Before I get to the point of this thread I first want to admit that I am a die hard laker fan since 1983 and Im a huuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuge Kobe bean Bryant aka the Black mamba fan but I pride myself on being extremely objective and fairly assessing a player not based on the past but based on my current eye test.
Kobe will average over 20 with a low fg% solely because he'll take enough shots to reach the numbers he wants. They won't compete in the West and by him taking the amount of money he took its clear he is all about himself these last two years. He'll have high numbers because that's the objective clearly. I have mad respect for Kobe but like it or not he's a selfish player which at times is a good and bad thing. At 36 and the only good player on that team (Randle may be good) he's going to dominate the ball handling.
As for the ranking that is too low imo. They put wade at 36 and I would take Wade and Kobe above several players ranked ahead of them (DeAndre Jordan, Conley, etc.) I say both are Top 25 with a lot having to do with their killer instinct. Neither are as explosive or have as much lift but with a chip on their shoulder which both clearly have I wouldn't bet against them.
As a side note father time may be undefeated but Duncan is pushing the limits
Kobe tonite in preseason game vs Utah: 32 minutes/ 7-22 fg / 3-7 3pt / 9-11 ft / 4 rebs / 5 assts / 1 steal / no blocks / 4 turnovers/ +/- +21/ 26 pts # My Grade for Kobe was a C+ tonite. I liked the fact he went to the charity stripe 11 times and tonite I finally saw signs of him getting his first step back and getting by defenders. His shooting percentage stunk that's why I knocked him down to a C+. Kobe hasn't yet in preseason shown me the ability to be efficient. He would of gotten a B- but him getting crossed over and looking foolish I had to penalize him for that. His +/- was + 21 tonite so his energy was infectious and the team fed off his aggressiveness.
Overall Grade C+ 
U make some good points the z bar but I feel your prediction of 18.6 ppg is not taking in consideration the Lakers lack of offensive firepower and kobes shot volume. As far as assts go Kobe has not avg less than 4 assts since 98-99 season. I expect kobe fga/g to be around 20 - 24 shots per game so I think 18 ppg for the Black Mamba is underestimating what he does the best and that is score. Kobe is easily one of the top 3 scorers of all time # my top 3 Micheal Jeffrey Jordan/Kobe Bean Bryant/Bernard Earl King
U make some good points the z bar but I feel your prediction of 18.6 ppg is not taking in consideration the Lakers lack of offensive firepower and kobes shot volume. As far as assts go Kobe has not avg less than 4 assts since 98-99 season. I expect kobe fga/g to be around 20 - 24 shots per game so I think 18 ppg for the Black Mamba is underestimating what he does the best and that is score. Kobe is easily one of the top 3 scorers of all time # my top 3 Micheal Jeffrey Jordan/Kobe Bean Bryant/Bernard Earl King
Kobe is extremely competitive and only knows how to play @ 1 speed so sometimes you have to save him from himself and in a meaningless preseason game Kobe needs to rest # father time # Achilles recovery
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