True shooting percentage is a measure of scoring efficiency that takes into account 2-point field goals, 3-point field goals and free throws. Bryant’s true shooting percentage was .525, the lowest of his career and the second-worst rate among the 14 qualified players averaging at least 20 points.
In fact, since the 1979-80 season, only Allen Iverson (three times) and Jerry Stackhouse (once) have averaged at least 28 points with a lower true shooting percentage.
The major problem for Bryant has been his 3-point shooting. Bryant was averaging five 3-point attempts a game, and his 3-point field-goal percentage was .286.
That figure was the third-lowest 3-point field-goal percentage in the league among qualified players, and would be the third-worst rate in N.B.A. history among players averaging at least four 3-point attempts.
His shooting woes are so problematic to his performances that Bryant's offensive rating this season of 104 points produced per 100 possessions is his lowest since his rookie season and his win shares per 48 minutes (.157) are the fifth-lowest of his 15-year career and his worst mark in that category since the 2004-05 season.
Using Basketball-Reference's win shares per 48 minutes statistic, which is vastly superior to PER since it does not reward production totals over efficiency, finds that Bryant is not even in the top 20, and he only shows up as 17th in win shares (4.7) because of all the minutes he has played this year.
The Lakers just beat the Warriors in overtime, 118-115. Here’s the box score. Listed as the “top performer” of the game by ESPN is Kobe Bryant, who had a line of 34 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists. Great game, right?
Wrong. Bryant got his 34 points by making 16 out of a whopping 41 shots. With his 41 shots, Bryant shot a grand total of one free throw in the game. Bryant’s shooting percentages are historically average; his value as an offensive player comes from getting to the free throw line early and often. If Bryant doesn’t make his way to the free throw line, he’s not a good player.
After 79 games and with the Lakers on the edge of a playoff berth, holding a one-game lead over Utah for the No. 8 spot in the West with only three left to play, Bryant's teammates don't seem to be content to just feed the "All hail Kobe, the living legend" propaganda machine and ride his coattails into the playoffs.
"It's bittersweet," Pau Gasol said when asked about Bryant's dominating performance against the Blazers, in which he played all 48 minutes in a non-overtime road game for the first time in his career. "Because, I think it's spectacular and it's very impressive and it's remarkable to be able to play 48 minutes and score 47 points. That's incredible. On the other hand, I'm a player that likes to see a little bit more ball movement and better balance. I've always been [like that]. That's just how I perceive this game.
"[When] Kobe is on the weak side, he needs to start paying attention to where the ball is and not be flying around, thinking he's some stealth bomber where he can get steals nonstop," said Horry.
The Lakers (17-21) have struggled this season as a team to play defense, and Horry put a sizable share of the blame on Bryant.
"That's the only reason you won two games, you solved the problem," continued Horry, speaking of Bryant's move to covering point guards Kyrie Irving of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Brandon Jennings of the Milwaukee Bucks.
Science Confirms That Kobe Bryant Jacks It Up With No Conscience When The Lakers Are Losing
To put that number in context, Allen Iverson’s usage rate at his ball-dominating peak was 37.8%. In other words, when the Lakers are in trouble in the fourth quarter, Kobe — a guy whose teammates have included Shaq, Pau Gasol, Dwight Howard and Steve Nash — becomes a bigger ballhog than Allen Iverson was in the era in which the 76ers officially changed the name of their team to “Allen Iverson and Eleven Random Guys Named Bill.”
“Bryant works in grand scale. He’s not a man prone to subtlety or to easily admitting defeat. And so, a mighty eight times in the final three minutes, the Lakers entrusted their offense to him, flying solo, almost always against Iguodala, with other Lakers in great position to score: Matt Barnes cutting hard to the hoop, Pau Gasol calling for the ball with deep post position solo-covered by a point guard, Derek Fisher alone on the perimeter — and not even getting a look.” –Abbott
They prefer Kobe’s 21.95 Player Efficiency Rating (17th in the league) to Bynum’s 23 Player Efficiency Rating (10th in the league). Bynum’s number of field goal attempts drop in the fourth quarter, and not because his performance declines. Every team has a limited number of field goal attempts per quarter that must be distributed amongst its players. More shots for Kobe means fewer shots for Bynum. Henry Abbott calls Bynum the “most exasperated player” because Bynum recognizes that his talent is being underutilized and that his team would have better chances of winning if it relied less on hero ball.
Without Kobe, the Lakers are 43-21 (including 0-1 in playoffs), as of Feb 1, 2012.
That includes a game where he played only 1 minute, as well as a game he played 6 minutes (going 1 for 2, scoring 2 pts total)
Mr. 18th PER [basketballreference.com] most over-ranked non leader of all time and most over-hyped non class act of all time and most over ranked Jordan wannabee of all time.....
Take Phil Jackson’s words:
“Kobe’s defense, to be accurate, has faltered in recent years, despite his presence on the league’s all-defensive team. The voters have been seduced by his remarkable athleticism and spectacular steals, but he hasn’t played sound, fundamental defense.
Hey LkrFan, why you leaving me visitor messages when you should be responding to these records dawg? Seems a little SALTYLkrFan - 39 Minutes Ago
11-17 v. Bird in RS
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Why were you Bird's BeHey LkrFan, why you leaving me visitor messages when you should be responding to these records dawg? Seems a little SALTY
Why haven't you replied to one of these records son?Why were you Bird's Be
Why didn't win even 1 playoff series v. Prime Bird?Why haven't you replied to one of these records son?
This is a thread about Kobe's records. Why are you so obviously deflecting?Why didn't win even 1 playoff series v. Prime Bird?
Pot meet kettle.This is a thread about Kobe's records. Why are you so obviously deflecting?
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