GT: Lakers vs Heat 1/13/15 7:30 pm PST

[Slava]

Jesus wept!

[ChokeFasncists]

Starting doesn't cause a player to wear down, excessive minutes do. Kobe's still the best player at his position on the team. There's no reason for him not to start. If you're worried about excessive usage, just sit him more.
There's nobody on this team that has shown the potential to succeed, starting for Kobe. So he's not stealing time from some up and comer, nor is there a need to give someone on the team experience... Plus that's all happening on the nights he sits anyway.

I admit, it's a weird situation, but changing it isn't going to help a whole lot, so if both Scott and Kobe are comfortable with the way things are, why change?

I agree with everything you said, except that there's no reason for him not to start. It's mainly about his body and his performance at the end of games. One thing is, sitting out for him isn't very good, as he said, it's making him stiff and it throws off his rhythm. It's also not fair for the fans who bought tickets just to see him. Shutting down is also very bad for them and he'd be real rusty next year. The way Scott is playing him now puts way too much responsibilities on his shoulder, no gas in the tank at the end of games. Scott says all the right things, but acts in a different way. He said he's gonna limit Kobe's minute but plays him 40 minutes. Having Kobe off the bench would ensure that it won't happen.

OTOH, it makes sense from the opponents point of view. For three and a half quarters he'll be well rested and can play with half effort, who cares if he's stiff when he comes off the bench towards the end of the first quarter? But when he comes in at the end of the third quarter or even the early part of the fourth, he'd be able to warm up and not have to sit down before crunch time, that's his time, rather than struggling with the offensively challenged starter and having to guard the opponents starters. The team does OK without him and he would make the team better that way.

I'm not really calling for change, I just think that it might be an option. I'm not sure Kobe and Scott is comfortable with the way things are, Kobe isn't doing well and he cites sitting out games; Scott is saying he might shut Kobe down for the season.