<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Sure, it's old news now, because it's the Clippers - not the Lakers - who are still playing, but the controversy won't die. Why did Kobe Bryant quit in the second half of Game 7 against the Phoenix Suns on Saturday? Well, we don't know if he quit trying, but we do know he quit shooting as the Lakers were being blown out by 31 points, providing an embarrassing punctuation mark to a season that many observers believe exceeded reasonable expectations. We also now know Bryant didn't like the way some people read into his taking just three shots, and scoring one point, in the second half of that game, because Charles Barkley informed us Monday night that Kobe had let him know he was upset with Sir Charles' on-air analysis during TNT's "Inside the NBA" postgame show Saturday. Barkley, the most outspoken and outrageous TV analyst in sports, said Saturday that Bryant was "selfish" for shutting it down when the game got out of hand, implying he quit on his team, to try to make a point. Bryant fired back the next day, according to Barkley, in "a series of 20 text messages" between their cell phones. "He was ... angry, upset ... used (foul) language," Barkley revealed on TNT after the Suns-Clippers playoff opener. Barkley said Bryant "has the right to text me to give his side, his point of view" and said he "appreciated him being man enough to vent." But Barkley says he hasn't changed his opinion. "What I told him was I got no agenda," Barkley said of his text messages to Bryant. "I've always said Kobe Bryant is the best basketball player in the world. ... I just want to make it perfectly clear, I do not have a hidden agenda when I come on the set. "That being said, I do think he was trying to make (a point). I'm not going to change my opinion. What I said Saturday night I'm going to stick to today. Do I think he quit? I don't think he quit, but I do think he was trying to make a point, and I disagree with his point. "He's the most competitive player in the NBA ... and I don't find any reason possible for him to take three shots in (the second half of) a game where they're getting blown out." Barkley didn't specify what point he thought Bryant was trying to make. This is what we do know: Despite a superb first half by Kobe (23 points on 8-of-13 shooting), the Lakers still trailed by 15 points; that Coach Phil Jackson said he wanted to stick with his original game plan and get back to attacking the Suns by going inside in the second half; that Kobe didn't take a shot in the first four minutes of the third quarter and his only point after halftime came on a technical free throw after Phoenix was whistled for a defensive three-second violation in the lane. We also know that Jackson finally took Bryant out with five minutes to play and the outcome decided. But the Zen Master was smart enough not to criticize his star player for his second-half decisions, knowing Bryant technically was following his game plan. "Kobe just sat on that game plan," Jackson said after the game. But Bryant is known for sparking second-half comebacks and end-of-the-game heroics, so why did he stop shooting? Did he think the deficit was too large this time? Was he trying to show Jackson that sticking with his inside game plan was futile, if not foolhardy? Was he trying to show owner Jerry Buss he needs more help if this team is to be considered a true playoff contender? Was it all of the above? Only Kobe knows for sure, but by not shooting he implicitly showed up his teammates and coach. As Barkley said Monday night, "Obviously, I think Phoenix is the better team, but I expected him to go out in a blaze of glory." I think Barkley meant he expected Bryant to go out with guns blazing. And didn't we all?</div> Source
I think it's about time people gave up. I mean what the hell do people want Kobe to do? should he retire? I mean it's getting out of hand. He shoots alot, he can never be like Jordan. He has to make his teammates better. He shoots less, he's selfish. He gave up. He was trying to prove a point. I think Kobe should pull a Jordan and retire for a year and see how the NBA will miss him.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting philip2136:</div><div class="quote_post">i cant belive people still talk about kobe not taking alot of shots</div> Well this article is defending him. The first batch of articles written slammed Kobe, now other writers are coming to his defense and giving an alternative view of what might have happened.
People just have to stop critisize Kobe. People say he`s selfish but then they say hes a quiter because he didnt shoot. OMG is everyone going to critisize him for every little move he makes? So whats next? a travel or a carry and everyone is going to think Kobe is a worthless player? Come On people KOBE IS the best player in the league give the guy a break!
Kobe is the best basketball player in the world right now. Thats why he has so many haters and critics. Do you see anyone critisize a B rated player? Hardly. I think this will only fuel Kobe's desire to win even more. I would really like to hear from Kobe himself his point of view on all of this.
When you're the best, you're bound to have critics who want your head on a platter. Kobe uses the hate to fuel his game. We should appreciate this hate.
