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/9...ers-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]

Quote: Originally Posted by 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/9...ers-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]

Quote: Originally Posted by AlexBrady

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]

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]

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]

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]

^ Yup.

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

[24]

Quote: Originally Posted by ehh

^ 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