NBA week 5: Five things we learnt as Kobe Bryant announces retirement and Paul George returns to form

Kobe Bryant announced that he will retire at the end of the season to bring an end to a remarkable career that spanned 20 years. The five-time NBA champion is one of the greatest players to have played the game, his career including 17 All-Star appearances and 32,683 points, putting him third on the all-time scoring list. But all good things must come to an end. Injuries limited Kobe to just 41 appearances in the two years prior to this season and he has endured a tough start this season, averaging just 15.5 points per game on 30 per cent shooting. It has seen the Lakers drop to the foot of the Western Conference with just two wins from their opening 16 regular season games.

The decision was widely expected around the league due to his struggles this year, but there is no doubt he will be remembered for the domination he enjoyed throughout the 2000’s as the league’s biggest superstar. He even showed glimpses of the class that still remains in the 37-year-old against the Indiana Pacers on Sunday night. Despite making just four of his 20 shots, he made two clutch three-pointers in the last few minutes to get the Staples Centre rocking and the Lakers fans dreaming of another Kobe-inspired victory. It was not be as they eventually fell to a 107-103 defeat, but expect Kobe to have a few more special nights before he bows out against the Utah Jazz in April.

After losing their opening two regular season games, the Indiana Pacers then suffered a blowout at home against the Utah Jazz and it looks as if their woes of the 2014-15 season had remained. Since then, however, they have won 11 of 13 games and have been showing the form that saw them top the Eastern Conference two years ago. Despite the loss of experienced big men Roy Hibbert and David West in the summer, they have shown that they are a better side as a result and the signing of Monta Ellis has worked wonders.

But the biggest change for the Pacers has been undoubtedly been in the shape of their star-man, with Paul George returning to his best after last year’s horrific season-ending injury. He’s averaged 37.3 points per game this week as his side have recorded victories against the Wizards, Bulls and Lakers. It’s even put him in early conversations for this year’s MVP, with his numbers propelling his side to second in the Eastern Conference and giving fans a real belief that they may be able to challenge deep into the play-offs after a one-year absence. Their schedule has been one of the easier in the leagues and thus there are tougher tests that lie ahead, but for now we can just enjoy the performances of Paul George and the rejuvenated Pacers.

Gregg Popovich will be delighted with how his side are continuing to consistently go about their business and grind out wins while everyone else focuses on the undefeated Golden State Warriors. They have now won five straight and are yet to beaten at the AT&T Centre. Popovich and the Spurs are known for saving their best for the play-offs and are again happy to go about their work quietly and professionally. Kawhi Leonard has improved his offense to an extent where he can now be considered one of the most complete players in the league and he continues to be a huge part of the Spurs defence that holds opponents to the fewest points per game in the NBA.

The biggest story, however, continues to be the amazing stats that Tim Duncan is putting up every night, with his age having no bearing on his performances. He’s averaging 10 points and 8.8 rebounds per game and had a remarkable 18 rebounds in 28 minutes against the Hawks a few nights ago. It’s a testament to Duncan that he can keep performing at this level aged 39, when Kobe – two years his junior – has seen such a dip in his efficiency. In partnership with Tony Parker, they became just the second pair in NBA history to achieve 700 wins as a duo and they did it in the fewest number of games, a mere 962. The summer addition of LaMarcus Aldridge was huge for Popovich and his side, but his squad will refuse to let age get the better of them and they will once again be challenging for the title come June.

Allowing opponents to the highest average points per game, highest percentage of made field goals and highest number of three-point attempts, the Sacramento Kings must learn how to play defence, with or without star centre DeMarcus Cousins. No team is going to win games by giving up an average of 109.1 points per night and they again showed their frailties in a 101-91 loss in what was a very winnable game at home against the Minnesota Timberwolves. It was the latest example of the side missing their key man, they are .500 in the 10 games that ‘Boogie’ has played, compared to winning just once in eight when he’s been injured. Their perimeter defense was again poor against the Timberwolves and it meant defeat against a side missing their own key man in Ricky Rubio.

The Kings have the second longest current play-off drought in the NBA and more worryingly, have not won 30 games since 2007-08. They traded away future draft considerations in the hope of making sufficient signings to improve their squad and make a run at making this year’s post-season. But they sit 13th in the Western Conference and have won just six of their 18 games. The continued injury problems suffered by Cousins are hampering them, but their defense remains the area needing the most work. Coach George Karl took the blame for their latest poor performance against Minnesota, but if they continue to lose such games then he will become the eighth man to lose his job in 10 tumultuous years in Sacramento.

The new-look Charlotte Hornets have played some of their best basketball in recent memories to win seven of their last 10 games and occupy the sixth seed in the packed Eastern Conference. They boast a 10-7 record and have turned their home court into a fortress, winning eight of 10 matches at The Time Warner Cable Arena. The two defeats were against last season’s finalists in the East, Cleveland and Atlanta.

The most impressive part of Steve Clifford’s side has been how easily his summer additions have gelled both offensively and defensively. Nicolas Batum has, as expected, been one of the star men after his trade from Portland and is averaging 16.8 points, 6.2 rebounds and 4.5 assists per game and was named as Eastern player of the week earlier in the season. And in the Jeremy’s, Lamb and Lin, they have two creative sparks that give the Hornets an extra something off the bench that they haven’t seemed to possess in recent times. It’s still early in the season, but don’t be surprised to see Charlotte making a real run at making the post-season after missing out last year.