<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Have you been paying attention, Kobe? Without you, your Lakers have started the season 2-0. Even more telling, though, is the cohesiveness with which they have played. Sixty assists through the first two games, far eclipsing the 21 L.A. averaged last season. Four players in double figures in each contest. Oh, and did we mention two wins without you on the floor? This isn't to suggest that the Lakers are better off without No. 8, er, No. 24. Not with a roster that includes Smush Parker, Shammond Williams, Maurice Evans, Brian Cook ... (stop me whenever you like). But it does suggest that there are some players on this team who know what they're doing; that the multi-talented Lamar Odom can be your Scottie Pippen; that 19-year-old Andrew Bynum may have the skills -- and the willingness to share the ball -- that Kwame Brown only hints at having; that these Lakers can win by executing Phil Jackson's Triangle offense you so famously chafe at. It also suggests, however, that Bryant is the one who needs to learn to fit in with his team, not vice versa. True, the Lone Ranger act propelled the Lakers within a game of upending the Suns in the first round of last season's playoffs, but it also propelled them out of the playoffs when Kobe's desire to prove his value prompted him to give up in the second half of Game 7, passing up shot after shot in a self-destructive attempt to demonstrate how little the Lakers could fend for themselves. But the dying moments of a season are far too late for any player to find out what kind of supporting cast he has. After 88 games of playing clear-out, was Odom suddenly supposed to take over? There probably isn't a player in the league today who would have taken those table scraps from Kobe on principle alone. Kobe has -- and deserves -- top billing in L.A. But that also carries the responsibility of nurturing a supporting cast, of creating opportunities for teammates they wouldn't ordinarily get and then allowing them to exploit those opportunities. In other words, Kobe needs to "raise his team's level of play." It won't be as easy as Shaq has had it in Miami. Players seem to have a lot more room to operate when someone 7-1 and 325 pounds is occupying a fair amount of hardwood real estate. Kobe will, in fact, have to demonstrate a faith in his teammates greater than Shaq often claims. He will have to allow teammates the freedom to think for themselves on occasion, to trust they will know where to move when Kobe receives the inevitable double teams. From the early look of things, this Lakers team is ready for more responsibility. Is Kobe? </div> Link Is it just me, or is the guy hinting that the Lakers are better without Kobe?
I don't think he's really saying they're better without him, in fact, he pretty much comes out and says that there's no way they're better without him when he starts listing off the roster. If he is implying that though, he's nuts, cause everyone knows that the Lakers are a much, much better team with Kobe. I do however, love the way they've played without him. Everyone has filled their role valiantly and hopefully they don't feel the need to take a backseat when Kobe comes back, especially Odom. The man is playing otherworldly to start this season, and if he can keep it up when Kobe comes back, we'll be a dangerous team.
I kind of agree with him. Everyone knows the Lakers can't survive without Kobe, but I feel like Kobe has to come back and really try to keep this team play going. I think he can and I think he will. Lets get ready for a great season.
Morons generally speak about things they don't know about. Last season, Kobe tried to get his teammates off early on so he didn't have to take over games. The problem was, his teammates where missing the wide open looks he created for them. This season his teammates are more confident and have improved offensively. This will allow Kobe to focus more on other areas of the game to help the Lakers win, defense, rebounding and passing. Last season Kobe had to score 40 points for the team to have a chance, because they didn't have anyone else stepping up. What's this nonsense about the Lone Ranger act in the Suns series? Kobe and the Lakers played some beautiful basketball in the first 5 games. Everyone was moving well and their flow was great. It wasn't a single man act taking down the Suns. Did this writer even watch?
shapecity <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Morons generally speak about things they don't know about.</div> Completely aggree with you. This writer seems to not even follow the Lakers last year. The reason why the Lakers didnt do so well is because everyone lack experience and knowledge in the triangle. You would see players not knowing what to do in the offense and then ending passing the ball to Kobe 5 seconds in the clock shot, including Odom. Odom is finally understanding the offense and the fact that he could be unstopable if he desires to take it to the basket. This writers swear the Lakers with out Kobe are a great team. Ok we won two games in a row but that doesnt mean anything because we could easily loose the next two. What excites me is that this team is playing great because Turiaf, Bynum, Sasha, Luke and even Farmar have developed great and are becoming role players in a championship team. If only Lamar avaraged 25/10 and Kober 29/6/7 we could definitely be contenders in the West.
When Kobe comes back, it's only going to make the Lakers better. I suspect Kobe will play the same way he was when they were playing the Suns in the playoffs. Last year when Kobe was out of action, Lakers were clueless on what to do. They start the season 2-0 w/o Kobe and that doesn't mean that they are "better" w/o him. This means they are comfortable with their role and have strong team chemistry.
