Number 3: Kobe’s Shooting
Since his return from injury, Kobe Bryant is shooting a subpar 43% from the field while the Lakers are falling deeper into a tailspin. He had a nice game against Toronto, but as of late that is the exception, not the rule. He hit rock bottom when tossed up 14 bricks in a 3 for 17 stinker against Denver, and that was AFTER one JR Smith came out and dropped the “Dont get me wrong kobe is great but not when he play me” Twitter blast. Typically Kobe would make it his mission to destroy JR Smith after saying something like that, but instead he had an awful shooting night. Afterwards Phil Jackson even admitted this about Kobe: “I’ve never seen him go through this before.”
Oh Kobe, you know I was just playin' right?
I think I’d be remiss to let that comment slide, so back to JR Smith for a second. Once you get past his syntax and start to analyze the statement, I think he actually has a point. Kobe hasn’t been great against you JR; he’s been superb, brilliant and outstanding. Hey JR, I know you were probably pretty hyped when Kobe had an off night against you, but didn’t this play cross your mind before you sent that tweet?
Look JR, I realize no one has ever confused you with a Rhodes Scholar, but wasn’t that you whiffing for the ball as Kobe was busy ending your season? I think it should be a rule that if the NBA issues a “Where MVP’s Happen” commercial and you are the punch line, you shouldn’t be able to talk smack for at least a year. Maybe two. Dude please, go pick on someone your own size before you get hurt.
Considering Kobe’ shooting touch has been off for months, I think it’s safe to say that a broken index finger had more to do with his poor shooting than anything JR Smith did. Kobe’s shooting has been so bad that as of late my buddy is hot on the “Trade Kobe” campaign trail. I keep reminding him of Kobe’s non-trade clause, but the dude’s like a dog with bone. If I hear him say “Write an article about how they should trade Kobe” one more time, I think I’m going to pull the rest of my hair out. It’s to the point where I think he’s actually rooting against the team he loves so he can win an argument with me that he’s clearly already lost…if that makes sense. Either way, I’m starting to think he lived under power lines as a kid.
Needless to say trading Kobe is not an option, but it’s a valid point that his shooting woes are a big part of the Lakers struggles. The team is clearly playing better without him this year, and if he doesn’t regain his shooting touch this month, then we can expect more losses on the road.
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