Er... we're back to "Kobe hogs the ball." Sorry for dwelling on last season's loss but I still feel Kobe got a bum rap taking all the blame for the Finals loss. The Piston defense was terrific in denying Shaq the ball, and the Laker shot just wasn't falling for everyone, Kobe, GP, George, Malone, Fox, et al. Heck, if Phil Jackson really wanted to pound the ball in to Shaq, he would have done it. He's got 3 other players besides Kobe to pass it in but apparently the other players on the floor couldn't do it either. I don't think Kobe has the power to stop them from passing in to Shaq if Phil Jackson had ordered it. (Maybe Phil never did order it??? Beats me, he's always so cool sitting there.) Payton last year was a misfit on the Triangle squad; he wouldn't play it and Phil Jackson was forced to use Fisher for many a 4th quarter, remember? Payton's spot-up shots off many Kobe kick-outs missed, too. Anyway, Payton wouldn't have been a bust if he had done what he was brought in for, to be The Glove on the opposing point guard. Sadly, he failed miserably to contain the Finals MVP Billups. However, I'll agree with Lakerland that Kobe still has a problem with shot selection. Still hasn't found one he doesn't like. This year he seemed to have acquired the disconcerting habit of firing a three at the most inopportune time of the game, as in when down two in the final minute of the game. Kobe has got to use his ability to take the ball all the way to the rim again and again for the Lakers to be successful. Now to end this pathetic rambling of mine, I share lakerland's enthusiasm for Sasha. In the extremely limited minutes he had, he has shown glimpses of what he can do: Remember the pass thru the defender's legs on a break to Slava for the finish. Sign of things to come.
I dont know about all this, but if kobe played shaq one on one, kobe would run circles around him. thats the truth. LOL
They will remember Shaq 20 years from now. They will remember Kobe 20 years from now. Hopefully, they won't remember the fued between these 2.
