What is a Black Mamba without its venom?
That appears to be the case with Kobe Bryant, who in his 20th NBA season could be running out of gas in the tank. And spring in his legs. And shots in his right arm.
We’re not writing off Bryant. Heck, if anyone can find a way to will his way back from an ugly start to the season, it’s the future Hall of Famer. But odds aren’t looking good.
What’s also not looking good are Bryant’s season statistics: 15.2 points, 4.3 rebounds, 3.5 assists, 31.1 field-goal percentage, 19.5 3-point percentage in 30.5 minutes. Then there were his numbers in last week’s three games: 10.7 ppg, 24.5 FG%, 5.9 3-PT%. It’s easy to see why Bryant (ranked No. 7 last week) was bumped from the OSPR.
Notes: Statistics are through games of Nov. 25. Rankings are based on entire regular season with heavy emphasis on recent play.
Any player who turns 33 during the regular season can be added to the Old School Power Rankings.
1. Tony Parker (33), San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s rank: Just missed
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 16.0 ppg, 6.0 apg, 3.8 rpg, 59.1 FG%
Season stats: 13.7 ppg, 4.7 apg, 2.2 rpg
Just when it was beginning to look like Parker had lost a step or three, he turns in a week that is reminiscent of the old Tony (i.e. the highlight below). In his first nine games of 2015-16, Parker didn’t have a single game of seven or more assists. In his last six, he’s eclipsed the barrier four times. Combine that with the fact he shot 66.8 from the field in his last three games, you can see why Parker is sitting at the top.
2. Pau Gasol (35), Chicago Bulls
Last week’s rank: 2
Last week’s stats: 2 games, 13.0 ppg, 12.0 rpg, 2.5 apg
Season stats: 13.7 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 2.1 apg
Will slow and steady win this season-long race? Now in his 15th NBA campaign, Gasol continues to plug away, turning in two more double-doubles last week in less than 30 minutes of action. His shooting was a bit off (40.7 FG%), but don’t expect that to last long. The big man is like the classic holiday movie “Christmas Vacation” — good year in and year out.
3. Dirk Nowitzki (37), Dallas Mavericks
Last week’s rank: 1
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 14.3 ppg, 7.5 rpg, 1.8 apg
Season stats: 17.4 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.5 apg
It’s not that Nowitzki played poorly, he just didn’t play well enough to hold down one of the top two spots. Last week was a tough one to get a good read on Nowitzki’s game. On Sunday, he managed just seven field-goal attempts in 34 minutes (finishing with 11 points and two rebounds). Two nights later, Nowitzki goes 5-for-15 from the field en route to 14 points and 10 rebounds.
4. Kyle Korver (34), Atlanta Hawks
Last week’s rank: 9
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 13.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 1.7 apg
Season stats: 10.7 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.1 apg
We mentioned last week that Korver would improve on his 40 percent from beyond the arc. Not exactly going out on a big limb, right? The veteran shooting guard went 9-for-14 (69.2 percent) on 3-pointers to move up into the upper half of our rankings. We’d love to see what Korver could do if given 15 shot attempts every game.
5. Luis Scola (35), Toronto Raptors
Last week’s rank: N/A
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 15.3 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 0.7 apg
Season stats: 10.6 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 0.9 apg
Could Scola finally be getting comfortable with his new situation in Toronto? Another factor in Scola’s improved play could be that with Jonas Valanciunas sidelined, his number is being called more often. That could explain Scola getting 10 or more FGA in four straight games compared to four in the previous 12. But we’d like to see the big man show more consistency for the entire game: 10.3 ppg, 63.6 FG% in first half, 5.0 ppg, 37.5 FG% in second half.
6. Dwyane Wade (33), Miami Heat
Last week’s rank: 3
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 15.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.7 apg
Season stats: 17.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 4.5 apg
Wade was set to maintain his high standing in our rankings until Wednesday’s head-scratcher: two points on 1-for-9 shooting to go along with just two rebounds and two assists in 23 minutes. Throw that stinker out and Wade averaged 21.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg and 4.5 apg for the week. Of course it’ll be hard to expect much consistency from Wade as long as he’s shooting 41.3 from the field.
7. Matt Barnes (35), Memphis Grizzlies
Last week’s rank: N/A
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 12.3 ppg, 6.3 rpg, 2.5 apg
Season stats: 7.3 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 1.2 apg
One man’s misfortune is another man’s gain. That’s certainly the case for Barnes, who has started — and performed well — the last two games with Zach Randolph sidelined. In fact, Barnes has been slotted at power forward from time to time as the Grizzlies have on occasion gone to a small-ball attack. Any defense will have a tough time adjusting to a power forward who has hit five 3s in the last two games.
8. Jamal Crawford (35), L.A. Clippers
Last week’s rank: 6
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 11.5 ppg, 1.3 rpg, 1.8 apg
Season stats: 13.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg, 2.1 apg
One good, one bad. That was the pattern for Crawford last week. After a 20-point effort Friday, Crawford managed just eight points on 1-for-9 shooting Sunday. Two nights later, the veteran guard went for 15 in 24 minutes only to follow that up with a 1-for-9 3-point effort in 30 minutes. Considering he’s playing 28.4 minutes and shooting just 37.1 from the field and 28.3 from deep, it’s remarkable he’s averaging 13.1 points.
9. Tim Duncan (39), San Antonio Spurs
Last week’s rank: 5
Last week’s stats: 4 games, 6.3 ppg, 6.8 rpg, 2.8 apg
Season stats: 10.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.9 apg
To say it was a week to forget for Duncan would be an understatement. The week started with a first, as the big man failed to grab a single rebound in a game for the first time in his career. Adding to that, Duncan managed double-figure scoring in just one of last week’s four games (10 points on Saturday). Yes, the Thanksgiving break came at a perfect time for Duncan.
10. Nene (33), Washington Wizards
Last week’s rank: N/A
Last week’s stats: 3 games, 11.7 ppg, 5.7 rpg, 2.0 apg
Season stats: 8.3 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 2.0 apg
Nene was nearly perfect Saturday, going 9-for-10 from the field for 18 points while adding seven rebounds in just 22 minutes. He followed that up Tuesday with 11 points, seven rebounds and four assists. But consistency has been a crutch for Nene, who after two decent performances went for six points on 2-for-7 shooting on Wednesday.
Just missed the cut: Zach Randolph, Joe Johnson, Kobe Bryant, Jose Calderon
Will turn 33 this season: Leandro Barbosa (Nov. 28), Mo Williams (Dec. 19), Kevin Martin (Feb. 1), Devin Harris (Feb. 17)
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