This topic contains 14 replies, has 4 voices, and was last updated by 
- AuthorPosts
- Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 4:03pm #32351
aamir543ParticipantWith the boredom that the lockout causes, I decided to look ahead to next season(if indeed there is one) and predict how the star players will preform this upcoming season. I’ll do two, and You guys can take one or two each.
Lebron James- After a year of dissapointment and scrutiny, it doesn’t get much easier from here. The Heat still have that target on their backs, and will still have to be under the miccroscope all season long. However I expect Lebron to respond to this failure well. After a whole year with the same group, I look for the Heat and Lebron to have a spectacular season. Hopefully they will have a bit more continuity on offense, and can continue to play their lockdown D. The biggest factor in my mind is their offensive stability. Can they run more than just Isolations for Lebron and D Wade. I would suggest more movement off the ball, and to have sets trying to set up guys like James Jones or Mike Miller from deep. But movment away from the ball is instremental to both Lebron and the Heat’s success. Cause from what I observed during the finals is that their offense is stagment, and they need to make buts and try a wade and Lebron pick and roll, or a Bosh/Lebron or Wade pick and roll. If they can sure up things on the offensive end and use their familiarity to their advantage, I see Lebron having a special year, somthing along the lines of 29, 7.5 and 7.5.
Kobe Bryant- We all know he is on the downfall, and that with the amount of miles he has on those knees, his reign of dominance seems to be coming to an end, however I feel he can still consistantly preform at a high level. Maybe not 27 28 a game, but still 23 points, 4.5 assists, 4 rebounds playing round about 32 minutes a game possibly.
But part of Kobe’s success this season hinges on the new system Mike Brown places. It is said to hve the principles of the triangle offense, but still be different. I expect to see Kobe more in the low post than the high post, and another big issue in my opinion is the trades that they may or may not make. If you ask me, to win a tittle, they need to bring in some fresh blood, to give them some sort of injection of youth or more so athleticism. In the end I see them as a leading contender regardless of whether to they make changes or not. So a nice productive season while leading a top 3 team in the west, however to actually win the championship, I feel that they need some younger and more athletic pieces that are better at getting back in transition D.
I only did two to leave the rest of the stars for you guys.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 6:22pm #583964
tuck243ParticipantLeBron HUMBLES himself… Get’s in the gym add a unstoppable post game, mid-range, and floater… Get a will to win attitude ALL the time, not every 3 games… The best player of All-Time if he can do that for a whole season.
Kobe HUMBLES himself… Your jumper isn’t as great as you think it is… You can’t continue to take shots without separation… Go to the damn HOLE!!! O… Stop b!+(#ing on defense… Your teammates aren’t going to play hard down there if you aren’t 24/7…
(I’m a Kobe fan BTW)
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 6:22pm #583722
tuck243ParticipantLeBron HUMBLES himself… Get’s in the gym add a unstoppable post game, mid-range, and floater… Get a will to win attitude ALL the time, not every 3 games… The best player of All-Time if he can do that for a whole season.
Kobe HUMBLES himself… Your jumper isn’t as great as you think it is… You can’t continue to take shots without separation… Go to the damn HOLE!!! O… Stop b!+(#ing on defense… Your teammates aren’t going to play hard down there if you aren’t 24/7…
(I’m a Kobe fan BTW)
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 7:12pm #584001
iguapops420ParticipantFunny how Kobe haters always have to say they’re Kobe fans. If you were, you would realize he can’t get full separation from his defender creating from the 3 point line. And for you to say he needs to go to the hole, you fail to realize that when he does drive the lane, he gets hacked at an unreal rate. If you can’t get foul calls when you drive, it seems rather useless to beat your body.
P.S. I personally think Kobe has his knees back good enough to the point that he’ll get back his usual ability to create separation. BTW, Kobe averaged his same numbers last year in the same amount of minutes at a more effiecient rate. And if he is in fact going to find himself more in the LOW post as the O.P. speculates, look out, because Kobe has an UNSTOPPABLE post game that will exert far less energy and allow hum to play at his most efficient. The low post is the spot he has been asking Phil to put him since before Shaq left.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 7:12pm #583760
iguapops420ParticipantFunny how Kobe haters always have to say they’re Kobe fans. If you were, you would realize he can’t get full separation from his defender creating from the 3 point line. And for you to say he needs to go to the hole, you fail to realize that when he does drive the lane, he gets hacked at an unreal rate. If you can’t get foul calls when you drive, it seems rather useless to beat your body.
P.S. I personally think Kobe has his knees back good enough to the point that he’ll get back his usual ability to create separation. BTW, Kobe averaged his same numbers last year in the same amount of minutes at a more effiecient rate. And if he is in fact going to find himself more in the LOW post as the O.P. speculates, look out, because Kobe has an UNSTOPPABLE post game that will exert far less energy and allow hum to play at his most efficient. The low post is the spot he has been asking Phil to put him since before Shaq left.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 7:24pm #584008
tuck243ParticipantOne of the reasons I moved to L.A.
Kobe getting hacked and no foul called? I’m a fan, but I try hard NOT to be bias… It’s a critique on his game… I don’t get what you saying about him and the 3pt line??? Jordan still went to the hole at an old age. Kobe is too jumper happy, he needs to take the ball to the hole more. Kobe creates angles, but he doesn’t use them… He rather take a contested jumper then go all the way…
Kobe’s post game… Overrated… Although he does score down there have you seen it? He’s more physical than anything else… You can’t possibly tell me that he uses LESS energy down there… He makes simple things complicated to prove a point instead of just doing it… The only thing about it is he has success doing it… Jordan was so great for so long because he rarely took tough shots. That’s something Kobe doesn’t understand…
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 7:24pm #583766
tuck243ParticipantOne of the reasons I moved to L.A.
Kobe getting hacked and no foul called? I’m a fan, but I try hard NOT to be bias… It’s a critique on his game… I don’t get what you saying about him and the 3pt line??? Jordan still went to the hole at an old age. Kobe is too jumper happy, he needs to take the ball to the hole more. Kobe creates angles, but he doesn’t use them… He rather take a contested jumper then go all the way…
Kobe’s post game… Overrated… Although he does score down there have you seen it? He’s more physical than anything else… You can’t possibly tell me that he uses LESS energy down there… He makes simple things complicated to prove a point instead of just doing it… The only thing about it is he has success doing it… Jordan was so great for so long because he rarely took tough shots. That’s something Kobe doesn’t understand…
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 9:25pm #584036
iguapops420ParticipantYou absolutely must have never really watched. Jordan created from the post during the second three point era. Never had to be the primary ball handler,scorer,and defensive stopper all at once. When has Kobe evr had a player who could set him up in the low post or really set him up period. Jordan’s energy was no where near used as much as Bryant’s is trying to create from the three point line in as apposed to getting the ball on the block and creating from there.
(BTW youre a kobe fan)
My ass. Anyone, kobe fan or hater knows Kobe’s ability downlow is incredible. The guy just backs down? Are you fucking serious? Bean has some of the best moves/footwork this league has ever seen from a guard. In fact olajuwon even commeted on how incredible a post player Kobe is.
I have always been one to agree that Jordan is the best, but he never had nearly as poor circumstances from the perimeter as Kobe. Pippen was always there to lockdown teams best players and create for teammates and Jordan. kobe has had to pley the role of Jordan and Pippen since 98′. Why was Jordan able to play so good in the second three peat, because he was no longer playing the offensive role of a normal 2 guard creating his offense from the three point line then attacking, but that of the pf playing on the block using his first step and long strides. No longer did he have the second and third gear the way he once did so his load was lightend. Perhaps you should go back and watch some videos my friend, because you are very missinformed or just remembering incorrectly.
Kobe has overrated post game? WTF? I’m seriously flabergasted by that statement. I truley can’t get past it lol.
KObe has an overrated post game and the only thing good about it is he’s successful with it. You sir have just made me laugh. In al honesty, I don’t know how those two statements can be made in the same sentence.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 9:25pm #583794
iguapops420ParticipantYou absolutely must have never really watched. Jordan created from the post during the second three point era. Never had to be the primary ball handler,scorer,and defensive stopper all at once. When has Kobe evr had a player who could set him up in the low post or really set him up period. Jordan’s energy was no where near used as much as Bryant’s is trying to create from the three point line in as apposed to getting the ball on the block and creating from there.
(BTW youre a kobe fan)
My ass. Anyone, kobe fan or hater knows Kobe’s ability downlow is incredible. The guy just backs down? Are you fucking serious? Bean has some of the best moves/footwork this league has ever seen from a guard. In fact olajuwon even commeted on how incredible a post player Kobe is.
I have always been one to agree that Jordan is the best, but he never had nearly as poor circumstances from the perimeter as Kobe. Pippen was always there to lockdown teams best players and create for teammates and Jordan. kobe has had to pley the role of Jordan and Pippen since 98′. Why was Jordan able to play so good in the second three peat, because he was no longer playing the offensive role of a normal 2 guard creating his offense from the three point line then attacking, but that of the pf playing on the block using his first step and long strides. No longer did he have the second and third gear the way he once did so his load was lightend. Perhaps you should go back and watch some videos my friend, because you are very missinformed or just remembering incorrectly.
Kobe has overrated post game? WTF? I’m seriously flabergasted by that statement. I truley can’t get past it lol.
KObe has an overrated post game and the only thing good about it is he’s successful with it. You sir have just made me laugh. In al honesty, I don’t know how those two statements can be made in the same sentence.
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 9:59pm #584044
Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant"Jordan still went to the hole at an old age."
After 15 seasons in the NBA
- Kobe Bryant: 7.1 FTA per game
- Michael Jordan: 4.0 FTA per game
At the age of 32
- Kobe Bryant: 7.1 FTA per game
- Michael Jordan: 8.0 FTA per game
0.9 extra free throws a game? Not to mention, Kobe is playing 4 minutes less per game than Jordan at that age.
Where are you getting with that?
0 - Posted on: Wed, 08/03/2011 - 9:59pm #583802
Tongue-Out-Like-23Participant"Jordan still went to the hole at an old age."
After 15 seasons in the NBA
- Kobe Bryant: 7.1 FTA per game
- Michael Jordan: 4.0 FTA per game
At the age of 32
- Kobe Bryant: 7.1 FTA per game
- Michael Jordan: 8.0 FTA per game
0.9 extra free throws a game? Not to mention, Kobe is playing 4 minutes less per game than Jordan at that age.
Where are you getting with that?
0 - Posted on: Thu, 08/04/2011 - 6:43am #584144
iguapops420Participant^^^Nice numbers Based Out. +1.
0 - Posted on: Thu, 08/04/2011 - 6:43am #583902
iguapops420Participant^^^Nice numbers Based Out. +1.
0 - Posted on: Thu, 08/04/2011 - 7:23am #584165
aamir543ParticipantSince no one else is doing any, I’ll do another one.
Kevin Durant– I look for him to have another year where he takes the scoring champ, but I will refrain from making exact predictions because in my opinion his production wreighs on the development and mindset of Russell Westbrook. If Westbrook comes into the season saying, "Aight, let’s forget about last, Ima get you the ball whereever you want it." Then I look for the Thunder to run the table and win 55+ games, while Drant and Westbrook both thrive.
If Westbrook continues to try to get his own in crunch, rather than trying to set Durant up, I see them as a solid 50 game team, a big threat in the playoffs, but still where they were last season. The fact is Durant is Batman and Westbrook is Robin, and Westbrook has to come to grips with that, or else he may face a similar to that of Stephon Marbury in Minny, although I don’t think Westbrook is an off the court problem, just a big late game decision meaking problem.
For Durant to continue to improve his game, he should work on tightening up his hadles, which would allow for him to create for himself off the dribble. I think that a post game would give him so many options on offense, and would make him avirtually unstopable scorer. Last year he didn’t shoot particualarly well from three, hopefully his Summer Rec League range is an indication that he has improved that aspect of him game. I look for him to try to battle more in the post, and try to get more than 7.5 boards, but for that he would have to put on some more weight. As far as D goes, just needs to work on sliding his feet and constantly pressuring the ball handler. I don’t think his D is terrible, but it could definatly use some work. Overall I look for him and his Thunder to continue their path to a Dynasty, cause I believe they can become one.
0 - Posted on: Thu, 08/04/2011 - 7:23am #583925
aamir543ParticipantSince no one else is doing any, I’ll do another one.
Kevin Durant– I look for him to have another year where he takes the scoring champ, but I will refrain from making exact predictions because in my opinion his production wreighs on the development and mindset of Russell Westbrook. If Westbrook comes into the season saying, "Aight, let’s forget about last, Ima get you the ball whereever you want it." Then I look for the Thunder to run the table and win 55+ games, while Drant and Westbrook both thrive.
If Westbrook continues to try to get his own in crunch, rather than trying to set Durant up, I see them as a solid 50 game team, a big threat in the playoffs, but still where they were last season. The fact is Durant is Batman and Westbrook is Robin, and Westbrook has to come to grips with that, or else he may face a similar to that of Stephon Marbury in Minny, although I don’t think Westbrook is an off the court problem, just a big late game decision meaking problem.
For Durant to continue to improve his game, he should work on tightening up his hadles, which would allow for him to create for himself off the dribble. I think that a post game would give him so many options on offense, and would make him avirtually unstopable scorer. Last year he didn’t shoot particualarly well from three, hopefully his Summer Rec League range is an indication that he has improved that aspect of him game. I look for him to try to battle more in the post, and try to get more than 7.5 boards, but for that he would have to put on some more weight. As far as D goes, just needs to work on sliding his feet and constantly pressuring the ball handler. I don’t think his D is terrible, but it could definatly use some work. Overall I look for him and his Thunder to continue their path to a Dynasty, cause I believe they can become one.
0 - AuthorPosts
| You must be logged in to reply to this topic. | Login |