Kobe is not playing well lately...

[That Nicka]

Last 5 games: 21.8 ppg, 39.8%, 35 mpg
Last 10: 24.6 ppg, 44%, 36.2 mpg
March (14): 25.5, 43.5%, 36.3 mpg


This has been his worst month imo probably since 2004/2005... Kobe always seems to get better as the season goes on, but he has not had it down the stretch this season... there is still time so maybe he can pick it up but he hasnt shot this poorly for a long time, and he's taking even more jumpers which isnt helping...

I've been saying LeBron is 1a and Kobe 1b for a while now.. but its starting to look like Kobe is clearly number 3 after Bron and Wade coming down the stretch of this season... Should we be concerned? Is he injured maybe? tired? what are your thoughts?

[magic1fan]

he is struggling lately. i think a little bit is fatigue. he is not as young as he used to be. i have faith thathewill step up when it counts though. my biggest concern is all the minutes pau is logging. he is our most consistent player right now. i will be mad if when kobe comes out of his little funk,pau starts to get tired... if we fall behind the cavs by one more game,i think phil should rest kobe and pau. no need in wearing them down even more...

[miggs]

Last 5 games: 21.8 ppg, 39.8%, 35 mpg
Last 10: 24.6 ppg, 44%, 36.2 mpg
March (14): 25.5, 43.5%, 36.3 mpg


This has been his worst month imo probably since 2004/2005... Kobe always seems to get better as the season goes on, but he has not had it down the stretch this season... there is still time so maybe he can pick it up but he hasnt shot this poorly for a long time, and he's taking even more jumpers which isnt helping...

I've been saying LeBron is 1a and Kobe 1b for a while now.. but its starting to look like Kobe is clearly number 3 after Bron and Wade coming down the stretch of this season... Should we be concerned? Is he injured maybe? tired? what are your thoughts?

Remember Kobe's playin with a busted pinky bro. He'll step up in the playoffs, he ALWAYS comes through and he will again, remember he's the reigning MVP but more importantly the BEST player in the game. When he has to elevate his game he does, and he's proven that in how amazingly well he guarded LBJ, i mean the King was goin berserk tryna get some offense on Kobe meanwhile Kobe played very well against LBJ on the offensive end.

i know he's been strugglin as of late, but make no mistake, he'll close out the season strong, yesterday's loss was a heartbreaker but i know we'll finish strong with our captain leading us into battle looking as menacing as he does when we see green.

[JimMurray]

We're not catching Cleveland. So long as we have home court advantage over Boston in the finals I think we're ok. Last I checked it was like a 3 or 4 game lead over them at the moment. At this point I would be an advocate of getting Kobe and Pau extensive rest heading into the playoffs, even to the extreme of keeping them out of 3-4 games just so they can rejuvenate their legs. Gasol is fine now but around the 2nd round he'll start to falter. Kobe's jumber has looked flat for the last month, his legs are fried. A good week off we'll do wonders for him.

I don't fear Cleveland at all, not even at the prospect of giving them home court advantage. If it comes to pass that the only team we concede home court is Cleveland, we're sitting pretty.

[vinnycorleone]

If I'm Kobe..I'm getting surgery on my fingers. (after the season)

His shot was so pretty earlier this season and then after that Cleveland game where he hurt it...it's looked ugly.

I had a thread about it 2 days ago. His shot is just looking ugly.

However when he does drive he seems to score @ will. But for some reason he is all of a sudden allergic to paint.

[That Nicka]

We still have a shot at HC throughout though... I say wait and see if Cleveland loses to Orlando and Boston before we start to rest them... We only need to tie them to get HC and I think we can get these last 9 games.... I'm confident Kobe will step up in the playoffs.. but I'm starting to think Bron and Wade are pretty clearly better than him

[what would jack bauer do?]

Yeah Lebron is the clear MVP this year. As far Kobe's hand goes, I don't think that's the problem. But if you actually take a look at Kobe's shooting hand he does have that ring finger heavily wrapped and immobilized. I think that and the pinky are bothering his handles a tiny bit, but that's still not the problem. To me Kobe just looks tired, his legs look heavy. He's not as young as he used to be and he's coming off a LONG postseason (making it all the way to the finals) and he played in the olymics. Kobe needs to take a page from Wade's book and sit out some practices (just hopefully not all of them like Wade).

I'm not too worried though, in April, May, and June Kobe will be Kobe. This is actually Kobe's best shooting year in the last 5 years.

[That Nicka]

yeah but before this month he was at like 47.8%... now hes at like 46.6.. thats a pretty big drop in one month

[Asianiac_24]

If I'm Kobe..I'm getting surgery on my fingers. (after the season)

His shot was so pretty earlier this season and then after that Cleveland game where he hurt it...it's looked ugly.

I had a thread about it 2 days ago. His shot is just looking ugly.

However when he does drive he seems to score @ will. But for some reason he is all of a sudden allergic to paint.

i can't agree more to this last sentence. Kobe has been shooting way too many jumpers, and hes not driving at all. If he starts driving, posting up, the defenders would sag off him a little to prevent his drive, thus giving him more space for the jump shot. If he NEVER drives, defenders just stick on him

[Asianiac_24]

To add to my post above, I think a lack of 3 point shooting on our team is a problem too. The only player on our team who can consistently hit the 3 is Fisher. Vujacic is pure junk, Ariza/Walton is not consistent enough to be a threat, and I don't even want to talk about Farmar. Teams could zone up and make Kobe shoot contested shots all day because there is no outside threat on the 3s

[Indy07]

I watch every laker game on the NBA package and I'm quite the diehard fan. I have noticed it too; his shot selection has been poor, he has settled for outside jumpers against mediocre man defenders (especially against Chicago, he could have his way every day with either Hinrich, Salmons or Gordon) and his shot has just been flat. I wonder if its a product of playing essentially 2 and a half seasons straight and his body is just worn or if his finger is really starting to bother him. He hasn't appeared to have lost his touch around the basket as he still maneuvers with incredible balance and continues to shoot with a deft touch. However

On the positive side, as his shooting % has dramatically dropped over the past few games, his assists have increased so maybe he is even a bit cognizant of his declining efficiency.
I honestly think that if the Cavs do not lose within the next 4 games, you rest Kobe 3 out of the last 4 and keep him fresh. Let a few role players get their groove back i.e. Sasha who has shot like a blind man over the last few weeks, let Farmar prove he is actually worth playing and let Ammo and Brown see if they can contribute anything worthy

[lakersfanatic]

THat's the one thing that irks me about kobe and the lakers. You don't see them drive to the basketball enough. Kobe is constantly going for them impossible jumpers (yes, it's awesome and amazing but it's high risk). Kobe is probably the best for jumpers but i think he's fatigue and tired as of right now...

if the others attack the basket more often instead of settling for jumpers eh hem SASHA!!.. we could get fouls.. And1s... plus most importantly give the opponent a foul. Just get that contact. I'm watching games where the opponents are catching up to us because we're settling for jumpers while they're driving to the basket and getting fouls..

hopefully with bynum back soon.. he'll help us on the defensive and especially offensive rebounds.

[hermes]

to whoever said fatigue i think that is a big part of it, he played all last season and all the way to the finals, then in the Olympics and now all of this season

i'd be tired

[SALMIEN]

The kid is tired lots of milage , he is the greatest his moments will come , Go lakers

[supaflash]

I don't think its fatigue as much as its Kobe going into safe mode to get ready for the postseason. He knows what the true prize is, regular season awards and standings don't matter to him as much. He really stepped it up after Bynum went down to ensure we kept our standings and now I think he's coasting a little, hence the lack of attacking the paint. I think he's trying to let the rest of the team do more and expend as little energy as possible, especially with him getting banged up a few times the last few games. Last year we were in the thick of the home court race where it made a huge difference, he had never gotten and MVP and a few losses was the difference between 1st seed and 4th or 5th. This year, we are guaranteed the 1 seed in the west and we would have to lose 4 or 5 more games to lose homecourt against Boston or Orlando. Yes we are right there with Cleveland, but I think with them just not losing lately and with all the media basically giving Lebron the MVP already that he's taken the foot off the gas a little. If they lose a few more games then I can see Kobe making a late push, but for now I expect him to stay in this mode of shooting jumpers and letting the team get its rhythm and confidence. Kobe's been around for a long time now and been to the playoffs A LOT, I think he knows his body well and knows how to improve. I think he understands that he ran out of gas a little in the Boston series after winning the MVP and wants to ensure that doesn't happen this year. Losing homecourt to 1 single team, a team that we match up with well and are confident we can beat, just isn't worth wearing himself out. Let Lebron get the MVP and burn out getting hte best record, we'll be ready come playoff time.

Yes it can be frustrating, but we have a larger goal here in LA this year and I think he's doing the smart thing.

Couple points too:

1. Cleveland still has a tough road ahead, Detroit is desperate to stay in the playoffs and Washington hs Arenas back and some revenge in mind, those could be trap games, streaks have to end some time. Add to that @Orlandon on a back to back and then San Antonio, could be tough. Then Philly twice, which really needs wins and some confidence against Cleveland and then Boston who needs to prove thy can win in Cleveland and stay ahead of Orlando... They could easily lose 3-4 more games, we aren't out of HC just yet.

2. Bench woes are bad lately, but I think with Bynum back and the shorter rotations in the playoffs this will be a much smaller issue. For one, with Bynum our big rotation is solid with Powell, not worried there at all. At guard, Sasha , Farmar and Luke's minutes will be lessened and the main factor is they will likely be out there with more starters instead of the whole mob at once. Pau and Kobe and Fish will be on the floor more and the substitutions will probably be more staggered. Sasha is much more effective with Kobe on the court, Luke and Farmar with Pau and Bynum, etc. I'm a little worried going in, but not nearly as some people are lately.

3. 82 games is a LONG season and I think this crew understands it. +7.7 is still a fantastic margin, especially in the west and that means we have been playing at a high level all year. Don't tell me we are not as good as our record, thats BS. These teams iwth less then 2 are a joke, that means they could easily have many more losses. Reg season is nice and is important in many ways, but we are getting ready for the true season.

4. Our D is not as bad as bad as it seems, we are good FG% wise and considering our pace we give up less then 100 ppg is very good. Our biggest thing defensively is we give up open shots to the 4th and 5th optioins (which is why we make all stars out of so many scrubs) but we have done a great job for the most part on the main offensive weapons of teams. In a 7 game format these things add up, %'s usually even out and those scrubs won't do that all the time, plus we prepare much more for those guys and situations. We are the best rebounding team in the league with Bynum and 3rd wihtout him, that is one of our best improvements this year. rebounding wins titles, ask the Spurs.

I'm excited for the playoff run this year, I think we will be great.

[TommyTheCat]

i agree with those that think fatigue is the cause. that gold medal is starting to weigh heavy.

i'm still hoping he changes his mind about representing the US again.

[kobe808lak]

i agree with those that think fatigue is the cause. that gold medal is starting to weigh heavy.

i'm still hoping he changes his mind about representing the US again.

Phil should tell kobe to let the young kids handle the next olympics. Kobe got his gold medal and has nothing else to prove internationally.

[Free Rider]

I think its fatigue. Yeah, he also probably coasting a little bit until the playoffs but Kobe has coasted before and still managed to put up reasonably good numbers. Right now, however, he's just playing badly and given all the mileage he's logged over the years it's not surprising. He's 30 years old and he's basically being playing for two years straight without an offseason to recuperate. It's finally starting to take its toll. Phil should just rest him and Gasol over the last few games and forget about catching the Cavs unless they really start to falter.

[Asianiac_24]

THat's the one thing that irks me about kobe and the lakers. You don't see them drive to the basketball enough. Kobe is constantly going for them impossible jumpers (yes, it's awesome and amazing but it's high risk). Kobe is probably the best for jumpers but i think he's fatigue and tired as of right now...

if the others attack the basket more often instead of settling for jumpers eh hem SASHA!!.. we could get fouls.. And1s... plus most importantly give the opponent a foul. Just get that contact. I'm watching games where the opponents are catching up to us because we're settling for jumpers while they're driving to the basket and getting fouls..

hopefully with bynum back soon.. he'll help us on the defensive and especially offensive rebounds.

So you want Sasha to attack the rim? I'd rather have Kobe shoot a 30 footer than Sasha driving..Kobe and Odom are really the only ones on this team who could drive to the basket off the dribble. Ariza doesn't have the handles to do it, Farmar is just too stupid, and Fisher can't make layups to save his life. Problem is, our only capable slashers (Kobe and Odom), one of them can only drive left, and the other one rarely drives anymore.

[BallAboveAll]

I believe he's intentionally not driving to the hoop. I think we will see him drive more in the postseason.