Posted:
#1
Kobe needs to do one more thing to emulate Michael. And no, I'm not talking about retiring three times or getting his father killed because of his gambling debt.
What I'm talking about is to lift some weights.
Call me crazy, but I've noticed a slight drop in his speed/explosiveness in the past two seasons. Instead of blowing by his defender and finishing at the rim in dramatic fashion like he had done in previous years, he's had a bit of tougher time getting past his man and is often times unable to absorb the contact and make the shot. His jumpshot, on the other hand, has become the deadliest it's ever been and I view that as not only a maturation of his game but also an adjustment that all veterans have to make.
Now, this has nothing to do with his overall game. The guy is sick, is a leading MVP candidate and has the Lakers in first place in the West. This has to do with his aging body. He may be only 29, but he's an old 29. This is his twelfth full NBA season; add onto that the perrenial postseason run, international basketball in the summer, the rape scandal and having to carry a young franchise by yourself for a few years and that's a lot of wear and tear.
Compare that to Michael and you'll see what I mean. When you consider the fact that he was away from the game for 1.5 years between 1993 and 1995, Jordan was about to win his fifth championship ring when he had played 12 full seasons. By that time, Michael had already adjusted his game to involve more jumpshots, more post-up moves and utilizing his strength against his opponents instead of his waning quickness.
I know Kobe went all gangsta that one season right after putting it in that white girl's butt from Colorado. He got tattoos and put on some muscle mass and later dropped the muscle as he stated that it was hurting his game. Well, I think it's time for him to get back in the gym and pump some iron to extend his greatness for a few more seasons. And be like Mike.
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