Offense in the Final Moments

[Taiwan Killa]

It seems like we're getting into a bad habit of letting Kobe just Iso in the last 5 minutes of the game when it's close.

I mean shouldn't we be running the triangle here to try to get reliable shots instead of a heavily consisted 20 footer on Kobe? Or heck atleast give Pau some touches?

I mean what if Kobe goes cold we're screwed in the last 5 minutes because we just go to him then.

What do you guys think?

[Gerald3Wallace]

iono...kobe is the best player hands down in the 4th quarter.

if we are winning then i would wnat kobe to pass it around, but if we are down by like 5pts with couple minutes, then i want the ball to go to our best player and our most clutch player, and thats kobe bean bryant

[Sting3r]

if kobe is feeling it then he can take all the shots he wants.

[lakeshow248]

For me having the ball in Kobe's hands is the only opition, he is playin it uber smart either going to the hole for free throws or giving it to Pau in close or kicking it out to the corners....He loves that role and that's why he is the best closer in the game--sure he can't win everygame like that but nobody can.... But chalk Dallas and Sac Twn up to ones he did....

And for me his defense and his intensity in general just picked up in the 4th like a split personality....he was so settling in the first 3Qs but then he denied Kevin Martin the ball like he was his shadow.... and the team in general did a nice job of cutting dwn the easy cuts to the hoop for baskets that they were getting earlier in the contest.

[ock]

kobe puts pressure on the defense and draws fouls when he drives, knowing that the opponent is in foul trouble. when the game is on the line, you want the ball in your smart star's hands.

[Taiwan Killa]

if kobe is feeling it then he can take all the shots he wants.

And what if Kobe IS not hot which has happened before? We're screwed.

Why can't we just run the triangle? It's a reliable offense that exposes the weakness in the defense and looks for the easiest shot possible.

[Gerald3Wallace]

and what if the triangle aint working?

just look at the first couple quarters against the kings today..nothing was going for us

[milesfides]

The reason why we were isolating Kobe in the 4th is that we were down. We only do this when our team play fails us, as it did this game.

It's a good gameplan. Kobe should get everybody involved from the beginning, and if we're as talented as everybody says, we shouldn't need Kobe to bail us out. But sometimes, like tonight and last Sunday, we need him to save the day, and he can do that.

[kno]

The reason Kobe has had to finish games off single handedly has been because the overall flow of the offense hasnt been reliable throughout the course of the game.

WIth the offense as inconsistent as it has been, I dunno if i'd want to risk running a set up play for Luke or whatever when you have Kobe being Kobe in the 4th quarter.

[Intensity]

Kobe is the best finisher in the game. We got to play to our strengths. IF he was doing this throughout the game, then I would be concerned. But in the last 5 minutes of a close game, is EXACTLY when kobe should get the ball. This isn't anything new. During the Shaq days, kobe was still the one closing out the games. Big guys keep the game close, and kobe finishes it. Not letting kobe close out games is like keeping K rod in the bullpen during save situations.

[Intensity]

Also, if you watch Spurs games. They have great ball movement and are very unselfish with their offense. But when it comes down to the last 4 minutes in the fourth, every play goes to Tim. Just like the Mavs, every play in the end goes to Dirk. As well as for us, every play should be ran through Kobe. He's going to get those fouls at the end of games.

[Sedale Threatt]

The only time I get really frustrated with this strategy is when he settles for tough jump shots. But I thought he did an outstanding job attacking the rim tonight. Twelve free throw attempts, one dunk, one layup and just one jumper (which he made) in the final six minutes. Not going to be able to do that every night, but he recognized Sacto's lack of a shot blocker and he played accordingly. Great execution on his part.

[xxjunkyxx]

Kobe knows what he's doing.

[tayzer]

4th quarter is when everyone tense up and the defense increases. If your not a superstar u'll prob choke. When the game is close, u also want the ball in ur best players hands to make a good decision. U don't see this early in the game because it would take too much energy for a player to sustain, therefore it won't be effective for long. That's y coaches like to get their superstar a breather before the final minutes when it counts the most.

[Italianhanger]

kobe turned it up a notch in the 4th and the in the last 5minutes he transformed into a ruthless and merciless assassin, he was out for blood. that separates him from most or all players in the nba today

[Minhee]

Uhhh we were down all game long and just couldn't get over the hump. Sactown had an answer for every run that we had throughout the game. With under 5 minutes to go and we were down 6, this is when I believe you ride your superstar unless your team game is working to perfection. Unless the guy is jacking up ill advised 3 point shots I am ok with our closer play isolation.

This is where a superstar is made. Cleveland will run their offense through Lebron, Spurs would have ran through Duncan, GS will run through Baron, Rockets will run through Tmac, etc. Sure Kobe could have gone cold and shot us out of the game, but on a given night when your team game was losing all game long, would it really be wise to continue the same plan that failed or ride your superstar and hope he rises to the occassion? Personally, I will take and live with the latter.