7 replies to this topic

[Mason Khamvilay]

Last night, a lot of Kobe fans got pretty excited about the 31 points he scored on 25 shots. I think it's nothing short of miraculous that he came back from that career-threatening Achilles injury the way he has. You have to take your hat off to a man even haters can't deny is one of the hardest working players of this generation. You never see him at parties or weddings, although I'm not sure anyone invites him because I heard only paid staff showed up to his kids birthdays, but if no one likes him it's because he's all business (which is a good and bad thing sometimes). His "killer-instinct" doesn't have an off-switch. No man, woman, or child within his vicinity is safe from his venomous nature, the "Black Mamba" will strike you with spiteful words like it's game 7 of the NBA Finals when it's just the first game of the regular season. On the surface he always looks chill, but this man doesn't know the meaning of chill. Anyway, you get the point. 

Obsessive-compulsive disorders aside, an efficient 1st option should have at least a 55% true shooting percentage, and Kobe's career TS% is 55.5% so he usually qualifies. However, in this particular game his TS% was 52.5%, and I will explain how I calculated that. 

 

He had 25 shots, and if you include the shooting fouls (7 for 7 from the line) he essentially had 28 shots (every shooting foul is equivalent to taking a shot--an extremely efficient shot for good free throw shooters like Kobe). Now, add up the points he scored (31) with the shoots he took (28), and lets call that number 'X' (59). Divide the amount of points he scored by 'X' and you will have his TS% for that game--31 points on 28 shots is 52.5%TS. 

 

So, long story short, Kobe was not efficient this game. For contrast, you can use this neat little graph I found to see where the TS% other players in the league typically stand. Now, I'm going to shut up before the masses of Kobe fans who take criticisms towards Kobe to the heart track me down and murder me in my sleep. 

 

 

 

[thejohnnygold]

Actually, his TS% for that game would be 55.2%.  Here is the formula: LINK  Personally, I disagree with the use of the .88 free throw coefficient, but that's how they do it.  I read why once, but all I remember is thinking, "that's dumb".

 

In contrast, Harden busted out a 41.6 TS% last night.    (he did pair it with 10 assists)

 

I appreciate what you are going for--Kobe fans are the epitome of fan-atical.  I think they are right to be happy to see Kobe doing Kobe things again--I know I enjoyed it in our game against them.

 

By the way, according to that chart, Kobe is fairly efficient given his high usg rate.  In fact, no one with a usg rate that high had a higher efficiency.

[Mason Khamvilay]

Jacking up a higher volume of shots to the detriment of your efficiency rate is not something to brag about.

Edited by 2016Champions, 31 October 2014 - 01:37 AM.

[thejohnnygold]

Jacking up a higher volume of shots to the detriment of your efficiency rate is not something to brag about.

 

Nobody said it was.  Just reading the chart that you posted.  Not everyone can be Kyle Korver.  Just saying that, by your own standards, Kobe was efficient (the chart shows about 57%) and did so at a high volume--I call that impressive.  Doing that with little help, as a first option, and with opposing teams game-planning against you?  Impressive.

[timetodienow1234567]

It's impressive, unless he's the reason he has such little help...

[thejohnnygold]

It's impressive, unless he's the reason he has such little help...

 

That's a different discussion 

 

The basketball part is impressive.  The max contract and bad rep--not as much.

[Mason Khamvilay]

Nobody said it was.  Just reading the chart that you posted.  Not everyone can be Kyle Korver.  Just saying that, by your own standards, Kobe was efficient (the chart shows about 57%) and did so at a high volume--I call that impressive.  Doing that with little help, as a first option, and with opposing teams game-planning against you?  Impressive.

 

My mistake. I should have used the actual formula instead of trying to figure out the formula myself, I have a bad habit of doing things the hard way. Kobe was actually reasonably efficient. 

[thejohnnygold]

My mistake. I should have used the actual formula instead of trying to figure out the formula myself, I have a bad habit of doing things the hard way. Kobe was actually reasonably efficient. 

 

That's fine--I had to look the formula up as I was curious.  I'm more talking about the chart you posted, seemingly to show that Kobe was not good compared to his peers, which actually shows he is pretty good compared to his peers.  This chart:

 

 

The fact is, only 4 players show any real separation from Kobe's TS% (LBJ, Durant, Harden, and Curry) and, when accounting for the effect of higher usg%'s, Kobe's is quite impressive.  No player has a higher TS% with a usg% that high.

 

Nobody is arguing that Kobe isn't a volume shooter and could be more efficient--of course he could.  That's not him, it's not his game, and I've made my peace with that.  The bottom line is he has inefficiently won 5 rings.  What's the computation for that?

 

I dig efficiency measures, but there is more to this game then a calculator can compute and there is more to this game than any formula can predict.  Judge Kobe's efficiency scores all you want--the bottom line is Kobe is, and was, an amazing basketball player.

 

Just for context, that would be 15 straight years in the playoffs and he put up some very good numbers (LINK) that included a ton of clutch shots that can be viewed here:

 

 

These aren't all in the playoffs, but many are and these don't include all the shots he made down the stretch of tight 4th quarter games.  For the record, I have zero love for Kobe--ZERO--however, having watched him play I have 100% respect for his game.  The guy has been nothing short of amazing....that jerk!