The 07-08 season was an unforgettable one for many Kobe fans, and this season was Kobe's 12th season in the NBA. In this season, Kobe won the only regular season MVP in his life.
With the help of Gasol and, Kobe led the Lakers to the top of the West once again, in the playoffs, Kobe led the Lakers to play 21 games, although did not win the championship, but for the future of the championship opened the prelude to the 07-08 season, is the beginning of a new story.
Season performance
07-08 season, Kobe started 82 games, averaging 38.9 minutes, the sixth-highest playing time of his career, averaging 28.3 points, 6.3 rebounds and 5.4 assists, scoring the fifth-highest in his career, and rebounding the second-highest in his career.
This season's Kobe, although the average score did not on the 30 points, but the scoring explosion is not bad at all, a single game cut 30 points and above the score of the game, is still quite a lot.
The first game of the season Kobe took down 45 points, face the Supersonics, Kobe cut down 48 points, face the Mavericks, Kobe cut down 52 points, face the Grizzlies, Kobe cut down 53 points.
Through the scoring trend chart, we learn that in the 07-08 season, there were only 14 games with less than 20 points, of which, only 2 games with less than 15 points. In addition, there were 36 games with 30 or more points. Kobe's performance was also excellent compared to other scorers, ranking second on the field goal percentage list, behind only James.
07-08 season, Kobe's three-point shooting is very accurate. Averaging 5.1 attempts per game during the season, he was able to hit 1.8, for a 36.1 percent hitting rate.
By looking at the combo chart, we see that in the 07-08 season, Kobe had more three-point attempts in his entire career, ranking seventh, and hit at a higher rate in his career, ranking third.
The first was the 02-03 season, hitting 38.3 percent, and the second was the 96-97 season, hitting 37.5 percent. Granted, in both seasons, the hits were high, but the shots weren't many, four in 02-03 and 1.9 in 96-97.
Combined the number of shots and hit rate, 07-08 season, is Kobe three-point shooting the most accurate season, both the number of shots and hit rate.
Offensive end of the analysis
07-08 season, Kobe's main offense is the mid-range shot, of course, this is after the transition, Kobe, although there is no technical shortcomings, but the best is still the mid-range offense and breakthrough layups.
Through the fan chart, we learn that the proportion of mid-range shooting reached 44%, the proportion of the basket is 32%, and the proportion of three-point shooting is 24%. 07-08 season, Kobe's offensive style is biased shooting, mid-range shooting + three-point shooting accounted for 68%.
Kobe's offensive style is skewed towards shooting, and the results are really good, let's go through the shooting hot zone chart.
Looking at the shooting hot zone chart, we learn:
1. Shooting percentage under the basket is in the upper echelon of the league
Kobe took 537 shots under the basket*** and hit 331. That's a 61.6 percent shooting percentage. Shooting over 60 percent from behind the arc is hard for a guard to do. But Kobe did it. This shows that Kobe's ability to finish under the basket is excellent.
2. Mid-range hit rate overall in the league's middle level
Kobe in the mid-range **** shot 738 balls, distributed in the four regions, the highest number of shots in the region is the mid-range right arc, the number of shots reached 241 times, hitting rate of 41.9%, the hit rate of this region is representative and persuasive, which shows that Kobe's ability to hit the ball is in the league's mid-range level.
3. Three-point shooting rate overall at the league's mid-range level
At the top of the arc, Kobe **** took 157 shots, hitting 35%. Left and right wings, the number of shots is also a lot of times, the hit rate is not bad, are above 35%, in the league in the middle level. Overall, 07-08 season, Kobe's three-point shooting level in the league's middle level.
4. Only one zone was below league average
This means that Kobe had the ability to finish in the middle or upper echelon of the league in most zones. When Kobe has the ball, Kobe has the option of breaking to the basket, finishing in the mid-range, or taking a shot right from the 3-point line for a three. Regardless of the offense, Kobe has a high degree of confidence that the ball will go in.
While the hitting percentage looks like Kobe is in the middle of the league in most areas, considering that Kobe takes a lot of shots, the hitting percentage is bound to show a certain amount of decline, which means that Kobe's true shooting ability is higher than the middle of the pack.
Defensive analysis
07-08 season, Kobe contributed 1.8 steals per game, ranked ninth in the league, ranked before Kobe is Paul, Artest and others, ranked after Kobe is James, Kidd, Rondo's people, Kobe's stealing ability ranked in the upper reaches of the league level.
Defensive WS refers to the value of a player's contribution to a team's victory through defense, Kobe's defensive WS in the 07-08 season was 4.3, ranking 14th in the league, which shows that Kobe not only helps his team with offense, but also with defense.
Kobe's defensive efficiency of 105 in 07-08 season is the second lowest in terms of the team's backline (the lower value means the better the defense), and the first low is Coby Karl.
But Cobby Calder appeared in just 17 games and averaged just 4.2 minutes per game. That said, of the Lakers' main rotation on the back line, Kobe is the best on defense.
Kobe again on top of the West
07-08 season, is Kobe alone with the team's fourth season, before that, due to the lack of offensive strength around, Kobe's individual performance, although good, but the Lakers' record has been bad, 04-05 season, the Lakers did not make the playoffs, 05-06 season, the Lakers' record of 45 wins and 37 losses, ranked 7th in the West, the Lakers.
The two seasons, the Lakers in the playoffs did not go far, are down in the first round, 07-08 season Lakers Bynum gradually mature, but suffered injuries in the middle of the season, the Lakers management at this time signed Paul Gasol, Gasol has become the most capable assistant beside Kobe.
The Lakers achieved a record of 57 wins and 25 losses, with a winning percentage of 69.5%, ranking first in the West, which is the best record after Kobe led the team alone, in the playoffs, the Lakers went farther than in the previous two seasons.
In the first round of the playoffs, the Lakers played the Nuggets. This round of playoffs, Kobe played very well, averaging 33.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.3 assists, shooting percentage of 50%, scoring, assists are the highest of the two teams, the first round, the Lakers beat the Nuggets with a score of 4-0 easily pass.
The second round, the Lakers faced the Jazz, this round of the series, played 6 games before the split, Kobe in this round of the series average contribution of 33.2 points, 7 rebounds, 7.2 assists, shooting rate of 49.1%, three-point shooting rate is worse, only 20.8%. In this series, Kobe's three-point shooting is not good, free throw shooting rate of 83.3%, scoring 0.3 points less than the last series, rebounds, assists are more than the last series. Fueled by Kobe's spectacular play, the Lakers advanced to the Western Conference finals with a 4-2 victory over the Jazz.
The Western Conference finals were a showdown between the Lakers and the Spurs, and Kobe played a very efficient series, shooting 53.3 percent from the field, 90.9 percent from the free throw line, and the lowest three-point percentage at 33.3 percent. The series was split after just five games, with the Lakers beating the Spurs 4-1 to advance to the finals.
In the finals, Kobe encountered a very tight defense, the hit rate is not as high as in previous rounds, and the score has dropped. In this series, Kobe contributed 25.7 points, 4.7 rebounds and 5 assists per game, shooting 40.5 percent from the field, 32.1 percent from 3-point range and 79.6 percent from the free throw line.
Kobe's play has slipped, and Kobe's teammates haven't stepped up, with Gasol contributing 14.7 points per game, Odom 13.5 points per game, and only Kobe averaging more than 20 points per game for the Lakers. On the contrary, the Celtics, Pierce and Garnett's average score of 21.8 points and 20.3 points, Garnett also averaged 18.2 points, Gasol in the matchup with Garnett, completely at a disadvantage. After a six-game battle, the Lakers lost 2-4 and failed to win the championship.
07-08 season playoffs, Kobe **** played 21 games, an average of 41.1 minutes, an average contribution of 30.1 points, 5.7 rebounds, 5.6 assists. Throughout the playoffs, Kobe's scoring performance was also good. There were 12 games with 30 or more points.
Writing at the end
While Kobe failed to win a championship in the 07-08 playoffs, it was still a rewarding year.On Dec. 23, 2007, Kobe became the youngest player ever to reach 20,000 points against the Knicks at Madison Square Garden. On May 6, 2008, the NBA officially announced that Kobe won the NBA Most Valuable Player Award. on May 8, Kobe was unanimously selected to the NBA Best XI, and was again selected to the first XI of the NBA Best Defensive XI.
In addition to obtaining personal honors, Kobe also ushered in Gasol's joining this season, although the first season of cooperation between the two, the results are not good, but later the two together won the championship, the two also formed a deep friendship. 07-08 season, although not as cheering as the 09-10 season, but he is the prelude to Kobe's cup again, as worthy of our memories.