time know they're just not like real life - sometimes I say screw real life, I bought this game, I want to dominate.. so I do. Other times, I feel guilty for it being so easy. Anyway - it's a good discussion to have. Thanks again for the comment, I'm glad you at least enjoy the presentation! And again - just curious - what sim board are you talking about?

# 3 detroitsun @ Mar 7

Yes your presentation is great-- what level do you play on? I play on Pro right now, finishing my first season. I'm going to switch to "Real FG%" for my second season to add to the challenge. I don't like to lose but I don't want to win every game or feel like it's not a challenge.

# 4 Hapshoops32 @ Mar 7

Hi detroitsun - I play on Pro as well, and switch back and forth between Default and Simulation... Default has higher field goal percentages and leads to more games with 100+ points - so more like the real NBA. I've played a couple games recently under Simulation, not as much scoring - I still score close to what I had been scoring, but the games are least closer so I'm not blowing everyone out all the time.

# 5 mikeylew92 @ Apr 28

quesiton, i am a noob at this ish and was just wondering, how tio start a dynasty where people can comment and everything like this type of thing... can you help a brother out lmao