<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"You first come in as a rookie and you say, Two years from now I'll be getting some serious minutes. Then two years from then I'll be an All-Star. Then it's winning championships.' So you're always looking ahead," Kobe Bryant said in El Segundo, Calif., a distant, longing look in his eyes. "Those years went by so fast and you're wondering if you really had a chance to appreciate the moment. I feel like I'm really starting to enjoy the moment because you know how fast it can go by." The embarrassments never cease, but Bryant doesn't live there anymore. He kissed and made up with O'Neal on TV last year and he and coach Phil Jackson are getting along harmoniously. "One of the best relationships I've had with a player," Jackson is saying. "Everyone knows I can score. That's not the challenge. It's elevating my teammates to be able to win that championship. That's what people say we cannot do. Last year we were a team not expected to make the playoffs. Now the Western Conference is stronger and people again think we'll have to play over our heads just to get to the playoffs again.</div> Source
<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe can relax a little, he has probably 10 years left of basketball or more.</div>
The way the Lakers are playing with all this young guys and the Kobe getting into his prime. I definetely see the Lakers making the Western Finals this year and possibly the NBA Finals by season 07-08. Specially if we are able to sign a couple of nice free agents next summer.
I agree with phun, Kobe should relax just a little. He's one of the top conditioned athletes in the sport, he'll last at least another 10 years. Will those all be superstar years, no. But he can be productive for all of those years.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"> I definetely see the Lakers making the Western Finals </div> Your vision must be impaired....Kobe is an outstanding player (and possibly the best in the game), but they still have nobody down low.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"Everyone knows I can score. That's not the challenge. It's elevating my teammates to be able to win that championship. That's what people say we cannot do. Last year we were a team not expected to make the playoffs. Now the Western Conference is stronger and people again think we'll have to play over our heads just to get to the playoffs again.</div>That's something that's good to hear. It seems Kobe is more focused on getting everyone involved more than ever this year. If that's the case and everyone contributes, we could really open up some eyes. I think we have a lot more talent than people give us credit for and we're a lot deeper than in years past. If everyone gets involved and Kobe isn't forced to put up 27 shots per game again this year, we could be very, very dangerous, and we may even seem Lamar finally play at that All Star status many of us think is possible.
<div class="quote_poster">THE DREAM Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">Your vision must be impaired....Kobe is an outstanding player (and possibly the best in the game), but they still have nobody down low.</div>Actually, Kwame has turned into a fairly decent post prescence since the last month or so of the regular season last year. He just struggles with inconsistency. Also, Lamar is a pretty good post prescence as well. And, if healthy, Mihm is also a pretty good option down low.
