Kobe is 37% from the floor

[MG1968]

Kobe will never be as good as Jordan, at least in terms of championships. Mike was able to make the players around him better, I don't see Kobe having that same kind of magic.

 

[BigPapaVol]

I clearly stated when he was 29 years old (same age as Kobe), it was routinely above 50%. His career shooting average didn't drop beloe 50% until he started playing with the Wizards (49.7%)

the league as a whole shot much higher percentages at that point.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

the league as a whole shot much higher percentages at that point.

Which is essentially my point. Jordan was able to keep his shooting percentage fairly high because he didn't rely on the 3 pt shot as much as Kobe (or the rest of the shooters of Kobe's generation). Plus, the 10-15 ft jumper is almost exstinct. Kobe takes low percentage shots from behins the arc with a hand in his face or 2 guys flying at him...

 

[BigPapaVol]

Which is essentially my point. Jordan was able to keep his shooting percentage fairly high because he didn't rely on the 3 pt shot as much as Kobe (or the rest of the shooters of Kobe's generation). Plus, the 10-15 ft jumper is almost exstinct. Kobe takes low percentage shots from behins the arc with a hand in his face or 2 guys flying at him...

that's not it at all. it's that the defenses are now dramatically better since most coaches are now defense oriented and the officiating enforcement is different. The game is incredibly more physical today.

Again, check out the shooting stats of the entire league or the best players in the league and watch them move in unison.

 

[Rasputin_Vol]

that's not it at all. it's that the defenses are now dramatically better since most coaches are now defense oriented and the officiating enforcement is different. The game is incredibly more physical today.

Again, check out the shooting stats of the entire league or the best players in the league and watch them move in unison.

Even if you believe that the defenses are better during this era (I believe it has just as much to do with poor shot selection), that is still no excuse for Kobe to be shooting 40% or lower during two consecutive NBA Finals.