Kobe has the tools to play better - He just has to use them

[Leor_77]

We've all been frustrated with Kobe's 40% shooting this and last month - He's shot us out of a ton of games this year. Obviously, defense and other things are/were a factor, as well, but If you don't agree with this, then I don't know what you're watching.

Kobe's main problem is his ball dominance - He loves isolating and playing 1 on 5. Sometimes this works, and other times it doesn't, and we can obviously say that this is a year where it hasn't been as successful as it's been before.

Ramon Sessions, Andrew Bynum and sometimes Pau Gasol all have one thing in common. They can all make the defense collapse on the interior. Sessions with his driving off of screen/rolls and Pau/Drew with their post-ups. Kobe needs to realize that he doesn't need to dominate the ball as much because these guys will naturally cause the defense to collapse in the paint, and will also cause the defense to be out of place a majority of the time. Run correctly, this will create an imbalance of defenders and will result in Kobe taking more open shots, as well as having more lanes to the basket.

At certain times, the Lakers have done this and they've been successful, but during late game situations the 1 on 5, or hero ball, has really become the norm, and has been a detriment. Obviously, Bynum sometimes has issues passing out of doubles and Sessions won't always be perfect, but this is the direction the Lakers need to be going in if they want to be successful, especially as Kobe ages.

[eckoner]

At the end of the day it's Mike Brown's responsibility to reign him in. It was a full time job with PJ as it will be with Brown.

[knowler]

You're obviously right, but Kobe has always played like that and I don't belive that it will change now. Bryant's confidence and willingness to prove that he's the best is his biggest strenght and weakness at the same time. Even if he's 1-15, he belives that the next shoot will be a good one and no matter what kobe will be shooting...

[Anklebreaker702]

This is the topic inside the GT's win or loss when he's jacking

[miggs]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

[Leor_77]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

What's the big deal? Are you afraid of common sense?

[dirtymike]

The last 5 min of the game was hard for me. Something has to be done.

[miggs]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

What's the big deal? Are you afraid of common sense?

Afraid of common sense?!?! shut up and stop waiting for a post to jump out at. We've BEEN talking about Kobe's decline and refusal to stop chuckin' so not sure if you've seen my stance on that but your reaction made me realize you complete missed the intention of my post but perhaps I'm the moron here for trying to explain common sense, it is after all common right?

[Father Time]

He'll use them in the playoffs, he usually does. I think Kobe, at this stage of his career, treats regular season games as throwaways, so he does pretty much whatever he feels like.

[salmahayek]

As Kobe's physical dominance has subsided with age, he still has the skill to play an incredibly smart floor game, as he has displayed that numerous times throughout his career - when he wants to.

This team can win a championship if Kobe plays smart basketball consistently.

Taking the most shots on a team with two all - star bigs should be enough for him...but apparently it isn't...taking more shots than both of them combined in any game is just ludicrous - even if he was still in his prime.

[miggs]

He'll use them in the playoffs, he usually does. I think Kobe, at this stage of his career, treats regular season games as throwaways, so he does pretty much whatever he feels like.

Imagine if Kobe looks in the mirror before each game and says, "Ok Mamba let's go out there and -" stops himself and laughs his off to courtside.

[Jajwanda]

He has to fit his team. It's time that he makes that sacrifice. His role in the starting lineup should be lining up on the wing as a true wing or cutting around picks like Ray Allen, while Sessions-Gasol run P-R and P-P. He can't demand these ridiculous one-on-one iso post ups.

[Anklebreaker702]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

What's the big deal? Are you afraid of common sense?

Afraid of common sense?!?! shut up and stop waiting for a post to jump out at. We've BEEN talking about Kobe's decline and refusal to stop chuckin' so not sure if you've seen my stance on that but your reaction made me realize you complete missed the intention of my post but perhaps I'm the moron here for trying to explain common sense, it is after all common right?

Have to agree with Miggs. He's been calling it like it is on Kobe. He was just saying he thinks it'll get worse before it gets better.

[Imadogg]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

Means that Kobe will keep ballhogging


And for the people who say "This is Kobe, he's always Kobe, you're saying it now just because we lost a few games"... wake up. He now has a re-energized Pau and Bynum at BEAST levels. He's not playing with Smush. We should not be losing these games.. Kobe should never be one of the 2-3 reasons we're losing games and losing games late. But he is.

Check his usage rate:

2nd highest usage behind his SMUSH PARKER days... higher than last year and his 06-07 year...

And check all-time usage rates (since they started keeping track in the 70s):

So first is of course Kobe with Smush.. bunch of Iverson, 87 MJ with no one on his team and Wizards MJ, T-Mac, Stack, Wilkins with no one on their team..... and then Kobe this year is 12th all time in usage with PAU AND BYNUM on the team.

His offensive/defensive rating is 104/103.... net positive of ONE. 2nd worst year for him offensively after his ROOKIE SEASON (which doesn't even count). Worst net besides rookie season (-4) and 04-05 (0). For comparison, he was +9 in 05-06 ballhog Smush year, +10 MVP year, +9, +5, +6 the two titles and last year. This year is bad.


For those saying Kobe is still a top 3 player in the league... if you're counting just this season and what he's done, that's laughable. If we're counting who he is, the tools he has, and how he'll be in the playoffs.. I really hope he shows up as #1. But this year? Sickening. Stop ballhogging

[Anklebreaker702]

As Kobe's physical dominance has subsided with age, he still has the skill to play an incredibly smart floor game, as he has displayed that numerous times throughout his career - when he wants to.

This team can win a championship if Kobe plays smart basketball consistently.

Taking the most shots on a team with two all - star bigs should be enough for him...but apparently it isn't...taking more shots than both of them combined in any game is just ludicrous - even if he was still in his prime.

This!

[miggs]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

Means that Kobe will keep ballhogging


And for the people who say "This is Kobe, he's always Kobe, you're saying it now just because we lost a few games"... wake up. He now has a re-energized Pau and Bynum at BEAST levels. He's not playing with Smush. We should not be losing these games.. Kobe should never be one of the 2-3 reasons we're losing games and losing games late. But he is.

Check his usage rate:

2nd highest usage behind his SMUSH PARKER days... higher than last year and his 06-07 year...

And check all-time usage rates (since they started keeping track in the 70s):

So first is of course Kobe with Smush.. bunch of Iverson, 87 MJ with no one on his team and Wizards MJ, T-Mac, Stack, Wilkins with no one on their team..... and then Kobe this year is 12th all time in usage with PAU AND BYNUM on the team.

His offensive/defensive rating is 104/103.... net positive of ONE. 2nd worst year for him offensively after his ROOKIE SEASON (which doesn't even count). Worst net besides rookie season (-4) and 04-05 (0). For comparison, he was +9 in 05-06 ballhog Smush year, +10 MVP year, +9, +5, +6 the two titles and last year. This year is bad.


For those saying Kobe is still a top 3 player in the league... if you're counting just this season and what he's done, that's laughable. If we're counting who he is, the tools he has, and how he'll be in the playoffs.. I really hope he shows up as #1. But this year? Sickening. Stop ballhogging

[Anklebreaker702]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

Means that Kobe will keep ballhogging


And for the people who say "This is Kobe, he's always Kobe, you're saying it now just because we lost a few games"... wake up. He now has a re-energized Pau and Bynum at BEAST levels. He's not playing with Smush. We should not be losing these games.. Kobe should never be one of the 2-3 reasons we're losing games and losing games late. But he is.

Check his usage rate:

2nd highest usage behind his SMUSH PARKER days... higher than last year and his 06-07 year...

And check all-time usage rates (since they started keeping track in the 70s):

So first is of course Kobe with Smush.. bunch of Iverson, 87 MJ with no one on his team and Wizards MJ, T-Mac, Stack, Wilkins with no one on their team..... and then Kobe this year is 12th all time in usage with PAU AND BYNUM on the team.

His offensive/defensive rating is 104/103.... net positive of ONE. 2nd worst year for him offensively after his ROOKIE SEASON (which doesn't even count). Worst net besides rookie season (-4) and 04-05 (0). For comparison, he was +9 in 05-06 ballhog Smush year, +10 MVP year, +9, +5, +6 the two titles and last year. This year is bad.


For those saying Kobe is still a top 3 player in the league... if you're counting just this season and what he's done, that's laughable. If we're counting who he is, the tools he has, and how he'll be in the playoffs.. I really hope he shows up as #1. But this year? Sickening. Stop ballhogging

Helluva post Imadogg now that is some pretty relevant ish. Those stats tell it all.

[Imadogg]

When I was looking them up I hope they weren't true...

Also something I forgot to mention, when looking at offensive/defensive ratings, never look at the raw numbers and compare across players/eras.

For example, don't see Kobe with 103 defense and think that's not too bad, or 104 and think it's good or bad. Look at both together and see that his offense/defense are just about the same while he's out there (which is real bad for an elite player), or compare to the team's ratings.

The Lakers are at 104/101.7.. while Kobe is at 104/103. This means that offensively, the Lakers are as good as Kobe is (Lakers are ranked 16th), while defensively Kobe is worse than the Lakers as a whole.. (lower is better).

For comparison, Bynum is a 112 offensively and a 97 defensively.. +15 and those ratings are elite.

I don't even know if I should look at Lebron or Durant.

[miggs]

When I was looking them up I hope they weren't true...

Also something I forgot to mention, when looking at offensive/defensive ratings, never look at the raw numbers and compare across players/eras.

For example, don't see Kobe with 103 defense and think that's not too bad, or 104 and think it's good or bad. Look at both together and see that his offense/defense are just about the same while he's out there (which is real bad for an elite player), or compare to the team's ratings.

The Lakers are at 104/101.7.. while Kobe is at 104/103. This means that offensively, the Lakers are as good as Kobe is (Lakers are ranked 16th), while defensively Kobe is worse than the Lakers as a whole.. (lower is better).

For comparison, Bynum is a 112 offensively and a 97 defensively.. +15 and those ratings are elite.

I don't even know if I should look at Lebron or Durant.

ALRIGHT!

[dockingsched]

<sigh> I feel these threads are going to become a lot more common

Means that Kobe will keep ballhogging


And for the people who say "This is Kobe, he's always Kobe, you're saying it now just because we lost a few games"... wake up. He now has a re-energized Pau and Bynum at BEAST levels. He's not playing with Smush. We should not be losing these games.. Kobe should never be one of the 2-3 reasons we're losing games and losing games late. But he is.

Check his usage rate:

2nd highest usage behind his SMUSH PARKER days... higher than last year and his 06-07 year...

And check all-time usage rates (since they started keeping track in the 70s):

So first is of course Kobe with Smush.. bunch of Iverson, 87 MJ with no one on his team and Wizards MJ, T-Mac, Stack, Wilkins with no one on their team..... and then Kobe this year is 12th all time in usage with PAU AND BYNUM on the team.

His offensive/defensive rating is 104/103.... net positive of ONE. 2nd worst year for him offensively after his ROOKIE SEASON (which doesn't even count). Worst net besides rookie season (-4) and 04-05 (0). For comparison, he was +9 in 05-06 ballhog Smush year, +10 MVP year, +9, +5, +6 the two titles and last year. This year is bad.


For those saying Kobe is still a top 3 player in the league... if you're counting just this season and what he's done, that's laughable. If we're counting who he is, the tools he has, and how he'll be in the playoffs.. I really hope he shows up as #1. But this year? Sickening. Stop ballhogging

great post, would read again.