Kobe to change positions?
LOS ANGELES, CA (TheSpread) – After another injury-riddled season, is Kobe Bryant going to be put in a different role with the Los Angeles Lakers?
According to ESPN.com, Bryant could be making a change to power forward, as the Lakers experiment with their new lineup, which now featured a lot of younger talent at the guard positions following the addition of D’Angelo Russell.
“If we don’t get another guard, then Kobe’s in that mix,” Lakers coach Byron Scott said of a potential switch. “I’m kind of going through those scenarios. But not necessarily as far as who’s starting and who doesn’t … I think [Bryant] will play more 3 than 2. If we can get him at the elbows and at the mid-post, the more effective he’ll be. I don’t think he needs to be using up the whole 94-foot floor. If we can cut that down some, I think that saves his legs as much as possible. But if we can get him where he operates best, which to me is elbows on each area, top of the key, at the pinch post, at the mid-post, then I think he can be real effective for us.”
According to the latest oddsmakers, the Lakers are currently listed with +10000 odds to win the NBA Finals next season. The Cavaliers are a +275 favorite, while the Spurs have odds of +300 and the Warriors are given odds of +500 to repeat.
Bryant is coming off back-to-back seasons of season-ending injuries. He has played in just 41 games over the last two years. Bryant is averaging 25.4 points per game over his career and set to begin his 20th season in the NBA with the Lakers. Bryant is listed at 6-6 and 212 pounds, so seeing him at a small forward is reasonable, but power forward seems like he would be giving up too much weight and strength.
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