Here's what I think:
* Old Kobe playing off the ball = average player
* Dwight was in the East. His effect somehow echoed in a weaker conference. Let's see though when he's on the West trying to cover up older guys.
* Stall, after watching second round last year, Kobe and Artest's defense is already mediocre. Now add one more year into that.
* As I've said, defense isn't an excuse for doubts, especially if you want to win West.
Here's what I think:
* OKC are still the team to beat until otherwise proven, but that you're scared of the threat the Lakers pose (we ran you pretty close this year in most matches with a far worse team) and are trying to rack your brain for any
potential shortcoming, assuming it will happen!
* The east has better centers then the West. Assuming everyone is healthy, Marc Gasol (and to a lesser extent Bogut) is the only really tough center that Howard will have to contend with in the West. Not to mention he is no longer in the same division as LeBron, Dwyane Wade or Chris Bosh - the toughest offensive trio in the league. The Pacific division is pretty weak with only the Clippers and potentially the Warriors (don't sleep on them, they've put together a nice little team) being threats.
* Old Kobe playing off the ball - above average player. I remember seeing on synergysports or a similar site his shooting/scoring stats off the ball compared to on the ball, and although it's a much smaller sample size, his stats were impressive off the ball iirc. The man taught himself to have a post game superior to that of most center's and yet you don't think he can adjust to an off the ball game? You think Kobe is going to shoot a higher percentage spinning to the baseline fading over two defenders (he actually hits this shot surprisingly well) compared to a midrange jumper or 3 with one defender on him. On that point...
* Kobe can't really be double teamed at all anymore. Yeah Bynum took away a fair bit of attention from him, but with how lethal the Nash/Howard PnR game looks to be, the defending team won't be able to spare extra defenders for Kobe. His efficiency isn't superb like a James or Durant, but Kobe still finished second in the league in scoring last year in the face of constant double teams and "hero-ball". Just imagine what a legitimate PnR and not necessarily being the first option on every play will do for him.
* As I said before, Kobe and MWP may have struggled a little vs OKC defensively (they are athletically freakish after all), but you're telling me that they're worse defenders then Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, or Vince Carter? Please.
* The Thunder are going to lose either Ibaka or Harden next year, unless they both take way less to stay together. It would be good for basketball (and the franchise) if they did that, but the odds are that after this year your boys are going to be missing a key component.