Full Court Press: The Black Mamba’s Return

What does Kobe’s return do for this Lakers squad? Better? Worse?

January 4, 2013; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Los Angeles Lakers shooting guard Kobe Bryant (24) dunks over Los Angeles Clippers point guard Chris Paul (3) during the game at the Staples Center. Clippers won 107-102. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports

Morales – The team is going to get a boost. No one on this team can consistently make a two point shot, a mid range shot, or post up in the paint. He will immediately cause defenders to sag off of shooters to cover him. Plus he is the only player who will be double teamed creating more open looks. He will go to the line which will control the pace of the game late in the fourth quarter. Lakers have been in three close games and lost all three (Memphis, Pelicans, Spurs) because they did not have his presence on the floor to direct traffic, occupy defenders, or control the game with his skill. And of course, no one drags victory from the bowels of defeat like Kobe. So the Lakers will be vastly improved just from the standpoint of the energy and willfulness he plays with which infects his teammates. He expects to win every game, he demands it. As annoying as he can be with his death stare and criticism and hyper perfectionism his teammates are finding out now just how hard it is being Kobe. Pau will benefit the most because Kobe will bully him into getting into the post. Those three point shots of his are over.

Booth – Hmmm, is it a good thing or bad thing that the best player of his generation is returning to his struggling team…? That’s a tough one…

Kobe’s return means EVERYTHING to the Lakers. They are without their leader, and their closer. He is the heart & soul of the team, plain & simple.

All that said, the Lakers will obviously be a better team with him (they can’t be much worse). They will still continue to struggle at times, and will still have a hard time securing a playoff spot. But they will be more competitive, more cohesive, and an overall better team with Kobe back. The soldiers will have their general back.

On a side note, Kobe’s return will I think mean everything especially to Pau Gasol, who has clearly heavily struggled being the team’s focal point of offense with Bryant out. I have said before Gasol is best served as a team’s 2nd or even 3rd option on offense, NOT the first. With Bryant back, Gasol will happily go back to being the Lakers’ beta to Bryant’s alpha. Bryant can’t come back soon enough in Gasol’s eyes.

Lopez – Unquestionably better. Pau has struggled trying to carry the offensive load. The team is one of the worst shooting teams from inside the arc, and Kobe will improve that. The team is frequently unable to execute at the end of games and Kobe will help fix that. The defense is already bad, and although he isn’t a great defender anymore, if he sticks with his man and doesn’t gamble as much as he did last season, it should be an improvement.

Garcia – Kobe’s return will create an adjustment in chemistry on the floor. The current team lacks a definitive go-to player, but ball-movement and willingness to run are evident. Kobe’s personality will need to meld in within that concept, yet still find a way for his identity as a player to shine through when the shot clock runs down and in the 4th quarter as well. While I expect teammates to defer to him, I would be pleasantly surprised if he deferred back to his teammates for a higher percentage shot within the context of a half-court set, not just an isolation move.

Rea – When you add a player that can be counted on game after game to provide offensive production there is no doubt that his addition is for the better. Right now, the Lakers are sorely missing offensive consistency and a late game closer, both are Kobe specialties. The team is currently being led in scoring by Jodie Meeks of all people but he’s only averaging 13.2 points per game prior to Sunday’s game. A team that is a serious contender to make the playoffs and possible once has to have a go to scorer and once the Lakers get Kobe back they will finally have that.

Rude – Bryant brings to the table something the Lakers lack: killer instinct. More often than not, the Lakers have faltered down the stretch. Bryant wouldn’t allow that. In the same hand, Bryant won’t be able to fix any of the defensive woes the Lakers have right now. He’s long past his days as an elite defender and was more of a hindrance than a help last season. His return will be an overall boost.