Probably not, but it could create a domino effect. You add any one of those players, and suddenly, you can have ring-chasing veterans wanting to come to this team. You might even get another star at a discounted price.
It's not just playing at a high level. It's the mountain of effort it takes to prepare night in and night out and maintain yourself in order to perform at that level. He's not just cutting back on the court, but everywhere at a time when he needs to work twice as hard to maintain. I take him at his word that he's not entirely sure he can do it for another year.
If you're Kobe would you rather A. Play this season for a terrible team with absolutely no shot at the Playoffs? or B. Wait until next season when you're maybe playing for a terrible team with no shot at the Playoffs or maybe you're on a team with just enough to make the Playoffs? Which is better?
Kobe's thrown out the possibility of retiring early. For him to do that he must be assessing the likelihood that the team will be significantly better next year. Assuming it will be if I were him I'd probably opt for option b unless: 1. He feels like he's taken lots of time off and that he should enjoy every moment he can be on the court... He's basically said this. It's also extra work to get back into game shape. 2. He just doesn't think he can or he just isn't sure he wants to put in all the preparation to maintain a high level of play for another year. At this point wear and tear is even practicing.
I think Kobe is just playing coy and saying what the media wants to hear. 19 years in the league he knows what the media wants. You don't really think Kobe would go out and publicly say even though he's healthy, he's sitting out games. He's gonna tell them he's tired, he's old, he can't do it anymore, and the media eats it up. Then he goes out and puts up games like the triple double and 17 and 19 against Cleveland? C'mon now, been watching this guy since he was a kid, I think I know a healthy Kobe when I see one.
Kobe can say whatever he like right now with all that heppening, but we all know that at summer time the urge to play basketball will comeback + managment bringing new players will make him not retire. and then if the team will be good enough he will finish the season even with lower stats.
Did you know?? Kobe has more career 3 pointers than Dirk Nowitski? http://www.basketball-reference.com/leaders/fg3_career.html He also has a shot at top 10 all time until Korver comes flying by. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Mike BresnahanVerified account @Mike_Bresnahan Kobe Bryant will play tonight vs. NO, his first game action since last Thursday.
He's the only player that could inspire the CBA stat. (Coulda been assist) Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
I looked at the video and he tried a behind the back pass on the baseline with his right hand at the 3:12 mark in the 3rd. The next offensive possession he motioned to the bench to take him out.
Oh man... next time he's going to pick up his bag and sprain his back.... which reminds me of someone...
Maybe we should hire Mark Jackson next, so he can respectfully call a TO when Kobe gets hurt. None of these other turds we hire seem to give two craps whether Kobe breaks in half or not.
Both times Kobe was hurting Byron elected to wait for the official timeout instead of using a team timeout. The only reason he took a timeout at the end of the game was because it was taking too long for the official timeout to happen and by that time there was no way we were coming back. Pretty disgusting really.
Well, I mean, this is the same guy who told Lin not to foul at the end of the game so that he could preserve his timeouts.
