Kobe's first game back

[Marionettetc]

Now that everyone has either seen the preseason game or watched highlights, what do you all think?

I think that while Kobe wasn't hanging his nuts on guys or jumping over the backboard, he looks really good. Much better than the six games he limped through last year. Once he gets acclimated to the other guards and rookies, I don't have any problem seeing him drop 20/7/3 on reduced minutes with high percentage shots. I can easily see him taking higher percentage shots and playing lower to the ground/closer to the basket.

I also am excited to see the effects of his time off. Been killing it in the gym I can see, but his mental fatigue of consecutive seasons has to be at all time lows.

[ROballer]

30 pts 4 reb 5 ast

**** on Harden and esp Dwight....Lakers win

[Slava]

He was already on pace for 23 points/36 and he had Afflalo guarding him for a good while. I had seen enough to be assured that he'll be back to his 12-13 level 10 or so games into the season.

[crazyeights]

I thought there were a few times where he forced the issue a bit, but that's nitpicking. Barring another catastrophic injury, Kobe can play like this for years. Really proud of Bean.

Did he take any 3's? I know we want him in the post, but I'd still like him to shoot a few a game to keep defenses honest/vary it up a bit. He still needs to get his timing back, but I liked how he held his own against Afflalo.

Thought he set the tone for the team. I liked how he's leading this team. Really seemed like a Kobe 3.0 out there the way he was instructing and encouraging youngins like Randle.

All I want is for this team to make the playoffs and just let Kobe and Nash roll the dice one last time.

[Hank7]

Smooth. Confident. In the Zone.

[Marionettetc]

Did he take any 3's? I know we want him in the post, but I'd still like him to shoot a few a game to keep defenses honest/vary it up a bit.

Question is though Mr Eights, do we want 5 a game at 33% again or this? I know and you know it was just a preseason game, but I'm happier with close to zero rather than 5.

Thoughts?

[crazyeights]

Did he take any 3's? I know we want him in the post, but I'd still like him to shoot a few a game to keep defenses honest/vary it up a bit.

Question is though Mr Eights, do we want 5 a game at 33% again or this? I know and you know it was just a preseason game, but I'm happier with close to zero rather than 5.

Thoughts?

Kobe's 3 point percentages were going up until he started getting a bunch of finger injuries. With this being the healthiest he's been in years, I'd be fine with him taking 2 or 3 a game.

Not to say he should force the issue, but IMO Kobe's such a consistently streaky shooter, there are going to be stretches where he absolutely should take three 3's in a row early in the shot clock. I can't tell you how many times I've seen him score almost 10 straight points by simply being in the zone. It's what makes him so dangerous, he strikes in bursts, scores in bunches.

And while I loved seeing "his" patented fadeaway, I don't want him to be too one-dimensional.

That said, I think his not settling for 3 was a choice coming into the game. I think he wanted to establish loud and clear that he's still got it, his game is evolving, and most importantly that as team we're different from MDA ball.

So on that note, I'm more than happy with him not shooting any last night. I just think with Kobe's work ethic, if he focuses on shot selection, then he can be a much more efficient scorer, especially from his middling three point percentage of the last few years.

[Jakay]

With no Pau down low, I bet he's really going to force his high-post game through the preseason. After almost 20 years in the league, I don't see his longer shots being anything other than what we've already seen a million times over. The main difference will be how he deals with things down low.

Also Randle moves better than I expected. But to be fair, I expected nothing. I don't really follow college ball at all, ever, in any way.

[ennui]

Did he take any 3's? I know we want him in the post, but I'd still like him to shoot a few a game to keep defenses honest/vary it up a bit.

Question is though Mr Eights, do we want 5 a game at 33% again or this? I know and you know it was just a preseason game, but I'm happier with close to zero rather than 5.

Thoughts?

33% three-point shooting isn't a death knell; in fact, it's essentially shooting 50% on two-point field goals. Also, consider the context of the three-pointers Kobe shoots - often they are heavily contested due to shot-clock mismanagement. Of course, Kobe isn't totally absolved of his predilection to take these shots, but again, context is paramount. Furthermore, the three point shot opens up the rest of his game: say his defender goes under the screen? Or doesn't close the gap? It would be counter-intuitive to forgo those opportunities, because then the sagging defense wouldn't allow him to penetrate.

Edit: It would really help his game to shoot more assisted three-pointers - I have no doubt he can hit those at a far more efficient rate than 33%, and I'm sure the numbers would back me up on this. It's just his stubborn propensity to jab fake away until the defender is in his jersey, which is troublesome.

[Sofa King]

nuff said

[DEEP3CL]

The biggest thing for Kobe is just getting use to NBA arenas again. That's why I wasn't surprise his first shot was a air ball way short of the rim. All his shooting has been in a gym setting. NBA shooting backgrounds are much different.

[Marionettetc]

Did he take any 3's? I know we want him in the post, but I'd still like him to shoot a few a game to keep defenses honest/vary it up a bit.

Question is though Mr Eights, do we want 5 a game at 33% again or this? I know and you know it was just a preseason game, but I'm happier with close to zero rather than 5.

Thoughts?

33% three-point shooting isn't a death knell; in fact, it's essentially shooting 50% on two-point field goals. Also, consider the context of the three-pointers Kobe shoots - often they are heavily contested due to shot-clock mismanagement. Of course, Kobe isn't totally absolved of his predilection to take these shots, but again, context is paramount. Furthermore, the three point shot opens up the rest of his game: say his defender goes under the screen? Or doesn't close the gap? It would be counter-intuitive to forgo those opportunities, because then the sagging defense wouldn't allow him to penetrate.

Edit: It would really help his game to shoot more assisted three-pointers - I have no doubt he can hit those at a far more efficient rate than 33%, and I'm sure the numbers would back me up on this. It's just his stubborn propensity to jab fake away until the defender is in his jersey, which is troublesome.

I can respect what you're saying, I even agree to some extent. I just don't think there is real value regarding opening up the floor or keeping the defenses honest when you're shooting the league average in threes, know what I mean?

Jacking up five a game should be restricted to guys shooting 40%. I understand what you're saying about lower percentage 3's having equal value to higher percentage field goals, but there is more going on. Long rebounds, keeping your post players out of the game and misused, there is a reason Jordan killed Kobe in regards to field goal % his whole career and its not because he's a better shooter. Kobe actually is a better raw shooter with much larger range, but his shot selection is terrible compared to 23's. Jordan just straight up took better shots, and there's no reason Kobe can't (and hasn't) done the same.

I do agree 100% though with your thought that he needs to take more assisted 3's. He's always been a gunslinger, but I think the smush parker era really started forming his bad shot selection habits. It also doesn't help he's never really played with a *good* point guard (I know, harper, van exel), but you know what i mean.

[Marionettetc]

The biggest thing for Kobe is just getting use to NBA arenas again. That's why I wasn't surprise his first shot was a air ball way short of the rim. All his shooting has been in a gym setting. NBA shooting backgrounds are much different.

I agree Deep. He's been out of the game so long he def needs to get reacclimated. I'm not worried in the least though, this is the guy who shot left handed when his right was crippled. The dude figures out how to adjust

[FANOFNBA]

i was very surprised at how good he looked.. after a big injury, his age and the lay off hes had. he looked really good... but then again he's the mamba. and i guess mind over matter really works if you have the mentality for it