Jordan was winning his last 3 championships when he was clearly not as athletic as he was during his first 3. He , like Kobe, became more of a jumpshooter (at a high % I may add). Saying his athleticism is declining, is like saying he's getting older. BTW, I don't think this version of Kobe was is an Equal to the '98 Jordan, but this league isn't as good as it was 10 years ago either.
Obvious thread was made in hopes of Lakers not going to repeat next year, We won't know until that time comes again, Kobe is losing is athleticism, but as a player he's still just as great.
I have been saying this for months now. It's been obvious for a while. When it really stuck out was when the Rockets faced LA in round 2 and Kobe could not beat Shane off the dribble to save his life. Now, I know Shane is world class defender but 2 years ago Kobe could get by him almost at will. Kobe is now a deadly jump shooter who will drive when he sees an opening.
WTF DD!!! YOu're starting a thread just after a guy leading and winning a championship. What the hell are you thinking? Get over it dude, enjoy a beer or a cappucino. This is a mental game and Kobe is known for that. He does what it takes to win a game. And yes, dirty or clean. He hurt Gasol during the first game in the olympics just to send a message to his teammate that basketball is not just about shooting the ball.
I need to add that I think Kobe is going to fall off significantly in the next 2 seasons. He isn't particularly strong for his size so as his athleticism goes he will be purely a jump shooter and even the best jump shooters don't score the ball as efficiently as guys going to the rim. When you score off nothing but jumpers you can expect to have poor shooting games on a regular basis. He won't be able to reinvent his game like Jordan did because Jordan was much stronger and had those hands that allowed him more options to pump fake and control the ball. I expect Kobe to being scoring 20ppg with around 5APG and 5RPG two seasons from now. Those are great numbers but certainly not Kobe numbers. Of course, the media will still find a way to claim he is the best just like they couldn't stop saying Shaq could still dominate like he used when he was 28 when he was only good for 14ppg and 8 rebounds in Miami.
His FG% the last three years (0.467, 0.459, 0.463) have been marginally higher than his current career mark of 0.455. His 3P% has been slightly higher as well. The only major impact his decline in explosiveness has had is a drop in his FTAs. Otherwise, he's just as efficient scoring as he's ever been.
Kobe was NEVER A BETTER ATHLETE than MJ, Clyde, Lebron, or Wade. NEVER at any point in his career. Speed, strength, jumping ability, explosiveness. The only thing he may have on Clyde and Lebron is lateral quickness. Thats it. Tmac was also known as a stellar athlete coming into the NBA until about 2003. He had one of the fastest 40 times (4.2 seconds) I've seen Kobe try to sprint in games...no way he's anywhere close to any of the guys I listed. Tracy McGrady also had a 42' inch vertical to Kobe Bryant's 38' vertical (10 inches shorter than Jordan's 48' inch vertical) Obviously today, Kobe is more athletic than Tmac (since 2006), but in their early days, McGrady was the better athlete plain and simple. Lebron has a 44' inch vertical. Dwayne Wade has a 40' vertical. Clyde Drexler has a 43' inch vertical When I said Battier is the best defender on Kobe, I meant in this day and age and will continue to be in the future. The more jumpers Kobe takes, the better Battier is at defending him. He doesn't fall for pump fakes and plays for the jumper. Considering he isn't as athletic anymore, it won't be as hard to stay in front of him like in the past. Bowen was better at guarding the drive, and rooting him to the help, similar to Artest, except more pesky. Also let me ask yall this...when was the last time yall saw Kobe dunk over a player? I'm not saying going by somebody who happens to be at the basket, but I mean putting up a facial on somebody Last I can remember it was Steve Nash in the 06 playoffs. You see Lebron and Dwade always dunking over guys. Hell, Tmac did it once this year over Tyrus Thomas off his off leg. (although that was his only dunk this year). I remember a couple of years ago, Kobe had one atleast every week or every couple of days. A facial or a acrobatic dunk. He's still a very good player and a great scorer, but he will rely more on his jumper now. He already has been since last year, but it will be more apparent now.
I don't agree on the observation that Kobe is losing his athleticism. Sure, he seem slower and less inclined to drive in this year's playoffs, but I believe that has a lot to do with basketball mileage. For the past 2 years, he's put in two solid seasons and the Beijing Olympics. That's a lot of wear and tear on any person's body, especially a 30 year old. I believe, he can still drive to the basket and make those amazing between the leg dunks. But like Jordan in his 30s, he knows how to pace himself. The season is long and for a future hall of famer, he probably has a solid 4-5 years left in the tank. At this solid stage in his career (MVPs, All-Star, 4 Championship, Dunk Contest winner), he doesn't need to prove a thing anymore. As fans, we've seen every highlight the man has to offer. In order to extend his career well into his 30s and possibly win a few more rings, Kobe knows he needs to preserve his bones, joints, and those aching knees. He needs to be more efficient on offense and bang less. Just like Jordan's patented fade aways, Kobe will inevitably rely more on his mid-range game than his drives. He will pass more as long as his teammates can earn his trust. No, he's not losing his athleticism, he's just playing smarter basketball. He's not a one man wrecking crew and he doesn't need to be. Maybe he doesn't have Shaq, but he's got Gasol, Odom, Fisher, and Ariza. And those aren't a bad group either.
I agree with that, but it is kinda weird to post it just right after he was named an MVP and he won a Championship. But this is true, his game has changed. Me may be a completly different player next season.
He is losing athleticism, I mean we all do when your body ages. The thing is he's playing smarter too which is what you have to do if you want to be successful in the league. God only knows what's gonna happen to the Alston's, Carmelo Anthony's, JR Smith's, or Wafers of the league when they start to decline. You can't be driving to the hole with reckless abandon every year.
Congrats to the Lakers, but I think they benefited from the Celtics loss of KG in the playoffs. A healthy Celtics team is better than a healthy Lakers team. I'm also aware the Lakers did not have Ariza or Bynum healthy when the Celtics won their 'ship. I agree Kobe is losing his athleticism but not as much as people may think. He's just become a smarter player. Instead of driving in the paint and getting clobbered by a 7 footer in the paint, he's taking care of his body by taking an equally high % midrange jumper. He conserves his energy a lot better than before as well. He may have no choice but I still think he can pull off the same acrobatics he did when he was younger when necessary.
I remember them saying that about MJ too... Then he hit his prime in his 30's... I think Kobe's prime has just started.
Go look it up yourself...Charlie Pallulo will tell you the same as well. I know its either a 4.2 or a 4.3
