THE MYTHICAL DECLINE OF KOBE BRYANT

[snaquille oatmeal]

what a laughable crock it is to think that Kobe is declining, yet I keep reading posts that he is past his prime and he should be traded.

sure he is scoring about 4 points less per game than he did last season and sure he has not had a history making game this season, but so what?
the man is becoming a more efficient player and quietly making his team mates better. wasn't that the main gripe against him in the past?

for the first time his summer trainning regiment was interupted by the Olympics qualifying tourney which slowded him a bit at the beginning of the season (just like it does for Wade and Lebron) and he has been dealing with minor injuries on top of that, but come on!! is he really going down hill?

as far as I can remember Kobe has always brought something new and different to his arsenal every year and this season is no different.

this years new weapon is more mental than physical. he has learned that he can kill other teams spirits with a low profile well placed shank to their side with a quater of the energy that it takes than when he does it with a dramatic dagger to their heart.

do not be fooled, the man is getting smarter at his job and whenever his physical prowess is needed, it is still there for him.

just because he is learning to use it selectably does not mean that he is declining, in fact he is still getting better. IMO he has turned the corner, that corner that Jordan turned when the Bulls started to win.



p.s. by no means am I comparing Kobe to Jordan so Bulls fans step off. all I said was that Jordan turned a corner and that Kobe turned a corner Capish!!!!

[magic1fan]

People want kobe to start declining. He is not. He is still capable of taking over a game. Like you said he is playing smarter right now,and the lakers have a great record because of it. He is still able to get to the hole when he wants,his shot has been a little off,but that's about the only problem he has had this year....LOL If declining is averaging 26/6/5 I am sure alot of guys would like to start declining.

[TommyTheCat]

he's still in his prime................for another 3-5 years

[Dexmor]

You shouldn't be afraid to compare Kobe to MJ. They are about equal.

[celtspacers]

Kobe has shown people this year that he is the best Basketball player in the world. Just look at the way he's playing and making the players around him better. Do you honestly think Bynum would be doing as well as he is without Kobe. Just think about it some of you want to trade him. If Kobe leaves the lakers will not win another championship for at lease 20 years.

[snaquille oatmeal]

You shouldn't be afraid to compare Kobe to MJ. They are about equal.

you should really read my post and realize that this thread is not a Kobe Vs Jordan debute. stay on topic.

[TonyMontana]

Honestly I stopped paying attention to all these clowns out there with their theory about KOBE and his perfromance .
It doesnt matter , the Media , Fans , posters on here from our board and other boards , specially peps like B-Scott.

I mean if KOBE shoots to much , they complain , if he plays D and his shooting % is down and his not puting up N# the way it use to , they complain .

Sick of hearing all these so called experts claiming KOBEs has declined , who cares .
His playing unselfish , he passing , he has become a good leader , he now can depend on his teammates to contribute and focus on one goal , which is a championship .

So as far as all the negative hooplla , well all I can say is FTW , let KOBE be KOBE , everyone is going to complain no matter what you do , and when they do , it means your doing something right .

[hermes]

^^people just want to try and drag kobe down
i don't know why people don't like him

[Sedale Threatt]

I don't think there's any question that he's a half-step slower than he used to be, or that his shot selection often leaves a lot to be desired.

It also irritates me to no end that everybody wants to heap all the credit on Kobe for the improved play of Bynum, Fisher, Farmar, etc.

No doubt Kobe draws a ton of attention. But before I praise him for that I'm going to give it to those who deserve it most -- in the cases of Bynum and Farmer, the guys who clearly put in outstanding summers of hard work and are reaping the benefits, and in Fisher's case the guy who's out there knocking down shots at a career-high clip.

With all that said...

There is absolutely no doubt that Kobe is the undisputed foundation for everything we are right now and hope to be in the future.

Tony couldn't be more right -- it is so, so easy to nitpick Kobe (I'm hugely guilty of this) for shooting too much, not enough, poorly, whatever. It's not fair, but I suppose that's the way it is when you're one of the best players in history. Expectations are sky high, and he's got the game to back them all up.

I'm very pleased that he seems to be ratcheting his offense down as the players around him are proving themselves capable of shouldering the load. The decreased scoring average doesn't matter in the slightest. He scored at a high clip the last few years because he had to. Now that the team is growing, he's done a great job recognizing that and adjusting accordingly.

I'd still like to see him turn down the 3-point shooting a notch, and not rely so much on contested jump shots. But those quibbles aside, it's hard not to appreciate the space he's relinquished to his younger teammates. It's very mature on his part, and it's a big reason why we've gotten in such a groove lately.

While I don't care about individual accolades in the slightest -- give me rings or give me death -- it would be a shame if he didn't get serious MVP consideration should we continue winning.

[zen_4_10]

-= original quote snipped =-

you should really read my post and realize that this thread is not a Kobe Vs Jordan debute. stay on topic.

[Joe Kleazy]

what a laughable crock it is to think that Kobe is declining, yet I keep reading posts that he is past his prime and he should be traded.

sure he is scoring about 4 points less per game than he did last season and sure he has not had a history making game this season, but so what?
the man is becoming a more efficient player and quietly making his team mates better. wasn't that the main gripe against him in the past?

for the first time his summer trainning regiment was interupted by the Olympics qualifying tourney which slowded him a bit at the beginning of the season (just like it does for Wade and Lebron) and he has been dealing with minor injuries on top of that, but come on!! is he really going down hill?

as far as I can remember Kobe has always brought something new and different to his arsenal every year and this season is no different.

this years new weapon is more mental than physical. he has learned that he can kill other teams spirits with a low profile well placed shank to their side with a quater of the energy that it takes than when he does it with a dramatic dagger to their heart.

do not be fooled, the man is getting smarter at his job and whenever his physical prowess is needed, it is still there for him.

just because he is learning to use it selectably does not mean that he is declining, in fact he is still getting better. IMO he has turned the corner, that corner that Jordan turned when the Bulls started to win.



p.s. by no means am I comparing Kobe to Jordan so Bulls fans step off. all I said was that Jordan turned a corner and that Kobe turned a corner Capish!!!!

AH I see you are a fellow stealth shanker too Snaq.


I agree totally with your points that he is playing smarter and has turned the corner. I am loving the proclaimed "kobe decline" theme trying to be used now since it shows that all the other excuses are falling by the wayside.

A more effecient KB is extremely scary to the league IMO, because you never know when the snake will strike. He is like a rattlsnake without the rattler to opponents.

I only got to see the highlights from the NO/LAL game and it was amazing to see the great passing from the team, which was even faster that the panning of the camera at times. The play with odom passing out to fish for the 3 was great.

I'm glad to see others notice that kobe is turning that corner and aging like wine. The more confidence we establish as a team now the more dangerous we will be come postseason.

Records have be breaking for the last few years for kobe so now that the team is catching up its time to start filling up the ring fingers baby.

[Sedale Threatt]

-= original quote snipped =-

I missed that...classic. I don't know which is funnier that, or Star's idea in last night's game thread that we should hire Isaiah after he gets sacked to form an unbeatable two-headed monster at GM. The hits keep on coming.

[zen_4_10]

HA! I missed that last one in the game thread.

[TonyMontana]

I don't think there's any question that he's a half-step slower than he used to be, or that his shot selection often leaves a lot to be desired.

It also irritates me to no end that everybody wants to heap all the credit on Kobe for the improved play of Bynum, Fisher, Farmar, etc.

No doubt Kobe draws a ton of attention. But before I praise him for that I'm going to give it to those who deserve it most -- in the cases of Bynum and Farmer, the guys who clearly put in outstanding summers of hard work and are reaping the benefits, and in Fisher's case the guy who's out there knocking down shots at a career-high clip.

With all that said...

There is absolutely no doubt that Kobe is the undisputed foundation for everything we are right now and hope to be in the future.

Tony couldn't be more right -- it is so, so easy to nitpick Kobe (I'm hugely guilty of this) for shooting too much, not enough, poorly, whatever. It's not fair, but I suppose that's the way it is when you're one of the best players in history. Expectations are sky high, and he's got the game to back them all up.

I'm very pleased that he seems to be ratcheting his offense down as the players around him are proving themselves capable of shouldering the load. The decreased scoring average doesn't matter in the slightest. He scored at a high clip the last few years because he had to. Now that the team is growing, he's done a great job recognizing that and adjusting accordingly.

I'd still like to see him turn down the 3-point shooting a notch, and not rely so much on contested jump shots. But those quibbles aside, it's hard not to appreciate the space he's relinquished to his younger teammates. It's very mature on his part, and it's a big reason why we've gotten in such a groove lately.

While I don't care about individual accolades in the slightest -- give me rings or give me death -- it would be a shame if he didn't get serious MVP consideration should we continue winning.

Good post S.T
I couldnt agree with you more .
Yet I personally think the credit for this teams success has to go to the coaching staff as well as the players , I mean everyone .

Bynum , Farmar , a lot of our success has to do with the signing of D.Fish , and the trade of Ariza as well .

Fish has brought a lot to this team .
His veteran leadership , his shooting . You dont think that Farmars experience has grown drastically due to the leadership of D.Fish .

I would say so , Bynum got dumped on by KOBE in a parking lot , he didnt sit there and pout like most so called NBA rookies , he decided to step his game up and prove to this team and the rest of the league that he is and he will be a dominating centers for years to come.

Keep in mind the F.O didnt loose hope in Bynum , so credit goes to the F.O and the coaching staff by bringing in the All time scoring champ and one of the most dominating centers in the game that ever played for the P&G and for this league and that was Kareem .
He has made a huge change in Bynum , and it is visible .

So the credit and the success of this team never layed on one player
( KOBE ) , it layed on the enitre team and Org.

Now that Kobe has taken his role as a leader and as a the Co Cap. of this team , you have everyone complaing again about KOBEs poor shooting or shot selection or his Basketball I.Q .

Peps just cant accept the fact that KOBE is the best and he will be the best , take it for what its worth .
Out success does have a lot to do with KOBE , but its not becasue of his poor shooting or shot selection .
Its cause he has faith in his teammates and now he can depend on his team to carry the load or hit that winning shot when they have to .

All I can say to peps that hate on the P&G or KOBE is keep hating cause all it does is Fuel the fire that burns within this team and KOBE .

[Kirk Moon]

^^people just want to try and drag kobe down
i don't know why people don't like him

please dont tell me you are that innocent.

[LLcoleJ]

so, I missed somebody saying that we should get Isiah Thomas?

[TonyMontana]

so, I missed somebody saying that we should get Isiah Thomas?

Ya you know Mang the guy who always wants to trade Kwame for R.J , or better yet , the guy who likes to start a 15 pages essay on what's the latest on KOBEs Nuts Injury ........LOLLLLLLLLLL

You know Mang

[Sedale Threatt]

I give you...

Also when Isiah gets fired we should hire him because if you combine Mitch's drafts with Isiah's draft you get every steal every year.

If you can maintain your attention span long enough to make it through his bricks of text, there are some real gems to be found. Such as this instant RealGM classic.

[Sedale Threatt]

Agreed, Tony. We're just a better team all the way around, for a lot of different reasons. And no matter what, Kobe is the cornerstone.

[TonyMontana]

Agreed, Tony. We're just a better team all the way around, for a lot of different reasons. And no matter what, Kobe is the cornerstone.

And you know what Mang , he's still a Laker and his still the best player in this league , and now he is just sitting back and watching his young guns ripping teams up piece by piece by blowing them out at home by 20s and 30s

How you like me NOW MANG ...............

It feels good to be on top again , doesnt it ?

A bit too early to jump for joy BUT DAM Mang I love this GAME specially when my P&G are tearing teams up like the SUNS , N.O Detroit by dobule digits ...........