Kobe Bryant Studying Paul Pierce's Game

[JohnMax]

http://lakeshowlife.com/2014/08/26/kobe-bryant-studying-paul-pierces-game/

Kobe Bryant is going to be a different player this upcoming season. We may not be watching the explosive reverse dunks of yesteryear. This time, Kobe is 36. He fought the good fight with father time and maintained a peak level of play that has lasted over fifteen years.

Something has to give.

Except, giving in isn

[Bandito]

That is going to complement well with his post game. But either way it is sad the Lakers might not go far unless somebody explodes like Randle.

[CelticBalla32]

Pierce, like Kobe, has some of the best footwork of his time. Kobe obviously has to take a more grounded approach to the way he plays the game these days. I'm sure Pierce has taken plenty from Kobe, as well.

I think this will show up in Kobe's mid-post game more than anything. The 18-foot face-up/pull-up/step-back game. Pierce is one of the triple-threat kings.

[tpols]

[QUOTE=JohnMax]http://lakeshowlife.com/2014/08/26/kobe-bryant-studying-paul-pierces-game/
This is part of his goal to become

[no pun intended]

Expect a lot more catch and shoot from Kobe then.

[dubeta]

Kobe relied on athleticism too much in his career imo

Now that he doesnt have his physical gifts he's scrabbling to learn how to post up and use half court moves from pierce

He should have taught these moves to himself a decade ago :facepalm

[JT123]

:facepalm Does Kobe EVER try and come up with his own moves? Always trying to steal other players games is pretty beta.

[outbreak]

http://lakeshowlife.com/2014/08/26/kobe-bryant-studying-paul-pierces-game/

Kobe Bryant is going to be a different player this upcoming season. We may not be watching the explosive reverse dunks of yesteryear. This time, Kobe is 36. He fought the good fight with father time and maintained a peak level of play that has lasted over fifteen years.

Something has to give.

Except, giving in isn’t what Kobe does. Instead, he adapts. He changes. He’ll do whatever it takes to reach the pinnacle of success, an NBA championship.

That adaptation comes from studying the game. He has studied players before. He has emulated Michael Jordan. He learned defense from Gary Payton. He learned advanced pivot work from Hakeem Olajuwon. All of that is in Kobe Bryant’s head.

Now, comes the next change in his career.

In preparing for this season, Bryant told friends that the player he is analyzing, as an example of adjusting your game as you get older, is fellow 36-year-old Paul Pierce. This is part of his goal to become “more efficient” on the court.

Paul Pierce plays an efficient isolation game, despite his advanced age. He has never truly relied on athleticism. Instead, he has used pivot work and a purer jumpshot from the perimeter throughout his career.

Last March, Paul Pierce had a 29 point game against the Miami Heat. He scored 17 points in the 3rd quarter alone. He got hot behind the three-point line, but used very efficient moves to evade defenders and attack the basket.

except take a pay cut or let superior players run the team:facepalm

Anyway no problem with him modelling from others, every player does that. I hope he succeeds though as much as I hate the bullshit mythology stans make up around him and as much as I dislike him personally he is a fun player to watch and was undeniably great entertainment.

[rlsmooth775]

Will kobe get fat like pierce

[CelticBalla32]

Waiting for "Kobe Bryant studying Brian Scalabrine's game".. soon.

:facepalm Horrible attempt at a joke. Paul Pierce is a Finals MVP and a Hall of Famer bro... lol

[ralph_i_el]

Kobe relied on athleticism too much in his career imo

Now that he doesnt have his physical gifts he's scrabbling to learn how to post up and use half court moves from pierce

He should have taught these moves to himself a decade ago :facepalm
:facepalm Don't

[ZeN]

Kobe relied on athleticism too much in his career imo

Now that he doesnt have his physical gifts he's scrabbling to learn how to post up and use half court moves from pierce

He should have taught these moves to himself a decade ago :facepalm
Wtf you talking about?

Kobe has been doing all that since 2008.

His entire second peak has been based on footwork and mid range game.

[PHILA]

This is part of his goal to become “more efficient” on the court. It's unfortunate he didn't have this approach earlier in his career. He could have been so much better had he cut those triple pump fake fadeaway prayers out of his game.

[ZeN]

It's unfortunate he didn't have this approach earlier in his career. He could have been so much better had he cut those triple pump fake fadeaway prayers out of his game.
The Pogo wasn't a bad move when he first started doing it. Everyone was falling for it and he got many fouls called from it. However, the frustrating thing as a fan was watching him still doing it years after everyone knew that was his move. He could only get away with it when going up against rookies. Hyperfocus has always been Kobe's problem.. He's so obsessed with trying to make things work, that he doesn't switch it up quickly enough. He gets stuck and doesn't realize he should change his approach. He's good at correcting his skills in practice but doesn't have the on court awareness of say a Magic or Russel..I guess it helped that those guys have a photographic memory.

[JohnFreeman]

Prime Pierce vs Prime Kobe 1on1 :eek:

[ZeN]

Prime Pierce vs Prime Kobe 1on1 :eek:
2007 Kobe was a stamina feind and shot accuracy was a monstrosity. Before he got his finger mangled and had to learn to shoot again his range was unparalleled. That would be an epic match up.. Kobe takes it since he could actually play defense back then when motivated.

[PHILA]

However, the frustrating thing as a fan was watching him still doing it years after everyone knew that was his move.
Yes, even the Lakers fans (http://www.clublakers.com/lakers-discussion/phil-puts-stake-the-pump-fake-improve-kobes-shooting-t45155.html) were upset with the predictability of his offense, as was Phil Jackson. Kobe had numerous moves at his disposal, but often opted for the contested fadeaway. I don't think it is fair to critique him for not having the floor awareness of Magic/Russell (almost nobody else did), but the stubbornness was definitely a problem.



The Washington Times - Dec. 5, 2005 (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/dec/5/20051205-115816-3609r/)

Kobe Bryant is the master of the triple pump-fake.

He employs it constantly — when he’s guarded, when he’s open, during the opening tip. Bryant is a serial pump-faker. It’s his go-to move, and it’s time for it to just plain go.

The worst part: Bryant finishes the move with an off-balance, fadeaway jumper.

Pump-fakes are used to gain a better shot in a different spot on the floor. Bryant would know this if he had gone to Duke.

Instead, the 6-foot-6 shooting guard with a high school education takes a bad shot right where he fakes. He isn’t deking the defender. He’s giving him a chance to set his feet.

A funny thing happened on the way to becoming the next Michael Jordan: In his 10th season with the Los Angeles Lakers, Kobe Bryant isn’t even a pleasing player to watch.

If Jordan was a transcendent artist, then Bryant is a nightclub impressionist, albeit a good one. Rich Little wasn’t Johnny Carson. And Kobe Bryant isn’t Michael Jordan.

Bryant takes fadeaway jumpers. He drives into the teeth of the defense with abandon. He tries to run the triangle offense. It’s OK, but it’s not Jordan.

Bryant has become a fantasy league player, a video game player. Push a button and there’s 32.1 points a game — the hard way, the ugly way, ill-advised shot after ill-advised shot.




Los Angeles Times - Dec. 6, 2005 (http://articles.latimes.com/2005/dec/06/sports/sp-lakerep6)

Phil Jackson has seen the pattern one too many times.

Stop the dribble. Pump-fake. Miss.

One of Kobe Bryant's tools over the years has been to clear a defender by faking a shot, then shooting from what had been occupied space.

But Bryant, playing more at small forward this season than shooting guard, is finding bigger bodies along the baseline not falling for the fake.

They stick to Bryant, who then gets stuck with an off-balance shot.

The pump-fake has become almost predictable, Jackson told Bryant during and after Sunday's game against the Charlotte Bobcats.

"I think everybody knows that's part of the package," Jackson said. "If you clear yourself and take a shot, that's great. But if you pump-fake and then they close on you and the pump-fake works against you, then you're shooting a shot with a body on you and that's difficult."

Bryant made only nine of 30 shots against the Bobcats, failing to make more than half of his shots for the 11th time in 12 games. He is shooting 41.6%, on pace for a career low. He shot 41.7% as a rookie in 1996-97.

[IGOTGAME]

2007 Kobe was a stamina feind and shot accuracy was a monstrosity. Before he got his finger mangled and had to learn to shoot again his range was unparalleled. That would be an epic match up.. Kobe takes it since he could actually play defense back then when motivated.

yea, people forget about Kobe's injuries and how they shaped different parts of his career.

[IGOTGAME]

[QUOTE=PHILA]Yes, even the Lakers fans (http://www.clublakers.com/lakers-discussion/phil-puts-stake-the-pump-fake-improve-kobes-shooting-t45155.html) were upset with the predictability of his offense, as was Phil Jackson. Kobe had numerous moves at his disposal, but often opted for the contested fadeaway. I don't think it is fair to critique him for not having the floor awareness of Magic/Russell (almost nobody else did), but the stubbornness was definitely a problem.



The Washington Times - Dec. 5, 2005 (http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2005/dec/5/20051205-115816-3609r/)

Kobe Bryant is the master of the triple pump-fake.

[I] He employs it constantly

[BigBoss]

30/8/8 season coming

[MastaKilla]

btw...that is horrible journalism.

holy shit no kidding

[dubeta]

30/8/8 season coming

If kobe can get 30/8/8 combined in 2 consecutive games I would be surprised

[20Four]

If kobe can get 30/8/8 combined in 2 consecutive games I would be surprised
Must suck flipping burgers at mcdonalds eh? You dumbfvck :banghead: :banghead:

[bizil]

In terms of total scoring skillset, I think these two are in the top 10 of all time for perimeter players. They have great midrange games, great postup games, great slashing ability, great footwork and very good three point ability. But Pierce was never a freak athlete but he was a very good athlete with great strength and fundamentals. Kobe's skillset can easily adapt though because Kobe ALREADY had those skills in his toolbox.

[BoutPractice]

By watching them play, you'd think there had been a mutual influence for a long time.

The main difference (and I think that's what Kobe's getting at) is that Pierce plays at a slower pace and typically uses less energy to get his shots off in the mid range area. Often all it takes is the one stepback at the right moment.

[ImKobe]

By watching them play, you'd think there had been a mutual influence for a long time.

The main difference (and I think that's what Kobe's getting at) is that Pierce plays at a slower pace and typically uses less energy to get his shots off in the mid range area. Often all it takes is the one stepback at the right moment.

Pierce is just crafty as hell and his timing is great, it's more about knowing the right move to use in a certain situation, Kobe has like all the moves but his problem is choosing the most efficient one.

Problem with Kobe is that he needs to change his tendencies a little bit. If he wants to be more efficient, stop taking those long threes or threes with a guy right in your face and try to find your teammates more. Being a passing threat takes defenders off you, if defenders have to think about you making a play for someone else, it makes scoring so much easier.

[NZStreetBaller]

Must suck flipping burgers at mcdonalds eh? You dumbfvck :banghead: :banghead:

you always mention burger flipping lol

[NZStreetBaller]

Kobe is the GOAT when it comes to taking shots that are heavily defended I mean honestly anybody who takes the amount of shots kobe does in the situations he does should be under 40fg%.

Everyone laughs at the fact that he has an under 50fg% and then admits its the crap shot selection. But hes won 5 championships that way AND is the second highest scoring in one game EVER.

[20Four]

you always mention burger flipping lol
:banana: :D

[AirFederer]

Inb4 we see Kobe like this :lol

http://25.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me8j3est6g1qcmnsoo2_400.gif


http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me8j3est6g1qcmnsoo1_r1_400.gif

[ImKobe]

Inb4 we see Kobe like this :lol




http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me8j3est6g1qcmnsoo1_r1_400.gif

Wow, could have broken his knee on that 2nd one if he put more pressure on it

[Jlamb47]

Kobe relied on athleticism too much in his career imo

Now that he doesnt have his physical gifts he's scrabbling to learn how to post up and use half court moves from pierce

He should have taught these moves to himself a decade ago :facepalm
:lol

Stupid. lol

Kobe got more footwork then your boy Lebron, and has been. He hasnt relied on athletiscism since his 07 days....dude has pure skills

[SwayDizzle]

dubeta is a f*ckin idiot

[Warfan]

Why is this the first time I'm seeing this? That stepback was murder. Pierce almost buckled his knees.. :eek:

:lol It was from like 2 years ago i think. Shit is embarassing af, pretty sure Jameer missed the jumper though

[riseagainst]

This is it the White Mamba we're talking about here..

http://i59.tinypic.com/no8oeg.jpg

Don't you ever disrespect the white mamba. :no:


:roll:

:bowdown:

[Crown&Coke]

http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_me8j3est6g1qcmnsoo1_r1_400.gif

Seeing this always makes me feel better

Suck a dick Pierce

[Brokenbeat]

This is it the White Mamba we're talking about here..

http://i59.tinypic.com/no8oeg.jpg

Don't you ever disrespect the white mamba. :no:

:oldlol:

[CelticBaller]

Seeing this always makes me feel better

Suck a dick Pierce
yet kobe is sucking pierce's :oldlol:

[ImKobe]

yet kobe is sucking pierce's :oldlol:

And Pierce is still sucking Ron's after that three in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals


tee, hee.

[BlackWhiteGreen]

And Pierce is still sucking Ron's after that three in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals


tee, hee.

Yeah I remember seeing Pierce learning how to brick everything like Artest.

Kobe doing what he should, ie everything he can to stay elite. Gotta be impressed :applause:

[ImKobe]

Kobe doing what he should, ie everything he can to stay elite. Gotta be impressed :applause:

It is impressive, isn't it? The man locked up a 48.5 million dollar contract and he could just be living the life and dedicating himself to business, but he's obviously still extremely motivated to come back strong and add onto his legacy as an NBA player.

[CelticBalla32]

I died a little inside both times Pierce got crossed up like that. So brutal lol.

[Eric Cartman]

Should strap a piano to his back to emulate Pierce's speed.

[bizil]

I personally thing that Kobe's is gonna play four more years instead of just two if his body is willing. And Im calling it now, don't be SURPRISED if he goes to the Knicks in two years with Melo, Fish, and Phil if the Lakers can't build a squad to compete!

[JohnFreeman]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUPt1YHqeE8