I thought athletically Kobe looked pretty good last game. Hoping for the best, and that he doesn't continue to "freaking suck"
Me, too. It's more that he's just taking WAY too many threes . . . and missing them. And too much iso stuff. Get on the block and get some high percentage looks Kobe. I want to see some more of that baseline turnaround J that I saw in preseason. That Jordan/Bryant turnaround was still money.
Get mad at yourself Kobe, or even Byron, and then go play like your old self. Except be that one guy that we didn't see very often that struck that perfect balance of setting people up, being a decoy drawing double teams, and scoring efficient baskets like you could do it in your sleep all. Let the youngins do the heavy lifting.
Baxter HolmesESPN Staff Writer Lakers coach Byron Scott said if Kobe Bryant's shooting struggles continue, he still wants Bryant to keep shooting. "That's the only way you can get out of it," Scott said. Scott added, "I want [Bryant] to take less 3's."
It's great Kobe is able to admit that he freaking sucks, but he also has to do smth about his game. Less 3s, less contested jumpers, more drives, post-up game, passes. 15-18PPG 4-5 boards and 4 dimes will be good.
I agree with that, but he needs to take shots he's more capable of making. In the pre-season he was attacking through the mid-post what the hell happened to that?
Still settling for the 3 on a lot of possessions and missing horribly. Worked the post and mid range game and got easy baskets but never went back to it. Had a couple nice plays where he set someone else up.
There were little improvements at least. Some very nice passes, went to the hoop a little bit more. He can clearly still make really nice plays and that wide open shot off a screen was great. More of that and he's useful out there.
Feels like what we should have looked like this about the 3rd preseason game. This is just unacceptable that it's taken this long.
Ugh..... he's not even playing his game. 20 years in he tries to become Reggie Miller, and because of that he's washed up and never going to play at a high level? Just baffling, I don't get it. Kobe is strong as hell and a beast in the post and hard to guard. He can get shots half the distance of what he's been taking with a much greater chance to get to the foul line.. and he's excellent at hitting anyone cutting to the hoop if the shot isn't there. This is beyond frustrating and makes no sense.
^ Yeah, I don't think he's washed up at all. He's moving well and making good plays. If he stops jacking up those threes he's still a very productive player.
Sure let's ignore the bricks and airballs from 3 ... call it the Kobe FG% ... 3pts shots don't count !
this has been really hard to watch. he reigned it in a bit in last night's game, but he still was missing wide open threes by a mile. wasn't it a few years ago that he was one of the league leaders in wide open three point %? that's just age, pure and simple. and on d, teams are finding him and going right at him like they did during pau's last couple of years here. you can tell it's bothering kobe; he got kind of a helpless look after that horrific airball last night.
Kobe will probably remain my favorite Laker forever, but I just can't bear to watch him brick three after three. I literally cringe each time I see him take one. He must know he can't make them anymore at a good %. Maybe once he gets his rhythm back, but not now for sure. I have been wondering if - when he said he's getting the shots he wants - he meant that these are the shots he "wants" within the role he's been assigned to do on this squad? He can't really want these shots, can he? Because that would mean he's completely delusional. I don't want to put all the blame on Byron, but the place from where Kobe operates and the sets (if we can use this term in the case of our team right now) we are playing, are at least to a big extent his decision. I hope they (Byron and Kobe) will adjust the gameplan into what so many here have been advocating for - putting him nearer the basket and keeping him far away from the 3pt line... and we can still enjoy some effective play from Kobe during the season. If not, I know already I won't really enjoy it, even if all thre of Jordan, Julius and D'Angelo play out of their minds. This is not hoe a true legend should end his career
^^ My take as well. What about that sweet drive and reverse finish on the baseline? Did that look like a player who's done? It's obvious that the threes aren't falling. He NEEDS to lay off of those for now if he wants to be more efficient and productive. When he drove and kicked he looked good. When he shot mid-range he looked great. Now get into the post. This is on Byron, too, for not emphasizing these points. Those threes are like a bag of chips, the guy can't lay off, can't eat just one. He gets sucked in and eats the whole friggin' bag despite it being bad for him and the team.