I am a huge Kobe Bryant fan, like the many of you, but I have to say from watching yesterday's game against the Heat, that I personally believe that the biggest contributor to the Laker's loss was his poor shot selection, not the Heat's team play. In the first half, Kobe had 24 points off of 7-16 shooting, which was alright, one shot below 50%, where he took the ball to the hole, posted up on the block(especially that beautifully effortless fadeaway on the left block against GP ) and cut off the ball to receive the ball(The alley-oop that was the play of the day ). The Lakers were only down by I believe 5 points, but I know that the game was close at the half. In the second half, Kobe relegated himself to taking deep jumpshots that were costly and unneccessary . I do not know what prompted him to do so , but it damn sure was not Gary Payton's defense. Had he had just made 3 of the 9 shots that he missed within fifteen feet like a smart player, the Lakers would have won, and pulled off an upset on Christmas Day. Once again, Kobe's shot selection caused the Laker's a win , lowered his shooting percentage , and lessens the respect that fans and foes have for him . The media has given GP way too much credit than he deserves for his so called defense, and has given more anti-Kobe forces ammunition to downcast our beloved superstar . If Kobe had kept the same style of play for the second half, he probably could have had a 50 point game (at least 40-48 if he kept the rate), which would have been a dagger in the hearts of the Heat and their fans in their own building . Kobe did not post up GP in the second half, which he should have, he rarely tried to drive to the hole, and took some of the most ill-advised shots that I have ever seen , even for him. Michael Jordan in or out of his prime never did that. Several of his jumpshots were straight up without any advancing dribbling, or deep shots near the three point line where he could either stepped a few feet closer, or drove around defenders to get a better look. But no one is talking about this . He just made sad faces as he went back to the Laker's bench after timeouts after he continued to clank up the areana with his bad shooting 1st Half: 7-16(44%)(Aggressive, posting up, penetrating, cutting without the ball) 2nd Half: 5-14(36%)(Passive, Deep, unneccessary jumpshots)
You know, if Mihm would have made some of those shots that he missed, or Smush would have hit, or if Odom could have too, they'd have won the game. The thing is, when you lose, it's a team effort. One player can't indvidually lose the game for them. Plus, if you look at it like this, where would the Lakers have been without his 37 points or whatever it was that he had? They probably wouldn't have even been close. In my opinion, you can't blame one player for the loss. Sure, he missed a lot of shots, but was anyone else making a lot of shots? No.
True, it is a team effort, but the case is that Kobe dominates the ball more than anyone else. The game in many situations, including yesterday was in his hands. He had the ball in many key instances that the Lakers needed a big bucket, and he did come thru at times, but he took ill advised and downright bad shots in front of nationally televised audience that contributed to the Laker's loss. I did not say he was the only reason, just the main reason.
Kobe didn;t lose this game Phil Jackson did by taking Brian Cook out with 2 minutes left after had torched us in the 4th. Kobe took a lot of shots but it was Phil taking out Cook that killed you guys.
yeah cook was doing a good job shootin the ball. everyone else missed wide open shots. odom missed like 3 key three pointers in the 4th. but kwame was doing a good job on shaq thats y i think phil took out cook.
Poor play of the rest of the team took the Lakers out. Not Kobe. Kwame missed a easy layup. FT's were not going down, and the entire team could not shoot the 3 to save them. You cant put the entire game on the shoulders of one player. Its a team effort. I also thought COOK had the hot hand and should have never been taken out in the final minutes.
Yeah Cookie was hitting his shots. And I do feel like they gave GP to much credit for his defense. Kobe settled for deep fade aways bailing GP out really. I'm not blaming him though. I just can't get the curve ball of a three that Lamar through up. I never seen a wide open shot shot so crooked haha.
Well Kobe's the best guard right now and will be for many years to come. I think the Lakers is one piece short of being a serious contender. I can't tell what that one piece is but they are very close to be a serious contender if Kobe doesn't have to worry about putting 30 points every night.
Laker Loss This was the Lakers's loss, nobody in particular to blame. The whole team wasn't hitting their free throws, Smush had a BAD game, Kwame missed an easy layup, Lamar missed all his shots, Kobe wasn't hitting his free throws, and we need to get rid of Devean George, his defense is atrocious, though he hit 2 key three pointers. Cook had a pretty good game. Kwame did good defensively on Shaq, but that offensive rebound for Shaq killed us. And so did the lane violation.
Of course Kobe choked and lost it for the Lamegirls, he always does. I can't remember ONE clutch shot Kobe has ever hit. He is a little girl when it comes to pressure time. We have two of the most clutch players ever to play the game - Peja and Bibby. I can guarantee any of you Lamegirls fans would trade your sorry ass Kogay-Bryant for any of them two players. Oh wait, what is it again? Your record? Haha, your crap.
I don't like the Lakers, I hate them, but what you are saying is hypocritical. The Kings are doing horrible right now and are bottom of the Pacific and right now the Lakers are ahead of you in the standings. Peja for the record is a softy and he sucks, Bibby has been playing mediocre not to his regular level. Kobe is better than both of those players, he is without a doubt the most skilled player in the league and one of the most clutch. shootingmachine, you need to shut up and stop trolling teams and saying they suck when, in fact, they are doing more sucessful than your favorite team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shootingmachine:</div><div class="quote_post">Of course Kobe choked and lost it for the Lamegirls, he always does. I can't remember ONE clutch shot Kobe has ever hit. He is a little girl when it comes to pressure time. We have two of the most clutch players ever to play the game - Peja and Bibby. I can guarantee any of you Lamegirls fans would trade your sorry ass Kogay-Bryant for any of them two players. Oh wait, what is it again? Your record? Haha, your crap.</div> Sorry dawg....but I could tell you don't watch the Lakers because you a Sacaramento Queens fan....mmm lets see...Ask the Blazers, ask the Dallas Mavericks las week...they lost game because Kobe clutch shooting but stop hatin'.....going back to the Subject...Kobe did have a bad second half but where is the rest of the guys every body in the Lakers chocked up...once again Lamar didn't step up....
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting trenchteam:</div><div class="quote_post">I say lock this thread. Why do we get all the Haters? Are we this good of a ballclub? Dang.</div>Consider the thread locked.
