It was only 6 years ago, during the 2005-06 season, that Kobe decided to reinvent himself. The drama of coexisting with Shaquille O'Neal was behind him, and the Lakers were undoubtably his team. Playing with the likes of Smush Parker and Kwame Brown, Kobe 2.0 was the Laker offense, and he tailored his game as such. He stormed out of the gate, logging a string of 40+ point games that was a thing of beauty (he finished the season with an amazing 27 40+ games!) and averaged 35.4 ppg, shooting the ball a mind numbing 2,173 times in 80 games. This was also the season he dropped 63 on Dallas after just 3 quarters, outscoring the entire Mavericks team by 1, and in January, exploded for 81 against a hapless Toronto team. Kobe led the Lakers into the playoffs against Phoenix, and thanks to his play, took a 3-1 series lead. That's when it all fell apart. Despite Kobe continuing to put up huge numbers the Lakers lost the next two games forcing a game 7 in Phoenix. It was in that game 7 that Kobe, and his reputation, took a major blow. Kobe seemingly checked out of the game, refusing to shoot the ball. The man who put on a scoring clinic the entire season, the man who put the team on his back and brought them within a win of advancing against a strong Suns team, only took 3 shots the second half, scoring 1 point. That's right, 1 point. Kobe was mercilessly skewered by the media and fans as a selfish ball hog who picked the most important game of the year to prove a point; without me scoring, and instead deferring to teammates, we have no chance of winning.
This carried on until 2008 when the Lakers hijacked Pau Gasol from Memphis (after numerous Kobe tantrums and trade demands) and Kobe reinvented himself yet again. He began to trust his teammates, going inside to the twin towers of Gasol and Andrew Bynum. He'd penetrate the defense early, kicking out to open shooters, all the while seeing how the opposition would be playing him. By the second half he had the other team exactly where he wanted them, ready to take over if needed. He was a triple-double threat that entire season, culminating in his first MVP award. Even though they lost the championship in 6 games to the Celtics, he continued to play unselfishly, winning the next two titles along with Finals MVP honors. And lets not forget Kobe dragging USA to the gold in 2008 with a team that included superstars such as LeBron James and Dwayne Wade. When the game was on the line, it was Kobe time. It appeared that Kobe 3.0 had finally matured and discovered what Bill Simmons refers to as "the secret" to winning; trusting your supporting cast.
Or so it seemed...
Fast forward to this season. Kobe is again leading the league in scoring while shooting the ball 25 times on average a game. His 373 shot attempts through 15 games is over 100 more than Monta Ellis, who has 253 shots. He is again consistently putting up 40 point games, and most importantly, the Lakers are winning. But haven't we seen this before? Aren't these statistics eerily similar to that 2005-06 season? The only difference is that the Lakers have a far superior team to that one. Sure Derek Fisher can only hit game winners and couldn't stay in front of a cripple, and Pau Gasol has completely reverted into a soft, emotional mess on the floor, but there is no reason why Kobe should be shooting the way he is and ignoring his teammates. When he gets the ball the entire team stands around, watching. Nobody cuts, nobody sets off screens. They stand and wait for Kobe to do what Kobe does. And that's shoot the ball. And shoot the ball. And shoot the ball. Whether he is double teamed, trapped, or contested, that shot is most likely going up one way or another.
The person who is most harmed by Kobe's reversion to Kobe 2.0 is Andrew Bynum. Bynum has emerged as a top center in the league. If healthy (and we all know that's a big "if") there is no reason he should not average a double double and dominate inside. Unfortunately, Bynum is dependent upon his guards to pass him the ball, and more importantly, pass him the ball in position down low. He does not have the luxury of having the ball in his hands to trigger plays such as Bryant does, and when Bryant is putting up shots, it's Bynum's game that suffers. He's forced to get his points on rebounds and broken plays rather than being the number one option. Looking to Bynum first not only gets the opposing team in foul trouble, but it opens up the outside for the Lakers shooters, and takes an immense amount of pressure off of Bryant. It doesn't help that the offense instituted by new head coach Mike Brown appears to be similar to that employed during his Cleveland tenure, which is "give the ball to Kobe(LeBron) and get out of his way".
Kobe Bryant will have a monstrous statistical year, and most likely win the scoring title. He may even win his second MVP award. The Lakers will no doubt make the playoffs in the middle of the pack in the west and draw a competitive first round opponent. However, in Los Angeles we only hang championship banners, and seasons are measured by those banners. Kobe knows this better than anyone. He's been through the ups and down with the Lakers, and seemed to have built himself into a model player, both physically and mentally, deferring to his teammates and taking over when the situation calls for it. But all those lessons seem to have been forgotten during the lockout. Whether it's the absence of Phil Jackson on the bench or his perception of his supporting cast, until Kobe Bryant rediscovers "the secret" and begins to be that model player again, this year will end being a season to forget.
Again.
Well put sir! History does indeed repeats itself but who is he going to trust? As you indicated Gasol is an emotional wreck playing like the Gasol of old.. The roster is replete with Scrubs!! He needs help. When he has real help he knows how to share the ball. Kb24 is a calculating assassin and all he want so to do is win.
ReplyDeleteReturn off what? Whining Kobe that is.
ReplyDelete