Me being a fan of Kobe's. I think next year will be a great year for Kobe. Everybody had forgotten about how incredible this guy is. Even though the Lakers struggled, it's obvious they were rebuilding (something Jordan never went through). However, with the possible return of Phil, and a couple of good trades, maybe some F/A pick ups, I think the Lakers and Kobe will have a comeback year. What ya'll think?
As long as Kobe continues to have the roster he has now and continues to have no decent big man he will contine to struggle. His time of not having all the defensive pressure is over. He wanted to be the man and now knows how good he had It.
I think that mentioning Jordan is stupid, considering he was picked in the middle of a rebuilding process. His name shouldn't even have to be said in this conversation since Kobe isn't near him yet. I think Kobe will have a pretty tough next year or so until they can get some free agents or something. He'll definately need to be a part of that recruiting process too, but next year probably won't be anything amazing. I think it might get a little better, but probably more of the same.
Actually, MJ was the cornerstone of the rebuilding process the Chicago Bulls were going through in the mid 80s. Mj surely has experienced rebuliding and one of the main reasons he was eventually successful and became a champion in this league is due to his ability to sacrifice his individualistic tendencies for the sake of the team. This is what truly makes a great player in this league and this is something that Kobe Bryant desperately needs to learn, otherwise his window for greatness will soon pass. Also, remember this, MJ never had the luxury of having Shaq on his team.....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DMKfromTPL:</div><div class="quote_post">SMH.... A Kobe Topic in the LAKER FORUM, why am i not suprised Non-Laker fans jump all over it?</div> Whats new
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DMKfromTPL:</div><div class="quote_post">SMH.... A Kobe Topic in the LAKER FORUM, why am i not suprised Non-Laker fans jump all over it?</div> Are non-laker fans not allowed in this forum? Oh, my fault
Of course you are, but its becomming a trend having Heat and other NBA team fans comming into the Laker forum whenever the name "Kobe" is in the subject header, all the while the majority of the actual Laker fans are nowhere to be found. Just find it odd.
Kobe has the potential of having a good year, but I think a lot of it depends on how well Lamar Odom can do. He just had soulder surgery, which may hurt his game. The Lakers treaded Shaq for this guy, and he had an improvement on his last season from the Clippers and the Heat, but you need to better than that to fill the shoes of Shaq. Lamar is going to need to work on spreading the ball around, especially yo Kobe, because he had a decrese in assists last year. But Kobe just needs to keep pushing himself, he doesn't need to worry about the trial, and just put up good stats like last year. It would definatly help him if the Lakers would bring in Phil Jackson, this team will be posssible playoff contenders.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DMKfromTPL:</div><div class="quote_post">SMH.... A Kobe Topic in the LAKER FORUM, why am i not suprised Non-Laker fans jump all over it?</div> NON LAKER FANS? DO YOU'RE HOMEWORK
Kobe did have a good year 27/6/6 10 40+ point games 30 30+ point games 5 TD while playing only i think 69 games. The team though was horrible.
I think he wont bounce back. He has no one else to take the defensive pressure off of him like when Shaq was there. He will continue to put up good stats but it wont help out the team.
We need to get a good point guard that can take the ballhandling pressures off Kobe. No offense to Chucky Aykins, but he is not a ballhandler. He is a good spot up shooter, however, and he would be good off the bench. The season doesnt lie on Kobe but on Odom who has underachieved since hes been in the league. A 6'10'' player with his athleticism should score at least 18 points with 11 reb and 3-4 assist. Also butler needs to play better even though he played (in my opinion) pretty well. I think the Lakers will bounce back next year and get the sixth seed in the West.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Rockfan06:</div><div class="quote_post">NON LAKER FANS? DO YOU'RE HOMEWORK</div>
I could careless if Kobe bounces back, I'm more interested in the team bouncing back. Statistically Kobe had an outstanding season for the Lakers. He needs to improve his leadership skills, which I'm confident he will. I'd like to see Kobe attack the rim more and play in the post. Hopefully, he can bulk up again this off-season like he did two summers ago. I'm sure Kobe has been watching Dwayne Wade and hearing about the comparisons. Maybe Kobe gets hungry again to dominate inside the paint instead of launching the 3 ball.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I could careless if Kobe bounces back, I'm more interested in the team bouncing back.</div> I think Kobe bouncing back is as equally as important if not more important than the team bouncing back. That's thing, if the team is going to bounce back it's going to start with Kobe. It's not like if he doesn't bounce back the second go to guy will help because in this case he is the first and second guy on the team. So before the Lakers can have any success it all falls on Kobe shoulders and how well he does. Kobe situation is very similar to the situation Iverson has been in and as we've all seen, the team(76ers) can only go as far as Iverosn can take them and the same applies for Kobe and the Lakers. So everything is going to have to start with Kobe before anything can really get done.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AFL Warriors:</div><div class="quote_post">I think that mentioning Jordan is stupid, considering he was picked in the middle of a rebuilding process. His name shouldn't even have to be said in this conversation since Kobe isn't near him yet. I think Kobe will have a pretty tough next year or so until they can get some free agents or something. He'll definately need to be a part of that recruiting process too, but next year probably won't be anything amazing. I think it might get a little better, but probably more of the same.</div> First of all, to say Kobe isn't near Jordan is stupid in itself. Obcourse he isn't on Jordan's level YET, but name another player in history besides Jordan that is better than Kobe. Name another player at his position that has won 3 rings. Name another player besides Jordan that can takeover a game like Kobe, on offense and defense. In reality, when you mention greatest shooting guards, whoelse do you compare Kobe too. Obcourse you'll say, "well Kobe had Shaq". But Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem, and Bird had Mchale. You can't name a hall of famer that didn't have a reliable sidekick. I KNOW Jordan wouldn't have 6 rings without Pippen, so the Shaq arguement is irrelevant. Oh yea, and I'm indeed a Lakers fan. Jus cuz I ain't from Cali doesn't mean I can't speak on the Lakers. HOLLA
Lets see, theres Wilt, Bill Russell, Shaq, Oscar Robertson. Kobe will be one of the best but to say that right now hes the second greatest player of all time is a little crazy if you ask me.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">First of all, to say Kobe isn't near Jordan is stupid in itself. Obcourse he isn't on Jordan's level YET, but name another player in history besides Jordan that is better than Kobe. Name another player at his position that has won 3 rings. Name another player besides Jordan that can takeover a game like Kobe, on offense and defense. In reality, when you mention greatest shooting guards, whoelse do you compare Kobe too. Obcourse you'll say, "well Kobe had Shaq". But Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem, and Bird had Mchale. You can't name a hall of famer that didn't have a reliable sidekick. I KNOW Jordan wouldn't have 6 rings without Pippen, so the Shaq arguement is irrelevant. Oh yea, and I'm indeed a Lakers fan. Jus cuz I ain't from Cali doesn't mean I can't speak on the Lakers. HOLLA</div> But to sum it up, one of the biggest difference between Kobe and Jordan is... Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem, Bird had Mchale and Shaq had Kobe, not Kobe had Shaq. See the difference?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post"> But to sum it up, one of the biggest difference between Kobe and Jordan is... Jordan had Pippen, Magic had Kareem, Bird had Mchale and Shaq had Kobe, not Kobe had Shaq. See the difference?</div> Exactly right. Now you see that the Shaq argument is legit. Kobe was the sidekick he was Shaq's Scottie Pippen.