Kobe Bryant next season

EvilSperm · Post #1 » by **EvilSperm** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 1:50 pm

Is this going to be Kobes Last season playing at a superior level? 33 this august wat u guys think?

Post #2 » by **snaquille oatmeal** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:13 pm

It all depends on injuries. He is a very resourceful guy and like MJ he will find a way to play at a high level.

The_Trade_Seer · Post #3 » by **The_Trade_Seer** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 3:44 pm

Many people feel Kobe will be dominant for another 3 years, through the age of 35 as MJ was dominant through the age of 35 ... however people forget or simply don't realize that Kobe has already played more minutes in his NBA career at the age of 32 than Jordan did when he retired for the final time at 39 years old! Kobe has also dealt with more injuries and surgeries than MJ.

However, Kobe is Kobe, he's not entirely human as we understand that term and I do believe he will still be playing top level ball for the next 3 years. I see him playing until he's 38-40 as well but I see his last 3-5 years being as a 6th man of the year, instant offense candidate if we have a high quality young SG, or a high point per minute starter, but someone that only plays 24-28 mins a game.

EnigmaticProblem · Post #4 » by **EnigmaticProblem** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:42 pm

I think Kobe retires once he feels he's done as a starter. I really don't see him coming off the bench. . .

3-Pt_Shooter · Post #5 » by **3-Pt_Shooter** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:58 pm

EnigmaticProblem wrote:I think Kobe retires once he feels he's done as a starter. I really don't see him coming off the bench. . .

You're right, I don't ever see Kobe coming off the bench at the end of his career.

Also, I do strongly believe that Kobe has got 2-3 elite level seasons left in the tank. After that he'll still be one of the best in the game... this is based on the fact that Kobe is very resourceful and can score in a variety of ways. But IMO his Top Dog status will expire after about three years or so.

JCAL_24 · Post #6 » by **JCAL_24** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 4:59 pm

Kobe come off the bench? Yea that will be the day, he would retire before ever getting to that stage. Kobe will never be a 6th man, he's one of the top 5 players of all time. Players of that stature do not come off the bench ever.

Can you even see Kobe accepting such a role? If you do, the you must not know how he's wired. Kobe will be playing at a high level for the next 5 years and none of those years will Be him being a role player coming off the bench, I can assure you of that. If fisher is still a starter in this league at 36 or 37 years of age then there is no way a guy like Kobe will ever be coming off the bench in his career. We're taking about the black mamba here, the guy will be an assassin until the day he retires.

Post #7 » by **crazyeights** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 5:53 pm

Derek Fisher has all but rejected coming off the bench. And he's Derek Fisher.

Gek · Post #8 » by **Gek** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 6:54 pm

I think Kobe will become a prolific 3 point shooter over the next few years.

ALL HAIL · Post #9 » by **ALL HAIL** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 8:42 pm

Kobe has to willfully change his game ... and the organization MUST support him.

He came in the league trying to impress the vets around him.
He spent his Shaq years being a Scoring PG/facilitator.
He spent 'The 81 Years" shooting and taking it to the hole with reckless abandon.
And he's spent the last few years in the very unique role of PG/facilitator (w/ two post up centers) and number one scoring option.

He can't continue do what he has been doing. He's got to change his game.

I've been saying for years that Kobe needs to continue to model his game after Jordan.

I don't care what you call him or list him as, but he's got to play SF on offense, like Jordan did, to help prolong his career. Kobe could be James Worthy in the post if he dedicated himself to playng with his back to the basket.

The organization MUST support Kobe in moving closer to the basket by trading one of the centers, and aquiring a quality quarterback and second string center.

Trading Bynum or Gasol would open it up in the post for Kobe to do his thing.

Wizard of POOH · Post #10 » by **Wizard of POOH** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 9:08 pm

I see Kobe retiring at 36 or maybe 37, after that he starts his ESPN career.

hermes · Post #11 » by **hermes** » Sun Jun 12, 2011 11:20 pm

Wizard of POOH wrote:I see Kobe retiring at 36 or maybe 37, after that he starts his ESPN career.

hehe wizard of pooh, its a good name too bad he got the axe

anyway i don't know if kobe is the type to do espn

The_Trade_Seer · Post #12 » by **The_Trade_Seer** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:37 am

JCAL_24 wrote:Kobe come off the bench? Yea that will be the day, he would retire before ever getting to that stage. Kobe will never be a 6th man,

He was a 6th man as a younf pup and should have won 6th man of the year once too!

he's one of the top 5 players of all time. Players of that stature do not come off the bench ever.[/quote]

Um ... Shaq did.

Can you even see Kobe accepting such a role? If you do, the you must not know how he's wired. Kobe will be playing at a high level for the next 5 years and none of those years will Be him being a role player coming off the bench, I can assure you of that.

I never said "a role player coming off the bench", I said a high point per minute 6th man if there were superior young guns to start. I agree Kobe will probably start until he retires but I don't think it's out of the realm of possibility he could play a high scoring 6th man ala Jet Terry.

If fisher is still a starter in this league at 36 or 37 years of age then there is no way a guy like Kobe will ever be coming off the bench in his career.

He will never be forced there but Kobe is a hard guy to figure, he may want to win a 6th man of the year award one day, who knows.

We're taking about the black mamba here, the guy will be an assassin until the day he retires.

I agree 100%

The_Trade_Seer · Post #13 » by **The_Trade_Seer** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:41 am

ALL HAIL wrote:I've been saying for years that Kobe needs to continue to model his game after Jordan.

Yeah, a Jordan who could actually hit a 3 to save his life.

I don't care what you call him or list him as, but he's got to play SF on offense, like Jordan did, to help prolong his career. Kobe could be James Worthy in the post if he dedicated himself to playng with his back to the basket.

I agree 100%

The organization MUST support Kobe in moving closer to the basket by trading one of the centers, and aquiring a quality quarterback and second string center.

Perhaps and this is certainly possible. I'm taking it you'd rather have CP3 than even Dwight.

Trading Bynum or Gasol would open it up in the post for Kobe to do his thing.

Possibily, though you're still going to have a C and PF on the court at the same time as Kobe. Unless you feel Odom should be our long-term starting PF and float towards the perimeter while Kobe bangs in the post, we would need to trade for a stretch 4 or 5 ... Bynum for Bargnani, Ed Davis and their 1st round pick? I'm not up for that.

Jajwanda · Post #14 » by **Jajwanda** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:54 am

I've been in agreement with that notion for a while now. Either the Lakers bench one of Gasol-Bynum or they have to make a trade. Odom plays about 34 mpg. That means for 14mpg the two big men have to play together. Make those 14 mpg the ones that Kobe is out of the game. It's that simple. Gasol will have extra time to feast on backup Cs, Kobe will be efficient from the get go.

Anklebreaker702 · Post #15 » by **Anklebreaker702** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:05 am

ALL HAIL wrote:Kobe has to willfully change his game ... and the organization MUST support him.

He came in the league trying to impress the vets around him.
He spent his Shaq years being a Scoring PG/facilitator.
He spent 'The 81 Years" shooting and taking it to the hole with reckless abandon.
And he's spent the last few years in the very unique role of PG/facilitator (w/ two post up centers) and number one scoring option.

He can't continue do what he has been doing. He's got to change his game.

I've been saying for years that Kobe needs to continue to model his game after Jordan.

I don't care what you call him or list him as, but he's got to play SF on offense, like Jordan did, to help prolong his career. Kobe could be James Worthy in the post if he dedicated himself to playng with his back to the basket.

The organization MUST support Kobe in moving closer to the basket by trading one of the centers, and aquiring a quality quarterback and second string center.

Trading Bynum or Gasol would open it up in the post for Kobe to do his thing.

Trading one of them has to be well worth it. You don't trade them to appease Kobe's career for what, 3 more seasons?

ALL HAIL · Post #16 » by **ALL HAIL** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 6:56 am

^Exactly.

To me that goes without saying ... IT MUST BE WORTH IT!

If it is worth it ... great.

It it isn't ...

Sign a bargain PG and move Gasol to the bench and allow him to "beat out" Bynum and Odom for "final minute responsibilities". He'd get nearly the same amount of minutes. To me, it wouldn't be about a demotion for Gasol, it'd be about giving the first and second units MORE BALANCE.

When Gasol is on he is an offensive force. He'd provide a tremendous spark off the bench, even more effective than Odom n the same capacity.

Usually championship teams are built with a very strong defensive first unit and a more concentrated offensive unit off the bench. Most great benches have consistent offensive spark off the bench ... Gasol would provide that if he can't be traded for a dynamic PG and backup C.

SashAlex · Post #17 » by **SashAlex** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:13 pm

ALL HAIL wrote:^Exactly.

To me that goes without saying ... IT MUST BE WORTH IT!

If it is worth it ... great.

It it isn't ...

Sign a bargain PG and move Gasol to the bench and allow him to "beat out" Bynum and Odom for "final minute responsibilities". He'd get nearly the same amount of minutes. To me, it wouldn't be about a demotion for Gasol, it'd be about giving the first and second units MORE BALANCE.

When Gasol is on he is an offensive force. He'd provide a tremendous spark off the bench, even more effective than Odom n the same capacity.

Usually championship teams are built with a very strong defensive first unit and a more concentrated offensive unit off the bench. Most great benches have consistent offensive spark off the bench ... Gasol would provide that if he can't be traded for a dynamic PG and backup C.

No way Gasol will come from the bench. Lamar, who let's say, is inferior to Gasol talent wise, wasn't excited about it in the beginning, so no way Pau will agree this role.

Dr Aki · Post #18 » by **Dr Aki** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 1:55 pm

i would prefer kobe model his game a bit more on his 2005-06 physique, or more recently paul pierce circa 2008-10

basically a predominantly bulk-heavy post-up player living at the elbow extended with deadly 3pt range.

kobe really needs to increase that 3pt shooting % up, if kidd can do it, there's no reason kobe can't

Post #19 » by **semi-sentient** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 2:50 pm

He's going to have to play a lot better than he did this past season, that's for damn sure. That means taking less shots and becoming more of a play-maker, in addition to playing much better on the defensive end.

I'll cut him some slack because he never got a chance to really get his knee in order, and that had all kinds of other side effects such as not being able to practice with the team, fatigue, etc. His explosiveness seemed non-existent, his lateral movement on defense was atrocious, and he regularly ran out of gas late in games which made it difficult to close teams out or mount comebacks.

Assuming he gets it all worked out this off-season, in addition to taking a much needed extended break, I do expect him to play at a very high level this year and be a better player down the stretch. I don't know what the lockout situation is looking like, but if the season is shortened then it's going to help him big time as he'll be very fresh come playoff time. That's what I'm actually hoping for as I think this could be our final shot at a title in the Kobe era -- and after that who knows when we'll get another franchise player.

Post #20 » by **Slava** » Mon Jun 13, 2011 3:01 pm

For the life of me I cannot understand t he need to demote Gasol in favor of Odom, who sucked equally bad in the playoffs. Gasol was just a much bigger target for criticism and Odom got off easy with his regular season award.

Apart from his freak 3 point shooting for this season, its arguable that Pau has a better mid range game than Odom.