NBA Betting: Kobe Bryant and getting the best out of the "uncoachable"

Basketball / Alsy / 11 November 2008 / Leave a Comment

Alister Morgan discusses the arrogance, leadership and above all talent of LA Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant.

As the son of ex-NBA player, 'Joe Jellybean' Bryant, it's not that surprising that Kobe showed some athletic talent. That he would become one of the best basketball players of all-time was less predictable especially when the prodigy (named after a Japanese cut of prime beef) considered a career in football after falling in love with AC Milan.

When a teenage Kobe announced his intention to go from high school directly to the NBA in 1996 he stirred up a hornet's nest of controversy. It's hard to imagine the hype that surrounded the 6ft 6" forward/shooting guard at the time. His decision to bypass college hoops (Kobe had the SAT scores to earn a basketball scholarship to a college of his choice) turned many commentators off the precocious youngster.

Moreover, Kobe announced that he would only play for the LA Lakers ensuring that whoever drafted him would probably be forced to instantly trade the player. Bryant was eventually drafted 13th by Charlotte and traded to LA in a year that saw Allen Iverson go at number one alongside a host of future All-Stars including Shareef Abdur-Rahim, Stephon Marbury, Ray Allen and Steve Nash.

Superb athleticism is common in the NBA - Peter Crouch isn't known for his speed or mobility but in the NBA it's prerequisite no matter how close you are to seven feet. Bryant's gifts are awesome - he can drain 3-pointers of cut to the rim and finish with either hand with awesome speed. When I say "finish" I'm talking about the kind of creativity that always make highlight reels. If LeBron James is an awesome blunt instrument on his way to the hole, Bryant is like a contortionist as he slices through defenders. Of course Bryant would not exist without Dr J, Magic, Dominique and MJ but he's cut from the same cloth of basketball geniuses.

Twelve years on we're used to watching him dominate opponents and dunk on 7ft centres on his way to victory http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=r7g8FV0Udso&feature=related . In tandem with the other dominate force in the NBA, Shaquille O'Neal, the Lakers won three NBA Championships between 2000-2002. In 2003-04 Bryant averaged 30 points a game and hit above 40 points in nine consecutive games but both superstar players had long since fallen out off-court.

Bryant's attitude has often been criticised, especially around the time when Shaq was traded to Miami. A born leader to be sure but some consider Bryant selfish and arrogant while his coach Phil Jackson once described him as "uncoachable". It's certainly true that Bryant has never been slow to speak his mind but there is evidence that he's matured in recent years and one more Championship may not be beyond the Lakers. "Humble" is a word rarely used to describe Kobe Bryant but "brilliant" definitely is. He won his first MVP award last season and led his side to the NBA Finals for the first time in five years before losing to the Boston Celtics in six games. This year the brief is simple - go one better and win the Championship.

After five games the Lakers are one of only two unbeaten NBA sides this season. Kobe looks as impressive as ever with a 24.4 points average and excellent support from Derek Fisher at point guard and the ever-improving Spanish forward Pau Gasol. Bryant has genuinely connected with the current squad. If key center Andrew Bynum remains fit and Lamar Odom improves his consistency in the problem small forward position then they have a formidable base - if Kobe stays fit he will do the rest.

The Lakers are at the Dallas Mavericks tonight and are currently priced up at [1.43]. Though that doesn't amount to huge value, I'd still expect them to win and I've seen worse [1.43] shots than that. Bryant and his pals are the favourites to go all the way in the NBA this season at [3.95] but something tells me that they're going to fall just short. If they do, it's unlikely to be as a result of Bryant not performing.