The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

[kaymagic91]

Kobe Bryant decline is extremely over exaggerated.

Last season he played with a knee issue that has only now been attended to.

He may be overrated as a jump shooter but is the most deadly "SCORER" in the NBA based on stats, look at this article if you don't believe me

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/937859-nba-who-are-the-truly-elite-scorers-in-the-nba

His minutes declined but his points remained exactly the same.

Tactical changes mean he is now a help defender so intentionally doesn't put out as much effort on defense to preserve offense.

Lakers don't even play for the regular season, you wouldn't either if having won back to back titles. I understand they got swept by the Mavs but Kobe cant beat a Nowitzki inspired team alone,even if he did put up solid numbers.

Lack of a real point guard means every shot has to be worked for instead of what the Celtics get with Rondo.

His post game is better than most 7footers due to the footwork and fadeaways.

Triangle offense is essentially alot of moving around followed by an isolation. The only way this can be succesful is if you have a player who can be considered a G.O.A.T (Jordan,Shaq,Kobe). This offense is a poor choice to utilize kobe at this stage like it was last season.

concluding kobe hasnt declined like people choose to beleive and is still best shotguard over wade who has a poor perimeter shooting game and no post moves

[AlexBrady]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

Kobe Bryant decline is extremely over exaggerated.

Last season he played with a knee issue that has only now been attended to.

He may be overrated as a jump shooter but is the most deadly "SCORER" in the NBA based on stats, look at this article if you don't believe me

http://bleacherreport.com/articles/937859-nba-who-are-the-truly-elite-scorers-in-the-nba

His minutes declined but his points remained exactly the same.

Tactical changes mean he is now a help defender so intentionally doesn't put out as much effort on defense to preserve offense.

Lakers don't even play for the regular season, you wouldn't either if having won back to back titles. I understand they got swept by the Mavs but Kobe cant beat a Nowitzki inspired team alone,even if he did put up solid numbers.

Lack of a real point guard means every shot has to be worked for instead of what the Celtics get with Rondo.

His post game is better than most 7footers due to the footwork and fadeaways.

Triangle offense is essentially alot of moving around followed by an isolation. The only way this can be succesful is if you have a player who can be considered a G.O.A.T (Jordan,Shaq,Kobe). This offense is a poor choice to utilize kobe at this stage like it was last season.

concluding kobe hasnt declined like people choose to beleive and is still best shotguard over wade who has a poor perimeter shooting game and no post moves

It can be misleading to only look at points. Unfortunately, Kobe has never been an advanced team defender and would rather chase the ball than rotate to help spots, this is still true. The Lakers are only out for championships at this point, but their arrogance throughout the season was concerning. They assumed they could turn it on in the playoffs, dangerous strategy.

Derek Fisher makes all the correct passes to facilitate offense. Kobe's footwork is highly advanced, good call. The Triangle is designed to create cutting lanes and easy scores on a regular basis. It is a winning philosophy and saves Kobe some punishment. If/when Kobe has to play the standard drive and kick, screen/roll, wing isolation game he will wear down even further.

Kobe isn't the same force he once was, but his game is still a winner.

[Porschebenz2001]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

It can be misleading to only look at points. Unfortunately, Kobe has never been an advanced team defender and would rather chase the ball than rotate to help spots, this is still true. The Lakers are only out for championships at this point, but their arrogance throughout the season was concerning. They assumed they could turn it on in the playoffs, dangerous strategy.

Derek Fisher makes all the correct passes to facilitate offense. Kobe's footwork is highly advanced, good call. The Triangle is designed to create cutting lanes and easy scores on a regular basis. It is a winning philosophy and saves Kobe some punishment. If/when Kobe has to play the standard drive and kick, screen/roll, wing isolation game he will wear down even further.

Kobe isn't the same force he once was, but his game is still a winner.

Not exactly a unique characteristic in the NBA.

[Knighttime24]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

Look, Kobe is the man. Bottom line. He's a winner and a leader. However, just like every other NBA player, he needs help. The Lakers became so comfortable with him shooting all of the time that they were practically sleeping when he needed scoring support.

[slimm44]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

He's played over 1100 games and is 33 years old. He's been in the league for 15 years. He is also easily one of the top 2 SG's in the league along with Wade. Arguably #1.

To say he's lost a step, doesn't have as much lateral quickness, and has lost some explosion would be true and not a knock on him. He still gets it done, just in different ways than he used to. He can't get to the rim as easily as he used to, still goes into Kobe vs. them mode too often despite the weapons he has around him, and settles for too many deep, contested two's but is an assassin in the post and if he's on, he does it as well or better than anybody in the league.

He's still in that elite tier of perimeter players, but I'm interested to see what he'll do in a non-triangle offense and what Mike Brown is going to put into place this season. We haven't seen him in a more "traditional" offense in over 10 years.

[Playmakers]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

When Jason Kidd locked him down repeatedly in the 4th qtr's of that playoff series that was all i needed to know about Kobe going forward....

He's no longer capable of taking over games....

And if he can't take over games then IMO the Lakers are just another playoff team because their defense is weak and they don't have anyone else with the balls to step up in late game situations.

Blame it on the knee, blame it on the other Lakers.....

But ultimately 38 year old J.Kidd was able to defend him step for step.....so i blame it on father time starting to show his ugly head and there is no beating father time even if your great Kobe Bryant.

[ehh]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

^ Yup.

It was very alarming how much trouble Kobe had getting to the rim in the playoffs. He was basically a jump-shooter.

[24]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

^ Yup.

It was very alarming how much trouble Kobe had getting to the rim in the playoffs. He was basically a jump-shooter.

That could have been due to the fact he was playing on one good knee

[dramachild11]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

The lakers lost for two reasons, pau gasol disappeared cause he played 40 minutes a game for the majority of last season an it looked like fatigue hit him really hard against the mavs.. the 2nd reason is kobe was non-existent in games 3 & 4 (34 points combined) ... but kobe's best days are definitely behind him... and anyone using injuries as an excuse for his drop-off should stop since by that time of year EVERYONE is injured

[ehh]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

That could have been due to the fact he was playing on one good knee

Kobe backers have been bringing up injuries for three straight years now. If you're hurt that often then there's a good chance that your days of being healthy full time are over.

[Playmakers]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

Kobe backers have been bringing up injuries for three straight years now. If you're hurt that often then there's a good chance that your days of being healthy full time are over.

A smart Lakers fans would realize he's getting older....

that's not a knock on Kobe everyone gets old and their skill declines....Kobe isn't the same player because he's an older player now.

Sure we can say his knee was bothering him....but at his age and years in the league he's going to start having more nagging injuries that's just the way it is when you get older and play the type of minutes that Kobe play night in and night out.

I'm a huge Mavs fans but i realize Dirk at some point is going to decline...heck his rebounding has started to decline already that's the one aspect of his game that i've noticed has dropped off in the last 2 years.

With Kobe i think his ability to beat people off the dribble has declined and it's not because of his knee situation. Kobe can still produce from mid range and 3-pt range but his ability to get to the basket has declined and as a result of that i don't think he can take over games anymore.

[Dunkleybwoy]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

I totally disagree, Kobe has had problems with his knees before he got old, ever since he bulked up, his knees started to betray him. It's a good thing he lost weight or he could have been much worse now. His old age has made his situation worse but it's not the cause of his decline. He has declined prematurely. What we should is wait to see what happens this season, now that he is supposedly healthy let's see how well he plays, he doesn't have an excuse now so we will be able to accurately gauge his play slipping.

[ScoobySnax]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

He's still gonna average 20-25,5 and 5 until he decides to retire. Great players can and will make adjustments when physical limitations come about.

[rosque]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

He won't be able to jam over people anymore, he'll(probably) use fadeaways, post game and screen to get some points. Players like, MJ, Kobe and likes would average 20-5 on a regular basis with 38 on their backs. Heck, look at Kidd. He at 38 stopped James. It's not about athleticism that much as it is about playing smart and making right calls. Even some most un-athetic point guard would do good in NBA if he played smart basketball(not forcing it, just passing, coming off screens etc)...

[RedSceptile]

Re: The evaluation of Kobe Bryant

Well Kobe had wanted to work more off ball as he ages and it would help prolong his career by maybe an extra 2-3 seaside combined with his current career track. Mike Brown's offense will probably have more post force feeds for Bynum and Gasol allowing Kobe to work more off ball anyways.