yah, I read that article too. And you fail to put all the disclaimers that they put in the article.
1. That the sample size is too small.
2. ” None of this is antithetical to the idea the offense- the actual operation of the triangle offense- seemed more efficient and productive. Without Kobe, the Lakers ran more sets out of the triangle, moved the ball more, and generally relied on core offensive principles more than they had with Kobe available. More players participated in its operation, with more balanced shot distributions.”
3. “The key to returning the Lakers to something closer to last season’s offensive juggernaut is combining Kobe’s talent with greater balance. We’ve written about it on the blog and talked about it on the PodKast. For a variety of reasons, the rhythm the Lakers seemed to nail frequently last year hasn’t appeared as much this season. In many ways, I think Kobe’s injury served to reboot L.A.’s operating system. (We’ll see over the next couple weeks if I’m right.)”

And you cannot argue that those sets haven’t been run as well since his return. I see way too many isos. Way too many shots from the outside.

Again, my main point is that Kobe deserves some of the responsibility for our offense being stagnant, especially since he gets all the glory when we win.

Appart from agreing or disagreing about running the offenses through Pau or Kobe it is getting very hard to read this blog due to this long stretches of Kobecentric defence-Pau blaming.
I want to read about the Lakers not why Kobe or Pau are this and that over and over.

I kindly suggest, if the post resumes like either:
1)I agree, Kobe is god.
2)I disagree, Kobe is an anti-hero.

Simply write either 1) or 2) as your post.

Thanks for caring about others reading patience

From the blog by the great Brian K.

http://espn.go.com/blog/los-angeles/lakers/post/_/id/3397/some-numbers-without-kobe

Lakers actually had a much LOWER offensive efficiency without Kobe 102.8 versus 106.6 points scored in 100 attempts. They won because they gave all out effort on both sides of the floor. Not because the offense improved.

During that stretch our talented frontline players busted their butts, and during this one they have not done so as much. Again compare Lakers vs. opponents in RB’s, points in the paint, offensive boards, etc… and this is our problem.

I’m not talking about Pau’s shots. I’m talking about touches. Since Kobe has returned, I feel that Pau doesn’t get as much into the post or high post where he can analyze and pass the ball. What I do see is that the ball stays out on the wings a little too much and see that Pau has been turned into a “Varejao” guy, setting screens and asking to be sent in to clean up the boards. Is that really the best way to utilize Pau?

My evidence: When Kobe (and when Bynum) was out, those games had a LOT more ball movement utilizing the big guys in the post and a lot of movement. Even Farmar, who I chastise for being a P&R guy, was running the offense, and it worked out well. When was the last time we had a “convincing” win? Indiana? Before that? 3 convincing wins against Portland at portland, SA, and Utah at Utah, then a ten point win in Golden state. Will you just wash those wins away? Can you argue with me that the Lakers ran the offense as fluidly now as they did then?

Why shouldn’t Kobe be responsible also? Your post makes it seem like he doesn’t deserve some of the blame for the offensive inefficiency.

As for slowing the tempo to help our offense that is fine for Phoenix. But I will argue that it cost us against the Cavs. We have three bigs who are extremely athletic and in Gasol and Bynum young. I would love to see them run the floor quicker get set up deep sooner so we can get them the ball easier. Yet too often that does not happen.

As for taking away one more shot so Kobe is same as last year’s average, would you really want to take away the 8 of 13 Kobe has made with less than 24 seconds? I do not think so….

So Kobe is shooting so much more? No evidence of it. MJ was so much better at making all his team mates around him improve than Kobe but actually shot the ball more often. Again I will join the chorus when our big guys play great and Kobe shoots us out of a game. I am not saying it can not happen or it will not take place. But since the Memphis loss where Pau got outplayed badly by brother Marc and Fisher of 2 pts no assists essentially called out Kobe for shooting 17 of 28 (and probably blew the game by passing to Artest who missed last second shot) for not moving the ball more. I have found this infuriating. When we have essentially 3 seven footers and get out rebounded and give up more points in the paint than we score. How can we blame Kobe? Now as stated earlier, as poorly as Fish has played at times, you know he is busting his behind. But Odom, Bynum, Gasol do not always bring it every night. And it is dismaying since in the past Gasol always brought it hustling on both ends but the past month that has not been the case. Show the effort, and then I too will join the chorus decrying our best player until then please don’t play the causality of Kobe passing or not being the issue – I do not see it nor do you show any proof.

that proves my point somewhat. Kobe told Woj that now with Bynum back, Pau wont get as many shots. Yet kobe shoots one more per game? Because Bynum is back on the floor, everyone’s shots should go down. Not just Pau’s. Kobe’s should have gone down too.

Also, regarding running the triangle leading to better defense: running the triangle slows the tempo, and allows the Lakers to get back (so long as there is no turnovers).