Kobe's last game shows just how compromised he was this season

[konex]

All year long, he mostly did post-ups and shot jumpers. Very little ball-handling or taking guys off the dribble.

Suddenly in the last game, he's using his full arsenal, blowing by people and actually getting in the paint.

Some of it was playing off the ball all year (unlike the last game) but it's clear he just wanted to finish the season standing. Without injuries, he definitely could have a productive player till 40 and I bet he'd have hung on if he thought the team had a chance for rings. A lot of his problems this year were due to rust and a poor supporting cast.

[Im Still Ballin]

I agree

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ODhdec5SNk

[stalkerforlife]

He didn't go all out during the season.

He just wanted to be there for his last game, as you mentioned.

He clearly had an extra gear and much better ball handling in his last game. Got to his spots.

[r15mohd]

All year long, he mostly did post-ups and shot jumpers. Very little ball-handling or taking guys off the dribble.

Suddenly in the last game, he's using his full arsenal, blowing by people and actually getting in the paint.

Some of it was playing off the ball all year (unlike the last game) but it's clear he just wanted to finish the season standing. Without injuries, he definitely could have a productive player till 40 and I bet he'd have hung on if he thought the team had a chance for rings. A lot of his problems this year were due to rust and a poor supporting cast.

a self imposed problem - his acceptance to a massive, team crippling, contract and unwillingness to not be the face of the franchise alongside a star cost him dearly. had he been more open to the team benefiting rather than himself only, I don't see how the Lakers are this bad these past three-four years.

and I agree, he could have played til 40 - but again, his unwillingness to take a 2nd/3rd role option cost him that chance and any further success after 2010 really. to this day, the D12/Gasol tandem with Kobe could have reigned had Kobe regressed his approach a bit to allow them to come to fruition. D12 was almost his Magic-days self just the year after while in Houston, and we saw how well Gasol continued to play even through this year.

[Indian guy]

Dude, this could be said about literally every old star that ever played in NBA history. There was nothing unique about Kobe's situation this year. When you get old, you get injured and your game becomes limited. That's life. And :oldlol: @ being compromised. The guy had all the freedom in the world to do whatever the **** he wanted for an entire season and LORD knows Kobe did. Still ended up averaging 18 ppg on 36% shooting. That means you are done. 1 night against a team that couldn't be less interested in competing means nothing.

[stalkerforlife]

a self imposed problem - his acceptance to a massive, team crippling, contract and unwillingness to not be the face of the franchise alongside a star cost him dearly. had he been more open to the team benefiting rather than himself only, I don't see how the Lakers are this bad these past three-four years.

and I agree, he could have played til 40 - but again, his unwillingness to take a 2nd/3rd role option cost him that chance and any further success after 2010 really. to this day, the D12/Gasol tandem with Kobe could have reigned had Kobe regressed his approach a bit to allow them to come to fruition. D12 was almost his Magic-days self just the year after while in Houston, and we saw how well Gasol continued to play even through this year.

You have no clue what you're talking about.

Kobe's contract is meaningless. The Lakers would never have a problem going into the luxury tax to sign big names.

Kobe's injury is why free agents were scared to come.

[Nilocon165]

You have no clue what you're talking about.

Kobe's contract is meaningless. The Lakers would never have a problem going into the luxury tax to sign big names.

Kobe's injury is why free agents were scared to come.
Eddie curry greatest center of all time

[tmacattack33]

:roll:

Yes, a guy that got to shoot as much as he wanted all year, and was criticized for compromising the other players was the one who was compromised.


#delusionalKobeStans

[r15mohd]

You have no clue what you're talking about.

Kobe's contract is meaningless. The Lakers would never have a problem going into the luxury tax to sign big names.

Kobe's injury is why free agents were scared to come.

:facepalm :facepalm

his contract basically took up 2 big name spots - they could not afford someone like Melo or LMA, and a 3rd name (which anyone signing with LAL expected due to how contended teams were being constructed from the Boston trio) and Kobe making $25 mil. signing 2 FA's and Kobe's deal was impossible, and the only way to go into that luxury tax would be to trade with or re-up someone already there.

take for instance the situation with Cleveland and TT this past summer - they could not sign a FA of equal pay/worth for the $16mil that he signed for, they were already over the cap (or close to it). they could only sign for TT or trade for someone with those same rights to pay out that much.

[stalkerforlife]

:facepalm :facepalm

his contract basically took up 2 big name spots - they could not afford someone like Melo or LMA, and a 3rd name (which anyone signing with LAL expected due to how contended teams were being constructed from the Boston trio) and Kobe making $25 mil. signing 2 FA's and Kobe's deal was impossible, and the only way to go into that luxury tax would be to trade with or re-up someone already there.

take for instance the situation with Cleveland and TT this past summer - they could not sign a FA of equal pay/worth for the $16mil that he signed for, they were already over the cap (or close to it). they could only sign for TT or trade for someone with those same rights to pay out that much.

You don't know what you're talking about.

[Prime_Shaq]

Did you not see how exhausted he was all game? His body is done, he gave it all out on the court one finals time for all of us and it was glorious.

[r15mohd]

You don't know what you're talking about.

:rolleyes:


The Lakers and Bryant arrived at the salaries so that the team will have the financial flexibility to pursue one top free agent on the market next summer, the source told Shelburne.



it's not rocket science that a team consisting of Kobe and another star wont make any dent against the top teams in the West - and Melo and LMA were'nt looking for early playoff contention (well LMA wasn't), and know they needed another star player to push the Lakers back to contention

if it were enough with Bryant and Melo/LMA, they definitely wouldn't hesitate to sign seeing the amenities with signing with a franchise like LAL - but the amenities wasn't the issue, Kobe's contract was

[plowking]

He shot 17 times a game...

He was, and is done. Shooting 50 times in one game, your last, and scoring 60 doesn't mean you can do it every time. He wasn't saving anything. He simply isn't a good basketball player anymore, and hence it was the time to hang em' up.

[IllegalD]

He shot 17 times a game...

He was, and is done. Shooting 50 times in one game, your last, and scoring 60 doesn't mean you can do it every time. He wasn't saving anything. He simply isn't a good basketball player anymore, and hence it was the time to hang em' up.


60, 4, 4 on 44% FG, 54% TS, 50% eFG at age 37 in his 20th season.

"Not a good basketball player anymore...? :facepalm

Hold this L, b*tch. I know you butthurt. :applause:

:yaohappy: :hammertime:

[Mrofir]

I was so happy for Kobe the other night, was on my feet rooting him on the entire game.

Then I come here and remember the biggest reason why I could never stand Kobe during his career -- his delusional fans.

Kobe would laugh at what you are writing, I guarantee it. If Kobe shot that low percentage this year primarily because of his teammates, then Devin Booker is going to be averaging 40/6/9 on 65% FG once the Suns put actual NBA players next to him.

The actual version of reality that you missed is -- Kobe was playing really badly this season, his body wasn't the same. He recognized it and said he was going to retire. Then he put on an amazing show in his last game, a very strange game where the entire event centered on him and basically nobody involved cared much about the outcome. That's not to take anything away from Kobe, that was magical and he couldn't control that context. But this wasn't a playoff game.

Now if Kobe took the offseason and got his body right and came back again next season could he play better? Probably! He could maybe even pick up his FG% to 39-40 and lead this Lakers team to 29 wins. This is reality. The 60 points were an unexpected gift. That's all you get.

[CP3PO]

Dude took 50 shots. 50. Just because he scored a lot of points does not mean it was a good game. He had a hot streak near the end that saved his game, but for 3.5 quarters he was actually hot garbage that just happened to have the green light.

[Stringer Bell]

I was so happy for Kobe the other night, was on my feet rooting him on the entire game.

Then I come here and remember the biggest reason why I could never stand Kobe during his career -- his delusional fans.

Kobe would laugh at what you are writing, I guarantee it. If Kobe shot that low percentage this year primarily because of his teammates, then Devin Booker is going to be averaging 40/6/9 on 65% FG once the Suns put actual NBA players next to him.

The actual version of reality that you missed is -- Kobe was playing really badly this season, his body wasn't the same. He recognized it and said he was going to retire. Then he put on an amazing show in his last game, a very strange game where the entire event centered on him and basically nobody involved cared much about the outcome. That's not to take anything away from Kobe, that was magical and he couldn't control that context. But this wasn't a playoff game.

Now if Kobe took the offseason and got his body right and came back again next season could he play better? Probably! He could maybe even pick up his FG% to 39-40 and lead this Lakers team to 29 wins. This is reality. The 60 points were an unexpected gift. That's all you get.

Well said.

Kobe's body is broken down, it takes a ton of work to get him healthy enough to play. It's been tough to watch Kobe over the last 3 years. It's usually kind of sad watching formerly great athletes when they are shells of their former selves.

Luckily, Kobe's final game was a 60 point performance and a victory. I'm glad he went out in that fashion.

[MP.Trey]

Should have taken 50 shots every game...

[Smoke117]

All year long, he mostly did post-ups and shot jumpers. Very little ball-handling or taking guys off the dribble.

Suddenly in the last game, he's using his full arsenal, blowing by people and actually getting in the paint.

Some of it was playing off the ball all year (unlike the last game) but it's clear he just wanted to finish the season standing. Without injuries, he definitely could have a productive player till 40 and I bet he'd have hung on if he thought the team had a chance for rings. A lot of his problems this year were due to rust and a poor supporting cast.

You're an idiot...he didn't play like that all season long because he couldn't. If this was a mid season game he probably would have missed 2 weeks after. His shoulder still probably barely functions after all that chucking and his knees have to be hurting. Of course he went all out for his last game...it was his last game, but it doesn't mean anything as far as the whole season goes. It's also hilarious how kobe stans keep acting like the Jazz were playing tough defense...Gordon Hayward literally let Kobe just blow by him half a dozen times...not to mention there about 3 or 4 shadow fouls called the Jazz for Kobe.

[CP3PO]

Should have taken 50 shots every game...
He didn't, so obviously he was compromised.

[Shih508]

60, 4, 4 on 44% FG, 54% TS, 50% eFG at age 37 in his 20th season.

"Not a good basketball player anymore...? :facepalm

Hold this L, b*tch. I know you butthurt. :applause:

:yaohappy: :hammertime:

in an exhibition game while getting all the love from Refs?