http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/byron-scott-says-kobe-has--privilege--to-take-all-the-bad-shots-he-wants-034250265.html

Byron Scott and the Los Angeles Lakers continue to be the worst-matched team and coach in the NBA. As Kobe Bryant nears retirement and several young players with potential attempt to establish themselves as long-term fixtures, Scott has doubled down on winning as many games as possible this season even when the Lakers' ceiling seems relatively low. Naturally, the win-now attitude has led to a 2-11 start, worst in the West and ahead of only the winless Philadelphia 76ers across the entire league.

Through it all, Scott has stuck to his old-school ways and professed that the youngsters will not be allowed to play through their mistakes. But the same does not go for Kobe, who apparently is allowed to soak up possessions with isolation jumpers as often as he wants. When quizzed by Bill Oram of The Orange County Register on the effect of Bryant's shooting habits on the team's ball movement, Scott essentially gave the franchise icon a pass:

This is what Byron said when @billoram asked him specifically about Kobe's shots/how that affects ball movement: pic.twitter.com/T31OzzGpEy

This quote sums up Scott's approach to the season astonishingly well. Past accomplishments drive the team's game plan irrespective of what might be best for the future or present, to the point where Bryant still plays a superstar's role while shooting 33.1 percent from the field on 16.6 attempts per game with the worst true shooting percentage on record out of the 774 seasons in which a player averaged 16 or more shots. There don't appear to be team concepts so much as player-specific ones. Kobe can play one way with zero push-back at the same time that younger guards like Jordan Clarkson and D'Angelo Russell face criticism for lesser sins.

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Despite all evidence to the contrary, it's possible to argue that Kobe has earned this privilege given his legacy and unprecedented level of popularity in Los Angeles. Yet Scott and the Lakers front office seem to have made no effort to use him in a way that allows the rest of the team to develop. Bryant is tied for the team lead in minutes per game (31.1) and has logged at least 35 in two of the Lakers' past three games, which suggests he's only becoming more of a focus. He's so important that he can take as many shots as he does and still make the not entirely unreasonable claim that he moves the ball better than anyone else on the team.

Because, yes, the Lakers really do have lots of players that struggle to move the ball. This chart proves as much:

From those numbers @Mehdi_BK forwarded, All Lakers with Iso frequency on the far right. Byron talking about Julius? pic.twitter.com/ulw3VMt19J
— Contrarian Barbarian (@basquiatball) November 23, 2015
This stat does not capture everything that goes into quality ball movement, but it does indicate that the Lakers have several players who could stand to commit themselves to scoring within the flow of the offense. On the other hand, Bryant's percentage is so much higher than those of the other guards that it seems odd to criticize several of them. (Julius Randle at least has the excuse of doing most of his work around the basket.) It's a team-wide issue that has little to do with experience.

Unfortunately for the Lakers, their current setup makes it very difficult to pose any matter as a team-wide issue. They have gone all-in with Kobe as he winds down his career, stuck with a coach who refuses to plan for the future, and provided little wiggle room to change things up. It looks increasingly likely that they are going to have to wait out the present situation for things to get better. It remains to be seen if any damage occurs in the meantime.

A crackhead uber type A like him cannot become "mr. team guy"
Scott was not the best candidate to coach and rebuild. He is sort of the "guy for now".

Knixkik wrote:Both Kobe and Scott suck, match made in heaven. Kobe is one of the most overrated superstars in NBA history in my opinion. He is of course one of the greats, but overrated nonetheless. And this circus he is performing on the court now won't hurt his legacy, but certainly doesn't help either.

why do you think he is overrated?

CrushAlot wrote:

Through it all, Scott has stuck to his old-school ways and professed that the youngsters will not be allowed to play through their mistakes.

I find this quote to be pretty funny. Scott was caught by his assistants at NJ not watching a scouting tape. I believe he napped instead. His rotations in NJ were always at the same time and the same guys going in and out. It didn't matter what was going on in the game. I don't know if he thinks that if he has hard practices that he will be the next Pat Riley but the guy has never gotten it in my opinion. The guy has been a bad coach but at times has been blessed with really good players. Not sure how he keeps getting employment.

because he is the best coach to get them a top 3 pick and they need to be in the top 3.

JesseDark wrote:

mreinman wrote:

CrushAlot wrote:

Through it all, Scott has stuck to his old-school ways and professed that the youngsters will not be allowed to play through their mistakes.

I find this quote to be pretty funny. Scott was caught by his assistants at NJ not watching a scouting tape. I believe he napped instead. His rotations in NJ were always at the same time and the same guys going in and out. It didn't matter what was going on in the game. I don't know if he thinks that if he has hard practices that he will be the next Pat Riley but the guy has never gotten it in my opinion. The guy has been a bad coach but at times has been blessed with really good players. Not sure how he keeps getting employment.

because he is the best coach to get them a top 3 pick and they need to be in the top 3.

Looking on NBAdraft.net it doesn't look like they have an 1st rounder in 2016. Ok, I see they have top 3 protected pick otherwise it goes to Phil.

Knixkik wrote:Both Kobe and Scott suck, match made in heaven. Kobe is one of the most overrated superstars in NBA history in my opinion. He is of course one of the greats, but overrated nonetheless. And this circus he is performing on the court now won't hurt his legacy, but certainly doesn't help either.

Folks my have negative feelings about Garnett, but he seems very willing to have a secondary role with the T-Wolves and help the younger guys on the team.

Kobe could have chosen to be a mentor for Clarkson and Russell behind the scenes and taken a step back on the court, serving as an usher for them...instead Koby leads the team in shots taken, and about 42% of those shots are 3's...of which he is only making about 20% of the time. So basically his last year as a Laker seems to be about shooting from distance on a team on track to finish with a top 3 pick.

knickscity wrote:The Lakers are a months away from having one of their greatest player retire. the Lakers are going nowhere, might as well let Kobe have his final "tour" around the league. He really isnt hindering anyone's development.

You can make a case, though, that when you look at the money he's getting, his on-court performance, the cap inflexibility his max contract creates, and now, the way he doesn't seem to step back as a player to let a guy like Russell step up, his final 3 years are not going to look too good almost any way you are looking at them, and the enabling Scott is doing does not help things, either.

knickscity wrote:

WaltLongmire wrote:

knickscity wrote:The Lakers are a months away from having one of their greatest player retire. the Lakers are going nowhere, might as well let Kobe have his final "tour" around the league. He really isnt hindering anyone's development.

Me?...I have no ax to grind with him about his personality over the years or what he's done, and you can't get blame him for his injuries the past few years.

You can make a case, though, that when you look at the money he's getting, his on-court performance, the cap inflexibility his max contract creates, and now, the way he doesn't seem to step back as a player to let a guy like Russell step up, his final 3 years are not going to look too good almost any way you are looking at them, and the enabling Scott is doing does not help things, either.

Here's how I actually see it. No player on that current team is being hindered by Kobe's shooting and play soaking. D'angelo is struggling because he isnt adjusting to the NBA well. Out of all the starters, Kobe plays the least amount of minutes. i also feel two other things have shaped up what we are seeing....the trade that was blocked and the signing of Steve Nash. Kobe imo would have had more titles under his belt if 1) the league left things alone and 2) Lakers have a more dynamic team. Kobe's slary merely prevents max players who arent coming there from coming there.

We'll see how things shape up after he's gone

you are obviously a big kobe fan You have come to his defense many times.

I am not a kobe fan at all though I know he was an excellent player. If he played today (in his prime), he would have to change his game. No top tier stars (none) are that inefficient and selfish. His defense was 1 ballot HOF worthy and in a way better than MJ. His offense ... way too many issues and far too much misleading eye test candy.

Regarding his status its easy to NOT like Kobe as he has been hard to coach and not a likable person given his persona and off court rape trouble.
Plenty of reasons to not like Kobe.

No star wins without a good team around him or a good coach.

Regardless of position you have Mount Rushmore of winners and greatness:

Russell, Wilt, Jordan, Kareem, Lebron, and Duncan

Those four stand above for many reasons. Winning and/or Statistically way off the norm. Wilt had crazy numbers.

Under those guys are Shaq,Kobe, the logo, Oscar, Bird, Magic, Willis, Hakeem.......

Then there the next tier of Dr J, Clyde, Earl, McHale, Karl, Stockton, Archibald, Tony (got 5 rings) Parker, Nash, etc.

Then there are the Pierce, Garnett, Wilkens (lenny and Dominique)Amare, Drexler, Kidd, Maravich, Ewing, Barkley, Payton,

Im leaving a lot of guys out, but you get the jest......