Lol @ the Lakers analytics team honestly though I am actually interested in the lakers this season for 3 reasons: 1)Russell, Clarkson and Randle -- their young guys are all intriguing to me and seeing them develop much like the Bucks and Wolves young guys will be fun to watch 2)The cluster**** that will happen when Kobe, Young and Lou Williams all realize there is still only one ball to be played with 3) Metta World Peace - one can only pray he actually sees playing time
Didn't know Rudy T was into analytics. And his boy Trey... I remember him being a ball boy with the Rockets. Or was it him?
<iframe width="640" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/7nRYAsr7ALg" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Kobe Bryant: 'I'm Barely Standing Up' <a href="https://t.co/GhwrbzjTwA">https://t.co/GhwrbzjTwA</a> <a href="https://t.co/4RfFU2CLut">pic.twitter.com/4RfFU2CLut</a></p>— SLAM Magazine (@SLAMonline) <a href="https://twitter.com/SLAMonline/status/666273306987724800">November 16, 2015</a></blockquote> <script async src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
It's kinda sad really...I know I know...it's Kobe we all hate him, but it is rather sad to see age and injury taking away a NBA legend like that. Next up is Lebron?
1. Duncan was blessed to have never suffered a significant injury 2. Duncan doesn't rely much on athletic abilities 3. Popvich
Popovich takes care of TD's health since day 1, dude should've been a center like Dwight but Pops made him a PF and gets random tough guys to take the beating at C, he gives them off days, rest as much as possible, doesn't sweat normal games etc. In contrast, Kobe is well known as a practice freak, it made him extremely good in the short run but long term all the stress in practice probably destroyed his legs. It's the kind of thing you don't feel until the damage to the cartilage and bones has been done.
To be fair, Duncan played power forward during what was probably the greatest stretch of WC power forward talent in NBA history.
One of the reasons I admire him so much. Same with the Dream and the center talent he had to play against. Good point.
Kobe would listen to Popovich and not shoot 30 times a game? He'd be happy not being the leading scorer on the team?
Spoiler <div style="width: 100%; height: 0px; position: relative; padding-bottom: 56.250%;"><iframe src="https://streamable.com/e/pbu7" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen scrolling="no" style="width: 50%; height: 50%; position: absolute;"></iframe></div>
4. Ego: Duncan doesn't bristle at reduced minutes while Kobe has basically checked himself back into games whenever he wanted to.
This.. Kobe is one of those stars that can not handle/understand he is just nog good anymore. Also BBIQ, Kobe only knew heroball, he never learned to play in a team. Even when Shaq was there he still tried to win games alone (last year of Shaq).
The only reason Kobe is still playing is to score as many points as possible to prevent lebron to break all his points scored records. Of cause all these are on the expense of the Lakers team success.
Dwight was really a baller when he first came into the league. He was a very dominant player. But now, he's just a clown. He's a big kid that has missed his calling to be in the circus. He's really good with kids and like to make them laugh. He's not the same player that we've all become accustomed to over the years. This may not be the most popular position to take at this time, but houston would be better off trading him or getting something for him and look at developing their young big guy Clint Capela. The injuries and everything else that Dwight H. has, you can pretty much stick a fork in him because he's done.
The banging doesnt have anything to do with talent, in fact the more talented your opponent is probably the less contact you will get, for example KG and Dirk will shoot Js over you while Pachulia will bang with you beause he's too slow to keep up. Pops had euro enforcers like Nesterovic taking the contact TD would have received, in contrast to Shaq and Dwight who would alway get hacked and banged by B- players like Kendrick Perkins and Jason Collins.
