Kobe Bryant: 5 Reasons He Should Move to PG
It is no slight to Derek Fisher, but the fact remains that the Lakers need a new point guard that can contend with the best in the league. Fisher is still more than capable of helping the team out; however, I'm not convinced he should be playing almost 30 minutes a game anymore.
In the search for a point guard, many people have discussed names like Chris Paul, Deron Williams and Steve Nash. However, I feel as though there may already be a fantastic point guard more than capable of filling the role on the team: Mr. Kobe Bean Bryant.
While it seems crazy to move one of the best players in the game out of his traditional position, there are many reasons to believe that as he continues to age, he might be significantly more effective playing point.
Whether or not you agree, I think there is a good argument to be made that Mike Brown should strongly consider moving his new star to a new position.
Here are five reasons Kobe should move to point guard.
He’s One of the Best Passers in the Game
1 of 5This may sound crazy when talking about a guy who has long been called a “ball hog,” but it’s completely true.
When it comes to the skill of passing, few have the court vision and ability to put the ball in the perfect place quite like Kobe. Not to mention how effective he is when he does distribute the ball, because he is always such a potent scoring threat.
People forget that in 2005, Kobe averaged six assists a game and is more than capable of getting that number up to eight or nine if that was a larger part of his role on the team.
It’s a Harder Position to Fill Than Shooting Guard
2 of 5The bottom line is that, despite the fact that some of the game’s best players have played the 2, it requires far less skill development to be a serviceable shooting guard.
In order to be a great point guard, you have to be to handle the ball under pressure, distribute the ball, have great court vision and possess the maturity necessary to make the right play at the right time.
To ask a player to come to the Lakers and be the floor general would be a daunting task. To get someone to throw up shots when Kobe gets him the ball and play good defense is a much easier job.
In a Traditional Offense, the Point Guard Is Heavily Featured
3 of 5One of the brilliant parts of the triangle offense is that it doesn’t require a traditional point guard. This is because the players on the team are constantly moving based on everyone else’s movement, not by what one particular player dictates at the top of the key.
I expect Mike Brown to implement more traditional offensive schemes, and he will need a true point guard to run the offense, as opposed to the “shoot-first” Derek Fisher.
He Would Be a Huge Mismatch for Other Point Guards
4 of 5Not only would Kobe have an advantage skill-wise, but he would tower over most point guards in the game today.
Being able to put him on the block and effectively post up against a player like Chris Paul will create huge defensive issues. Not to mention that on the defensive end, he would be long enough to give many players problems, as demonstrated by his great defense on Russell Westbrook and Rajon Rondo in the playoffs two years ago.
He’s One of the Smartest Players in the Game
5 of 5The last thing that makes this an absolute no-brainer is how intelligent Kobe is and how well he understands the game of basketball.
If you haven’t seen Spike Lee’s Kobe Doin’ Work, I suggest you check it out. It is simply astonishing just how cerebral the guy has become over the years. Other than Steve Nash or Jason Kidd, there aren’t many other guys in the league with the intelligence and maturity that Kobe has acquired.
On the USA team, Kobe separated himself from many of his competitors by demonstrating that good things happen when the ball is in his hands. By making him the point guard, he could very well become more effective than ever before.
