Remember when ESPN ranked Kobe Bryant as the 25th best player in the league?
It sounds ridiculous, but what people didn’t realize was that the ranks had nothing to do with what the players did last season or in previous years. Rather, it was a projection of what the players may do in the upcoming season, with all things considered. In Bryant’s case, it was easy for analysts to bring down the expectations due to the unpredictability of his recovery from Achilles heel surgery in the offseason.
If you look at Bryant’s twitter avatar, it’s clear that he has seen the ranks, but we haven’t heard how he really felt about it. Until now, that is.
STORY OF THE DAY:
Bryant talked about the tension he had with Dwight Howard last season, where ESPN ranked him for the upcoming season and how public criticism can get to him at times, from Mike Bresnahan of Los Angeles Times:
“We saw different ways of going about leading this team,” Bryant said. “Dwight wanted to do it one way and he felt like it was effective. I wanted to do it another way. It was constant tension the second half of the season.”
[…]
Then he added, “The way I look at it, 25 is pretty silly. Still and all, it’s a challenge that I willingly accept.”
Bryant, 35, also didn’t like being voted the second-best shooting guard by NBA general managers. It was the first time he wasn’t called the top shooting guard in the 12-year history of the annual poll. Houston’s James Harden got the No. 1 spot.
“I think they counted on me being on one leg,” Bryant said.
Ever the optimist, even when the Lakers have trailed by three games in a best-of-seven series, Bryant acknowledged that the public doubt occasionally sinks into his psyche.
“I try not to pay attention to it too much. It can get to you a little bit,” he said. “It’ll make you a little impatient especially when you hear the doubt. It’s not like, ‘Will I be able to play well?’ It’s more like, ‘I won’t be able to come back…’
“When you hear those things, you want to push and come back and play right away to shut a lot of people up. You have to be patient, you have to rest and relax and come back when you’re ready. You have to really restrain yourself to not get out there.”
LOOKING FOR LAKERS TICKETS? LOOK NO FURTHER.
WORTH A LISTEN:
During his conversation with Jason McIntyre of The Big Lead, Adrian Wojnarowski explained why he enjoys competing against ESPN, believes that LeBron James will likely choose between Miami and Cleveland (meaning teams like the Lakers are probably out), talks about the possibility of Kevin Durant’s departure from Oklahoma City, and has a surprise pick for who will win the West this season. The podcast is definitely a must hear.
INTERESTING STAT OF THE DAY:
Derrick Rose has attempted double-digit free throws in his last five games, according to K.C. Johnson of Chicago Tribune:
“For the latter, there’s this: Entering Wednesday’s late tipoff against the Thunder, Rose had attempted double-digit free throws in four straight exhibition games. “I’m finding contact more,” Rose said. “I’m getting comfortable with it. My previous years, I was kind of shying away from it, and now I’m getting used to getting hit.” Rose’s career high of 555 free throws came during his most valuable player season in 2010-11, an average of 6.9 per game.”
I did some additional digging on this and Rose has never had more than two consecutive games of at least 10 free throws attempted in the regular season. Given his efficiency from the stripe – he has shot 81.5 percent over his career – this could provide an uptick in his scoring this season should he continue to get to the line with such frequency.
OTHER NEWS FROM AROUND THE LEAGUE:
Tracy McGrady explained why he called it quits, from Alex Kennedy of Hoopsworld: ““I was just drained and tired of the bull**** to be honest with you,” McGrady said. “Not really getting the opportunity to show what I could do, I wasn’t going to put myself through that kind of situation again. “Right now, I’m just enjoying my life and enjoying being free. It hasn’t been that way since I was 18 years old; every year grinding it out, getting my body ready for the NBA’s rigorous regular season. I’d be in training camp and preseason right now, but instead I get to relax and be with my kids, just enjoying life. My kids love it and I’m really enjoying the opportunity to be around them.”
