As inept as Byron is can't absolve Kobe here. He played selfish. Trying to create for himself like it's 2010. He just can't do it anymore consistently. These tough shots he made consistently aren't gonna go down anymore. Doesn't have the same elevation, the same lift, and the ability to get the seperation he used too.
Kobe has got to move the ball around. Way too much iso and just bad shots. He has to accept what he can and can't do at this stage in his career. He proved a lot of his critics right tonight.
Kobe shooting, I'm used to. There's never a reason to take that many threes though, that's ridiculous. He's a scorer, but that doesn't mean he has to shoot every time he touches it.
IF Kobe is going to play like that, and he can't find a better balance, then media who have said he will be hurting this team's development are right. Russell needs to shoot too, Kobe can't be taking 24 shots and a ton of threes. We have lots of scorers now.
To be fair, more than a few of those shots, once again, were bailout shots with >5 seconds left on the shot clock.
Kobe needs to share the ball more, 1 assist and 24FGA? 13 3s? in under 30 mins? ridiculous. We have many shooters, pass the ball, Kobe. Help young guys develop too...
Kobe has one of the highest bball IQs in the history of the game, yet that's often eclipsed by his ego (personal battles, trying to prove himself, etc). That must be one hell of an ego!
KOBE set a couple records tonight 20 seasons with one team Most 3 pointers taken by a senior citizen Most 3 pointers missed by a senior citizen I'm hoping he finds a better balance, or this could get ugly.
Kobe is going to do what Kobe wants to do. Nobody is going to stop him. If he wants to go ISO every freaking possession while Byron runs clear outs for him, it's done. If Kobe wants to hoist 13 three-pointers, Byron won't hold him accountable. Kobe can do whatever he wants...
Hardest thing to do for an all time great is realizing you can't do it at that level anymore. Not excuse Kobe's horrific shot selection in anyway, but not every star can be like a Tim Duncan who can accept a lesser role and that their days of dominating every night are over. The old atage your greatest strength can be your greatest weakness. Kobe's greatest strength has always been his competitiveness and his inner belief that he was the baddest man in the game. Now he's not and it just doesn't seem like he's gonna be able to accept that. I love the guy. He's my favorite player of all time. I think Kobe in his hay day and in his prime was as good as any player that's ever stepped on a basketball court. I'm gonna sorely miss him. He's not that guy anymore and he can't accept that. Kobe was so dominant and special you could deal with and live with any poor shots or decisions he made because of his exceptional talent. That isn't the case anymore. It really sucks having to see him fight Father Time because I know he can't do it because no player can. Having to see him struggle and not being able to just age gracefully and allow the young players to make life easier for him. Seems like Kobe is trying to prove something and he doesn't need to. He's a 5 time world champion. A living legend. The most dominant player since MJ. Just let it go Kobe. When this season is over Kobe needs to retire and allow the Lakers to move on. They have to. Yeah he may still be the best player on the roster, but they can't move forward with him because he isn't a superstar anymore. He can't carry or lead a team to the promise land. He can only be apart of the puzzle, but it doesn't look like he wants that. He ain't the first because his idol Michael Jordan couldn't accept it either. I won't remember Kobe for these last two years. I'll remember Kobe Bryant for a guy who gave absolutely everything he had to this organization. He got absolutely everything out of his career. He worked his a** off from day one to become the best player he could be. There will never be another Kobe Bryant. His will to win, his competiveness and drive, his overall immense skill set, his clutch ability, and his love and passion for this game is unmatched. He is simply the best and that's how I'll remember him.
You make a lot of great points. What's interesting is that he is showing that he is still a great player, but like you said, he isn't accepting a lesser role. He's going to shoot, but 13 threes is crazy, and 24 points on 24 shots isn't going to get it done. He's playing like he has to be the man, do it all himself, and he absolutely doesn't. This team has plenty of guys that can score, we don't need Kobe to chuck it. More than any team we've had in a loooong time, I think this team needs to play team ball. Clarkson, Randle, Russell, all need to get theirs, to be able to develop. If we just move the ball around as a team we are dangerous, we absolutely do not need Kobe to shoot 24 times. Can he change his entire game all of a sudden in year 20 though? Become a swing the ball, catch and shoot, post up once in a while guy? I don't see it, I see a guy too old to change, too stubborn to. I only hope our young guys are allowed to develop, and he can go out on a somewhat positive note. If he keeps up like this he won't, he'll wear out, he'll get injured, teammates will tire of him.