As I've watched this past week of Laker basketball, I've been looking very closely at a man that wears #8 with the word Bryant stitched on to the back of his jersey. After coming off a streak of 11 straight wins, it seemed as if the team was playing very well together, with a style of team basketball that no opponent could seem to handle, but since then the Lakers have lost three out of their last four games, and the blame goes to Kobe Bryant. Kobe Bryant shot erraticly and horribly in back to back losses against San Antonio and Portland, and yes, decided not to play against Sacramento. In perhaps, the biggest game of our season because of his selfish, arrogant, childish egomaniac reasons. So let me ask you Laker fans: If Kobe continues to CLANK off the rim, and allow his ego to be put first instead of the team's success, should Kobe find another residential address after the season is over regardless if we're world champs or not? Because I'm sure there are some Laker fans in here that are not blind and dellusional, and are seeing the same problems I'm looking at. I'd like to hear your opinions.
I'd hate to see Kobe leave L.A., but sometimes it does seem like the best thing to happen. He reacts to criticism in childish ways, and hurts the team as we saw in Sacramento yesterday. I don't agree with Kobe's way of dealing with it, but I also don't agree with the way the players complain about him shooting too much. Kobe has the most desire to win on this team and we've seen that over the years, and we all know he wouldn't be shooting so much just to hurt the team. From what I've heard there were several players that were complaining to him in the lockerroom about taking too many shots, and that's probably the worst way you could ask your best player to pass more, especially after all that he has gone through this season. In the past Phil has asked Kobe to distribute the ball, and Kobe has always delivered with great team play and usually gets 8-10 assists on those nights. You know you can get that from him just by the coach asking him to distribute the ball, why would you want to complain to him as a team in the locker room? What kind of reaction do you think you'd get by doing that? Like I said Kobe handled this in a childish manner, but I don't think the team was too bright on dealing with this issue either. 2 games left before the playoffs and this is still going on, I wouldn't be surprised to see Kobe in another Jersey next season..
1 - Can someone, please inform me of what happened between Jackson and Bryant. I've been hearing it through the media that they had a falling out, but what was made known to the fans regarding the conversation? 2 - From the rumors and what you guys have been saying, I think a)Kobe's checked out already and feels HE can turn it on at any time. b)maybe with all the speculation regarding his trials, he's being distracted. The Kobe we saw on Sunday is NOT the Kobe we know. Maybe he's starting to let this LIFE CHANGING predicament sink in. What do you think?
On the subject, when you have a superstar (Kobe) who is one of the major reasons you were successful in the past, who is not happy with the organizational leaders....your going to struggle. I personally believe that there's more than just Kobe right now. The problem might be this, those other issues (communicating on "D", Rick Fox missing time, more assist, Rush's injury) I would expect to clear up in time to make a playoff run, but I don't know about Bryant energy. I'm a big fan of Kareem Rush, and believe that if Phil can't trust Kobe to show up, pull him earlier. You understand that a deficit can be alot heavier in the playoffs.
Without Kobe, the Lakers will not succeed...We all saw what happened with SAC town when he didn't play in the 1st half...and when he got on that run they were down by only 11. In the 4th whos gonna take the big shots? Whos gonna hit the 3s?
^ I understand your point Prodigy, but the thing that really frustrates me is Kobe really isn't playing team basketball. Sure he's the man in the 4th quarter when we desperately need him, but what about the four other guys? To win an NBA championship, you need team chemistry. You need all 12 guys on the court to contribute well to the team. And if there's one guy with an arrogant, childish, egomanic like attitude, you're just completely bringing the team down, and people start pointing fingers. This is what Kobe has been doing in our losing streak of three of the last four games. He doesn't realize what he's doing is ruining our team's confidence and our hopes of winning a 4th championship.
I believe its a whole "undefined role" issue. Kobe seems unsure what his role is with this team. Phil needs to pull him aside and clearify things. Altho with Kobe, it sometimes seems there is no middle ground...its one extreme or another
He was biggest reason why they had that long winning streak and now he is the biggest reason why Lakers chemistry isn't there. I agree with what Phreeze said about teammates complaining about him shooting to much when the coach could've just told him to distribute the ball more and they expect him to take that complaining well. I understand why he would be irritated but he could've handled that in a better matter. It's fustrating to see them playing well together, then in instance team chemistry go away kinda like Portland the last couple of years.
What do you want Kobe to do? Everyone criticizes him for taking too many shots. Everyone criticizes him for not taking enough shots. What do u want him to do? He has the hardest job out of everyone in the L because Phil asks him to change his style of play almost everyother game. He wants him to be a scorer one day and then a facilitator the next. He wants him to take over one game then tells him to layoff the next. Do you know how difficult it is to just try and change your game day in and day out? Its like he's being traded to a different team everygame and has to try to adjust to how the team plays. We know it takes awhile to adjust but Kobe has to do that almost everygame. Don't hate man, appreciate the man who has to sacrifice his style of play and does everything he can for the team. I mean people called him childish and selfish for the way he plays. How is it selfish that he practices twice the amount of everyother player in the L, yet has to take a step back because some childish baby (Shaq) complaining about Kobe. If he so unhealthy to the Lakers, how did we get three rings? How come in 2000-2001 he took a step back from his offensive tear just so that he would help the Lakers to win. Every NBA finals, he lessened his game and allowed Shaq to do his thing just to satisfy his partner. I'm telling you man...Kobe has the hardest role in the L because of the fact that he needs to play a different role all the time and doing that can disrupt a players play.
Kobe is still the man, he works with very good raw talent and workhorses, but maybe other things rub off on me. We must not forget he is in a very dire situation and nervousness may be affecting his game. Shaq's a crybaby whom is lazy, regardless of bad play, Kobe puts in all his effort, he just doesn't succeed all the time. I feel he's lost lots of people's respect and admiration that drove him to be the player he is. Give him time, look at Ray Allen, they'll both be back on their feet soon enough. Just hopefully this season.
Let's not be like the Sac Queens and quickly jump on and off our star player's bandwagon. It's ridiculous how fans are willing to write off a Chris Webber, or in this case Kobe Bryant. I don't blame Kobe for our losses, because there are 4 other guys on the court who have played just as poorly as Kobe. Shaq has hurt the rhythm early in games by getting into early foul trouble and watching from the bench. He needs to get a handle on his offensive fouls and reach ins. Karl Malone and Gary Payton have been inconsistent on the defensive end all season long, creating a lot of open looks for their opponents. Phil Jackson has every right to criticize each of Kobe's game. The coach cannot let the team or a player get comfortable, or they will lose their focus and hunger the next time around. If Kobe was detrimental to the Laker losses and was not following the instructions of his coaches, he would have been benched. Do you honestly think the coaches or players would allow Kobe to lose a game for them by taking too, many or too, little shots? This was not a conspiracy game for the Lakers to lose on purpose either. They would rather face Memphis instead of Houston? There is no guarantee the Grizzlies will be the 5th seed, and if the Lakers had won the game, there's a good chance they could have passed Minny for the 1st seed. I'm sure the Lakers would much rather face Denver or Utah in round 1 than the Rockets or Grizzlies. And I'm also sure the Lakers would like to clinch homecourt advantage throughout the post season. The Lakers were completely outmatched in this game. They gave up, too many open looks and never made the adjustments at half time to overcome the Kings defensive scheme. The poor defense also led to cheap fouls and a lot of "and one" opportunities for the Kings. The Lakers were flat footed and never took control of the tempo with the classic defensive stops in the second half. At least the Lakers got a good look at how the Kings will likely approach them defensively if they meet in the playoffs. With only 2 games left, it would be nice to see the Lakers go into the playoffs with a little momentum.
It is a different situation for Kobe than other players, and while other people might call him selfish he has to sacrifice his game, when most players are at their prime at his age. Michael Jordan was able to do whatever he wanted freely at his age, as T-Mac and Vince Carter do now. Kobe on the other hand has to share with 3 hall of famers and play under one of the most respected coaches of all time. Yes that should make the games easier for you, but you still can't do nearly as much as you're capable of, and that really is tough for a guy going through so much in his life right now. Check out the stats of other players when they were 25: Shaquille O'Neal: 28.3PPG 11.4RPG 2.4APG Karl Malone: 29.1PPG 10.7RPG 2.7APG Michael Jordan: 32.5PPG 8.0RPG 8.0APG Dominique Wilkins: 27.4PPG 6.9RPG 2.5APG These guys are just a few of all of the greats who had the freedom to do whatever they wanted when they were young, but Kobe has had limits to what he could do right from the start. People call him selfish, but after all he has sacrificed in his personal career for a great team, to me this is not a "selfish" player.
I have to agree with Phreeze on this one. He had made some sacrifices and when the playoffs start the Lakers will be focused and will win it. Its just a phase that the team is going through. And as shapecity said lets not be like the Kings fan and talk sh*t about our star players. Kobe is a Laker with all his heart and wont let us down when the team needs him. I didnt know he had so much stuff to deal with. I thought Phil let him play his game but reading from you guys i was wrong. Nobody can handle his position. Talk about pressure.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I don't know how we can forgive him."</div> -- A Laker, not identified, in the April 13 Los Angeles Times talking about G Kobe Bryant and the star's apparent reluctance to shoot in the April 11 loss to the Kings. Funny how these things always come from "unidentified teammates." Don't know if this is true, but these unnamed source quotes are the stupidest thing, because the writer can't tell us who it is so that means we won't know if its true or not. Stupid...
Stop blaming Kobe, its hard to carry a team along and in the Sacramento Kings game he was tripled and doubled teamed and with Christie on him, Christie is one of the leagues top defenders
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting TheHitman:</div><div class="quote_post">Stop blaming Kobe, its hard to carry a team along and in the Sacramento Kings game he was tripled and doubled teamed and with Christie on him, Christie is one of the leagues top defenders</div> This was a stupid topic to begin with, and everyone stopped posting a few weeks ago for a reason.. Anyone who questioned if Kobe was the Lakers' problem doesn't know what they're talking about.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Phreeze:</div><div class="quote_post">Yes that should make the games easier for you, but you still can't do nearly as much as you're capable of, and that really is tough for a guy going through so much in his life right now. Check out the stats of other players when they were 25: These guys are just a few of all of the greats who had the freedom to do whatever they wanted when they were young, but Kobe has had limits to what he could do right from the start. People call him selfish, but after all he has sacrificed in his personal career for a great team, to me this is not a "selfish" player.</div> How has he sacrificed anything? Its not like he's making his scoring totals go down to distribute the ball to the rest of his teammates, you know who sacrifices alot? Vince Carter, he can score way more than it shows in hte scoring column, but most of the games he will pass the ball to his teammates and the teammates will miss half the time. That is tru sacrifice, ppl have already asked him why he doesnt go off scoring, but he says he has to do it for the team, and give his team confidence, that is sacrifice, not what Kobe is doing. If you're scoring more ur making ur image look better. Kobe knows there are other players there, but he still wants to have the highest scoring column. As for comments on him going thru a hard time right now, its not like he got injured or has a disease, this rape conviction of his is HIS fault. Its getting made look at as its some tragedy, HE DID IT. At least players like Shaq, Pierce, Carter, TMac, Duncan have restraint and not go get a rape charge like Kobe did. Now Kobe is a good player, but I dont see any sacrifice really. If anything, hes always making himself look really good, sacrifice is purposely doing something that wouldnt make you look good, WHEN you have the potential to do sth to make yourself look good, but doing it for the team. He's maximizing his potential FOR himself, so how is that sacrifice? He also makes him team win with it sometimes, but that doesnt make him sacrifice anything.
^ I never said anything about Kobe sacrificing more than anyone, or even mentioned anything about anyone sacrificing anything for that matter.. Vince probably could score more than he does, we know that so I don't get why you bring that up. Yes Kobe brought it to himself for this rape case by comitting adultry, but it doesn't mean he isn't going through a tough time. No matter if he did it or not, or if it's his fault or not it's still a tough time. Aside that, I'm saying he HAS sacrificed his personal statistic category. He has sacrificed it because he is with a very good team and is able to win championships ofcourse. I'm just saying that it isn't easy for a player with as much talent as he has to just sit back at the prime of his career. The all-time greats were posting up career numbers and setting records at his age, and because he is sticking to winning championships he isn't able to get that. I'm not saying that isn't a good sacrifice though, because it definitely is worth sacrificing for.
Well if you look at it the way you're saying it sounds like it could be sacrifice, but if he did go to another team say Denver, no way they'd win the championship, he makes himself look good by being with the Lakers. If he didnt win any championships, they wouldnt measure him on this greatness scale as he has now. He is picking the best choice, cuz say he went over to m/b Denver or Clippers, with no potential to win, even if he scores high, he wouldnt get as much publicity since he has no potential to win, and I know he knows that. So really, its not exactly a sacrifice, everyone wants a championship even if they didnt work for it, Kobe is working for his championship, but to go to another team and leave Lakers is definitely a sacrifice, or should I say risky. By staying with Lakers, it is a safety net. I know his numbers would go down if he left the Lakers and join a sub-par team, its not really sacrifice at all. Winning a championship is everything, not scoring. But anyways like u were saying that you werent talking about sacrifice at all, thats fine, i guess my real gripe about it is that too many ppl are feeling sorry for Kobe. Yes the trial case, but if you found a real rapist in court, you'd probably hate him. And then ppl dont hate Kobe cuz he can score and everything and look flashy and pull out hte clutch shot, then why should ppl feel sorry for him? He's talented, luckily, regular ppl arent, and with his talent, he pulls off some adultery act and got burnt, and ppl are feeling sorry for him? But anyways its just my opinion, your opinion is valid too, everyone is different.
