How good can Kobe realistically be from this point forward?

LakersNewEra

He is 36. Coming off of the achiles surgery, knee injury and I guess you can say he was really broken down.
What he showed last season was somewhat encouraging. Despite being barely able to move he was still able to get 20 points a game with ease.
Now of course, it didn't necessarily translate into winninng because he was absolutely incapable of defending and his style of play fundamentally clashed with everything that D'Antoni was about.
He did however look like the least athletic player in the league which isn't really a good thing.

I guess first thing is, he's got to be athletically competent. Able to chase guys running off screens, run the break when needed, move his feet on defense. Offense will always.come easy to him due to the array of moves he has. Hell, tell the guy he is only allowed to use his left hand and pumpfakes, he will still find ways to score.
Scoring isn't and won't be the problem for him. But we need him to be more than just a guy that can score.

So realistically, how good can we expect him to be next year?
Guess most will agree that he won't be better than LeBron and Durant..and IMO he was on their level before that game against GS...if not better.
For next year only...who are the players you would rather have than Kobe?
Westbrook? Llillard? KLove? Harden? Do you think he can still impact the game more than those 4 for example?

For some reason I just don't see him falling off like KG and Pierce. I think he's still got it in himself to be a top 5 player in the league. To answer my question even though I am biased...yeah Westbrook...I guess I would rather have him. So LeBron, Durant and Westbrook. That means going by my logic, I have Kobe as the 4th best player next year.

Too optimistic?

Jeggs · Star Player Joined: 14 Oct 2013 Posts: 1659

J.C. Smith · Franchise Player Joined: 23 Jun 2005 Posts: 12670

I think he can still be an all-star calibur player offensively. He's still going to be a handful in the post, and he can still shoot. His days of blowing past defenders and dominating defensively are probably behind him though.

crackadon · Star Player Joined: 11 Aug 2013 Posts: 1015

i have no idea, but we might as well speculate!

EmoDias · Starting Rotation Joined: 15 Aug 2010 Posts: 266

From this point forward I expect him to be a point forward.

BennyLava · Star Player Joined: 14 Dec 2012 Posts: 3582

I would be happy even if all he does at this point is guard.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

The body has limits. We'll see how his body responds. It's not Kobe's work ethic, skills or determination. Just simply physiology at this point.
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kfkilla · Star Player Joined: 31 Jul 2002 Posts: 4293

Either way it's going to bring tears to our eyes...

If he's awesome and scores 25 a night we will cry out of joy and amazement.

If he sucks and turns the ball over a million times and then kills Wesly Johnson we will cry as the cops take him away to prison.

TooMuchMajicBuss · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 5:58 am Post subject:

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

20/4/5 is realistic.

22/5/6 would be a nice reach goal.

25/5/5 isn't happening. It requires too many minutes to accomplish that.

He'll play the fewest minutes he's played in years and as a result, his numbers will decline significantly. I think at best, he could be equally efficient, he'll just have to do so on fewer minutes.

70sdude · Star Player Joined: 05 Feb 2009 Posts: 4567

I think the more pertinent questions surrounding Kobe's future don't include "how good can he be ?". He could be wonderful again, but the questions surrounding him that have better focus are:

- how often can he play at a familiar high level of effectiveness ?
- how consistently can he do that without intervening poor nights, nights off on back-to-backs, and a serious re-injury ?
- how much impact could even a sturdy, healthy, prime-era version of KB24 have on the Laker season W-L record, given the hodgepodge of surrounding talent on this club ?

I think the answers to all of these questions - and the OP's original one - sum to this: this club will be a mediocre team AT BEST, even with a remarkable version of Kobe Bryant. I think that what he does this year will make very little noticeable difference in terms of the season's results. That's a sad thing.

lakerjoshua · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 7:20 am Post subject:

Four Decade Bandwagon · Star Player Joined: 18 Jul 2014 Posts: 8149

It a strange way essentially taking last year off might help Kobe be healthier this year. Still old by NBA standards but perhaps his body is more "rested" then it has been in years.

His Achilles had an extra year to recover. The knee injury happened in December and he has been rehabbing only over that time. He was not able to maintain his insane work-out schedule.

I do not expect him to be top 5 again. But I do think he can be very effective.

Hopefully the Lakers can keep his mpg down with Young playing behind him at SG. Also if he can coast a bit on defense by not taking the opponents best player. Both positives this year.

I think 30mpg/ 20pts/8asst/5reb is realistic.

Yes, I do think he will have an impressive season with assists with this team. Man is still a playmaker.

13thOverallPick · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 7:51 am Post subject:

Good enough to prove haters wrong.
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-Showtime- · Starting Rotation Joined: 12 Jul 2014 Posts: 324

I hope for the best. Kobe's already a legend, and I hope he adds to his legacy.

LAL4K3RS · Star Player Joined: 13 Oct 2008 Posts: 2750

If he averages 20 points this season I would be happy. I am sure he will get ample shots as we don't have an elected #2 shooter other than maybe Lin on the starting lineup.

Realistic 20-5-5

I think he will get a fair number of rebounds due to our inability to hit open shots and I think he will get some easy assists when teams focus on him if he is getting hot on the floor.
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This Laker Organization has not yet hit bottom. It is moving there quickly, and I suspect this year we will see zero talent coming to the Lakers and we will trade away Kuz and BI for old vets in the hopes of giving LeBronze some scapegoats.

TooMuchMajicBuss · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:07 am Post subject:

20-5-5

Sounds about right. Anything more and I'll consider it a pleasant surprise.

yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

IMO, # of games >>> PPG, APG, RPG.

If Kobe's reasonably healthy and can play 65-70 games, he'll put up #s that will make us all happy.

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venturalakersfan · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:09 am Post subject:

He will be good.
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ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

venturalakersfan · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:17 am Post subject:

What else can I say? I haven't seen him play, so any stats prediction would just be pulling something out my ass.
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yinoma2001 · Retired Number Joined: 19 Jun 2010 Posts: 119487

gumby · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:23 am Post subject:

ringfinger · Retired Number Joined: 08 Oct 2013 Posts: 29418

venturalakersfan · Posted: Tue Aug 19, 2014 8:42 am Post subject:

Because he is Kobe. I saw him be good when he was injured, it isn't a big stretch to think that he will be good when he is healthy.
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