Is Kobe Overrated...?

[Ness]

Haters, lol.

[DAF86]

Haters, lol.

Quality take.

[The Franchise]

He is a clutch player but he's been made to seem like he has turned water into wine with all the hype he's been given. He is just given more credit than he deserves.

[RsxPiimp]

i hate the guy but kobe's one of the best player in the game today.



he's not overrated in clutch situations but kobe does suck in gamewinners.

[LakerHater]

i hate the guy but kobe's one of the best player in the game, today.

That is so very true but, overrated how!?


Don't get me wrong, I hate the outta this guy!!

[JamStone]

Kobe wants the glory no doubt. He's an egomaniac. But, he's a more willing passer when he really trusts his teammates. Before he was the number 1 guy on the Lakers, he did that with Horry and Fox and Fish. He'd set them up. He hasn't done it as much since those Lakers championships, but he's capable of doing it. And, this year especially if the situation called for it, I think he's more likely to do it, especially with teammates like Fisher and Gasol and Ariza, who I think has built trust with Kobe. Kobe would still rather take the shot. He's a glory hound. He's concerned about his individual greatness. But if he has to, he will set up his teammates.

[adidas11]

Overrated, to a certain degree. But that does not necessarily mean that he is NOT clutch.

I'm not a Kobe fan by any means, but I can't think of one player in the league that I would want the ball in their hands over him in a 'clutch' situation.

[IronMexican]

A moderate amount of Kobe is a good Kobe. He is solid between 10-16 shots.

[JamStone]

If you're going to start naming past NBA players, you probably should give at least passing mention to Larry Bird and Jerry West.

[Udokafan05]

He is overrated to the degee where he gets to much credit for wins, and not enough for losses. He has seemed to lost a step since last season. He is taking more jump shots and not driving near as often.

[timvp]

He was overrated this time last year but I think his "rating" has started to come back down to where it needs to be. He's a damn good player but it's a joke to compare him to MJ. He's obviously one of the top three players in the game today and probably a top five shooting guard of all-time ... but he has to do a lot more to join the elite of the elite.

Basically, once the MJ comparisons die off, Kobe will be rated near where he deserves to be rated. You don't hear many MJ comparisons right now so it's getting close.

[YellowFever]

Probably overrated by some, particularly Lakers or Kobe fans. It certainly doesn't make him bad or not clutch, but sure, somewhat overrated. His numbers definitely don't back him up, but I think a lot of what makes him a great closer and clutch player is his presence and mental approach in the clutch. His shooting percentage isn't as good as others in the clutch, but he's never one to be afraid in the moment. Whereas some great players will turn down a shot or defer in clutch moments so that their' "clutch stats" won't be affected, Kobe's not concerned about missing the shot or trying to make the play. I think it's that thing that makes him a great clutch player, his willingness to be the goat if he fails. You can argue that he hasn't been that great as a clutch player in the playoffs as the no. 1 guy, and many Kobe apologists will blame his teammates for those shortcomings. It's probably somewhere in the middle. He's overrated, but still certainly a guy you want with the ball in his hands in the clutch.

Excellent post.

And I agree.

It's mostly reputation as I think Reggie Miller was more clutch than Jordan was. Miller (followed closely by Bird) was the "clutchest" player I've ever seen. It would be instersting to see who has the best percentage shooting a ball at the buzzer or less than 10 seconds remaining in the game.

[iggypop123]

its just the zone defenses. lebron will have the same trouble when he is that age. cant drive cause there is a wall waiting for you

[mathbzh]

Nowdays guards are overrated (thanks mister Jordan).
But Kobe is as good as a guard not named MJ can be.
So no, he is not overrated.

[MiamiHeat]

LeBron James is more clutch than Kobe Bryant.

It's a fact.

[MiamiHeat]

Kobe fans don't like to hear it, but while their man is #4 in the league in total game winners hit, he holds the top spot in a less glamorous category: most game winning opportunity missed shots!

42 - Kobe
35 - Vince Carter
33 - Joe Johnson, LeBron
32 - Crawford
31 - Billups

Now we're not Kobe haters by any means and I will readily give him his due as one of the best NBA players (note however, I didn't say the best) but he certainly has an overblown reputation when it comes to the clutch shot: people remember the ones he hits, but not the ones he misses,

and heck you think a 56 FGA to 1 assist ratio might be part of the problem?

[DAF86]

Kobe fans don't like to hear it, but while their man is #4 in the league in total game winners hit, he holds the top spot in a less glamorous category: most game winning opportunity missed shots!

42 - Kobe
35 - Vince Carter
33 - Joe Johnson, LeBron
32 - Crawford
31 - Billups

Now we're not Kobe haters by any means and I will readily give him his due as one of the best NBA players (note however, I didn't say the best) but he certainly has an overblown reputation when it comes to the clutch shot: people remember the ones he hits, but not the ones he misses,

and heck you think a 56 FGA to 1 assist ratio might be part of the problem?

That's true, I'd love to know who are ahead of Bryant in total of game winners I bet they have a pretty good reputation as clutch shooters as well.

[Lars]

Hes pretty good, but isnt as good as he acts.

[MiamiHeat]

That's true, I'd love to know who are ahead of Bryant in total of game winners I bet they have a pretty good reputation as clutch shooters as well.

CLUTCH Statistics through 2003-2009, regular season + playoffs :

1. LeBron James - 17 FGM / 50 FGA - 34% FG%
2. Vince Carter 16 FGM / 51 FGA - 31% FG%
3. Ray Allen - 15 FGM / 39 FGA - 38% FG%
4. Kobe Bryant 14 FGM / 56 FGA - 25% FG%
5. Carmelo Anthony 13 FGM / 27 FGA - 48% FG%


Bryant has a horrible 25% FG in the clutch.
LeBron has 34%.
Carmelo has an amazing 48% FG% in the clutch...

League average is 30%. Kobe shoots below the league average, everyone else in the top 5 shoots above it.

In fact, in the top 10, the only other player aside from Kobe who shoots below the league average FG% in the clutch is Joe Johnson, at #9 in the top 10, with 26% FG%.... still higher than Kobe Bryant.

Overrated.

Yup

[stretch]

Kobe is a good clutch player, but does get overrated in a way, because there are different types of clutch situations that players deal with. He is great as a closer, arguably the best in the game. But when you are in a game 7 situation, and you need your player to dominate the game from start to end, I think I would take both Lebron and Wade before Kobe in such situations. Kobe has always settled far too much for jumpshots, which has hurt him many times in his playoff career. It's the reason why they blew a 20 point lead to the Celtics, why they blew the 3-1 series lead to the Suns, and quite a few other significant losses that the Lakers have faced.

The saying "live by the jumper, die by the jumper" is especially true in Kobe's case. His ability to shoot is what helps him a lot in clutch, late game situations. But it kills him in other clutch situations, where he simply needs to take over and dominate games, especially when his teammates need him the most.

[MiamiHeat]

CLUTCH Statistics through 2003-2009, regular season + playoffs :

1. LeBron James - 17 FGM / 50 FGA - 34% FG%
2. Vince Carter 16 FGM / 51 FGA - 31% FG%
3. Ray Allen - 15 FGM / 39 FGA - 38% FG%
4. Kobe Bryant 14 FGM / 56 FGA - 25% FG%
5. Carmelo Anthony 13 FGM / 27 FGA - 48% FG%


Bryant has a horrible 25% FG in the clutch.
LeBron has 34%.
Carmelo has an amazing 48% FG% in the clutch...

League average is 30%. Kobe shoots below the league average, everyone else in the top 5 shoots above it.

In fact, in the top 10, the only other player aside from Kobe who shoots below the league average FG% in the clutch is Joe Johnson, at #9 in the top 10, with 26% FG%.... still higher than Kobe Bryant.

Overrated.

Yup

i forgot to add

Wade is better than Kobe in the clutch too. stats show it.

[Bukefal]

This has two sides. Yes he is a super player, no doubt. But yes he is overrated with all the hype surrounding him, that makes people think he is better than he actually is.

[Red Hawk #21]

Since taking over as alpha-dog for the Lakers, this is Kobe's record in elimination games:

1) 2003 WCSF Game 6 (LOSS) : SPURS 110, Lakers 82
20 points, 9-19 FG, 2 rebounds, 6 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 7 turnovers

2) 2004 Finals Game 5 (LOSS): Lakers 87, PISTONS 100
24 points, 7-21 FG, 3 rebounds, 4 assists, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 3 turnovers

3) 2006 WCQF Game 7 (LOSS): Lakers 90, SUNS 121
24 points, 8-16 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 0 steals, 1 block, 3 turnovers

4) 2007 WCQF Game 5 (LOSS): Lakers 110, SUNS 119
34 points, 13-33 FG, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 6 turnovers

5) 2008 Finals Game 6 (LOSS): Lakers 92, CELTICS 131
22 points, 7-22 FG, 3 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 0 blocks, 4 turnovers

6) 2009 WCSF Game 7 (WIN): Rockets 70, LAKERS 89
14 points, 4-12 FG, 7 rebounds, 5 assists, 3 steals, 2blocks, 1 turnover

AVERAGES:
23.0 PPG
3.83 REBOUNDS
3.00 ASSISTS
39.0% FG%
1.17 STEALS
0.500 BLOCKS
4.00 TURNOVERS

PER: 14.0

I don't usually like to put a lot of stock into the PER, but an elite player doing that horribly on it is unreal. To put it in perspective, here's a list of players average PER this season in the 14.0 +/- 0.25 range:

RANK    PLAYER             PER
====   ===============   =======
112    Chris Duhon        14.25
113    Wilson Chandler    14.18
114    Tyrus Thomas       14.10
115    Tyson Chandler     14.09
116    Al Thornton        14.04
117    Ronnie Brewer      14.02
118    Randy Foye         14.00
118    Spencer Hawes      14.00
120    Andrei Kirilenko   13.85
121    Brendan Haywood    13.83
122    Eric Gordon        13.80
123    Joakim Noah        13.78

1-5 in elimination games as the man and production on par with Ronnie Brewer, Randy Foye, and Spencer Hawes? Clearly, he is not the big game player he's hyped to be. I remember the way Duncan was absolutely crucified by the media for his 14/10/4 and 16/16/2 games, injured, against the Pistons in 05. Yet everyone blames Kobe's teammates when he doesn't come to play. Kobe's a of a player, but he is clearly not the guy you count on with your backs against the wall. Not a single one of those performances in elimination games would be considered a good much less great performance.

Kobe sucks lol

[monosylab1k]

Overrated? yes.

As a clutch/big game player though? no.

No bigger stage than the Olympics, and when LeBron/Howard/Carmelo/Wade were on the verge of choking the gold medal away, Kobe was the one that stepped up to win it.

[sook]

Nuff said.

hoyl !!!!