Kobe should take a page from LeBron James' book

<div class="quote_poster">Clear It Out Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">His supporting cast wasn't exactly phenomenal. People forget how great Shaq was even in his young days. I was just watching an old game between the Magic and the Pacers in the ECF. Shaq was AMAZING. I almost forgot how dominant this guy was. They started the game 15-3. Then, Shaq gets into foul trouble. And the Pacers go on an 11-0 run. And it's not like the games weren't close in the Finals against the Rockets. My only knock on Shaq (besides his tendency to get lazy) is his defense. He couldn't defend Hakeem. Shaq has great timing and great reaction time for a man his size. So, he can pretty much block any shot in the paint that he sees. But he's not a good man defender. And on the block, Hakeem pretty much moves like a damn guard. Anyway, it was just a matchup from hell. Winning a title isn't everything. It's just what people look at . Getting to the Finals should count for something. He got through Jordan's Bulls and the Pacers. And the Magic finished the regular season 57-25. Shaq in his young days was unstoppable. You should watch some Magic games. The post, pass out, re-post, dunk/hook shot was unstoppable. There was only 3 people on the floor that could slow down Shaq and that was the 3 refs. Watching some of Shaq's old games led me to believe that there was a double standard when officiating Shaq. (I'm sure most people already know that, but I never really believed so).

And to add, Hakeem's Rockets are far better than and old Pacers team, the Nets, and the 76ers.</div>

So Orlando got swept but they were close games? Who cares, the fact is Shaq has needed an All-NBA guard to reach the Finals throughout his tenure, don't act like he's done it all alone.

Further, Shaq was on the Bench at the end of games in those playoff runs. Kobe was the closer.

Obviously Kobe has shown that when one isn't the first option, their stats will get hurt. With Shaq dominating the ball the way he does, how is it possible for Kobe to get off enough shots to put up MJ-like numbers?

 

To give shaq 75% credit on those playoff is BS. Totally BS. You are simply saying if you put 4 smush parker with Shaq in prime and phil coaching, they can be a serious contender or even a champion. Think about your logic before you type and we don't want to see those BS again.

<font color=""Red"">~ Warning Please Refrain From Personal Attacks - Shapecity.</font>

 

<div class="quote_poster">huevonkiller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">So Orlando got swept but they were close games? Who cares, the fact is Shaq has needed an All-NBA guard to reach the Finals throughout his tenure, don't act like he's done it all alone.

Further, Shaq was on the Bench at the end of games in those playoff runs. Kobe was the closer.

Obviously Kobe has shown that when one isn't the first option, their stats will get hurt. With Shaq dominating the ball the way he does, how is it possible for Kobe to get off enough shots to put up MJ-like numbers?</div>
MJ-like numbers starts with making at least 50% of your shots. Kobe has never ever done that. Why is it wherever Shaq goes one of his teammates gets on the All-NBA squad? I bet he can go on the Knicks and get at least one person to an All-NBA team.

 

<div class="quote_poster">TopLake Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">To give shaq 75% credit on those playoff is BS. Totally BS. You are an idiot and don't know what basketball is. You are simply saying if you put 4 smush parker with Shaq in prime and phil coaching, they can be a serious contender or even a champion. Think about your logic before you type and we don't want to see those BS again.</div>
You're a Kobe homer. Come back when you're not. So your opinions mean 0 to me. Don't talk to me about logic when you worship a selfish rapist.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Clear It Out Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">MJ-like numbers starts with making at least 50% of your shots. Kobe has never ever done that. Why is it wherever Shaq goes one of his teammates gets on the All-NBA squad? I bet he can go on the Knicks and get at least one person to an All-NBA team.</div>

First off, Wade and Kobe (even Penny) have put up even better stats without Shaq on the court, that just shows how much basketball you've actually watched the last few seasons. Shaq makes mainly role players (like Nick Anderson or Derek Fisher) better.

You're complaining about FG%? I think it would do you well to google True Shooting percentage on the web. TS% correlates the most with winning percentage. Kobe's TS% this year was the same as Shaq's career TS% (58).

And you need to take care of that sig.

 

<div class="quote_poster">huevonkiller Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">First off, Wade and Kobe (even Penny) have put up even better stats without Shaq on the court, that just shows how much basketball you've actually watched the last few seasons. Shaq makes mainly role players (like Nick Anderson or Derek Fisher) better.

You're complaining about FG%? I think it would do you well to google True Shooting percentage on the web. TS% correlates the most with winning percentage. Kobe's TS% this year was the same as Shaq's career TS% (58).

And you need to take care of that sig.</div>
You can stare at stats all you want. But I have watched games. And the games are far easier for ALL players when Shaq is around. There's no easier job in the NBA than playing alongside Shaq. A shame Kobe couldn't realize that because of his unusually gigantic ego. To Kobe, winning is second. Accolades are first.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Clear It Out Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You can stare at stats all you want. But I have watched games. And the games are far easier for ALL players when Shaq is around. There's no easier job in the NBA than playing alongside Shaq. A shame Kobe couldn't realize that because of his unusually gigantic ego. To Kobe, winning is second. Accolades are first.</div>

Kobe's career high in efficiency was without Shaq, do you even know what you're trying to say anyway? Kobe's progress was impeded if anything, because he had to defer to Shaq.

As for selfishness, Shaq wanted a 33 million dollar contract, that is ridiculous (there is this thing called a salary cap, remember?). No wonder they let him go.

 

<div class="quote_poster">Clear It Out Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">You can stare at stats all you want. But I have watched games. And the games are far easier for ALL players when Shaq is around. There's no easier job in the NBA than playing alongside Shaq. A shame Kobe couldn't realize that because of his unusually gigantic ego. To Kobe, winning is second. Accolades are first.</div>

Kobe had nothing to do with shaq being let go by LA. Shaq makes the game so much easier for his teammates, so much so, in fact, they almost won a game against the Bulls; and of course, only when he wasn't injured because he refuses to adapt a better work ethic. Face it, LA let Shaq go because he wanted too much and he was aging, Kobe had nothing to do with it, even Shaq says so. Get off your anti-Kobe horse, oh, and stop grouping everyone who has a different opinion from yours into the Kobe lover group.

 

<div class="quote_poster">phunDamentalz Wrote</div><div class="quote_post">OKAY, let's get one thing straight:
Kobe in the playoffs WITHOUT SHAQ has had some good games, some good moments, but has yet to win a playoff series. I don't care about supporting cast comparisons - the only 2 recent players who have proven they can do that are Dwyane Wade and LeBron James. Therefore those guys are ahead of Kobe in terms of playoff superstars that can "do anything". LeBron's game the other night was something Kobe has pretty much never done.</div>

Man I started reading some of these comments and it was frustrated. Friggin stupid how easily ppl forget the type of all around game that Kobe had when the Lakers dominated the league. Kobe was regarded as the best all around player, but yet people still label as a selfish player. Then again this guy made an idiotic comment like these is ****** funny. He absolutely needs to rent a tape of the Lakers 2000-2001 postseason.

May I remind you, Kobe had a similar game that Lebron had except that it wasn't in the magnitude of what Lebron did to the Pistons. In the conference semi final, game 4 vs the Sac Kings, Kobe had a playoff career best game putting up 48pts, grabbing 16rbs, dissing 3asts with 2sts and a block to eliminate the Kings in a sweep.

What impressive is Kobe had a monster game back to back. Next opponent, the San Antonio Spurs Game 1, Kobe putting up 45pts, 10rbs, 3rbs including a steal and a block to totally destroying the Spurs in Game 1. For the whole series, Kobe averaged 34ppg, 7rbs, 7apg, 2spg, and 1bpg against them. This is no fluke man...

 

King James in the Finals:

Outside the Paint: 2-26
3 Pointers: 2-13
Midrange: 0-13
Overall: 22-60

 

Whatever the case Kobe in place of Bron right now would have given better results or even a 2-1 series.