Shhhhh, Thanks for making me bigger than the team like :king:Kobe. Yes this team sucks. If the Lakers can't improve in its troubled areas as the season progresses, then yeah.. this team sucks. The development of Brian cook has been one the brightest spots for the Lakers. Have u considered that Kobe was speaking up for Brian Cook & his progress?
I'm going to call it right now...that all seeds #6-8 in the playoffs, both East and West...are bad teams. Yep...I said it. Let's just be like McGrady and tank our season because we can't seem to get 60 wins this year. --------------------- By the way, about everyone's opinion changing about Malone...it happens. Sure, I wanted him back at the beginning of the season...but I'm sick of waiting. That's like all of the trade ideas everyone had for Eddie Jones in Miami; you all loved him at the beginning and said it'll be great to have a shooter for Shaq, blah blah...but down the road, you were ready to trade him (and yes, just 10-15 games into the year). I'm hoping he does this to another team, really...just kinda sits back and plays mind games. Then that team won't make any moves before the trading deadline to get their much-needed PF...and in February, Malone calls it quits. I don't think so. Not in Los Angeles. If that was his intention, he can go play in the Euroleagues for all I care.
but you guys have to admit though that if malone did come back we would be a better team. cook will still be able to get his minutes because malone needs his rest. but if getting malone back means we have to wait a whole season just for his sake then forget it.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting yanix:</div><div class="quote_post">but you guys have to admit though that if malone did come back we would be a better team. cook will still be able to get his minutes because malone needs his rest. but if getting malone back means we have to wait a whole season just for his sake then forget it.</div> Any team in the league would be better with Malone...but see, wishing for Malone to come back? I'd rather hope for MJ, since I have to wait until the end of the season.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AllNet:</div><div class="quote_post">Well done Kobe, now It looks like I will be stuck with Karl Malone in the same state as me.</div> You don't want Karl Malone on your team??
I would love to see the playoff streak continued, RDBN. But it won't be pretty. And we are far from being McGrady's team.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting LakerReign:</div><div class="quote_post">I would love to see the playoff streak continued, RDBN. But it won't be pretty. And we are far from being McGrady's team.</div> It sure isn't going to be pretty, that's the truth...but what else would any other fan expect? Our team has been gutted. Kobe is the only returning starter (considering George is injured), we have a new coach, new offense, new coaching staff, etc. Kobe Bryant, Luke Walton, Kareem Rush (who is now gone), Brian Cook, and Devean George are the returning players from last season. We lost Shaq, Payton, Fisher, Malone, Phil Jackson and Fox. We are developing chemistry. It's going to take a while, because we're weak at the point, and our frontcourt still needs attention...and with all the injuries (including Kobe's injury), we are playing pretty good IMO, being over .500 in the West.
<font color="Red">I merged the two Malone threads into one, since they both hit on the same issues.</font>
To stick to the sole content of this thread, I agree with Kobe 100%. How long was we going to wait around before he made up his mind already? Already a month into the season, we were wondering whether he'd comeback or retire, now he slams on Kobe because it's obvious he's telling the truth? I know these guys developed a friendship last season, but c'mon Karl. Sometimes the truth does hurt, and you have to learn how to accept it sometimes once in your life. Man, how much heat will Kobe keep receiving once the year is over?
I don't think Kobe said anything really bad in the interview, but the whole "they are giving me 110%" was a little odd. It's not about Kobe, it's about the organization, Kobe made the decision last year that he wanted to be the "main man" he made it seem like Malone wasn't needed. He's right that it's not fair to speculate on the return of the Mailman, and if he does, he does, if not, they still have to play their games this season. To be real though, Kobe needs to shut up and play basketball, everytime he says something [giving me 110%], he makes himself seem more selfish, so he needs to calm down before he starts annoying some of his teammates. Karl should stop hiding it and just be real, he came to LA to win a championship, he didn't get it last year, and this year the team isn't a contender. Everyone knows he wants to play for the Spurs, he did good for the Lakers last season, and I'll commend him on that but let's just get that in the open. Wasn't Kobe himself a distraction last season and Karl constantly stood up for him didn't he? So to Kobe, again, shut up and play ball.
Malone was fully aware of the "distraction" that BOTH Shaq and Kobe were last season. So was Payton. Yet, they both signed up for it...and it's because they wanted a ring. Like I said...Malone won't come back for another season unless he knows he's contending for a championship...so this was an easy way out of Los Angeles. If he would've left with no reasoning behind it, the fans would've treated him like the Jazz did (if anyone remembers Utah mocking Malone). However, who else could Malone push the blame onto but Kobe? He saw the opportunity and took it. And again, let's not forget that Malone left us without a PF for 40+ games last season. That in itself was a distraction. If we didn't sign Malone, we may have picked up Griffin last season instead...or used part of the MLE for another player who would play more than half the season...and would be on our roster today.
You can't pin an injury as a distraction especially on a guy who hasn't really been one to miss games in his career, to blame him for getting injured is like blaming someone for getting hit by a car while walking on the sidewalk.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">I don't think Kobe said anything really bad in the interview, but the whole "they are giving me 110%" was a little odd. It's not about Kobe, it's about the organization, Kobe made the decision last year that he wanted to be the "main man" he made it seem like Malone wasn't needed. He's right that it's not fair to speculate on the return of the Mailman, and if he does, he does, if not, they still have to play their games this season.</div> Well he's the leader of the team. What would you expect him to say? I don't mind if Kobe spoke on Karl's behalf. If you ask me, it was about time somebody spoke about him. He was putting this organization on a stranglehold for months. Throughout the offseason when everybody started to go their separate ways, and from a month into this season, nobody ever knew what he was going to do, nothing but speculation. Why wouldn't somebody speak up about him, especially someone that he grew close to all of last season? If you wanna talk selfish in this situation, it's Karl Malone. <div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">To be real though, Kobe needs to shut up and play basketball, everytime he says something [giving me 110%], he makes himself seem more selfish, so he needs to calm down before he starts annoying some of his teammates.</div> Let's be honest here. Has Kobe ever make himself a distraction? Let's take out the rape issues, and the here-say about the Kobe vs. Shaq, Phil Jackson, and the LA Clippers. Sure, he is a selfish person with a tremendous ego problem, but when has he made himself look like a distraction? Whenever Kobe has beef smacked right into his face, he has taken the high road, and didn't wish anything less of anybody. Hasn't he already received enough smack from his number one priority Shaquille O'Neal with the Heat-Laker trade, the rap lyric on his album, Phil Jackson's book, and Kobe haters alike? And all he has done is brush all that off his shoulders and doing the best he can to lead the 10-7 Lakers to wins. I know it hasn't been easy with his dismal field goal percentages and what not, but this is exactly what he wanted in the first place, and I'm sure he's content with his position as of right now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">You can't pin an injury as a distraction especially on a guy who hasn't really been one to miss games in his career, to blame him for getting injured is like blaming someone for getting hit by a car while walking on the sidewalk.</div> Exactly...but I'm using Malone's logic here. Both statements are ignorant. Kobe being a "distraction" should have nothing to do with this, just as Malone's injury from last season. So, now the question remains: when are you coming back, Karl? It has nothing to do with a distraction. It has nothing to do with your injury, since it's healed. Must be the championship and the money. Will Karl take $1.1 million from a team who's not a contender? No. How does he get out of it and still look good? By placing the blame on the most notorious, selfish, egotistical player ever in the NBA: Kobe Bryant. And it works...because it not only makes for a great story for BSPN and FOX Sports...but it also adds more tension to the Lakers' season and places more drama on Kobe's shoulders.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting realdealbneal:</div><div class="quote_post">So, now the question remains: when are you coming back, Karl? It has nothing to do with a distraction. It has nothing to do with your injury, since it's healed. Must be the championship and the money. Will Karl take $1.1 million from a team who's not a contender? No. How does he get out of it and still look good? By placing the blame on the most notorious, selfish, egotistical player ever in the NBA: Kobe Bryant. And it works...because it not only makes for a great story for BSPN and FOX Sports...but it also adds more tension to the Lakers' season and places more drama on Kobe's shoulders.</div> Couldn't agree more. Heck, how long were we here on JBB predicting Malone's comeback? How many threads were we making wondering where Karl Malone was, and in desperate need for some muscle in our thin interior? And as the LONG offseason went by with some of our Laker favorites leaving the team, we just never knew on Karl Malone's status. And what's taking him so long? The guy's healthy, healed up his injury which just plagued him all of last season, why not somebody step up to the plate, and have the balls to call him out? I'd certainly would since all he's doing was putting a strangehold on our organization. Obviously, it's looking more for Karl Malone than to just hop on another team's bandwagon, take the veteran minimum, disgrace himself in shame, and have another attempt to win a championship. And to diss Kobe who he gotten close to last season that'll certainly get more people to switch on their ESPN TV's, and once again like you mentioned, more beef that this guy just has to endure year after year. Can he just get a clean slate and allow himself to just play basketball? He's already received enough with Shaq, his little rap lyric in his album, Phil Jackson's book, ESPN articles that just trash the guy, and Kobe haters alike.
Well, according to his cocky agent, Malone was 100% a month ago. Why didn't we get an answer as to when he'll return? Hell, even if he said never...as long as we KNEW and didn't have to wait. Now, we've wasted nearly 4 or 5 months thinking he'll be back. We could've used those months planning a trade for a strong, rebounding forward.
Here it is. For the ones that are talking about what KB said with out listening to the original interview here you go. Go to the site and right click where it says KB interview with Loose Cannons. http://www.xtrasports690.com/main.html
staying on topic...some ppl just make the word 'role model' to another level..but hey i don't think kobe is a role model ...but that's just me. I mean things get twisted..wrong twisted to a right or twisted with an excuse..remember that kobe makes the 1st move of wrong and then malone,shaq, rightfully retaliates ..not disrespectfully either. And why are you against everyone kobe disses or dislikes. Is it just a coincidence ppl? peace out i'll be in the other threads nuf said so long <font size="1"><font color="Red">Keep the unnecessary comments out of your posts, or don't post at all. -Brandon</font></font>
Kobe Speaks Here are some of the quotes of what KB said today, taken from another board. By KobeLaker4Life pretty much all of kobe's comments today...word for word (almost): "the door is ALWAYS open for KARL" "we would love to have him play here" "there was no way intended to attack karl or call him a distraction" "If karl comes back, its going to be a TREMENDOUS addition to our ballclub" "I'm sorry if i offended karl" "I'm shocked, and he took what i said the wrong way, it wasnt intended to be an attack towards him" "I apologize if he felt i said anything the wrong way" "you kidding me? Karl's all around game speaks for itself, we would love him here" "Its an open door, if you wanna come back and play karl, come do that" "i was in no way attacking him" "we had a great relationship, and if he comes back, i hope that relationship can continue" "he misinterpreted what i was saying, and i apologize for that, and i will move on from that, and i wish him all the best" I heard the whole interview and he apologized, took the high road, said we want karl back, he will get intouch with Karl, adn the things Karls wants to hear.
