I was just stating that because a lot of people were complaining about the progress of the team etc, knowing the circumstances of being a new team with new players,coaching staff, AND injures up the ying-yang on a squad that already had minor talent. Every single team we played thus far EXCEPT for the Pelicans, who actually might make the playoffs this year, made it last year. Back on subject, FOR THE RECORD... I respect yall's concern over his minutes. But you should also IMO, respect the Lakers as an organization,Kobe Bryant himself which is really most important, that however much he plays is their decision so I have no problem with it. If you do, i respect it. But once again given the circumstances, hes the only one that when he shoots I know theres a solid chance the shot goes in. With other players? I do every bud-light superstition maneuver hoping it goes in since quite honestly, I dont have that confidence in them. Anyhoot at the end of the day, we can ALL agree we want the best for the team. Can we all just hug and make up now please? lol. GO LAKERS. Go Kobe(My future sons middle name .
It is truly remarkable how he is playing at this level at this stage of his career after the injuries he has gone thru. Yes he may be shooting 30 times a game, but who would you rather shoot the ball? When swagggy comes back, his shots will probably drop to 23-24. We all want Kobe's minutes to be lowered, but it is Kobe. This team is 1-7. You really think he is going to sit back on the bench so we can keep losing? This guy is the G.O.A.T. for a reason. Playing this hard for a team that is 1-7 just shows how blessed we are to have a player that represents the purple and gold the right way.
The solution is to have an offensive system and run sets to get your players decent looks ... Sure we have little talent but I'm sure I wouldn't want 60 % of the Spurs roster to shoot the ball under Byron Scott "coaching" and "system". If we don't even try playing as team and develop some players , there is no point of showing up for games . Kobe ball isn't going to win us more games than trying to play as a team ... but I guess you guys enjoy it. Kobe still doesn't get this in his 19th season and Byron is another puppet ( as Brown and MDA were)
Eight games into a season "almost" matters because it's a sign of what team you're dealing with. Similarly, your record is a sign of what team you're dealing with. We're the kind of team that can go 1-7 but almost win against some good teams while missing key players.
@wcsoldier81 and @fabulus - Run sets for whom exactly? I don't know if you've noticed, but we've run sets for every half-way decent offensive player on our team. Carlos Boozer gets a lot of sets in the high-post area. Lin has the ability to take whatever shot he wants. We run screens for Ellington (and lately Wesley Johnson). When Randle was here we had sets for him too. Jordan Hill has become an excellent Pick-and-pop player. We really do have sets for this team, they just suck. They suck. Kobe takes a ton of shots because this team sucks and he needs to take those shots. Running sets for the other players on this team over Kobe is a recipe for failure. When Kobe is on the floor, his usage rate should be through the roof with this team. However, I agree that we should run more of the system offense that the Princeton is if that's what you guys are talking about. I DON'T agree that we should keep running sets to get Wesley Johnson jump shots or get Ronnie Price more shots. They don't deserve them AND they're not good shooters. They're ineffective. Lin has been mostly ineffective when we give him the offense to run. What we DO need to do is run sets that get Kobe easy shots so he's not so tired. Run him off of a couple screens so he has an open look. We do it for Ellington, I don't see why we can't do it for Kobe. I don't like watching Kobe in the high pick and roll anymore. At his age it's simply too dangerous. I'd like to see more off-the ball motions that free up guys on cuts to the basket. Easy looks so that Kobe isn't scoring over 2-3 defenders every trip down. Run him as a decoy sometimes off of screens like Boston did in 2008 with Pierce, Garnett, and Allen.
I don't like any sets that create long two's such as the some of the pin-downs we run...as far as sets, we could run, there was suggestions in another thread that Byron could look too to create easier shots instead of struggling to score every other possession. By the way, Kobe will probably play 38 minutes tonight while Byron runs him into the ground.
The minutes aren't the argument for me though. I've agreed all along he should play less minutes. When he's NOT on the court, sure run sets for whoever you want. When he IS on the court, I'd rather he take 9 out of 10 shots than have any of these other hacks take them... as long as they're good looks and he didn't have to work 22 seconds to take them. I'm fine with running long-two sets for Ellington. Those easy little mid-range shots seem to get him flowing. I don't want to run those for anyone else on the team though right now. When Kelly and Young are back, they can get those same looks. Wesley should only take corner threes and layups. Boozer should only take post shots and layups. Hill doesn't need to come off screens...
^I agree. I don't care how many shots he takes...it's how and where he's getting those shots that are critical. I'm optimistic that will improve, though.
Once Young comes back, I think it'll help a lot as far as Kobe's usage. Young makes two guys who can get their own shot at any minute. Kelly helps too with floor spacing. We're almost through the toughest stretch of the season. I doubt we make it all the way back, but hopefully we at least win some games this month.
I think I'm in agreement. Cuts to the basket for Davis, Wes, I agree with you to an extent, especially with having more cuts to the basket. Davis, Booz, Hill and Wes can be more effective that way at least drawing fouls. Davis is great cutting. But I do think we need to run more sets to get Hill those short jumpers that he can hit, and spot up Lin and anyone else on the perimeter including Kobe just to take that pressure off. He should never have 3 plays in a row where he's the only guy to touch the ball and Jack up a shot, especially if he's just missed the first two and he's got one or two guys drapped all over him. Yes most of these guys are real weak but they need to perform a function while on the floor, even if it's just taking some pressure off of Kobe and especially to draw fouls. Of course Kobe will get the most looks just much better ones. I 'm not expecting any changes that are going to significantly change outcomes for this gtoup. Into the 3rd quarter against Spurs, Kobe hasn' t scored and we're only down 7.
And here's the issue with this new generation of fans. I can say he shot 1-14 tonight and that makes me a hater. I guess it's indicative of our society as a whole where people are celebrity obsessed and are more interested in the individual and personal accolades. I am a Laker fan from the 80s and I truly, truly appreciate what Kobe has done for the Lakers. But I am a hater apparently because Kobe sucked tonight. Albeit the rest of the team was awful as well. I don't want to be a hater though, so keep firing Kobe. Don't let your abysmal shooting percentage deter you from hoisting it up. After all, the other professional basketball players on the court have never made a basket.
Just watched the Kobe post game presser and you could really tell Kobe is feeling his age now more than ever. He used words like I have never had to deal with "this kind of challenge yet" because in Kobe's words he used to be able to fight through not feeling well or weak. Very humbling to see that presser and a Kobe that almost looked a little defeated. Appreciate him guys and girls, the clock is ticking farther and further down game by game.
So he was sick. I asked if he was half joking and half serious in game time in like the 1st quarter when he waved off Boozer who was trying to pass him the ball to just shoot it himself. I said something like, "is Kobe sick? He just passed up a shot", because I was genuinely shocked. His entire game tonight makes sense tonight now, never seen him look like that, even when he finally tried to start scoring he never could.
Ok comon tonight Kobe sucked for sure but he wasn't just chuckin. I hate it when chucks but tonight that wasn't the case. He indicated that he was sick and he played anyway as he always has.
well John Ireland pretty much was asking this without using the exact words and Kobe didnt exactly shut that down or quickly come back with a sarcastic response. It would still surprise me but I dont think its out of the question of things that could happen.
I think Kobe resting on Sunday would be a great idea but I doubt he would do it. Byron has got to try and find ways to get him some rest. And i completely agree that it was tough listening to Kobe speak after the game.
