last nights game he looked great, almost had a tripple double tonights game against golden state, he is producing like the kobe from last season, do you guys think he is back to his regular self as far as being the playmaker and superior scorer that he is? or will he fatigue..... personally, i dont think kobe should take his last bit of energy out on the second half of the season, ya its critical time for LA considering im sure they want homecourt, but he seems to be playing on his last breathe, and he should save it for the playoffs....but you could also argue that the team chemistry needs to be picked up...i dont know, opinions...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Krazygreen:</div><div class="quote_post">last nights game he looked great, almost had a tripple double tonights game against golden state, he is producing like the kobe from last season, do you guys think he is back to his regular self as far as being the playmaker and superior scorer that he is? or will he fatigue..... personally, i dont think kobe should take his last bit of energy out on the second half of the season, ya its critical time for LA considering im sure they want homecourt, but he seems to be playing on his last breathe, and he should save it for the playoffs....but you could also argue that the team chemistry needs to be picked up...i dont know, opinions...</div> It sure looks like he is tonight. I hope he is back to form, just not tonight. haha. I hope he beats the rap and gets this whole mess behind him, ouch, wrong choice of words.
Yeah, he does look like he is finally in excellent shape, these last two games have been huge. It will only get better when he gets that bandage off his finger!
shaq couldnt make a free throw if his life depended on it. kobe kobe kobe, i remember mad dogg saying that on nba tonight allll of last season! Bring it back baby! kobe kobe kobe!
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Warriorfansnc93:</div><div class="quote_post">It sure looks like he is tonight. I hope he is back to form, just not tonight. haha. I hope he beats the rap and gets this whole mess behind him, ouch, wrong choice of words.</div> j-rich is my fav underrated player in the league.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Krazygreen:</div><div class="quote_post">j-rich is my fav underrated player in the league.</div> ... what does that have to do with what he said?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">... what does that have to do with what he said? </div> in regards to his FAV PLAYER - J Rich Fav Team - Golden State i spotted it and replied to it, does it have to comply with his post? there are no rules on this message board that state that i cannot post something concerning his User name and profile.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Krazygreen:</div><div class="quote_post">in regards to his FAV PLAYER - J Rich Fav Team - Golden State i spotted it and replied to it, does it have to comply with his post? there are no rules on this message board that state that i cannot post something concerning his User name and profile.</div> Just didn't have a clue on why you said that out of no where, and since you quoted him I was just askin.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Just didn't have a clue on why you said that out of no where, and since you quoted him I was just askin.</div> totally understandable bro. Hey Kobe finished strong, man the lakers need to get back to allowing kobe and shaq to take over games, but playing some freagin D......the role players are playing well, the defense needs to be stepped up. Kobe is smart, he didnt play too hard in the first half (party due to injuries), so the second half, he could start getting into his rhythm in for the playoffs(partly due to recovering from injury).
Kobe is playing great, Shaq too. This looks like the 1-2 punch that dominated their opposition on the way to three championships. I don't think they're quite back to where they were or where they want to be, but if this is any sign of what's to come in the final 30 games of the year, the rest of the western conference better be on alert. This is exactly what every non-Laker fan was fearing, the big two are starting to catch fire. The Lakers could be nearing full-throttle when Karl returns, then we'll really see how good this team can be. I just hope they keep it up.
Kobe looks like it. He seems to be back in the defensive and offensive, hell the overall skill he has is back. The way he was stealing in the ASG was simply amazing. Plus he's playing very smart, very mature basketball. I know he said it was momentum when he did the layup instead of the dunk, but a dunk could've messed up. I think he did well and was thinking of winning rather than getting cheered for. Ever since th personal problems, I've grown to respect him rather than his game. I always knew he was good, I just didn't want to accept it since he was such a great opposition. Even his awesome mid range and long range remain. He has such effort and still plays well even coming out of injury. Look at Ray Allen in comparison to him and Dwayne Wade. As for Shaq, he is playing great as well. Sure they have an impressive roster, but I'd have preferred it simply being Shaq and Kobe, no Malone and GP. They were doing fine on their own, were great friends and having two stars who "need" to have time and possession of the ball is enough to be needed for a team. As unselfish and GP, it might not work in the longrun, as for The Mailman, let's just say, he's nothing without Stockton.
Yes, Kobe is back to his regular form, his last two ballgames prove it all. I read an article that Steve kerr wrote about Kobe holding the keys to LA's big second half push, and I liked what he had to say. Can Kobe possibly lead this team to the Finals? It's a possibility,
As far was overall being healthy, he's not there yet IMO. Because at any time his shoulder injury could still be aggrivated, and I think he can feel it at times. As far as his legs being there, I think he's pretty much 100% from that state. He's driving to the basket with more explosion, which was the main reason we won last night. I don't recall him taking many shots from the outside. He will be the main reason for this 2nd half push, I think it's finally his time to show the world that he can lead a team.
I wouldnt say regular form quite yet...although he is looking spectacular...I hope it carries over into the playoffs, then he is aquitted of all charges, then he re-signs witht he lakers, and wins an MVP, and then he gets them to the finals and wins it all...then i wake up...but being serious now...he loks amazing...31 and 35 on back to back nights...that is pretty damn good
yeah i guess kobe is back to his old form, and i think at the all star break, kobe looked at his season stat and was like, "what th f, Im only averaging 21 ppg? This will change!" Just like Tmac (esp. Tmac), Kobe seems to score and play better in the second halves of season, he will try to finish it at at least 25 ppg, while Tmac (currently at over 27 ppg) will again average more than 30 ppg by the end of season... i think it's a great motivation for both players this will make them focus more
I think something just clicked in Kobe, not that he wasn't averaging enough points, but I think he simply got tired of losing. Players like Kobe will almost never be 100% healthy, so I'm sure the shoulder is still nagging him, but great players adjust and push forward. He's obviously been working on his fundamentals, those 15 foot bank shots are money right now and he's cutting to the basket as well as he has all year. I don't agree with the opinion that Malone and Payton aren't needed here, they are. The thing is that these guys all have to be healthy at the same time, and continue to learn how to play off of each other. Payton has had his struggles this year, especially with keeping himself in the game, but he's been a steady producer as advertised. He and Malone were leading the team through the first stretch of games when the Lakers went 18-3. Nothing without Stockton? If anything he's proven just how good he still is, Karl came to a team with 3 future HOF's and has managed fit in perfectly while still putting up great numbers. The Lakers struggled to beat teams with good big men when Samaki Walker was here, now that Karl is on the block with Shaq it will be a much less daunting task.
What I have noticed is that Kobe is being more assertive since the All-star break...he isn't just standing on the perimeter and taking jumpshots like he was doin the whole year....of late, he's been driving to the hoop, going after rebounds, and looking to create a lot more for his teammates...I'm not really sure if this is really in the confines of the Triangle offense, but regardless, I gotta say i like it this way more..
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Magic Johnson:</div><div class="quote_post">Sure they have an impressive roster, but I'd have preferred it simply being Shaq and Kobe, no Malone and GP. They were doing fine on their own, were great friends and having two stars who "need" to have time and possession of the ball is enough to be needed for a team. As unselfish and GP, it might not work in the longrun, as for The Mailman, let's just say, he's nothing without Stockton.</div> uhhhh you sure about that brah? As good as Shaq and Kobe are together, look at what they did by themselves against a mediocre team (the Warriors-I'm a fan, but I'll admit that they're mediocre). They only won by 1 point. The West is too good right now for you to say that the Lakers only need Shaq and Kobe. Without GP and Karl, they barely beat the Warriors! You don't understand how much better this ballclub is with the 2 new additions. They "were great friends"? No offense, but where have you been the last 2 and a half, maybe 3 years? When all we heard about was Shaq and Kobe arguing about whose team it was and other trivial crap? If anything, GP and Karl have helped this team's chemistry by stepping in quarrels that Shaq and Kobe have had. Sorry to break it to you, but if you didn't watch the first 30 or so games of the season, GP and Karl don't "need" the ball to do well. Payton distributed the ball well and helped the team run uptempo, while Karl proved to be a good passer (many people now realize how underrated of a passer this dude is). Yeah, he's good. Without Stockton. (as much as I hate Karl, I have to admit it).
