Another thing I learnt is that people sometimes expect too much from role players. This is in relation to Chucky Atkins for you guys, the guy has never been a star, he's no DPOY, and is an outside shooter who can run an offense okay, but people seem to hate on him so much as if he didn't live up to expactations... Seriously, not one actually expected the guy to average 8 assists, or play Jason Kidd defense or something? I mean 6 assists was even a stretch, it's not like he get's to run the offense much anyways... <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Unless Popeye Jones is God..I made fun of him once...sheesh, almost got ran over by a big rig... </div> You gotta be careful with some of those guys...I learnt my lesson after the first incident.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting PejaForThree:</div><div class="quote_post">1. Kobe is more of a ball hog than I thought 2. Kobe is the worst GM in the league. 3. Kobe destroyed a franchise which had another good 4-5 years left in it</div> Coming from a Kings fan, I'm not gonna take any type of offense to any of these. So, anyways, I have a thing or two to say about your post here. First thing, Kobe is NOT the GM of the Lakers. You know nothing about them apparently. You must be one of those people that believe everything the media spoonfeeds you. Kobe did not tear apart the Lakers. Shaq was demanding a trade, not because of Kobe, but because they wouldn't give him an extension on his contract. Also, Kobe did not force Phil out. He had other reasons for leaving. So, despite what people may think, Kobe did NOT do all this crap you think he did in the offseason. Last thing, explain to me how Kobe destroyed them? If anything, Mitch Kupchack destroyed them. He's the one that traded off Shaq. But, in the end, you will realize he made the right choice. Keeping someone who has 8 or 10 good years left in him compared to a person who is clearly on the decline. Shaq, had he stayed in the West, would not have lasted anymore than a couple more seasons. The Lakers made the smart choice and went with the younger Kobe. So please, before you go and crticize, realize this. What happened to the Lakers, is not Kobe's fault. Mitch Kupchak is the one who did all the offseason crap. He's the one that didn't push to get Dwayne Wade in the Shaq trade, even though it was very feasible for us to land him. Kobe is not the instigator of all the bad things that happened this season. But you know what, go ahead, believe what you think. Cause here soon, you're not gonna be able to get your kicks in on him. So go for it, kick him while he's down. Cause considering your Kings are going nowhere fast, I'm not gonna be hurt by your dull and mislead comments.
Enough Kobe worshipping already. So many Laker fans are saying it isn't Kobe's fault they're losing... they're the blind ones who follow Kobe whatever he does. It's funny cause all the other fans know that this losing year is somewhat Kobe's fault... not entirely of course but it is. Kobe needs to learn to make his teammates better and play with them. Odom has been doing just as good as when he was in Miami... less points but more boards. Kobe is the "PG,SG and SF" of this team. We'll see when they get a real PG if Kobe will still be the same.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">He's the one that didn't push to get Dwayne Wade in the Shaq trade, even though it was very feasible for us to land him. </div> Why do people keep saying this, no one said it when the trade happened, a lot of people were saying Odom was the Heat's best player then. Also wouldn't it make sense for the team to trade for the big man and have an inside out combo than get another SG? Of course in hindsight it's easy to say, "Oh we should have got Wade because they for sure would've offered him" but would they?...and at the time, no one said this. Riley wasn't looking to put Wade in the trade at all, I know their was a lot of talk on who to go, but Wade wasn't going to be in the mix, and Riley has loved the guy since Day 1. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Anyone whos posted in this thread.....answer me this, whens the last time your team won a championship? 3 in a row? Has 14 championship banners? ....and lastly, how long did it take your team to go from the finals, to rebuilding back to the finals? Anyone who knows anything about basketball history, knows NOONE has ever dominated while in their 1st season of rebuilding. Oh and 4. The most insignificant people on the planet love to talk smack about a franchise who has 14 championships, when their favorite teams havent won a title in decades, if ever.</div> this is embarassing...
what I learned: (a) Phil Jackson is a pretty good coach ( Shaquille O'neal is a pretty good player © There isn't as much distance between Kobe and T-Mac as I previously thought.
A) Shaq is the most dominant player in the NBA Kobe can be a great player in the league, but he needs another great player along side him C) Players should just play the game as they are paid to and leave the personel decisions up to the people who are paid to make those decisions.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting og15:</div><div class="quote_post">Why do people keep saying this, no one said it when the trade happened, a lot of people were saying Odom was the Heat's best player then. Also wouldn't it make sense for the team to trade for the big man and have an inside out combo than get another SG? Of course in hindsight it's easy to say, "Oh we should have got Wade because they for sure would've offered him" but would they?...and at the time, no one said this. Riley wasn't looking to put Wade in the trade at all, I know their was a lot of talk on who to go, but Wade wasn't going to be in the mix, and Riley has loved the guy since Day 1. this is embarassing...</div> Actually a lot of people in LA wanted Wade included during the trade. The initial trade from the Lakers was going to be Shaq & Payton for Butler, Odom, Grant, and Wade. The Lakers initially demanded that guard Dwayne Wade be included in the deal but the Heat balked and two future first round picks were reportly placed on the table instead. The player I was hoping the Lakers could get was Dorrell Wright along with Wade and Odom with Grant as the filler. Here's one of many links saying the Lakers wanted Wade to be included. Source Mr.Wade I don't think it's Kobe worshipping, I think Laker and Kobe fans are tired of him taking 100% of the blame. You even said it's not entirely his fault. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">It's funny cause all the other fans know that this losing year is somewhat Kobe's fault... <u>not entirely of course but it is</u>. </div> I do agree Kobe should take a lot of the blame though. He was in a position of power to ask for Shaq to remain a Laker and Phil Jackson to be the coach. He obviously has influence over the moves the Lakers make, but by no means does he make the final decisions.
The most frustrating aspect about this Laker team is not the losing, it's the way they lose games and their inconsistency, I cannot deal with. I think their last two games was a great example of how frustrating the Laker team is. One night they look great against the Sonics, they play smart basketball, attack the rim, and play with a high level of energy all game long. The next day they get trounced by the Kings. There is no defensive effort, the offense is stagnant, and the bench gets completely outworked by the opposing team. Players stop boxing out and don't go after rebounds. Instead of attacking the basket, players are settling for jump shots and then giving up wide open layups in transition. The Lakers have had so many blow out losses this season it's sometimes hard to imagine this is a professional team. In their most recent 8 game losing streak the Lakers lost by 14 points to WAS 17 points to PHI 13 points to MIA 16 points to IND 2 points to SEA 8 points to UTA 28 points to DEN 7 points to PHI Getting blown out in 5 or 6 of those 8 games just shows this team has no heart. Playing without heart is what frustrates the fans and makes it hard to swallow this season. The Lakers have enough talent to keep games close and competitive. But this year they have not had the desire and energy to compete in half of their losses.
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">Actually a lot of people in LA wanted Wade included during the trade. The initial trade from the Lakers was going to be Shaq & Payton for Butler, Odom, Grant, and Wade. The Lakers initially demanded that guard Dwayne Wade be included in the deal but the Heat balked and two future first round picks were reportly placed on the table instead. The player I was hoping the Lakers could get was Dorrell Wright along with Wade and Odom with Grant as the filler. Here's one of many links saying the Lakers wanted Wade to be included.</div> I know the Lakers wanted Wade, but them asking for Wade and Odom is obviously absurd, and I was just saying the Heat didn't want to trade him, and when people had to pick one of the two because their was no way both were going, most were picking Odom.
Wade is lightyears more productive the slowdumb. Lamar has heaps of talent, just too soft to use it....basically, hes lisa leslie with a penis, same body and everything. makes me sick! lmao
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting DMKfromTPL:</div><div class="quote_post">Wade is lightyears more productive the slowdumb. Lamar has heaps of talent, just too soft to use it....basically, hes lisa leslie with a penis, same body and everything. makes me sick! lmao</div> You just compared Lamar to Lisa Leslie, we all know Lisa is toughter But, major props for the analogy, you had me rollin
