Is Kobe Bryant done?

[chambers]

After watching this guy during the playoffs I kind of get the feeling he hasn't got much left. He could've been playing through some pretty bad injuries and really didn't have much during the playoffs. Few decent games here and there but what I really noticed was his TERRIBLE defense.
He was just so lazy and so quick to blame others it was really quite shocking...
Pau cops the lot from everyone in LA but Kobe was simply disgusting on the defensive end with his attitude.
To me, that what got Bynum so ticked off.

He seems like he's in the same boat as KG/Pierce where he can get through a certain part of the regular season, until his body starts to break down and he just has nothing left.
Still- KG and Pierce were WAY better than Kobe as far as defense is concerned, particularly in the playoffs.

Like the C's, a shortened season will definitely help his cause but I feel like his expiry date is much closer after this season. Before I would've said about the same time as Ray Allen in 3-4 years, but now I'd stick him in the same boat as KG.

[manl_lui]

no, Kobe still has a year or two left in him, in my opinion, he will eventually go over Shaq in the scoring list

[Who]

In terms of being an MVP caliber player? Yeah, he is. And this isn't something new, something that happened recently, heck, it happened long before this season even started. It happened the year before.

In terms of being a very valuable basketball player? Heck no. Kobe is still the second best shooting guard in the league. He is a major asset to any team.

[OsirusCeltics]

I honestly believe he was done since last years Finals
He just couldn't carry a team the way he used to. He is more of a scorer instead of a leader in this stage of his career. But ESPN/NBA TV were praising him for the player he once was

I go by the phrase of the current Kobe
"The guy who misses all shots, but gets all the credit"

[j804]

In terms of being an MVP caliber player? Yeah, he is. And this isn't something, something that happened recently, heck it happened long before this season even started. It happened the year before.

In terms of being a very valuable basketball player? Heck no. Kobe is still the second best shooting guard in the league. He is a major asset to any team.

Yup LA fans won't ever admit he's breaking down though after so many miles it happens

[jimmehx]

There is no way he's done. Not by a long shot. His offense is still (ugh it hurts) fairly incredible.

He has slowed down a bundle though. But so have all of our older guys... except maybe Ray but come on he's hardly biologically old.

[pearljammer10]

No way. Howards going to go to LA and Kobe is just going to shoot nasty pull up jumpers for 3 or 4 more years. Cant stand that guy, but [dang] is he good.

[indeedproceed]

I only have a trendy one liner, but here it is:

A response to the question 'Is Kobe Bryant Done?'

Unless Kobe Bryant is dead or officially retired than no, he's not done, he's still dangerous, and he won't be mediocre.

[barefacedmonk]

KG and PP's performance will decline faster than Kobe's from here on....Kobe still has at least 2 or 3 years of good performances left in him (barring any major injury).

[barefacedmonk]

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[GreenFaith1819]

I don't think he's done, but he'd better defer to those two low post behemoths that LA has in Pau and Bynum next season. If he doesn't think it'll work that way, all he has to do is look at what MEM has accomplished with Zach and Marc.

As good as MEM's bigs are, they are not quite as good as LA's.

[OsirusCeltics]

I don't think he's done, but he'd better defer to those two low post behemoths that LA has in Pau and Bynum next season. If he doesn't think it'll work that way, all he has to do is look at what MEM has accomplished with Zach and Marc.

As good as MEM's bigs are, they are not quite as good as LA's.

Very true
If the Lakers make Pau and Bynum the focal point of the offense, they would be a much better team

[Celtics18]

KG and PP's performance will decline faster than Kobe's from here on....Kobe still has at least 2 or 3 years of good performances left in him (barring any major injury).

I think Garnett is probably closer to done than Pierce and Bryant.  I honestly don't see Paul Pierce declining all that quickly, though.  That guy had one of his best seasons ever last year, and was playing great ball against the impossible to guard Lebron James in the Miami series. 

[mc34]

KG and PP's performance will decline faster than Kobe's from here on....Kobe still has at least 2 or 3 years of good performances left in him (barring any major injury).

I think Garnett is probably closer to done than Pierce and Bryant.  I honestly don't see Paul Pierce declining all that quickly, though.  That guy had one of his best seasons ever last year, and was playing great ball against the impossible to guard Lebron James in the Miami series. 

I agree. Paul's game has always been about craftiness and outsmarting his opponent anyways, not athleticism. Kobe is not near "done," but he's done being a dominant force. He will hurt the team if he continues to play the way he does though. It'll be interesting to see the adjustments he makes next year. Unfortunately, KG is becoming pretty close to done I think.. One more year and that's it I believe.

[MBz]

Nope.  The guy averaged 25, 5 and 5 this year for a team that won 57 games.  They need to try to trade Odom for a better point guard.  Derek Fisher is useless.  He play about 28 minutes a game this year averaging 7 pts and 3 assists.  He might be a good back up PG, but he's no good as a starter anymore.