Kobe Bryant: "I'm a Win Hog" <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">INDIANAPOLIS -- Some say ''ball hog,'' but Lakers star Kobe Bryant has coined another term for his offensive binges. ''Win hog,'' he said. Bryant is fresh off an unforgettable 13-game January in which he averaged 43.4 points. The highlight, of course, was the 81-point game at home Jan. 22 against the Toronto Raptors. It was the second-highest total in NBA history, behind only Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. During his current scoring onslaught, Bryant has received renewed criticism. He entered action Wednesday averaging league highs of 35.9 points and 27.4 shots. ''I don't pay much attention to that kind of criticism because my main focus is to do whatever it takes to help us win,'' he said. ''I didn't go into that game thinking about scoring 81 points. I didn't even think anybody could score that many in an NBA game today. Everybody knows about Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game, which seems impossible. But things happened, and I was able to score 81. ''I suspected there would be criticism from the media and even some players. But the most important thing is that 81-point effort rallied us from an 18-point deficit to an 18-point win. If destiny positions me to score 100 points to help my team win a game, I certainly will take advantage of it in spite of any criticism. I guess if I would've scored 81 points and we had lost, the criticism would've gone through the roof.'' Some of the criticism was made in comparison to Michael Jordan, whose career high was 69 points. Jordan comparisons irritate Bryant because he wants to establish his own identity. ''Just let me be me,'' he said. ''Let LeBron [James] be LeBron and let [Dwyane] Wade be Wade, just like they let Jordan be Jordan. It just seems that MJ-Kobe comparisons have gotten out of hand. They're doing it more than ever.'' It's the second time that Bryant, 27, had averaged 40 points in a month. He averaged 40.6 points in February 2003 to join Chamberlain as the only players to average at least 40 points in more than one month. Chamberlain did it five times. Elgin Baylor is the only other player to do it. Not only does Bryant's role suit him, it suits coach Phil Jackson. ''This Lakers team reminds me a lot of the Bulls team that Michael played for in '87 and '88 when I first joined them as an assistant coach,'' Jackson said. ''They didn't have the depth of talent for the scoring balance that would allow Jordan to just be a threat and score less for them to win. This way, he could allow other players to control the first three quarters. Then in the fourth quarter, he'd do the cleanup or mop-up work. ''These Lakers are still a young team that's prone to get scared, lose poise and confidence. They need [Bryant's] aggressive leadership, especially on the road, to set the tone and put them in command of a game. Kobe is having to play himself into a level where he's teaching his teammates how to win, and you can appreciate that as a coach. Yes, there's a fine balance between how much his high point production takes confidence away from these younger players and how much it contributes to their ability to believe in themselves as a team.'' Jackson thinks Bryant has acquired a feel for that balance. ''We've been together for six years, years filled with hard times and wonderful times,'' Jackson said. ''Along the way, we have developed a mutual sense of what each other's desires are. It's almost beyond words. Kobe knows when the other guys have to get involved. At the same time, when they appear insecure and are not playing at a level we need to beat a team, he simply steps up his game and fills the vacuum. I've taken to warning his teammates, 'Now listen, guys -- if you don't fill the vacuum, he will.' So they are challenged to put out. ''Kobe's playing some of the best basketball I've ever seen anybody play, and it's great for the game. I don't know if anybody will ever score 100 points in a game again. But if anybody can do it, it would be Kobe because he goes on such big tears. I'm impressed with other young guns like Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. But Kobe is the one guy that doesn't give any quarter to anybody. Whatever he has to do for his team to win, he'll chase it, no matter how high the bar.''</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">''Kobe's playing some of the best basketball I've ever seen anybody play, and it's great for the game. I don't know if anybody will ever score 100 points in a game again. But if anybody can do it, it would be Kobe because he goes on such big tears. I'm impressed with other young guns like Tracy McGrady, Allen Iverson, Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. But Kobe is the one guy that doesn't give any quarter to anybody. Whatever he has to do for his team to win, he'll chase it, no matter how high the bar.''</div> Its good to see Phil viewing Kobe as we all see him, a guy who wants to win, not a monster like the media have made him out to be. Its always good when the coach see's the hunger in your eye's. I think Phil and Kobe are on the best circumstances right now then they have ever been.
Yeah, Kobe is a competitive guy who wants to win, but he can't expect us to believe that he doesn't like to score for reasons other than "doing what's best for the team." Almost no one is that team-oriented. Consider that when the Lakers were up by a hefty margin in the middle of the 4th quarter of his 81 point game, he was still rushing and forcing (bad) shots up early in the shot clock. From the standpoint of winning the game, that's not a sensible strategy. He was more interested in trying to maximize his point total rather than maximize his team's chances of winning the game. Of course, when there's a strong chance you're going to win either way (as was the case against a hapless Toronto team on the road), it isn't that big a deal.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, Kobe is a competitive guy who wants to win, but he can't expect us to believe that he doesn't like to score for reasons other than "doing what's best for the team." Almost no one is that team-oriented. Consider that when the Lakers were up by a hefty margin in the middle of the 4th quarter of his 81 point game, he was still rushing and forcing (bad) shots up early in the shot clock. From the standpoint of winning the game, that's not a sensible strategy. He was more interested in trying to maximize his point total rather than maximize his team's chances of winning the game. Of course, when there's a strong chance you're going to win either way (as was the case against a hapless Toronto team on the road), it isn't that big a deal.</div> I also think Kobe likes to score just cuz it feels good! And i dont blame him when you have those skillz nothing wrong with that.
But in order to win you need the ball. Which in essence Kobe is calling himself a ball hog. There you have it. I always knew he was. I'm just joking of course. I'd say Kobe is the most competitive in the league. I would say AI but he is only like that once he gets on the court but off the court, as far as his work ethic goes and trying to beat another team even if he has to come off the bench is not very competitive to me. But AI is still up there, no doubt about that, as well as KG but Kobe is something else. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> Consider that when the Lakers were up by a hefty margin in the middle of the 4th quarter of his 81 point game, he was still rushing and forcing (bad) shots up early in the shot clock. From the standpoint of winning the game, that's not a sensible strategy. He was more interested in trying to maximize his point total rather than maximize his team's chances of winning the game.</div> Wow? Put that together(bolded) and you'll know why you said doesn't make sense, well at least in my opinon. However in a way I see what you're saying. Not naming that 81 point game even if he doesn't need to score that extra ten points or so he would look to get it anyway. But I don't think you can knock him for that. I'd say that about every single prolific scorer in NBA history who is capable of putting up points wants to do that AND win. Jordan, Wilt, AI, Baylor, Gervin, Thompson and so on. Kobe is no different. The fact that they are labeled as great scorers and most importantly are great scorers they just feel the urge to score those points because mainly that's what they are expected to do.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post"> Not naming that 81 point game even if he doesn't need to score that extra ten points or so he would look to get it anyway. But I don't think you can knock him for that. I'd say that about every single prolific scorer in NBA history who is capable of putting up points wants to do that AND win. Jordan, Wilt, AI, Baylor, Gervin, Thompson and so on. Kobe is no different. The fact that they are labeled as great scorers and most importantly are great scorers they just feel the urge to score those points because mainly that's what they are expected to do.</div> Generally, once you're ahead in the 4th quarter, the last thing you want to do is force up bad shots early in the shot clock and give the other team more chances to come back. If a player was all about ensuring the win, they'd play smart in that situation and slow down the pace and get good shots for his team. Clearly, there was another interest at play there -- piling on the impressive point total and entertaining the crowd. Hey, I'm not knocking him for it. I'd probably do the same, if I was in the same situation (and had Kobe's skills). Let's just not pretend that the 81 points was purely a selfless basketball act.
Kobe scored 81 to win the game. Kobe saw that he had to do it himself and he did what he wanted to do that is to win. He only hogs because, no one else is doing anything.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Generally, once you're ahead in the 4th quarter, the last thing you want to do is force up bad shots early in the shot clock and give the other team more chances to come back. If a player was all about ensuring the win, they'd play smart in that situation and slow down the pace and get good shots for his team. Clearly, there was another interest at play there -- piling on the impressive point total and entertaining the crowd. Hey, I'm not knocking him for it. I'd probably do the same, if I was in the same situation (and had Kobe's skills). Let's just not pretend that the 81 points was purely a selfless basketball act.</div> I see what you're saying. And you are right. But put yourself in his shoes. If you were on the way to having one of the greatest single game performances in not just basketball but in sports history your trying to say YOU wouldn't embrace it? After all, it's a season game against the Raptors and it's not like they were up one-five points, the game was clearly decided already.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Avery:</div><div class="quote_post">I see what you're saying. And you are right. But put yourself in his shoes. If you were on the way to having one of the greatest single game performances in not just basketball but in sports history your trying to say YOU wouldn't embrace it? After all, it's a season game against the Raptors and it's not like they were up one-five points, the game was clearly decided already.</div> Sure, I probably would. Which is what I said.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting dtpxcore:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe scored 81 to win the game. Kobe saw that he had to do it himself and he did what he wanted to do that is to win. He only hogs because, no one else is doing anything.</div> i could score 81 points if i dominated the ball that much AND had every single call possible made for me. There was no point double or triple teaming him because the refs just became more and more likely to call the foul. He had a great game, he's a tremendous talent. But please dont make him out to be a god becuase he scored 81 points versus a horrible defensive team on there worst defensive outing of the year AND was getting every call possible. Kobe's great...but not to the degree you make him out to be.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting 02civic:</div><div class="quote_post">i could score 81 points if i dominated the ball that much AND had every single call possible made for me. There was no point double or triple teaming him because the refs just became more and more likely to call the foul. He had a great game, he's a tremendous talent. But please dont make him out to be a god becuase he scored 81 points versus a horrible defensive team on there worst defensive outing of the year AND was getting every call possible. Kobe's great...but not to the degree you make him out to be.</div> I bet you couldn't score 81 points with just me guarding you one-on-one in 41minutes and 56 seconds. One you probably don't have the energy or stamina to take enough shots to score 81 and play defense at the same time. Two you probably don't have the skill to score 81 points. If you really think it's that easy why don't you buy a video camera and film yourself recreating Kobe's 81 point night. Here's a shot chart of all the shots Kobe took ... Shot Chart You have 41 minutes and 56 seconds to do the following ... Make 18-20 FTs Make 7-13 3 points Make 21-33 shots (layups & jumpers) Let's see if you can do that with no one guarding you.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">I bet you couldn't score 81 points with just me guarding you one-on-one in 41minutes and 56 seconds. One you probably don't have the energy or stamina to take enough shots to score 81 and play defense at the same time. Two you probably don't have the skill to score 81 points. If you really think it's that easy why don't you buy a video camera and film yourself recreating Kobe's 81 point night. Here's a shot chart of all the shots Kobe took ... Shot Chart You have 41 minutes and 56 seconds to do the following ... Make 18-20 FTs Make 7-13 3 points Make 21-33 shots (layups & jumpers) Let's see if you can do that with no one guarding you.</div> To add to that, if you were so good, why aren't you in the NBA? Oh yeh, and your time for the 81 points starts.....now! Good Luck!
