Last season, with four games left to play before the Lakers playoff campaign that Kobe Bryant himself guaranteed, in a game against everyone's favorite western conference prodigies Golden State, we saw father time sweep onto the court and finally catch up with the black mamba. Prior to rupturing his achilles heel Bryant had taken two hard falls that would have left me wondering were it anyone else, but Bryant runs on a different engine. Kobe has always been the one to do what he is told he can't, to push himself far beyond any limitations put in front of him, and to do it in the most embittered and blood thirsty way possible. Jordan comparisons are obvious, but watching Jordan was exciting, Jordan seemed to truly enjoy every second of what he did and loved dazzling audiences and defenders alike with his handle of the game, a true artist enjoying the process of his craft. Watching Kobe is often times like watching a warlord (or vigilante, depending on how good the Lakers are) out for vengeance. He seems uninterested in enjoying himself and doesn't care too much if anyone else enjoys it either, it is a very ascetic type of basketball and I honestly admire him more for it.
As Bryant hobbled to the free throw line that night we saw chinks in his armor that we hadn't before. His face told us how uncomfortable it was to have everyone see him weakened. The interesting thing to me was that Harrison Barnes did not initiate a clear foul, Kobe's body just gave out on him. The referees, without hesitation just as Mark Jackson and the Warriors did, seemed to acknowledge that Bryant getting the call was necessary and allow him to shoot his free throws. Afterwards as he stood at the line unable to move the Lakers fouled on the Warriors' inbound to allow the mamba an exit from the court leaving everyone to wonder. It was clear the injury was devastating but just how devastating to Kobe's already storied career and the Laker franchise as a whole (who had plenty of issues to sort through without this) was very unclear.
With days until the 2013-2014 NBA season starts Kobe has destroyed the recovery timetable for achilles injuries. Originally hoping to play in the season opener against the Clippers, Kobe has taken a step back but it seems we should definitely see him playing on Christmas if not by Thanksgiving. The long term ramifications on Kobe's game are still unknown but the Lakers certainly have plenty to deal with in the meantime. With Steve Nash, a point guard who turns 40 this year and is already in questionable health, an unhappy star big man in Pau Gasol, a supporting cast bolstered by Nick Young, Kris Kaman, Steve Blake and... that's it, ownership that seems incapable of managing a 7-11, and a coach who is honestly the biggest question mark of the whole bunch, this should prove to be a very hard season for the Lakers devout.
Mike D'Antoni's hiring was questionable to anyone following the saga, his continued presence on the staff even more disconcerting, but his insistence on running an offense completely ill-suited for his roster and his ability to manage his players is so troubling. Many will blame D'Antoni for running Kobe into the ground which is maybe true, Kobe was one of the few players available to D'Antoni who were capable of playing within his offense, but in all actuality Kobe probably ran himself into the ground as D'Antoni stood by and watched never stepping in.
Kobe and Steve Nash are both entering into their 17th season in the league. They were in the same draft class, 1996, Steve Nash after four years at Santa Clara and Kobe straight from Lower Marion High School. It was a great draft that produced a lot of talent and interesting characters that have long since left the league; Allen Iverson, Antoine Walker, Stephon Marbury, Peja Stojakovitch, etc... What the remaining 1996 draftees are able to contribute in regards to playing time is certainly lower than what they used to be, but effective players will find their niche within an offense and coaches will pay close attention to managing their minutes. Ray Allen played in 79 games last year, averaging 25.8 minutes a game putting a total of 2035 minutes on his wheels, Jermaine O'Neal (55 g, 18.7 mpg, 1029 t). Numbers for players in the following drafts who are closer to Kobe in age require similar supervision of minutes by attentive coaches; 1997 draftees Tim Duncan (69 g, 30.1 mpg, 2078 t) and Chauncey Billups (22 g, 19 mpg, 418 t), 1998 draftees Dirk Nowitzki (53 g, 31.3 mpg, 1661 t), Paul Pierce (77 g, 33.4 mpg, 2575 t), Vince Carter (81 g, 25.8 mpg, 2093 t), Antawn Jamison (76 g, 21.5 mpg, 1636 t) and Rashard Lewis (55 g, 14.4 mpg, 792 t). Steve Nash despite constant injuries managed to play in 50 games last year, averaging 32.5 mpg for a total of 1627 but Kobe, who was second only to Chicago workhorse Luol Deng in minutes per game last season, played in 78 games and averaged 38.6 mpg for an astonishing total of 3013 minutes total. The only player in his age range that comes close to that is Paul Pierce and he played almost 500 less minutes than Kobe while only playing one less game than him, thats over eight full games worth of minutes crunched into the same time span that Kobe played.
Steve Nash missed 32 games last season with injuries to his ankle, hip and nerve damage to his hamstring. When he was available to play he was utilized as more of a spot up shooter and while defense was never his calling card he proved himself completely unable to defend his position, as the west has some of the most athletic and gifted points in the game (Paul, Westbrook, Parker, Lillard, Curry), heaping the workload onto and already strapped Kobe who was being called on to facilitate the teams run and gun offense.
Here are some quotes on D'Antoni's offensive style;
"If you’ve got the best team, why wouldn’t you play the most possessions that you could play. If you’re the best defensively and offensively…Anytime the possessions are cut down…you’ve got a chance to lose." -Mike D'Antoni
I'm not sure what roster he thinks he's working with.
"I don’t care if its seven or 10 or 20 (seconds). We just got to get one good shot in that 24 seconds. And, that’s what we’ll do. I expect us to be a little more up-tempo…not to be seven seconds. There’s no reason there’s not a great flow going." -Mike D'Antoni
Well your point guard is almost 40 and in poor health, that seems as good a reason as any to disrupt the good flow.
"The go-to players are going to play well no matter what system it is. I’m excited at how he instills confidence in the rest of the guys to continue to shoot the ball, continue to be aggressive. No matter what system you’re in, if the other players aren’t feeling involved, not feeling confident with what they’re supposed to do, you’re going to struggle." -Kobe Bryant
Does this tie in with driving Howard out of town (which may actually be the one good thing to credit D'Antoni with) or destroying Pau's confidence in his role on the team making sure he'll take off first chance he gets?
In all honesty I'm sure Mike is a great guy and I hate to want to see someone lose their job, but his insistence on running a game plan that has proven completely ineffectual and the front office's pledge to stand by him is so puzzling to me. I really hope that D'Antoni spent the offseason working out new schemes and logistical game plans that the roster available to him can operate. I hope that the front office isn't hinging too much hope on signing Lebron or Melo in the offseason because it will not happen. As Kobe ages and falls further into the clutches of time he too will have to be utilized as more as a spot up shooter, working through screens and finding open spots on the floor. No longer will Kobe be able to be counted on to lock down the opposing teams leading scorer as well as maintain his own teams offense. The Lakers front office will have to surround Bryant with hard nosed, defensive minded players who are happy to do the thankless work rebounding and guarding the perimeter as well as the paint. They will also need someone capable of distributing the ball for whatever offense is deemed suitable. Looking for the next big gunner to come in and take the torch from Kobe will not work if they wish to see Mamba retire in purple and gold, as he no doubt lusts after the all-time scoring title. The front office has big decisions to make and I can't see where D'Antoni fits into any of it. All that being said, whatever happens with the Lakers will surely get plenty of coverage so all I can say is, stay well Mamba, the NBA is better when you're at your best.
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