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Got it? He was so technically sound, so fundamentally excellent — even at inefficient shots — that teams had to try these sort of wild mind games just to have a chance. Battier, in the end, was one of the best to ever attempt to slow Bryant. Whether or not you agree, I think there is a good argument to be made that Mike Brown should strongly consider moving his new star to a new position. When it comes to the skill of passing, few have the court vision and ability to put the ball in the perfect place quite like Kobe.
Not to mention how effective he is when he does distribute the ball, because he is always such a potent scoring threat. People forget that in , Kobe averaged six assists a game and is more than capable of getting that number up to eight or nine if that was a larger part of his role on the team. In order to be a great point guard, you have to be to handle the ball under pressure, distribute the ball, have great court vision and possess the maturity necessary to make the right play at the right time.
To ask a player to come to the Lakers and be the floor general would be a daunting task. To get someone to throw up shots when Kobe gets him the ball and play good defense is a much easier job. Although Wade shot a much higher percentage from the field— Field-goal percentage is a misleading stat, as it doesn't factor in the type of shots and neglects free-throw performance. True shooting percentage accounts for two-pointers, three-pointers and free-throws, so it's a much more accurate depiction.
Wade finished the campaign with a Kobe checked in at Once you account for Kobe's play behind the arc and at the charity stripe, there really isn't much of a difference in efficiency, and that allows the Mamba's additional 6. His extra dimes help as well. Wade is the obvious No. He isn't the subject of as much defensive attention, and not as much responsibility is heaped upon his shoulders.
The same can't be said for Kobe, who is quite clearly the man in L. While this discrepancy doesn't afford Wade as many opportunities to shine, it also allows him to play more efficient basketball and remain at a high level. There are both positives and negatives. And unless that role changes for Wade, he's doomed to fall short of the top spot. There is no impending takeover in South Beach. By the end of the season, Harden will emerge as the league's best shooting guard.
But that day has not yet arrived. It's fairly common knowledge just how offensively dominant Harden was during his first season with the Houston Rockets. He was a ridiculously potent pick-and-roll threat, and the combination of his three-point shooting and ability to draw contact while attacking the basket made him one of the most efficient scorers in basketball.
However, he won't be taking many steps forward on offense now that Dwight Howard is patrolling the Houston paint. D12 will demand more touches than Omer Asik, and Harden won't display quite as much ball dominance. It's defense that was holding back the bearded shooting guard, and it's defense that will allow him to make the next leap.
Harden experienced exactly what happens to most players when they step into more significant offensive roles. He didn't have enough energy to thrive on both ends of the court, and he was asked to use most of it offensively. That changes in the second year of his tenure with the Rockets, especially now that he has Dwight to help him out offensively, as well as an improved version of Chandler Parsons. And it has to change, because the former Sixth Man of the Year was jaw-droppingly bad on defense.
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