With this team he needs to be in the 22ppg / 7apg / 4rpg mode, not the 37 shots to make 39 points mode.
Yeah, I totally agree. Kobe has to facilitate on this team and give some of these scrubs some confidence on the offensive end. Go to the post, force the double and kick out. He did this for a full month in 12-13, he needs to get back to it. No way can he go into 05-06 mode and expect to be able to carry the team at his age and mileage, not to mention injury history. He'll get worn down for sure and risk a career ending injury at this point. Byron needs to step up as well and talk to Kobe. And no more 44 minutes a game please.
He played like a rookie last night ... Gambling for steals all over the floor , forcing shots ... I didn't understand Byron ... Why did he keep Kobe on the floor so many minutes when he knew Kobe was tired , keep forcing shots and missing them ...
I'm with Phil. Not many players in the NBA can shoot 37 times and hit 40%. It's not good, for sure, but it isn't the worst offense we've shown this season. Can Kobe facilitate? I don't mean does he have the ability. I mean, can people hit shots? It requires that they move, that they catch the ball, and that they knock them down. It takes a special player to dish 7 assists a game, too, but it also requires teammates doing things. I think that if we get Wes off the offense, things look a lot better.
He definitely shot too much last game, but if you look at his shot chart, 21 shots came in the painted area or right next to it. He only made 7 of them. That leaves 7-16 on the shots from mid-range to 3. He was getting really good shots all game long. If Kobe wasn't run into the ground, he goes off last game at a respectable shot count. It's a very encouraging sign he can get that many shots that close to the hoop, it's actually pretty amazing at his age.
I'm hopeful that Kobe will get his wind and legs back - and if he's limited to 32 mpg, he'll have an incredibly productive season.
7 assists requires 7 teammates making shots. can that happen? I'm only half joking. what does it matter if kobe's missing the shot or boozer, lin, or hill or price or Johnson or...holy crap, there's not another offensive option on this team... ed davis?
I thought he got fouled on 5 or 6 of those missed FGAs without a call. I think he was rightfully frustrated given that on at least three of those no-calls, a phoenix player got a whistle on the other end for similar contact within a few plays of the no-call. this isn't to defend the 37 shots, but just to add some perspective.
No other shooters IS a big problem for this team. But Kobe is NOT going to be able to carry the full load for an entire season. He just has to be an efficient scorer like he said he would be this season AND a willing facilitator if the team is going to make any progress. Last game he was frustrated and neither.
That's what i saw too, he was getting in the paint /to the rim and just missing easy looks. It's only his 5th game back so those shots will begin to fall. I'm all for him shooting at will until others start playing the same type of in your face, nasty basketball. The only one close has been Hill, and he has been aggressively shooting the ball with his usual hard nose play. Kobe earned 37 shots with effort, and fearless play, and he's not giving it up to reward the others for their weak effort.
The Critics are on full attack after Bryant's 14-37 showing, yet it was their best showing thus far only losing by 6. They are saying that he should of cut his shots in half facilitating to the likes of Lin, Boozer, Johnson, Price, Davis, and Hill. In the beginning of the game that was what was going on, and boom their down big. He's not going to be passive and take another 20 pt drubbing doing that, and didn't. They got the deficit down to 2 in the 4th Q due to Bryant bringing it. Until his supporting cast starts bringing it, wanting it, and playing with some huevos he will continue this style of play, take the criticism, and lead them to a win or two, instead of being blown out every night.
Since nobody really responded to my Kobe averages 24 this year over or under.. It seems like the way things are going, its a very safe bet to take.
As long as we don't have a legitimate second option on this team, Kobe will take 30 FGA a game, and I'm fine with that until we get one. A forced Kobe turnaround fadeway over 3 defenders is still higher percentage than 1. Anything Wes puts up 2. Boozer within 3 feet of the basket 3. Lin with no space 4. Jordan Clarkson's Kobe impressions
