Do you think Kobe has lost a step? I don't

[Frantik]

[quote="

IF you've lost a step, your decling,
You could not be more wrong. Athleticism is only one aspect of a player. There are countless others. A player can obviously lose athleticism (or a step, or whatever you name it) and improve other areas of his game, with the net result being positive. See e.g. KOBE BRYANT.

I guess it depends on what you define "losing a step" means, to me it means he's not as fast, can't jump as high, which hurts anyone's game some.


Sure Kobe's a great player, but he is declining in his skill set, no matter how much he improves in other aspects of this game, it can't make up for slower step and less explosive jumping, Time will tell if he can still carry us over the next two to three years, as he declines further.

At some point, even Jordan's "experience" and maturity couldn't make up for his "losing a step"

when Steve Nash was at his best, he had no athleticism what so ever!! Bottomline = there is more to a player than just the athleticism. You know it. you're just arguing for the heck of it. Skill-set and athleticism are two completely different things. Try pairing up Dwight Howard with Olajuwon and see how Olajuwon, at his slowest, destroys Howard... if Kobe breaks a leg tomorrow, he can still vastly improve his passing, facilitating the defense, free throws, overall decision making, 3pt shot...shall i continue? which one of these things require you to jump out of the stadium? this all all part of what makes a basketball player good.

[BallAboveAll]

I think after that knee surgery he had he has lost some speed and jumping ability. But he can still explode it just that he's palyed nonstop for 2 years straight and his legs were tired. He should be a bit more fresher coming into this season.

[Dr Aki]

its not the size of your jump, its how you use it

[Dexmor]

The Hakeem vs Howard is a really bad example because Hakeem on the Raptors would get killed by Howard.

[joe.linnen]

He's lost a step, but it will never show. Bryant covers it by being able to flat out score anywhere on the court.

Example look at the way Bryant score when he was younger and now. He has to save his body as he gets up there in age.

[Asianiac_24]

I think the biggest difference between the 06 Kobe and the Kobe now is the ability to finish around the basket. There are so many misses around the basket and open court I've seen this year that Kobe in 06' would have definitely finished. Ariza was our best finisher during fastbreaks IMO

[Tonyism74]

Kobe has loast a step, and lost vertical..and it shows......however, he can actually improve as a player and leader by maing the right plays..and maybe a decrease in one aspect, is an increase in another for someone of Kobe's caliber.

Also athletecism isnt just vertical, its about body control, stamina, ability to jump off either or both legs freely etc. something he has been very gifted with.

[Tonyism74]

Besides, whether he loses a step or not...he still is far ahead in terms of mental edge and toughness.

[DubaLakers]

How weird I just said this in another post, hopefully it was temporary, he appeared exhausted in the playoffs, the explosion wasn't aways there like it used to be. He could have been hurt, who knows.

[DEEP3CL]

Yeah he lost some athleticism but thats due to age but Kobe has the fundamentals down im not trying to start anything but a player like Lebron is going to have a problem when he gets in his 30s because he isnt very fundamental not saying he wont develop fundamentals but right now he relies to much on athleticism

I think your right on point ILLMATIC, LBJ's game right now is based on pure athleticism. To see a guy like Kobe's athleticism fade is nothing new, it happens to the best of them. But guys who have the game down from a cerebral point can get over by playing the "floor" game. Jordan even did......even though I hate talking about him in this generation of Jordan sack lovers who see no wrong in him.

[Magicontinues]

Even the great Jordan at one point when he lost a step, declined. Doesn't matter how "celebral" or "fundamentally strong" your game is, you will see a decline. I saw some last year as Kobe tired from playing two straight years with no break, He obviously was not the same player as he was 3-4 years ago. Still good, but not the same. I think if we still continue to have a strong supporting cast it will mask this a bit, as Kobe won't have to do all he has done athletically in the past. But losing a step means less steals, more of getting your shot blocked, as you can't jump as high. Happened to all the greats at some point.

[spree2kawhi]

kobe's athleticism has always been good but he was never the freak james white, vince carter, iguodala or richardson are. anyways, that is interesting. my guess:

kobe

> ray allen
> courtney lee
> hughes (a little)
< iguodala
> belinelli
> salmons
> anthony parker
> ben gordon
> dunleavy
> redd
> joe johnson
> raja bell
< wade
< carter
> mike miller

that was the east, kobe topped 12 out of 15.

< josh howard
< McGrady (<White)
< Mayo
> Peterson
> Roger Mason & Ginobili
< JR Smith
> Damien Wilkins
> Roy
> Harden
< Ronnie Brewer
> Morrow
> Eric Gordon
< Jason Richardson
> Kevin Martin

that was the west. kobe topped 8 out of 14.
that being said he is still a top ten athlete in this league, and what's most important, he has become really strong compared to his younger days.

[Phil Jackson]

If anything, he's gained a step.