Tuesday, November 27th, 2012 at 10:15 am  |  67 responses

Kobe Bryant Explains Why He’s Playing More Efficiently This Season


34-year old Kobe Bryant is putting up numbers that a man of his age (and mileage) shouldn’t be. But, as Bryant explains, he’s a “bad mother f*cka.” Per ESPN: “… Bryant is still shooting better than he has at any other point in his career. Bryant is shooting 51 percent overall so far this season (his previous career best was 46.9 percent in 2001-02), 41.5 percent from the 3-point line (his previous career best was 38.3 percent in 2002-03) and 87.4 percent from the foul line (his previous career best was 86.8 percent in 2006-07). He also has shot 50 percent or better in 10 of the Lakers’ 14 games, so his accuracy has been consistent. And with 17.1 percent of the season in the books, the sample size has grown to the point that this can’t be just an aberration. So, where does the credit go? How does Bryant jump from shooting just 43 percent overall last season — his worst shooting mark since his second season in the league, back in 1997-98 — to his best marksmanship as a 34-year-old? ‘I think the system has a lot to do with it,’ Bryant said. ‘The floor is spaced out a little bit more. I can penetrate to the basket and get to the free throw line a lot more.’ He is averaging 7.92 free throw attempts per game this season, up from 7.77 a game last season. The improvement isn’t dramatic in that category, but Bryant seems to have adopted the mental standpoint that slashing opportunities are there for him whenever he wants them, whereas last season, he would have Andrew Bynum and his defenders clogging up the paint. ‘I think, really, it’s just I had more lanes to the basket,’ Bryant said. ‘We don’t have people on the block, on the post all the time, so it enables me to drive to the rim and draw fouls, get to the free throw line a lot.’ Bryant didn’t credit his time with USA Basketball or his comfort playing with his fractured index finger or improved health in his knees. ‘Outside of that, I’m just a bad mother [expletive],’ Bryant said with a smirk.”

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  • Max

    Lol ur funny dude, I’d love to play u.

  • ByAnyMeansNecessary

    Do you realize that you’re here telling people that you’re a better ball player than they are like a little kid on the playground in elementary school? You think your opinion means more because you play well in adult rec league games? We’re supposed to take your arguments seriously because you claim to be a better ball player than people who disagree with you? That really makes sense to you? You talk about us as if you know for sure that none of us have ever played ball. Like you’re the only one here who has been as you put it a “floor general”. It’s a little silly to make such comments without knowing people. What makes it even sillier is the fact that you think it’s that serious to the point where you are posting your rec league stats as some kind of proof that you should be revered on here in some way. This is a comment section on a website. Exactly why do you feel the need to boast about rec league games? Imagine how stupid it would sound for someone to score 40 in a YMCA game and then come here and announce that they are more fit to predict the kind of seasons Dwyane Wade and Kobe are going to have. My original point still stands. You’re no different than a lot of us. You’re a fan and only a fan. Nothing more. Your opinion means no more than anyone else’s here. The only thing that would be wilder than what you’re doing is for someone to win a championship on 2K13 and expect everyone here to show some kind of unique respect to them. No one cares about your rec league record. Or how tall you are. “You can’t do what I can”. Honestly dude? It’s not that serious. You’re basically saying that you can tell that guys can’t play because they disagree with you. Nonsense.

  • Bored

    i think that was allens intentions

  • Dymez

    Well, if so, the guy should use a better lead-in than “Correction…” How about, “In detail….”?

  • Bored

    good point

  • Bored

    hahahahaaaaaaa

  • Bored

    im pretty sure skill level is the reason you never made it. not your height.

  • Bored

    i think im done talking to this guy, he obviously has no respect for the people on here. its weird though, yesterday he seemed like a normal nice guy and then he goes on some bragging rant. weird.

  • http://twitter.com/AjpDos Allen Powell

    Excuse me I should have said “Clarification” instead of “correction. “

  • AQWORD

    George Hill around Gasol & over Dwight for the WIN !!
    no he aint he stopprd being the dude a while back get over it,

  • AQWORD

    word . like Hill did to the Lakeshow last nite. thats how you beat the lakeshow at home . Around gasol & over Dwight. Boom ! good nite.

  • LakeShow

    You just said on the post up that you expect Kobe to shoot 43% this year…

  • Caboose

    “If he keeps this mindset.” I don’t think he will. He’s not settling for jumpers thus far but, like every year, he’ll drift back towards them as the season wears on.

  • LakeShow

    Gotcha.

  • G. Money

    Dude…What efficiency, last night game 12-28 with 10 TO. Nice game.

  • http://www.facebook.com/koombuy.pride Koombuy Pride

    Mamba is 34 not 24

  • http://twitter.com/sooperfadeaway nbk

    WOW!!!! NO WAY? How would I ever figure that out?

    .

    Or, I’m aware bruh. — Which is why I put up that stat, showing that even at 24 he couldn’t keep up that level of play. No reason to believe he’ll do it at 34 after 16 seasons in the NBA.

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