So what do you all make of what Kobe said about todays.....

[elmouse03]

defense and the way it is played?

Here is what he said:

He went on a bit of a rant Monday about the NBA having evolved into “more of a finesse game, it’s more of small ball, which personally, I don’t really care much for. I like kind of smash-mouth, old-school basketball, because that’s what I grew up watching.”

Bryant said it “makes me nauseous. You can’t touch a guy without it being a flagrant foul. … The truth is, it (the physicality from the past) makes the players have to be more skillful. Nowadays, literally anybody can go out there and get to the basket, because you can’t touch ‘em.”

It’ll be a long time before we see Rose use his speed burst to get to the basket again. But if you take Bryant at his word, he’s essentially guaranteeing that when medically cleared, we’ll see him get to the basket again, too.

He certainly is guaranteeing that he won’t shy away from the threat of future injury despite the stunning setbacks both he and Rose have suffered this season.

“I like the contact,” Bryant said.

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I mean todays NBA is so great but here is one of the greatest players of all time and who was in his prime for most of this current era saying this about todays defenses?

I know most of us who been watching the game since at least the 90s already knew this.

[manchild98]

He's right and today's fans follow suit. If a guy is fouled even remotely hard the fans are all immediately screaming it should be a flagrant foul. Just watch the board anytime LeBron plays. It's filled with people constantly posting that they want the refs to blow the whistle every 2 seconds.

That's why I actually rank the NBA pretty low for all sports. Everyone wants a foul called on every trip down the floor. It probably has more to do with the message board era...where every single thing is over-scrutinized.

[Jims_Doors]

Seems like Kobe has forgotten that these rules he's referring to are the same ones that his game thrived upon.

Plus the author of that article twice referred to the character in the show as "Bruce Banner." His name was David Banner.

Just another reason why the bleacher report is a garbage site.

[jordanzone]

...the contact issue, the flopping issue, the coddled issue, the spineless players who refuse to partake in the fans All-Star events...the lack of parity....all make for a less than era, but I still watch...

...I stand with Kobe on this...

[thedangerouskitchen]

This is nothing new... I (and many others... including a who's-who list of NBA experts, analysts, players, GM's, coaches, et al) have been saying the same thing for yearS.

Today's NBA caters to / coddle's perimeter players / wings, changing the rules in such a way as to make it much easier for these position players to score.

Kobe is just one of maaaaany to acknowledge this fact... and to those who disagree, please provide even one -1- credible source that claims it was easier for perimeter / wings back in the 80's / 90's than it is today.

I'll be waiting patiently for your findings...

[somberbostonian]

Kobe has a point. But he's in no position to criticize when he's benefited from it for much of his career.

[elmouse03]

Kobe has a point. But he's in no position to criticize when he's benefited from it for much of his career.

Yeah I understand. I think he just wants to see how he can do mentally and physically against those type of defenses.

[manchild98]

Football and hockey are evolving this way as well. Hockey got rid of the clutching, grabbing and some of the hitting. Football won't let you touch a receiver or pretty much hit one nowadays. People like offense and that is what everyone is trying to cater towards.

[Carpediem77]

I agree with him but find it interesting that he's saying it now that he knows he's in his last 2-3 yrs....he wasn't saying this 4 yrs ago because he was winning b2b titles...now that he's pretty much done he's throwing shade at the game of the young guys who have taken over and are coming to get him

[elmouse03]

Football and hockey are evolving this way as well. Hockey got rid of the clutching, grabbing and some of the hitting. Football won't let you touch a receiver or pretty much hit one nowadays. People like offense and that is what everyone is trying to cater towards.

All sports seem to be getting softer. Now a physical play is a dirty play in todays game.

[zombiesonics]

Kobe's full of shit, as usual.

[fsuheater]

Kobe has a point. But he's in no position to criticize when he's benefited from it for much of his career.

That is exactly what I was going to say. He is indeed a beneficiary of this finesse game he criticizes.

[vcsgrizzfan]

I think his point is a good one, but more from 2006 to 2010/11 or so. The refs are not calling it nearly as tight as they did starting in 2006 when the hand check rules got enforced in spades and the amount of fouls perimeter players were getting relative to post players was goofy. It's settled down a lot from there and defenses adjusting has also taken away some of that advantage.

[fsuheater]

Football and hockey are evolving this way as well. Hockey got rid of the clutching, grabbing and some of the hitting. Football won't let you touch a receiver or pretty much hit one nowadays. People like offense and that is what everyone is trying to cater towards.

Yeah but I don't see the problem with rule changes to protect players in football. It is a brutally violent sport. Yes, there are times when they go too far in penalizing players for seemingly unintentional plays, but football is a heck of a lot more dangerous than basketball.

I love tough, physical defense in basketball. My only major concern is guys pulling players down when they have already ascended into the air. You have to protect players in that situation.

[l3bron]

This is nothing new... I (and many others... including a who's-who list of NBA experts, analysts, players, GM's, coaches, et al) have been saying the same thing for yearS.

Today's NBA caters to / coddle's perimeter players / wings, changing the rules in such a way as to make it much easier for these position players to score.

Kobe is just one of maaaaany to acknowledge this fact... and to those who disagree, please provide even one -1- credible source that claims it was easier for perimeter / wings back in the 80's / 90's than it is today.

I'll be waiting patiently for your findings...

Define today.

[elartman1973]

defense and the way it is played?

Here is what he said:

He went on a bit of a rant Monday about the NBA having evolved into “more of a finesse game, it’s more of small ball, which personally, I don’t really care much for. I like kind of smash-mouth, old-school basketball, because that’s what I grew up watching.”

Bryant said it “makes me nauseous. You can’t touch a guy without it being a flagrant foul. … The truth is, it (the physicality from the past) makes the players have to be more skillful. Nowadays, literally anybody can go out there and get to the basket, because you can’t touch ‘em.”

It’ll be a long time before we see Rose use his speed burst to get to the basket again. But if you take Bryant at his word, he’s essentially guaranteeing that when medically cleared, we’ll see him get to the basket again, too.

He certainly is guaranteeing that he won’t shy away from the threat of future injury despite the stunning setbacks both he and Rose have suffered this season.

“I like the contact,” Bryant said.

" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; paths

[youtube]UU3oaf4oGZlPVYrvQ0lx8J9w[/youtube]

I mean todays NBA is so great but here is one of the greatest players of all time and who was in his prime for most of this current era saying this about todays defenses?

I know most of us who been watching the game since at least the 90s already knew this.

Dont care what kobe says..never have

[DorianRo]

Despite the fact I could never stand Kobe, hes 100 percent right on the MONEY. Kobe came from more of an old school mentality as well. Men used to be... MEN. Now they are pansies. Soft, don't trash talk, no balls.. etc

One thing you can't take away from Kobe was his toughness and his willingness to bang bodies and get physical.. You dont see that anymore in basketball.. Has Lebron ever bull rushed to the net and missed WITHOUT whining for a call?

[elartman1973]

Despite the fact I could never stand Kobe, hes 100 percent right on the MONEY. Kobe came from more of an old school mentality as well. Men used to be... MEN. Now they are pansies. Soft, don't trash talk, no balls.. etc

One thing you can't take away from Kobe was his toughness and his willingness to bang bodies and get physical.. You dont see that anymore in basketball.. Has Lebron ever bull rushed to the net and missed WITHOUT whining for a call?

Especially derrick rose..the #1 exame of a.pussy in todays nba

[LookAway]

Seems like Kobe has forgotten that these rules he's referring to are the same ones that his game thrived upon.

Plus the author of that article twice referred to the character in the show as "Bruce Banner." His name was David Banner.

Just another reason why the bleacher report is a garbage site.

It used to be Bruce but Stan Lee changed it because he thought Bruce Banner sounded like a porn name

[elmouse03]

Seems like Kobe has forgotten that these rules he's referring to are the same ones that his game thrived upon.

Plus the author of that article twice referred to the character in the show as "Bruce Banner." His name was David Banner.

Just another reason why the bleacher report is a garbage site.

It used to be Bruce but Stan Lee changed it because he thought Bruce Banner sounded like a porn name

I thought the writers of the show changed it because they thought Bruce sounded kind of gay so they named him David Bruce Banner?