5 Reasons Why Kobe Will Be Better Than Last Year
It’s almost impossible to conceive. Kobe Bryant actually getting better? Isn’t he already the best player in the game? What else does he have to prove? Well Kobe being Kobe, every year he gets better. Expect this year to be no different. Here are 5 reasons why I think Kobe Bryant will be even better than he was last year.
1. “Rejuvenated Legs”
At Lakers media day this week, Kobe Bryant was asked how he feels. He says he feels healthy and has “rejuvenated legs”. Now there is some substance to this. Remember last year after losing in the finals, Kobe immediately reported to Team USA camp in Las Vegas. So instead of having a summer off, Kobe ended one season only to start another. Then to come back this past season and get all the way back to the finals again. This off-season he actually got some rest. He says he went 2 months without doing anything! Expect this to go a long way for the Lakers this year.
2. The New Post Game
I reported earlier this week about Kobe Bryant working out with Hakeem Olajuwon down in Houston on his Post Game. He was taking some post tricks from “The Dream”. It’s obvious that Kobe will be scoring from the post much more often this season. Expect this to throw opponents off and give KB24 a huge advantage offensively.
3. Help on Defensive – Ron Artest
Kobe Bryant has actually never played with a dominating defensive player at the small forward position. Something that Michael Jordan had with Scottie Pippen during his 6 NBA Title run with the Bulls. This will lighten the burden tremendously on the defensive side of the ball for Kobe. Ron Artest can now take many of the major defensive assignments each night at those positions such as Lebron James, Dwayne Wade etc.
4. The Championship “Swagger”
Kobe has all the confidence in the world. We all know that. But with a championship comes that “swagger”. That feeling of dominance over the league. It makes teams better in close games. It makes teams more professional and take advantage of more situations. Kobe with more confidence? Dangerous huh! Look for Kobe’s dominance over the league to only increase.
5. Kobe Wants To Be In That Select Group of Champions
Only 9 other star players have won 5 or more championship rings. Russell, Cousy, Jones, Havicek with the Celtics. Mikan, Kareem, and Magic with the Lakers. Jordan & Pippen with the Bulls. This will put Kobe as number 10 in that super elite group of NBA Champions. You can bet that Kobe is aware of this.
He will surpassed Jordan.
I like where your heads at my friend!
I posted a story on what makes Kobe’s fourth title a special one on my blog. But in essence, Kobe is even more dangerous now that he’s found a new way to lead his team. He wanted his fourth ring so bad that he decided to bring his social armor all the way down and “coached” his teammates on the floor and yelled at anybody (Bynum) who wasn’t focused on the floor. He never realized that by sharing that legendary passion and determination that only Kobe has will have such on impact on the way his teammates play on the floor and how they approach each game. His shiny new ring is a testament to that. Hence, Kobe is reborn. This is baaad news for the rest of the league.
I’m glad you agree with me on this. This seems to be a topic that is getting over looked by ESPN and all the other journalists. I wonder why?