You'd have a point if Kobe was putting up 19 a game, he had to put up the same numbers as T-Mac AND be that defender. How is that more responsibility?
Because one is putting up those numbers w/o Shaq and a far worse team as a whole.
You can be a better defender when you're playing with Shaquille on both sides of the ball. It's not as simple as they are both putting up the same numbers while one is a better defender. Context in this situation indeed matters, and LAL having shaquille and a much better team plays a pivotal part in why Kobe was able to be an all world defender at this time.
I don't think Kobe is as good of a defender if Darryl Armstrong and Pat Garrity are his running mates.