The common sense answer is :A) small sample size, and B) 4th most "efficient" doesn't mean 4th "best."
I don't use field goal percentage, I use true shooting percentage. He constantly shoots better from the perimeter and FT line, and relative to volume it is quite remarkable the last few years. Even after struggling in the 08 playoffs it was 57.7 (57.6 in the regular season) 30 PPG, 56.4 the post-season after that at 30 Points a night, 56.4 at 33.6 points per game this year.
the common sense answer would be that he has been thus far this season, but that he isn't going to keep that up over the course of the season.
PER isn't based on his resume or his reputation, it's based on his production. if kobe is upset with the PER, the only way to change it is to be a more productive player. i don't see how top 6 is offensive. duncan has slowed(or is pacing himself) to the point where i feel comfortable calling kobe the 4th best player in the league. i'm sure you find that offensive too but oh well.
i guarantee that several teams(the rockets being one of them) have better models but it isn't in their best interests to share them with everyone else.
Let's look at last season then. http://www.knickerblogger.net/stats/2009/jh_ALL_PER.htm Al Jefferson, Shaq, Zach Randolph all in the top 25 oldmangrouch I understand being #4 doesn't mean 4th best player. That's why I said 4th most efficient player. I also realize it's a small sample size, but there's several examples of how irrelevant Hollinger's PER model is in explaining real life basketball. Zach Randolph is a prime example. He's a travesty on the court, but if sure makes a great fantasy player pickup because of stat padding ways.
You asked me why I find it offensive, you don't have to explain to me what PER is or how to raise it. It is based on some vague barometers of production, which are not completely accurate. Saying he is the sixth best, or best player when he is the "fourth" best shouldn't be a big deal to you either then. See the problem is the playoffs happened and Kobe didn't have to pace himself anymore and made his case for the best player against the best competition. He killed everyone else and will always be a much better defender than someone like Chris Paul for example.
so kobe outplayed lebron in the playoffs? i don't think so. the playoffs are kobe's case for 2nd best player.
I don't think enough is made about the effort teams muster up when they face the Purple and Gold either.
lebron is number one with no argument at all. then wade. then paul. i could see the argument for kobe at 3rd after last year's playoffs, but i don't think paul can really be blamed for his whole team collapsing and he's consistently outperformed kobe over the course of two seasons.
Actually the Magic outplayed the Cavs in the playoffs. The Cavs never even had a chance to be dismantled by the Lakers Championship team.
He's 30 years old and outplayed Bron, he faced much better competition. Bron didn't do jack against the Rockets this year, and the Hawks/Pistons are trash.
The Cavs are just the third 65+ win team in the history of the league to not win a title. It is because Bron needs the ball in his hands more than anyone, it just didn't work.
