So, shooting %. That's what we want to use today. Ok, I can understand that. It's a valid point, you can certainly argue that 45% for 17 years is not stellar. You mentioned 47% as a barometer for being acceptable.
Might I first remind you, and everyone else, that as a guard, you shoot the majority of your shots from 17 feet out, with the occasional dunks, layups, put backs, lane forrays, etc. Whereas a Big shoots everything from 10 feet in, 15 feet if they are a more skilled big, ie a Dirk or a Gasol. Shaq certainly got his buckets from 7 feet in and closer. (the majority of them of course)
So, when you scale it, 45% from further out range vs 55 from within 5 feet is not all that different. The simple answer would be, hey, get the ball inside 5 feet and shoot there everytime. Cuz you know, the 5 defenders don't do anything to stop that of course, every shot in an NBA game is within 5 feet. Ever.
Fact is, shots must be taken from outside and you get what you can inside. Inside/out, surely everyone in here has heard of that.
So anyways, Kobe. 45% for almost 2 full decades now. Over the course of that career, he's taken some BAD shots. Horrible. Truly what in the hell are you doin shots. Those shots, suck. Hate them. All Laker fans do. But there's a balance to those. Literally, 100's of missed shots in Kobe's career, as well as a few makes too have come from one thing. Heaves.
Sasha Vujacic gets pinned, stops his dribble, can't find a shot, no one is open, throws it to Kobe, 29 feet from the hoop, 4 on the shot clock. Kobe misses. That's his fault?
Shaq, looks for a shot, getting banged, and fouled by 3 guys, can't get it, gives up, kicks out to Kobe, 23 feet away, 3 on the shot clock.
Repeat that, hundreds of times. Think Kobe cares? 2 seconds at the end of the quarter, Kobe has it 60 feet from the hoop, launch. Miss. So?
So while you look and see a statline such as 28 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, solid defense (in his prime moreso than the last 2-3 years) and then you see 9 for 21 and say "average game" because he was 9 for 21, yet 3 of those were end of quarter, end of shot clock misses and 1 was one of those Kobe what the **** was that shots. 4 missed shots, 1 his fault, 2-3 maybe his, maybe not his. You say bad game. I say 28/5/5 is his averages for the last 15 seasons, and only 2 others can match that, Mike, and LeBron.
But hey, 45%.
Your other point, bigs make him, they save him, he does nothing but miss shots. I know right? Cuz you know, when we make up things, and revise history as you all seem to do, you see that oh, what, Pau was 0-12 in his playoff career, and in his FIRST 2 months as a Laker, won 14 NBA playoff games. Cuz I dunno, the light came on for him I guess. Pau put on that Purple and Gold, and boy, he just liked it or something. HE, became the driving force of a team. Defenses keyed in on HIM, to stop the Lakers. Yeah, that's how I remember it too.
Shaq. (everyone should sit for this) Shaq came in 96, same as 18 year old Kobe. Shaq had Nick, Eddie, Fox, Horry, Elden Campbell, just a nice nice roster. All in their primes. Lakers didn't win ****. Punked in the playoffs by the Jazz multiple times. But then, Kobe grew up, his game grew, he grew into his skills. His ability started to improve greatly. And in 2000, they won, and then again, and again. Now, clearly, Shaq was a DOMINANT force. But in game 7 against a 60 win Blazer team that was shutting Shaq down, Kobe had one helluva game. He saved the Laker season.
In the Finals, Kobe gets hurt, misses game 3, they get BLOWN OUT. He comes back in game 4, hobbled, but playing. Shaq fouls out, in OT, on the road, Kobe saves the game, and quite possibly, the series/season.
You were saying, the bigs SAVE Kobe's ***? Like he's just there or something.
Back to your missed shots. I wonder. Kobe broke his right hand in 2000. Learned to shoot some with his left. He tore ligaments in his finger in 2008. Played anyways. Tore ligaments in his wrist 2 years ago. Played anyways. His shooting hand. Still plays, 38 minutes a night. 27-28 a night, with 5 boards, 5 dimes, couple steals, some crazy late game shots, etc. Leading his team. Faces the best defender of every team, every night. 45%. You call that, "average"
Yet, if I asked you to find me a player with PERFECT health, to play on the perimeter, get me close to 30 a night, 5/6 rebounds, 5/6 assists, play some defense at least (elite when younger, rover role when older) and do it for 100 games a season, EVERY year almost, for 15 years. You'd be expecting them to get you 47% and then THAT would make that player, so much better? Ok. But, that player doesn't exsist outside of Mike. (LeBron very well could be coming for that)
But hey, the entire basketball world, fans, media, coaches, players, current and former all think of Kobe as one of the best to ever live. But the select few of you on NT, you all see the truth. 11-26, bigs savin his ***.
Sure.
