Lakers Plan On Reducing Kobe's Minutes For The 2008-2009 Season

[187Proof]

One of Lakers coach Phil Jackson’s primary objectives for the 2008-2009 season will be to keep Kobe Bryant on the bench longer than in the past.

Bryant averaged 38.9 minutes, out of a possible 48 minutes per game last season and Jackson said Friday that Bryant playing “38-40 minutes is getting to be a little too much.”

Only nine players averaged more minutes per game last season than Bryant. Denver’s Allen Iverson was the NBA leader at 41.8 minutes per game.

Jackson, however, acknowledged that it is a delicate act in monitoring the minutes of a player the stature of Bryant because a coach does not want to keep that player out of the game too long.

http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2008/09/26/kobes-minutes-to-be-reduced/

[Antonio]

I do agree. He plays too much. He averaged 43.0 mpg in the Finals, wich is unaccettable.

[OG Hack Wilson]

even more unnacceptable is losing despite kobe playing the entire games

[Antonio]

even more unnacceptable is losing despite kobe playing the entire games

Personally i have no problems loosing against a great team, and Boston was a great team. We didn't play well enought, that's it. Kobe was not the main reason, we lost as a team. Anyway i'd still love to see Kobe averaging 36-37 minutes per game, and not 43. Obviously you can do it if you have a team who can play solid even without him, and i think with Odom, Bynum and Gasol on the floor, and with the leadership of Fisher and the defence of Ariza, we could let him rest a little bit more, this year.

[7even]

That Iverson nigga is like 33 and still plays 42 minutes a game, Kobe can take 38

[Antonio]

That Iverson nigga is like 33 and still plays 42 minutes a game, Kobe can take 38

Iverson always averaged 42-43 minutes per game in his career. Last season he averaged the minimum minutage in the last 10 years, LOL. Anyway Phil didn't say Kobe can't play 39-40 minutes no more. Shit, if there's a player in the League who can play 48 minutes a game it's Kobe! He said he shouldn't. It's different. And i do agree.

[Bch]

depending if the lakers do good or not? also kobes getting up there in age.. i think your going to start seeing signs of him slowing down soon

[OG Hack Wilson]

even more unnacceptable is losing despite kobe playing the entire games

Personally i have no problems loosing against a great team, and Boston was a great team. We didn't play well enought, that's it. Kobe was not the main reason, we lost as a team. Anyway i'd still love to see Kobe averaging 36-37 minutes per game, and not 43. Obviously you can do it if you have a team who can play solid even without him, and i think with Odom, Bynum and Gasol on the floor, and with the leadership of Fisher and the defence of Ariza, we could let him rest a little bit more, this year.

+1  i respect you antonio

my fav Lakers fan

[Teddy Roosevelt]

depending if the lakers do good or not? also kobes getting up there in age.. i think your going to start seeing signs of him slowing down soon

I seriously doubt were going to see a notable slow down before he hits 33/34. Even then I doubt you'll see too many players better then him.

[OG Hack Wilson]

depending if the lakers do good or not? also kobes getting up there in age.. i think your going to start seeing signs of him slowing down soon

I seriously doubt were going to see a notable slow down before he hits 33/34. Even then I doubt you'll see too many players better then him.

32 is the age foir guards to slow down


thats what they were all sayin bout Ray allen before the C's got KG

[S P I C E]

Antonio and West Coast are great Laker fans who know what they are talking about and THEY ARE NOT BUYIST,  2 great posters,  Take notes NIK

[Antonio]

depending if the lakers do good or not? also kobes getting up there in age.. i think your going to start seeing signs of him slowing down soon

I seriously doubt were going to see a notable slow down before he hits 33/34. Even then I doubt you'll see too many players better then him.

32 is the age foir guards to slow down

I don't know. I mean i doubt it's something related to the player's age only. The slow down depends on a lot of aspects, like how you keep your body in shape, how hard you do trainings and how many injuries you had in your career. Plus you gotta consider another aspect: Kobe started to play 82+ games per season when he was still 18. He's not "normal", under this point of view. He already have 13 full seasons behind him, exactly like Ray Allen (even if he's 3 years younger). Just to make a comparision, Michael Jordan had a 15 years old career. 32-years-old Kobe Bryant will have 15 seasons behind him, just like Michael Jordan when he turned 39.. It's no the same. The body can't take the stress of an 82+ season forever, and sometimes you start to have a slow down even if you are younger than other people (cause older people are fresher than you).

What Phil did is simply consider Bryant not as a 30 years old dude, but as a 13-years-old veteran one. And imho he's right about it.

P.S. That's the same reason why Kevin Garnett only averages 32 minutes per game, even if he's still 32..

[pootypooty]

[Now_Im_Not_Banned]

Antonio and West Coast are great Laker fans who know what they are talking about and THEY ARE NOT BUYIST,  2 great posters,  Take notes NIK

Antonio and I think the exact same thing, homo.