<div class="quote_poster">Quoting t-macfur3:</div><div class="quote_post">r u kidding this team would at least be in the playoffs. And all Kobe does is brakes up his team, hes the worst leader in the NBA. Kobe will never win a championship ever again with his horrible attitude.</div> Firstly, that team won't make the playoffs because of the assisting numbers and point numbers. Secondly, what is so bad about Kobe's attitude? He has been positive all season about doing well, he hasn't said anything bad about his teammates, he say's that the teammates are young and that it is a learning process. Everytime he is asked a question about Shaq, he just says that he wishes him well and that they are doing seperate things. However, when Shaq is asked about Kobe, he takes cheapshots etc... Please explain what is so bad about Kobe's attitude this season. The assisting numbers are good, the rebounding numbers are good and the scoring numbers are good. How many shooting guards in the NBA can say that they score 25+PPG, 6+APG and 6+RPG? Not many. He has been playing with a slight injury to his ankle. He could have taken more time off but he still decided to continue on playing, despite the fact that he could severly re-injure his weak ankle. More importantly t-macfur3, what is so "horrible" about Kobe's attitude?
What? Our Ol' Crazy Eight (Don't remember which ESPN guy called Kobe that, but I like it ), the worst leader? You've got to be kidding! I know a superstar guard who's the worst leader. He's the supposed franchise player who got his coach fired after his team lost 10+ straight games, slacked off and did not play his best (by his own admission), abandoned his teammates when he took the last 20 games off by feigning injury, and got out of a rebuilding situation by demanding a trade. After that he still stirred the pot in the media and got blasted by his old GM for his attitude in return. All this just last season. And this fan of his has the temerity to call Ol' Crazy Eight the worst leader in the NBA . Either he's blind or has severe memory problems, or both. The Man's A Cheat, he cheat his old team and all their fans by quitting early last season while enjoying all those millions in salary. There's your worst leader in the NBA. Compared to that other superstar, who incidentally got outplayed in one of Kobe's more memorable performances last season in Staples, Ol' Crazy Eight's been nothing short of an angel after facing all the tribulations on the Lakers this season.
Im suprised at the amount of non Laker fans posting in this thread. haha. Only one is a Heat fan which I would excuse. lol. Now that our Lakers are down, everyone is talking mad ish. Sure was quiet when the Lakers were dominating their teams. Kobes attitude about this team remains postive, and that great for all of us REAL fans out here. Im postive that buss wont let us down for too long. He been winning for more than 50 years. Playoffs missed can be counted on a hand. back on topic: I have love for Shaq, respect his game, and respect him as a NBA player. I think he has his faults just like Kobe, but everyone is human. We got to live and learn.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Firstly, that team won't make the playoffs because of the assisting numbers and point numbers</div> I don't understand this at all, are you saying they won't score enough or get enough assists? They'd definately be in the playoffs, Chucky Atkins would play the same role as Damon Jones on the Heat, Odom runs the offense for the most part, Caron Butler is the third scorer, and Brian Grant just plays defense and rebounds. Also batman is right, Kobe is a much better leader than Tmac, Kobe isn't a great leader by any stretch right now, but he has the qualities to be a very good team leader, he just needs to learn some things about being a leader.
kobe is one of the greatest ever, IMO, but great players can't do it alone. name a one-man team that won a championship (or at least one with a good non-center), i don't know about the nba's history that much but i know there's not too many.
Why is this in the Laker forum anyway? In case you noticed Shaq is now part of the Miami Heat so you should've posted it there. O yes I know why, in hopes of getting fellow Laker fans to say "O yea Shaq sucks" or some guy. Now I not not all Laker fans think this, but that is most likely what a lot of people were going to post. All I can say is Shaq is a player you build your francise around. Kobe is not. Unless the Lakers get another franchise player they aint going no where. Heres the Stat that owns all. Lakers Last year: 2nd Seed This year: 10th Seed Heat Last year: 4th Seed This year: 1st Seed MY favorite one is the Laker decrease. Penny Hardaway led his team to a 45-37 Record the year Shaq left and Shaq walked on them. Lakers even got something in return and they still won't make the playoffs.
Why is a thread about Shaq being turned into a thread bashing Kobe? No one has any negatives to say about Shaq? Since when is Shaq a great leader and an unselfish person. Why didn't Shaq treat Kobe with the same respect and humble approach he did with Wade? Why didn't Shaq follow a real team player like Kareem Abdul Jabbar and take a paycut so the Lakers could reload? Instead he cried for more money, $30Million more, is he worth $30Million more? In this day and age NO player is worth $30Million more, let alone a 300+ lb center on the decline. Also why didn't Shaq work hard in the offseason when he was with the Lakers? Instead he had the nerve to say since he got hurt on company time, he's going to rest on company time. If your franchise player said that, what would you have to say about it? What if Allen Iverson said that? What if Chris Bosh said that? It's really easy to take Shaq's side, because he's winning. No one expected the Lakers to win right away and be better than Shaq with Miami. But remember this trade will sway back to Los Angeles favor after 2 years. Let's see if Shaq has the balls to demand $30Million from Pat Riley and the Heat. If not then he's to blame for breaking up the Lakers team, not Kobe. Why? Because if Shaq doesn't make that demand he'd still be under Laker contract for the next 2 years and Buss would have worked something out for him at a reasonable price once his current contract expired.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting GiantMidget:</div><div class="quote_post">This should read more like... "Dear Shaq,thank you for all the championships you brought us.We really miss your overwhelming presense in the post and your witty personality.As a fan I enjoy kobe's style of play more than yours and sadly,so did management.We were ignorant and we're sorry,please come back."</div> i couldn't have said it better... btw, why are some of the Laker fans bitter? about Shaq I mean...
Kobe is 26 yrs old people.....26, how can someone be so nieve as to say he will never win another championship? LMAO it is crazy to make statements like "LA will never win another championship" ....shaquille oneal will retire in a couple years without a doubt, so reguardless if we kept him people would have said it after he retired anyway, doesnt make it true. Last time i checked, the la franchise has been to more finals then anyone and have 14 championship banners hanging at staples...2nd only to bostons 16. So please stop being nieve people.
Shapecity is right on the money. People keep blaming Kobe for the Diesel's leaving even when it was Shaq who was asking for an extension that would cripple the team's future. (Actually, Kupchak shares great part of the blame because of his shooting his mouth off that Shaq was tradeable, which led Shaq to burn his bridges with the team.) Shaq's already earning Jordanesque dollars, and wants to hog it all in LA. I bet he wouldn't even take a pay cut to help retain GP or Karl Malone (who supposedly played for LA because Shaq pulled their heart strings.), because he "won't be devalued." But what surprised the pants off of me was Shaq's great attitude change in Miami deferring to the young Dwyane Wade, who hasn't really proven anything yet. His ego was too big that he can't accept the fact that his co-star Kobe is the future for the Lakers, and yet, in Miami, his ego could acknowledge in his very first statement that the Heat was Wade's team. I was blown away at what could've been, if Kupchak just did his job... The team would've been intact. Shaq could've been more professional and big-hearted with Kobe as he is right now with Wade, (Kareem did with Magic) and our Laker Dynasty would've continued. But then, Shaq's enjoying himself right now, on his way perhaps to another title. Good for him.
I would also like to add the example of a few seasons ago when the Lakers had injury problems with Shaq. Who stepped up their game and basically single handedly kept the Lakers championship hopes alive while Shaq was out injured? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Uhh...Championship Contender? That team wouldn't be together because 3 of those players were traded in the Shaq trade anyways. But that team will atleast be in the playoffs. Any team with Shaq and a decent squad is guranteed a playoff spot in any conference...</div> This team would be together if Kobe got traded to the Heat instead of Shaq. There are so many examples of Kobe stepping up and leading by example. Just look at all of his clutch plays. How about when he shot a 3 pointer over Rip Hamilton in the playoff's? What about my personal joint best clutch play with Kobe's two three pointers in the final game of the 2004 regular season against Portland? Who stepped up and pulled of the impossible. Especially the three that made the game go into overtime. Just to let you know, my other joint favourate clutch play is the Derek Fisher four tenths of a second shot against the Spurs.
Bottom line: When the lakers had Shaq and KObe they were all but unbeatable. if they had kept shaq and gotten rid of Kobe they would still be a championship contender. Without shaq theyre nothing. Kobe cant even lead them to the playoffs. OUCH!!!!!!!!
but <div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">Bottom line: When the lakers had Shaq and KObe they were all but unbeatable. if they had kept shaq and gotten rid of Kobe they would still be a championship contender. Without shaq theyre nothing. Kobe cant even lead them to the playoffs. OUCH!!!!!!!!</div> but keeping Kobe allows for them to build around him and become contenders for years to come. Remember kobe is 25 and hasnt had serious health problems. Shaq is 32, has had tons of injuries and his body just wont be able to support him much longer. by choosing shaq and contending for 3,4 years you than are in terrible condition afterwards. Kobe can lead your team for the next 10,11,12 years!! you cant say you would choose the 3,4 years over the 10-12!!
Is this thread for real? My god the ignorance of some people. "well, shaq is obviously the most dominant man in basketball, so we better make the point that he wouldn't be good if he was suddenly a foot and change shorter" <strike>get a life people</strike> <font color="Blue">Totally unacceptable. Please read our GUIDELINES. - 44 </font>
huh? <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Kobe will never win a championship ever again with his horrible attitude.</div> terrible point. He doesnt have a bad attitude. How can a guy who works as hard if not harder than any other player in the NBA have a bad attitude? no one accused him of having a bad attitude until the rape scandal because thats how the media chose to portray him.
Kobe, bad attitude? Are you kidding me? He is the hardest working individual in the NBA, ask any player in the league..they will tell you that there is no one in the league that works harder than Kobe. Of course he is going to get doubts, but I don't understand how you can judge him with only one year of a lineup that doesn't work? Give them a full offseason to work it out, get pieces that work with Kobe..judge him then...not now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">Bottom line: When the lakers had Shaq and KObe they were all but unbeatable. if they had kept shaq and gotten rid of Kobe they would still be a championship contender. Without shaq theyre nothing. Kobe cant even lead them to the playoffs. OUCH!!!!!!!!</div> I think you need to rethink your idea of the bottomline. You seem to have your facts mixed up.. The Lakers were not unbeatable with Shaq and Kobe. This was discovered last year when the Pistons man-handled the 3 time defending champions. Lakers: Starters from Last year still on the team. Kobe and George. Thats it! George didn't even play most of the season. So the only real returnee is Kobe. New Coach. Rudy T. Doing okay, but left at the tail end of the season. The Lakers are running all kinds of offensives. How can you even get into a rhythm trying to learn different styles of play. Players from Boston, Miami, and all our rookies are having a tough time learning the system. Even when they went back to trying to triangle, that was tough. Not everyone can play the triangle well, and the GURU is not here to guide the Lakers with "HIS" system. A more basic fact is "the lakers haven't played a season together" and their are missing ingridents to a playoff team. The lakers are missing power players. Playoff bound teams all have at least one. Something the Lakers are lacking. What upsets me is that people say Kobe doesnt play hard, is selfish and cant lead a team. Kobe plays hard every game. He stays postive and does what he can to help them win. He is probrably the only one on the Laker team that does this everytime he hits the floor. He's doing what he can with the tools that he has around him. Lamar has not lived up to his potential in LA. That was suppose to be his sidekick and star. Caron just recently started to up his play. A bit to late, but at least that is promising for next year. Heres the bottom Line: If the Lakers can nab a couple good power players to bang with the big boys in the West and shift Lamar to the Small Forward spot, I guarantee they will do better next year.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bahir:</div><div class="quote_post">I bet you loved him two years ago...</div> Exactly As for that letter, you think we would even know about Shaq if he was 6'1 and can't shoot/handle or else like he stated in that letter? that letter is so bias.
