A lot has been made about whether Kobe can make his teammates "better." Chucky Atkins and Caron Butler have gone on record and said that Kobe has made it much easier on them. My intitial reaction was "I wonder if they're just saying that." So I looked up their shooting statistics The Lakers' starting lineup: <font color="Indigo">Chris Mihm</font> FG% this season: 53.7% FG% Career: 44.3% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 9.4% </font> <font color="Indigo">Lamar Odom</font> FG% this season: 48.5% FG% Career: 44.1% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 4.4 % </font> <font color="Indigo">Caron Butler </font> FG% this season: 50.5% FG% Career: 40.8% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 9.7% </font> <font color="Indigo">Chucky Atkins</font> FG% this season: 47.8% FG% Career: 41.6% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 6.2% </font> All career high shooting numbers. Obviously, this has come at the expense of Kobe's FG%, which is the worst in his career thus far... Nonetheless, these are interesting numbers. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Optimistically, it means the lakers are on the right track and once Kobe gets his shooting up, it'd be all gravy. Pessimistically, 4 guys are having career shooting years thus far and we're only a .500 team. Opinions?
Great point, notMuchgame. I see this team being pretty tough in the West in another year or so, once Kobe finds a way to create for everyone AND himself. However, give this team a better point guard, and we'll be an elite team in the West again.
i like atkins, he has hit the shots when needed to, but we do need a better PG. I couldn't really think of anyone those....
Wow, nice nMg. I believe once Kobe finds his shot this team will be much better and as stated above, I believe this team will be an elite team in a year or so, give these players some time to mend together and they will be awesome.
I'd have to wait and see before comparing their current 10 game FG% to their career FG%. If you notice there are a lot of players still with high stats thus far. I mean, Shaq is always the leader in FG% in the NBA and he isn't even #1 as of now so that tells you a lot. Too early to pass judgement but I think Kobe is kicking out the ball when he draws double / triple teams so he's on the right path.
truly the lakers need a better point to be title contenders. atkins has always been a good backup point guard, but he is still a backup. how about giving tierre brown similar mintues as atkins? that may work, try it out a few games. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting heatfan83:</div><div class="quote_post">Too early to pass judgement but I think Kobe is kicking out the ball when he draws double / triple teams so he's on the right path.</div> heatfan83, u are so right. look at the lakers/bulls game. kobe essentially was doing it all game. that was why the lakers were able to come back from the 2nd half deficit and take the game
Now the Kobe haters cant say that he is a ball hoger. Here is the proof. By the way, I didnt know this. I hope this will continue.
I'd agree to the fact Kobe is making his team better. Obviously the stats don't lie with our starting five acheiving career numbers in field goal percentages. The only concern I have with Kobe however is he still has that selfish mentality, and it shows especially in some of our five losses this season, this is where our front office hopefully takes into consideration that we need a bonafided point guard. That way it can take pressure off of Kobe's shoulders to create more efficient opportunities for his teammates. But for now, Kobe's task is very simple. If he struggles heavily from the field, keep distributing. The ball movement along with contributed double digit scoring from our four other guys is working well and resulting in victories, why stay away from that strategy?
I agree, but who can we get as a new PG? i cant think of anyone, unless its baron davis becuase he wants out, and he is really good, i cant think of anyone else that is good enough or avalable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ICED T:</div><div class="quote_post">I agree, but who can we get as a new PG? i cant think of anyone, unless its baron davis becuase he wants out, and he is really good, i cant think of anyone else that is good enough or avalable.</div> For some reason, Sam Cassell keeps popping into mind. He's a vet, he's not happy in Minnesota, and he won two rings alongside Rudy T in Houston. I'd love to have the guy, really...that is, if he proves to me that he can stay healthy this season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">For some reason, Sam Cassell keeps popping into mind. He's a vet, he's not happy in Minnesota, and he won two rings alongside Rudy T in Houston. I'd love to have the guy, really...that is, if he proves to me that he can stay healthy this season.</div> he keeps popping in my head too, but he was injured wasn;t he? if he can come to LA it would be great!
Not to hate, or underestimate the importance of fg %, but to say that Odom is having a better year is absurd. Butler had a better rookie season than he is having this year. As far as pgs, you don't want Diddy, I would hope that most of you realize this.
We don't have the resources to make a trade of that magnitude IMO ... Right now, I'd be satisfied with a bit more depth. Perhaps a Darrell Armstrong... Kareem Rush appears to be on his way out. He has proven that he can contribute to a team, and his contract runs out this year which makes him all the more valuable. How bout Kareem Rush and a filler draft pick for Dejuan Wagner... It's not like Rush is contributing so we can take that kind of risk..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Jurassic:</div><div class="quote_post">Not to hate, or underestimate the importance of fg %, but to say that Odom is having a better year is absurd. Butler had a better rookie season than he is having this year. As far as pgs, you don't want Diddy, I would hope that most of you realize this.</div> I disgree. Butler is playing better than I've seen him since Uconn. And after a slow start, Odom over the last 5 or so games is playing right about the level he played last year...Obviously, their roles are different and so they're not going to score as much, but there are being extremely efficient and doing the little things.... My concern really, is why that hasn't translated into more wins yet..
If it gets really bad, I say we go for broke and call up Larry Ayuso. If it wasn't for Iverson, he would be a Sixer right now.
With Odom it's not because Kobe is dishing to him, he's just getting less defensive attention, Odom has never been a guy to catch and shoot much, always creates for himself, and he's only getting assisted on 40% of his FG's. You can't just put career stats for Odom, his second year as a Clippers he shot 46% as the 1 or 2 option. The other yeas he was injured and it obviously affects his production, and last year he was the main go to guy along with Wade on the team, EJ did a lot of catch and shooting. I think the benafactors are Atkins on three's, Mihm a little, and also Caron Butler, but Butler is in the same situation where as a rookie he was the go to guy on the team, and last year he was injured and never got his rythm or got in the flow offensively. Anyways, I think Atkins get's a lot of open shots from Kobe though, he seems to always be getting some three's
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting notMuchgame:</div><div class="quote_post">A lot has been made about whether Kobe can make his teammates "better." Chucky Atkins and Caron Butler have gone on record and said that Kobe has made it much easier on them. My intitial reaction was "I wonder if they're just saying that." So I looked up their shooting statistics The Lakers' starting lineup: <font color="Indigo">Chris Mihm</font> FG% this season: 53.7% FG% Career: 44.3% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 9.4% </font> <font color="Indigo">Lamar Odom</font> FG% this season: 48.5% FG% Career: 44.1% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 4.4 % </font> <font color="Indigo">Caron Butler </font> FG% this season: 50.5% FG% Career: 40.8% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 9.7% </font> <font color="Indigo">Chucky Atkins</font> FG% this season: 47.8% FG% Career: 41.6% Difference: <font color="Green">+ 6.2% </font> All career high shooting numbers. Obviously, this has come at the expense of Kobe's FG%, which is the worst in his career thus far... Nonetheless, these are interesting numbers. I'm not sure if it's a good thing or a bad thing. Optimistically, it means the lakers are on the right track and once Kobe gets his shooting up, it'd be all gravy. Pessimistically, 4 guys are having career shooting years thus far and we're only a .500 team. Opinions?</div> i dont think taht there is even a question... kobe makes other players better but while he makes othre players better ultimately he is horrible for the orginization
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Knicks3:</div><div class="quote_post">i dont think taht there is even a question... kobe makes other players better but while he makes othre players better ultimately he is horrible for the orginization</div> Can you explain why hes horrible for the organazation?
