Comments on: Dwight Howard says he has been different player since All-Star Break

By: davidly

davidly — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:48:48 +0000

Could be 49 percent (by definition). Or it could be that when Kurt says “he misses a lot of shots at the end of close games” that he means something like the following, (courtesy of manchestermiracle):

In the final 24 seconds of playoff games, Bryant has racked up almost as many air balls as makes, making just below 30 percent of game-tying or go-ahead shots. He hasn’t hit such a shot in a playoff game, in fact, since 2008, including key misses in the closing moments against the Jazz and Magic in 2009, and the Thunder and Suns last spring. He made one of his four shots in the fourth quarter of Game 7 of last year’s Finals.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/24200/the-truth-about-kobe-bryant-in-crunch-time

By: davidly

davidly — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:45:42 +0000

It’s as I expected, but I was willing to suspend my disbelief because most of the bricks I saw him throwing at the end of games were when his finger was hurting so much the previous few years.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:31:19 +0000

Go here for a good write-up of Bryant’s last-second shooting compared to other players. Eye opening.

espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/post/_/id/24200/the-truth-about-kobe-bryant-in-crunch-time

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 19:24:19 +0000

What is 27 if it isn’t young?

By: albertmn

albertmn — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 14:42:58 +0000

16 and 12 are not “good” for a max contract player, in my book.

By: davidly

davidly — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 12:19:10 +0000

Good point. Still, I’d like to see just what Bryant’s FG percentage is on last possessions for the win. People remember games like a couple nights ago, but forget a whole lot of others.

By: tsi431

tsi431 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 11:24:00 +0000

So by definition it could be 49%. Considering most last second shots are 3 pointers, its a damn good percentage.

By: manchestermiracle

manchestermiracle — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 02:20:24 +0000

From the rag expert.

By: december77

december77 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 01:39:35 +0000

…still dumb as dirt

By: kb2408

kb2408 — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:29:28 +0000

@cranespy
evidently you haven’t read the entire interview. Dwight made it clear that he and Kobe had discussions at the all-star weekend and that’s when he decided to make a change for the better. Of course, hearing the endorsement from Mitch also helped.

By: cranespy

cranespy — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 00:00:41 +0000

Have you noticed he has played better ever since NOT the All Star break but rather the NEXT game after the trade deadline when Mitch announced to the world that Dwight was going to be the Lakers horse for years to come! That public pronouncement changed everything!

By: lakerluver

lakerluver — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:50:18 +0000

@fruitcovejag
I’m sure you belong to the MENSA Society yourself, sir.

By: fruitcovejag

fruitcovejag — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:39:45 +0000

“Big thinker”??? LOL

By: lakerluver

lakerluver — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:39:36 +0000

“Kobe is not a good leader”. “Kobe does not make his teammates better”.
Just two of the dumbest criticisms that have been attached to Kobe throughout his career. Let’s see, last season he and Bynum came back from all-star weekend with a bond that translated to their play together on the court. This season he and Dwight came back from all-star weekend with a bond that has translated to how the LAKERS are playing on the court and a new attitude for Dwight. Just a coincidence, right? Leaders lead in different ways. How could someone with the drive, work ethic and desire to win like Kobe NOT be a great leader?? Kobe has been a great leader for awhile now.

By: tampajoey

tampajoey — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 21:09:37 +0000

The menstrual period runs on a 28 day cycle so let’s give Dwight Howard a few more days to see if he returns to his whiny, crying, b!tchy female ways.

By: jessethegreat

jessethegreat — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:49:06 +0000

Gotta give Dwight credit. He came into the season unprepared… But seems to have turned that corner. Kobe treated him like he does any other team mate that is not meeting his expectations and instead of sulking about it, Dwight is doing a damn fine job of trying to be the player the Lakers need him to be.

Kobe is the heart and soul of this team, but make no mistakes about it: this team goes as far as Dwight Howard’s effort takes them.

By: dls612

dls612 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:04:02 +0000

Yeah, I noticed he’s less goofy!

By: davidly

davidly — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 19:03:53 +0000

Look at the numbers and you see he misses a lot of shots at the end of close games — more than he makes — but he is never afraid to take the next one, and that is part of what makes him dangerous in the clutch.

This is by definition what makes someone dangerous in the clutch to his own team.

By: Mr. Wright 212

Mr. Wright 212 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:52:50 +0000

Always the subliminal shots following a backhanded “compliment” when talking about the Lakers. Should have known Kurt wrote this.

By: timb12

timb12 — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:50:12 +0000

Is Dwight Howard still considered a “young guy” ?

By: decimusprime

decimusprime — Sun, 10 Mar 2013 18:41:43 +0000

FINALLY! Lets go Lake Show! Even if this season is a wash, although kobe and I dont think so yet, next year I get the feeling D12 will begin to dominate again. If the “Big Thinker” takes anything from kobe it better be his desire to win and his ability to block out everything, from opponents shots to the blowhards in the crowd.