Los Angeles Lakers: Kobe Bryant So Far

Kobe Bryant is staying true to his statement of becoming a more efficient force for the Los Angeles Lakers. We are only a week into the preseason, but in little time, Bryant has managed to restore some glimpses of hope that he still is one of the NBA’s most effective players.

Surrounded by an unfamiliar cast, the team is still profiting off of the 19-year veteran’s presence and it could prove to be beneficial as the roster gets healthier. Some credit must also go to Byron Scott for allowing Bryant to evolve at the age of 36. Losing top-notch athleticism is no easy transition, and a lot of times the coaching staff can help. Tim Duncan and Gregg Popovich have undergone a similar transformation down in Texas with the San Antonio Spurs.

More from Los Angeles Lakers

So what has Bryant produced thus far? In the two games this week, he is averaging 14 points on 43.4 percent from the field. Bryant has only attempted 23 shot attempts, and they were mostly good shots except some late attempts in the end of the shot clock.

It’s a small sample size, but the manner that Bryant has been scoring in is encouraging. Rather than a plethora of long jumpshots, which has led to the Lakers transition defense suffering, he is operating below the free-throw line. However some of the offensive sets include him scoring off of curls with elbow jumpers.

An even stronger indication of Bryant keeping the defense on their heels is his ability to still draw double-teams on all areas of the floor. In the first game against Denver, this allowed Kobe to deliver five assists in relatively low minutes (20). Bryant recorded three assists in Thursday’s game against the Golden State Warriors. Despite not being as quick as he would like to be, Bryant’s perimeter game allows defenders to play him honestly. He is able to use ball-fakes and crafty ball-handling to penetrate the interior of most defenses.

Bryant’s ability to draw contact is also still one of the tools in his offensive repertoire. In two games, he has already had 11 free-throw attempts. For a player recovering from a major knee and Achilles injury, attacking the basket can be a daunting task.

The even better news for the Lakers is having a chance for Bryant to weaken the opposition. As the Lakers primary scorer, other teams will place their best defender on Bryant. Great two-way players like Andre Iguodala, Kawhi Leonard, and LeBron James could be the victim of foul troubles against the Lakers. Taking weapons off the floor for opponents provide Los Angeles with better chances at victories.

The most important takeaway from the return of Kobe Bryant so far, is his comfort level. Last season, it was obvious that he didn’t quite have the conditioning and overall strength to adjust to his initial Achilles injury. His jumper looked flat, his ball-handling was sloppy at times, and he was bulkier than ever.

Most of these things were a product of him missing out on his traditional summer regimen. This year, he looks leaner and it’s obvious that he has had more time on the court playing in game speed. His footwork is still some of the best and he is moving much better on the defensive end. Bryant still has a few areas to adjust, but the difference is glaring between the last two seasons.

Going forward, he will work to sustain his new approach to the game.

Home/Los Angeles Lakers