http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/121509-rosen-analysis Charlie Rosen weighs in: [rquoter] VOX POPULI Can you honestly say that J.J. Redick has a higher basketball IQ than Kobe? — Ronel Baldizon, Lake Forest, CA Absolutely. And here’s why: Kobe habitually makes bad decisions on defense — mostly abandoning any personal responsibility for the player he’s supposed to be guarding in order to follow the bouncing ball. This frequently creates serious imbalances in the Lakers’ team defense, resulting in open shots and in fouls on teammates who must scramble to compensate for Kobe’s misadventures. The easy points scored by opponents greatly outnumber Kobe’s occasional steals and blocks. On offense, Kobe is guilty of taking too many too-quick perimeter shots, and conversely of disrupting the flow by massaging the ball at inopportune times. For sure, Kobe is the best player in the league, but he’d be even better if he made a more sincere commitment to the Lakers' game plan. Redick, on the other hand, is certainly not one of the league’s best players. In fact, his relatively inferior athleticism would ordinarily disqualify him from even being in the league. Even so, Redick has become a valuable player on the basis of two qualifications: His unerring jumper and his understanding of the game. Indeed, Redick’s apprenticeship lasted for three seasons, during which he slowly but surely learned his lessons. Watch both of these guys play. Notice how often Kobe’s incredible skills overcome his mistakes. Notice how Redick never tries to do something that he can’t do well. And notice how rarely he makes errors of position and timing. This is certainly not to say that Redick is anywhere close to Kobe in any other possible category. But sometimes intelligence is just as vital as sheer will power. [/rquoter]
Budinger's defense is a manifestation of that point. He has been slowly improving with each week. Last night he played some really good defense, at times, on Josh Howard, a very good offensive veteran who should have been able to destroy him. He did get beat a few times but he played very good position defense and it definitely shows that he's been learning from shane.
I agree Redick is a more intelligent player than Kobe (I actually like his game, he seems like another Morey type of role player) but I don't know if Rosen is making the point he intended to. This article almost proves how unimportant it is to be intelligent in the nba. You can make bad plays and be the best. You can make smart plays and limit mistakes every game and max out as a decent role player.
to be honest, i think kobe is among the most intelligent players in the game...he is known to obsessively watch video and I think tex winter said it best, kobe knws the xs and os and he knows this game as well as anyone, he always knows the right decision in the game, but he just doesnt always make it...so i think his deciison making and when you have that much confidence and work put into your hsot and game i think he knows it better tahn anyone but his decision making and trust in his own shot is what makes that bend towards himself, although he has gotten better at that the last couple years
If they are talking defense, JVG has better BB IQ than Reddick or Kobe. He's the least athletic, shortest, and oldest guy.
For what everyone praises on Kobe and proving that he is much better player than Lebron James. I honestly believe Lebron is a better decision maker than Kobe is and even more willing to run a team offense than a missing alot of wildly, often contested jumpshots. Shouldn't people even look at the shooting percentages or how each player takes a shot from what range. Again, I'll even say that is just one of the many things that separates MJ from Kobe. MJ has had almost double the amount of assists as Kobe at many times in his career, yet he still managed to average the same amount of points or even more with a better shooting percentage.
Redick played under Coach K, he obviously has a pretty good understanding of the game, however, does Redick have the court vision Kobe does? Isn't that a part of BB IQ?
i have always felt that the superstars never had to learn the game as much as ordinary players. same thing for the super-athlete. if dwight howard couldn't grasp a simple offensive set, or a defensive scheme, he'd still be in the nba (stromile swift). on the other hand if luis scola was given dwight's athleticism tomorrow (hakeem?).
Rosen says that Redick never does what he cannot do to bolster his argument. But in Kobe's case, what is a bad shot to him? He can come off a screen and pop one in Battier's grill and it's still a better shot than an open Fisher jumpshot or a Lamar Odom heave at the ring.
Maybe, as I do agree with what you said for the most part. But, I do think it is more half and half. I look to the past, and players like Magic, Bird, Wilt, Russell, Oscar Robinson, Jerry West, Kareem, Tim Duncan, and etc. Could almost do every thing? Score, rebound, pass, great court vision, good shooting range, above average defense, doesn't make alot of mistakes, can run an offense, and etc. Then, I think there were physical freaks, like Connie Hawkins, Earl Monroe, Pete Maravich, Elgin Baylor, Dominique Wilkins, Tom Chambers, Chris Mullin, and David Robinson. Most people can see the difference between the two groups, right. I'll even point to more modern lesser players ... take a group of players, like Lamar Odom, Eddy Curry, Isiah Rider, Shawn Kemp, Nate Robinson, Stephon Marbury, Darius Miles, Joe Alexander, J.R. Smith, Mike Conley, and Zack Randolph and put them up against this other group of players, Luis Scola, Al Horford, Peja, Jameer Nelson, Mike Miller, Yao Ming, Andrew Bogut, Michael Bibby, Jeff Hornacek, Chris Kaman, Shane Battier, J.J. Redick, and the great Mark Price. You see the difference between set 1 and set 2, and how set 1 has all of these great athletes who are not necessarily the greatest basketball players in the world. You see alot of wasted potential. While, you see how set 2 doesn't have too many great athletes on it, but in a given year if you take about 6 to 7 of those players and put them on one team. I'd could say that the team could have a fair chance of winning the NBA championship, given that everyone is healthy with decent coach (Adelman or Popvich for the sake of the argument). In fact, I would say everyone in set 2 has over achieve NBA. Take a closer look at the 2nd group and put together a factitious team. C - Yao Ming (Kaman or Bogut as a backup) PF - Al Horford (and/or Luis Scola) SF - Shane Battier (Peja or Mike Miller) SG - Jeff Hornacek (J.J. Redick and Bruce Bowen) PG - Mark Price (and Jameer Nelson) Give or take two or three players, that team would be a solid playoff team and possibly again challenging for a title. Again, No Kobes or Lebrons on the team or any outstanding athletes, but that team would give any championship contender a dogfight. I couldn't see any team, right now sweeping them or beating them in 5 games. Very fundamentally sound team, yet very skilled and all of their complimentary type functions would magnify the play of its best players, like Price and Yao. Yet, you also have a team that you know is going to put forth alot of effort and not make alot of mental mistakes or gamble alot on offense and defense. Look at set one C - Eddy Curry PF - Shawn Kemp (and Zack Randolph) SF - Lamar Odom SG - Isiah Rider PG - Stephon Marbury Bench Joe Alexander Mike Conley Darius Miles J.R. Smith Nate Robinson Stromile Swift Great athletic team, but could they even win 45 games with everyone in their prime on that list. They'd be on Sportscenter, every night, but really could they even beat the average EC team right now.
On the Fox networks top options for an inflammatory comparison to Kobe Bryant's "sports intelligence'' ... you're probably whi-- I mean right.
How can u say Kobe takes bad shots, he's Kobe Bryant. The part about Kobe following the ball on defense is so stupid. That's called playing team defense. You really can't play defense in the league without it. If not following the ball and not helping out teammates is good bball IQ, Battier is one of the worst defenders in the league. Fox sounds like Fox News.
That's the Kobe Bryant that was getting put out in the first round McGrady style. A Kobe off balance jumpshot doesnt count for 4 points. A wide open Brent Barry jumper puts 2 points on the board the same way.
JJ might have a higher bball IQ but it is not high enough to say "Yea, I'll take JJ's higher bball IQ over Kobe Bryant"
