I have to admit, I am actually sick of Kobe's shooting problems. If you are having an off night, you don't throw up 26 shots. Give some more to Odom, it is not that hard to understand. I understand we have 2 SG's playing in the backcourt now, you think Rudy T. would learn that and press for a trade, or scout the FA market..but nope, nothing. Until he does that, I would love to see Kobe stop shooting so many shots.
this is an example of why i was saying his current assist per game numbers dont show how selfish and damaging he's being to the teams success.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 02civic:</div><div class="quote_post">this is an example of why i was saying his current assist per game numbers dont show how selfish and damaging he's being to the teams success.</div> Damaging to a teams success......so you are saying Kobe is loosing games because he takes to many shots? Think about it...he should be taking the most shots he is the number one option...yes Odom should be more involved but look at it this way...The Lakers would not win any games if he took ten shots a game and let everyone else take 15. Kobe is a huge part of the Laker succes when he does well...the whole team does well.. Sacramento Game....Denver Game....Clipper's Game...look at this way...If we let Atkins run with the ball...let him set up people with shots and let kobe play his usually sg spot...Kobe % would probably be even lower than it is...he would be taking more shots than he is....and the lakers would be at 4-19 and Kobe would be catching so much shit for not handling the ball and controlling the offense it would make me punk. THe reason his %/shots would do that is because the offense would crack with Atkins running the point and Kobe would end up shooting it with 3 seconds left which luckily only happens a couple times a game now. I am fine him handling the ball and with his shots right now because frankly 1/2 the time we are winning and the other half we arn't...we are not utilizing Odom as we should be which is not Bryant's fault it is all coaching....Rudy T. needs to have more set plays for Odom where he controls the ball coming up court. To tell you the truth I think they should have the 1st half of the game be offensive control of Odom and the 2nd be offensive control of Bryant. You let Odom handle the point the first 1/2 ( like kobe does) and let him run the offense and than in the 2nd half let kobe take over and run the offense and it would really switch things around. Thats what I would do if I was Rudy T., bring in that point foward in the 1st half and resume to Kobe show the 2nd half. Would work great because it would cut down Kobe shots(pleasing the media/fans/you guys) and would also help generate our 2nd option. It also would give Kobe some rest so he can give a 100% performance in the 2nd half and be able to pull out big games like agiasnt Pheonix and such. Shot selection is tought right now for Kobe but I think it is something that cant be avoided because it is a new team guys.....no one else has proven themselves to be able to take that many shots and have that kind of pressure of the game on there hands.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Billa_Bong:</div><div class="quote_post">Damaging to a teams success......so you are saying Kobe is loosing games because he takes to many shots? Think about it...he should be taking the most shots he is the number one option...yes Odom should be more involved but look at it this way...The Lakers would not win any games if he took ten shots a game and let everyone else take 15. </div> why not????? odom is a legit scorer...bulter can score too. Bottom line is Kobe shots alot of shots even though he's shooting bad on the night. A real star, a legit elite player *should* realize he's struggling and start looking to get other people the ball more. I think a team leader should that struggling from the field needs to go back to the basics in a game like that. Only take wide open jumpers and the rest should be within 5 feet of the basket. This was the problem last playoffs. When Kobe was shooting like garbage in the finals and he kepts saying "i just gotta keep shooting". no no no no no...there's no point in that at all. ITS THE FINALS....its a do or die. If you're not shooting well..let someone who is shoot more, you shoot less. Do all the intangibles and let the game come to you naturally. But Kobe tried to shoot his way out of a drought, and it assisted the lakers in shooting themselves out of the playoffs. And man alot of good players, great players even, do not handle the ball as much as Kobe does this year. And i'm not saying that it should never be Kobe's job, i'm just saying that when he gets in these ruts he needs to adjust his game. Sure Kobe's a major part of this team "when he does well", but the thing is he's a major detrement to the team when he does poorly. all the other superstars and teams in the league. If the franchise player is garbage on a particular night, they still have a chance. But the lakers have allowed themselves to be so Kobe-oriented that they go as Kobe does. And thats to much for him to carry.
02civic, Kobe has to run the point. It's not going to be anyone else. Until Rudy wakes up and activates Bobbitt, we don't have a defensive PG, and we don't have a passing one, either. The Lakers problems are not Kobe. I don't know if you watch the games or not (I do get to see every single one, just not live unless they're on national TV), but the Lakers' defense is terrible. Where at? At the point and in the frontcourt. Kobe runs the offense, but does NOT play the point back on D. If he did, he would be exhausted. So honestly, if it wasn't for Kobe Bryant, the Lakers would be in serious trouble. People are starting to come along. NBA.com had a similar message on their site about Kobe being everywhere on the court. ESPN even brought it up on SportsCenter...saying that the Lakers' problems aren't because of Kobe, but are resting on his shoulders. Kobe Bryant is having to carry the load for this team. He's got a bench-worthy starting PG in Atkins and nearly every other teammate has no idea what "defense" really is. There are eight other guys that have a higher average of FG attempts in 48 minutes than Kobe does...and that includes Nowitzki, Duncan, Melo and Chris Webber. Now, look at their supporting cast...then look at Kobe's.
