Kobe is losing his athleticism

maybe he's just worn out from playing for two straight years, almost non stop. Although he seemed a bit worn against the Nuggets. I thought the Rockets just beat him up pretty good.

 

Yep. I literally laughed out loud when DaDa said Odom and Ariza would be gone next season. It's pretty much already been decided that isn't happening and DaDa spoke it as if it were truth. Epic fail.

 

I think it only appears that he's lost his athleticism because he isn't trying to do as much as he used to. He just chills a bit now and trusts his teammates and passes the ball more and doesn't go to the hole and try to create every single play.

 

I do agree that Kobe has lost a lot of athleticism. Compared to guys like Michael Jordan, Clyde Drexler, Lebron James, and Dwayne Wade, he wasn't at their athletic level to begin with.

When he was flying high, he was a skinny kid without a lot of weight on him. Tracy McGrady was an exceptional athlete when he was a lot lighter as well. I believe he was even faster than Kobe back in the day, even though he was a couple of inches taller.

Kobe was never a great runner like the guys I mentioned before. The one thing he does have is great balance though. That made up for a lot, along with his jumper.

His lateral quickness was there also, but in terms of "explosive running", Kobe never had that.

In terms of "explosive jumping ability" Kobe hasn't had that since 2003 on a consistant basis. You still saw flashes of it until 2007, but it has gone down a lot.

He looks very much like a 34-35 year old Jordan, except thinner. Jordan became A LOT stronger when he came back the 1st time, so he changed his game up to post up alot more.

I guess 13 years has taken its toll on Kobe. Lucky for him he still has his jump shot, but as you notice, when jump shooters get tired, they will start to miss more. Too bad there aren't too many disciplined defenders to not foul Kobe and to not fall for his pump fakes.

Battier is the best defender vs. Bryant hands down. Bowen and Prince were good, but Battier has it down perfect I think. Kobe will drive less and less to the basket, especially as the season wears on into the playoffs, due to fatigue and declining athleticism.

 

Agreed. Especially they have had the ring already!

 

Telling us a 30 year old guy is losing his athleticism is an excellent observation. DD has keen eyes. LOL!

 

Kobe sure looked athletic when he blocked Yao's shot.

I think every 31 year old declines in athelticism, but Kobe has done a lot to maintain it after 13 years in the league. I'm impressed.

He's a better player today then when he was 25

 

He may be losing his athleticism but I find it funny that some people comment on it as though he now just becomes an effective player and just an okay asset to have on your team. He is still very dominate and has had his foot on the gas for two years nonstop now. Give him this summer.

(Not the biggest Kobe fan)

 

No, Kobe's definitely not the Kobe of old. This has been discussed by everyone and their mother - hell, even TMac said it a year or two ago in an interview, I believe. He's not the player he was a few years ago. However, he's improved as a leader (less selfish, more confident in his teammates, etc.) to make up for his skill eroding and being maybe a half-step slower. He also had help in the fact that Odom and Gasol fit into the team and became better safety valves and options for him.

There may have been a time when you could say Kobe *may* have been able to carry a team to a Finals victory on his ahleticism alone, but that won't happen anymore. Good thing he has a coach and front office that took care of that for him by surrounding him with people that take some of the load off of him.

 

I wonder what would happen if "King" James tried doing that .

 

I don't think there was ever a time he could do this. LeBron can't do it either.

There's only perhaps one player who carried a team on their back to a title in the modern era (post Wilt).

And that is the 1994 Hakeem Olajuwon. He didn't have a single all-star surrounding him.

 

u be wrong; Kobe, arguably, was just as athletic as those you name, if not better.

i believe ur just blowing smoke. As far as sheer athleticism, TMac can't hold Kobe's jock.

His lateral quickness was there also, but in terms of "explosive running", Kobe never had that.

hell no, the best defender against Kobe has been Bowen, period.

 

The guy basically played almost non-stop from the beginning of last season until now...you have to factor that in as well, though.

But yeah, I agree he didn't look like the Kobe of old, but he still looked really, really good (like MJ when he started taking more pull-up jumpers). MJ won 3 more titles as that guy...

 

It shouldn't be too hard for Buss to keep the same team in tact because he's said that he's willing to pay $100million to keep a contender.

 

Late 90s Jordan

Kobe will get stronger and be more of low post threat and concentrate more on the mid range game.

He'll still be a force.

 

That wasn't my point, DD. Of course MJ was better, but Kobe still played for almost 2 straight years and logged huge minutes all season/playoffs. I'm saying that probably has to be factored in as well.

And MJ and Kobe are similar offensively (MJ was on another level defensively obviously) and Jordan changed his game much like Kobe is starting to do. Hell, the guy just averaged 32 in the finals. While I agree with your OP that he is losing his athleticism, I disagree that he won't still be effective as more of a jump shooter a la 96-98 MJ