I don't know if this ws already mentioned but i didn't wanna read 10 pages of posts. But what a coincidence!! Kobe ends his season with 24 POINTS!!!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting igotask8board:</div><div class="quote_post">AWW BS! I hate this **** Kobe pulled a T-mac. Being up 3-1 and then losing the next 3 in a row. T-Mac was 8th seed, with less help, and he got his team up in Orlando up 3-1. He averaged like 54 in the series, had a 62 point game. I kind of think this shows even Kobe Bryant is going to have a hard time getting out of the first round (w/o Shaq)</div> Umm, Tmac didn't avg 54 pts in the 7 game series. He only had like 4 50 pt games overall as a Magic, much less avg that much. I agree though about having a worse supporting cast though. Kobe just has a huge mental advantage over Tmac. Tmac just didn't have that killer instinct that Kobe has. Kobe has a much better chance then Tmac to advance out of the 1st round. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">He always takes shot at Kobe, the other game he said Kobe shot too much. Oh well. I'm glad we drafted Brian Cook instead of Leandro Barbosa. </div> At least you didn't get Reece Gaines out of the draft over Barbosa. (If I was the GM, I would have had Barbosa as a Magic even then)
PJax talked about Kobe Bryant not taking over in the 2nd half. They felt the only way to get back in the game was getting everyone involved and not just having Kobe score 50, just to end up losing by 20. If the Lakers were able to get back in the game, then the plan was to give Kobe the green light to take over for the win. Kobe double teamed passed out and his teammates clanked.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting immunity:</div><div class="quote_post">I Cannot Believe That Fat So*..charles Barkley Is An A***...never Won Anything...just As I Said He Called Kobe Selfish For Passing... Typical Hater...i Cant Beleive This</div> He was implying that Kobe may have been sending a message to the media that his team isn't always better when hes passing the ball. That thought crossed my mind at the end of the game, there was still a small chance that Kobe could have gotten the Lakers back into the game but he kept passing and it wouldn't surprise me at all if Kobe did it to prove that his team isn't better off with him not shooting. Its extremely highly unlikely that Kobe could have gotten the Lakers a win but hes definitely got the ability to at least make game closer and more respectable but he didn't even try. Granted Barkley's analysis not exactly insightful, I'm just pointing out the same thought crossed my mind.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Franchise4Ever:</div><div class="quote_post">Steven may have been a Magic bust but I think he is doing fairly good in Philly. If given the right time and some small improvements this guy could be a baby Marcus Camby.</div> He's had 5 seasons and has played with guys like Tracy McGrady and Steve Nash, 2 of the better guys of setting others up(yes TMac is great at setting people up, he's a very underrated passer, if the Magic bigs could make a layup, he would have avg 10 assists) and he still struggled. Trust me, he's very very talented, he's just not a good player. The Magic sent him to the big man camp 2 out of the years and he didn't improve at all, so he has had good people teaching him. If you can get him for like a million he'd be worth a try, but I'm just saying from experience of watching him, he isn't going to give you guys anything that you don't have now. He will never be a 25 min guy, because he goes through stretches in every game where he is just lost out on the floor and I don't think Doc Rivers system is harder to learn than a Phil Jackson triangle offense system. I honestly was expecting Steven Hunter to break out when he left, but he didn't even do that.
the game shows that lakers is a one man team as the rest of the team is never focused/consistent enough from beginning to the end to finish the job when lakers start to play smallball, as barkley noted, the game is over whoever owns the tempo wins and phoenix did their style from beginning to the end barbosa is the guy that make this a blowout...wow
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting kobe4life:</div><div class="quote_post">Tim Thomas is the reason they kill us, not the Phoenix. I think it's Tim Thomas, who is this guy?!</div> tim thomas is part of parade but that's with nash feeding him the ball and give him good looks personaly i think it's barbosa that killed lakers nobody can stop him
Kobe's post game comments ... Suns took it up another level. Teammates were nervous. This is a learning experience for us. Gives props to Barbosa and Diaw. Defense was going to win it for us. And we play defense when guys are scoring and their confidence goes up. We might have been at our maximum effort. It's all about growth for us. Loves Ronny, thinks he's a key player for the future and Kobe will take him under his wing and invite him to his workouts this summer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">the game shows that lakers is a one man team</div> YOUNG TEAM! Geez.... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">barbosa is the guy that make this a blowout...wow</div> Definitly, Barbosa was amazing both in this game and game 6. His speed is amazing...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hohoyoyoyo:</div><div class="quote_post">the game shows that lakers is a one man team as the rest of the team is never focused/consistent enough from beginning to the end to finish the job when lakers start to play smallball, as barkley noted, the game is over whoever owns the tempo wins and phoenix did their style from beginning to the end barbosa is the guy that make this a blowout...wow</div> Kobe passing isn't the reason why the lost this game, IMO they lost it because they took 27 3 pointers and they missed 19 of them. Those 19 led to long rebounds that led to fast breaks for the Suns, so that is basically at least 30 free points for the Suns right there(because they would convert a high amount of points on their fast breaks). If they continued to pound it downlow and not shoot so many 3's, it would have been much closer, because it would have forced the Suns to play more half court offense.
when i said one-man team is really like when #8 is not firing it and passing it to them, they looked rather nervous to take those crucial shots those uncertainty shows they rely too much on the guy whereas when nash is sort of wobbly with his ankle and not on court, boris diaw and barbosa did the smooth distribution and still make the high percentage shots with extra passes it's a team effort and the trust #8 put trust into his teammates, his teammates don't trust themselves
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GatorsowntheSEC:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe passing isn't the reason why the lost this game, IMO they lost it because they took 27 3 pointers and they missed 19 of them. Those 19 led to long rebounds that led to fast breaks for the Suns, so that is basically at least 30 free points for the Suns right there(because they would convert a high amount of points on their fast breaks). If they continued to pound it downlow and not shoot so many 3's, it would have been much closer, because it would have forced the Suns to play more half court offense.</div> Nah, I don't agree. The Suns pretty much control the temple the whole game. and once you are down 20 points, there is noway the Lakers can control the temple because they are now playing a catch up game, and playing a slow pace, half court isn't going to bring you back. Jacking up three is the right way to get back in the game. The Lakers just missing shot after shot and no defense at all, gotta tip the hat to the Suns for that. It's a great serie, the best team wins.
Even though it was a heartbreaker losing after a 3-1 lead, I'm glad the Lakers gave the fans something to cheer about. This was a great series, and probably the best one in the 1st Round of this year's playoffs. Offseason training for this team starts tonight!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting shapecity:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe's post game comments ... Suns took it up another level. Teammates were nervous. This is a learning experience for us. Gives props to Barbosa and Diaw. Defense was going to win it for us. And we play defense when guys are scoring and their confidence goes up. We might have been at our maximum effort. It's all about growth for us. Loves Ronny, thinks he's a key player for the future and Kobe will take him under his wing and invite him to his workouts this summer.</div> He also said that Raja Bell has no effect on him defensively. Said he's not like a Ron Artest or Bruce Bowen, where you have to think about what they're doing defensively.
If I had to do it all over again, I'd have supported the Lakers more in this series. It would have been a first too. As an underdog, they showed great heart and passion (until game 7). Next year looks bright for you guys. On another note, its like the team did all it could to prove me wrong. First they take a 3-1 lead when I thought the Suns would win in 5. Then they let the Suns back in, when I said Phoenix done. Then they lose in Game 7, when I finally predicted them to win.
Oh please, I don't think Jordan experienced the type of criticism like Kobe. If Kobe shoots too much, he's selfish and if he shoots too little, he's still selfish. You guys are winning so keep it humble my man
I don't think Kobe was trying to prove a point. Phil Jackson said that the gameplan was to get everyone else involved. Kobe was following orders. Yeah, Jordan may not have been willing to do that in the same situation, but you can't knock Kobe for it.
