Most of us here are loyal Laker fans and we'll support them if they win or lose, but does anyone else besides me feel kinda resentful of Kobe? I mean, he drove away another superstar for God's sake. It wouldn't have happened if he just would've passed the ball a few times. For me at least, I think he's a great player who still has a lot of potential, but he's gonna have to earn back my respect. Anyone else feel this way about Kobe?
I for one don't believe that Kobe had nothing to do with Shaq's departure, but we shouldn't put all the blame on him too much. Shaq was just asking to be traded. His actions by yelling at Buss for a contract extension during a preseason game at Hawaii, Kupchak being upset with him because he was totally out of shape, faking injuries left and right, they couldn't take it anymore, and with a 32 year old center that's deteriorating at best, we needed a change. And what's worse? Signing the big man to a 100 million dollar extension, and not giving our franchise any financial stability? I'd rather have money to work with and be comfortable with, rather than taking a risk on Shaq. Kobe is the future, let's face it. I've said it after the Lakers lost the NBA Finals, and it's about time we see Kobe as the team player and leader on this team besides being in the shadow of Shaq trying to find the spotlight. This is exactly what he wants, so I don't feel there's pressure on him to succeed. And it's not like our team is gonna stink next year....our starting lineup which consists of Payton, Kobe, Butler, Odom, and Divac are at best a 50 win total, and perhaps a second round trip to the playoffs. As long as Kupchak and the crew can bring in more depth to work around Kobe in the years to come, everything will be fine in LA LA Land.
He's a great player that is still developping his game so i think the lakers are gonna be playoff contenders for years to come.Just keep looking for more depth and the Lakers can be Championships contenders.It's just up to Kobe to lead them there.
I feel the same way. I was a huge Kobe fan (next Jordan and all), but his play on the court has really turned me off. He's just not a team player, it's all about Kobe, not the Lakers. Phil Jackson said it well... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">"I learned that winning doesn't always make people happy," Jackson told the Times. "There's a lot of back-biting and selfishness and ego gratification. It's not enough for everybody, even when you win, sometimes. I don't know if it's the price of the NBA itself or the fact it takes such a heavy toll on our lives that makes it so difficult for all of us. "A championship wasn't enough to make Kobe happy. I noticed it wasn't enough. It was OK. It was a notch in his belt. But it wasn't his end result." </div> http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/news/story?id=1838402
While Kobes inability to get along with Shaq had something to do with Shaq's departure, you have to understand that another championship was not going to come with the Shaq and Kobe tandem...Shaq's contract combined with Kobes starting at 14 million already put us over the salary cap with those 2 players alone and would never allow us to create the depth needed to win a championship...the Lakers as an organization would have had to choose regardless of ill will felt towards eachother...I would put more of the blame on Shaq and his refusal to accept a pay-cut ala KG in order to keep kobe, shaq, and maybe a couple other solid role-players together... shaq was every bit as selfish as Kobe has been...and Kobe will learn with time that he can't do it all...it comes with maturity and having a solid group of guys that you know are there to support you and are capable of that, i don't think kobe has ever felt that way, but im sure he knows this group of guys is behind him all the way now...kobes 'selfishness' was always a result of his refusal to lose...and lets be honest...would you rather have Kobe taking the last 12 shots down the stretch, or shaq taking 24 ft's?
I feel the same about Kobe. I still like him but he has to put his ego in check. Both kobe and shaq are to blame for things falling apart this year. But Kobe should get all the blame for Jackson leaving. He has to prove he can be a true team leader before I fully respect him again. He asked to be the man and now he's got it. Those days of not talking to or avoiding the other players need to be behind him. I hope it works out.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Those days of not talking to or avoiding the other players need to be behind him. I hope it works out.</div> Word, the Lakers definately need chemistry now more then ever. Following Shaq advice saying that if he can make his teammates better he could be even better then MJ. If I was Kobe and heard that, I would be so motivated and then everybody would respect Kobe. Even the haters who will still hate, but still have the upmost respect for this man.
Why do you all think that Shaq is the angel in all this commotion. Personally, I think Shaq has the bigger ego, and is way more arrogant than Kobe. And Kobe is way more mature than Shaq. Look at Kobe's side: http://msnvideo.msn.com/video/default.aspx...a9&undock=false
Sorry, but is this true...that John Salley, on the Best Damn Sports Show, said he rather build a team around Kobe than Jordan, considering playing with both championship teams...JUST WANT TO VARIFY THAT STATEMENT SOMEBODY SAID IN JBB A WHILE AGO.
ON THE BEST DAMN SPORTS SHOW PERIOD: *Chris Rose: Kobe Bryant or Michael Jordan? **John Salley: I played with both Kobe and Michael. I would have to say that Kobe Bryant is the better player. Kobe has a much better shot, handles the ball better, and just has more tricks to go along with his game. And just look at his career...he already has 3 rings and he's going for his fourth this year. *Chris Rose: Yea because he's playing with Shaq, the most dominant big man ever, right? **John Salley: Wrong. Playing with Shaq of course makes it easier for Kobe, but I don't thing Michael would have done as well as Kobe is, playing with another superstar. If you think about it, Jordan had someone who rebounded for him (Rodman) and brought leadership to the team (Pippen). Other than Jordan, the Chicago Bulls didn't have any real good offensive players. Jordan did the scoring all by himself. Where in Kobe's case, there's Shaq, who's another superstar that wants to score points, or else he gets upset as we've seen many times before. Kobe shares the ball with Shaq, and still puts up big numbers by himself, which is what amazes me. Kobe puts up the same numbers as Jordan did, and Kobe's playing with Shaq. If Kobe was on a team without Shaq, he would score 45 points per game. *Chris Rose: O.K. You made some good points, but you agree that Jordan is a better defender, right? I mean, he won the defensive player of the year award several times. **John Salley: No way, I dont agree! Back in Jordan's days, you were allowed to put your elbows on the guy you were defending. Now in Kobe's days, even if you just touch a player like that, you get called for the foul. *Chris Rose: O.K., whatever John. Well here's my last argument, and if you don't agree with me on this one, we're gonna have to test you for drugs. **John Salley: Man, shuttup. I played with Jordan and Kobe. Did you? *Chris Rose: No, but I do know that when it's late in the game, you want Jordan taking the final shot. **John Salley: How can you say that? You just say that because Jordan made the game- winning basket on your sorry Cleveland Cav's team back in the early 90's. Man, for the next show, we should put a clip together showing Michael Jordan's game- winning shots and Kobe Bryant game- winning shots and compare the two. Jordan might have more game- winners, but Kobe still has 10 years left in this league, and he's not even at his best right now. Another thing of course is Kobe's trial case. I don't think anyone in the history of basketball could do what Kobe is doing traveling from court to court, scoring 30+ points. kobe is BETTER than jordan... thats all i gotta say GO LAKERS!!!
Shaq and Kobe both have huge Egos. Kobe is still young, he'll eventually grow out of it. When your young, have a beautiful wife, all the money you want, girls screaming for you, and play for the Lakers, of course your ego will blow up. I think the guy will mature really fast and learn to play team ball in the next year or so. He has to. He has no way around it. He is responsible for the continuation of Laker basketball. He will learn fast that if he is to be the man, and the Lakers are to be successful, he has to act like a leader and learn to play team ball. I dont think Kobe plays selfish on purpose. He is testin himself. Always doing things above and beyond the call. Sometimes doing more than he is capable of. Thats what seperates Jordan from Kobe. Jordan knew when to turn it up a notch, what his limits were, and how to use his fire to get his teammates involved. Kobe still needs to learn that. He has the desire, but sometimes it takes over. Kobe needs to learn how to channel it into winning.
i think kobe took a step in the right direction when he went down to the introductions for odom, grant, and butler...what some kobe haters might try to say was stealing the spotlight, i feel odom, grant, and butler would appreciate the gesture that he made the trip down to Staples to show his support for his new teammates... and thanks prodigy for providing the transcript of that john salley commentary...i was the one that posted about salley saying kobe was better than jordan earlier on... i've always been a huge fan of kobes...i would be very shocked if he had a bigger true fan in the world, and by true fan i mean not the kind that just puts a buncha posters and jerseys up in his room...umm not to say i dont have all stuff too...but you know...the one that tries to read everything he says, everything that is said about him, analyzes all aspects of his game, and does his best to understand his personality from the fragments the media might give us and from the limited accounts from encounters various friends of mine have had with him (who live in newport and huntington where he is often seen)...and i would defend him all the way because i honestly feel he is going to surpass jordan very soon...be on the look out for that article...its underway...
Kobe is VERY mature for his age. No doubt. I'm just saying that if he cooporated with Shaq for two more years, he could have his own team from then on till the rest of his career. Those two years would probably result in more rings (if they played as a team). So at 27, Kobe could then prove that he's better than Jordan and he can win and all that... For those defending Kobe, your argument will probably be that "Kobe wants his own team so he can prove himself now." Right now, it IS "Kobe's team" but bigger than that, it's LA's team. We don't care (at least not me) if Kobe wins MVP. We want a championship. Kobe passing the ball= Shaq stays and LA gets more titles. Do you see where I'm coming from?
no...because even if kobe decides to give shaq the ball everytime down the floor...that still doesnt allow us to make moves for the franchises future...shaqs contract is just too big...we would not have won another title with the shaq and kobe tandem regardless of whether they got along or not...if you can't understand why...then i just don't know what to say...refer to my posts that discussed 'temporary solutions' and 'cap space problems'
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SCBrian:</div><div class="quote_post">no...because even if kobe decides to give shaq the ball everytime down the floor...that still doesnt allow us to make moves for the franchises future...shaqs contract is just too big...we would not have won another title with the shaq and kobe tandem regardless of whether they got along or not...if you can't understand why...then i just don't know what to say...refer to my posts that discussed 'temporary solutions' and 'cap space problems'</div> True SCBrian, the problem is that Kupchek hasn't done a good job with the little moves to fill around Shaq/Kobe. Worst GM in the NBA. Players like Rice and Horry were not replaced. Players like George were resigned. I don't think there was any way out of the spiral of diminishing returns with players like Malone and Payton.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">What would David Robinson done is he didn't go to College for 4 years and to the Military for 2 more years. he would have been one of the best big man ever.</div> I will agree with you there. The Admiral in his prime was awesome and would have definately scored more if he was in the NBA longer.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting SunshineRain:</div><div class="quote_post">True SCBrian, the problem is that Kupchek hasn't done a good job with the little moves to fill around Shaq/Kobe. Worst GM in the NBA. Players like Rice and Horry were not replaced. Players like George were resigned. I don't think there was any way out of the spiral of diminishing returns with players like Malone and Payton.</div> even though i didnt like the re-signing of devean george and his contract is hideous compared to his contributions, it still doesn't make a difference from a cap-stand point because shaq and kobe put them at the brink of the cap between the two of them. and i do agree that kupchak hasn't done a good job with the little moves, hell sometimes i wish i was the lakers gm...but all the same...shaq's contract was just as big of a problem as some of hte mistakes mitch has made...but year after year when all you ahve to work with is the mid-level e and a few vet minimum contracts, its pretty hard to fill out a complete roster that has 2 players that make more than most teams entire starting lineups...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Lakerland:</div><div class="quote_post">Most of us here are loyal Laker fans and we'll support them if they win or lose, but does anyone else besides me feel kinda resentful of Kobe? I mean, he drove away another superstar for God's sake. It wouldn't have happened if he just would've passed the ball a few times. For me at least, I think he's a great player who still has a lot of potential, but he's gonna have to earn back my respect. Anyone else feel this way about Kobe?</div> Totally agree.
Unless the lakers got rid of one of them they would just never get any more pieces they lucked out with payton and malone and still it wasnt enough, Kobe was in the drivers seat by opting out, the lakers knew if they didnt trade shaq kobe may leave and though I like shaq better than kobe kobe is 25 and comes about 13 million a year cheaper. Unpopular as it was they had to do it. To prove it look at the timing of the whole thing they had all summer to trade shaq but they made sure to do it before kobe signed so they could be sure to keep kobe.
