[ESPN] Who's at fault? Shaq? Kobe? Us?

i think it is the fault of both ESPN and the fans. Apperanty ESPN thinks fans like this sort of stuff. And i think alot of fans do like it so it will continue to happen

 

Kobe is at fault for forcing Shaq out. If they were on the same team, they would have their little soap opera that gets occasional press, but you wouldn't see anything like when they play each other. Thankfully, Shaq went East, so they only play twice a year.

ESPN and all the stupid people that are the core ESPN audience (the folks who would rather watch top plays than a real game, the people who love Screamin' A.) are at fault for paying any attention to the sorry ass Lakers, no matter who they are playing. The Rapist has really been exposed playing without Shaq. I remember the last few years people were saying he was the best player in the NBA, now he is struggling to get a team with some good young pieces (Odom, Butler) and some decent vets (Grant, Atkins) to the playoffs. Shaq made Kobe's career, and the Rapist ran him out of town on a rail. What a freakin' idiot.

 

did you just call brian grant decent?

and i don't understand the "top plays than a real game" comment. for the 90 seconds it's on, i'd rather watch the top 10 plays of the day than a real game. who wouldn't?

as far as shaq making kobe, he didn't. is shaq better than kobe? yeah. is his impact bigger? yeah. did he make kobe? no. kobe is still a top 5 player in this league capable of taking any game over. he didn't make penny hardaway (who was awesome w/o shaq until his injuries), he didn't make kobe (who will continue to put up massive numbers and probably win when he gets a second best player to complement him who doesn't duplicate his strengths the way odom does), and he didn't make wade who was already the darling of last year's playoffs and poised to be great (and who will be great once shaq is done). shaq strolls into perfect situation after perfect situation. clutch all-nba 2 guard to clutch all-nba 2 guard to clutch all-nba 2 guard, all of whom both perfectly complement his inside dominance with perimeter dominance and who make up for his lack of end of game dominance with some of their own. and the heat are just like the rockets in that they took a team that was supposed to be two stars and no depth and did a great job and getting solid role players around the stars in a short amount of time with not much to work with. shaq never plays on untalented teams and he looks better for it, even if he would look great regardless.

 

He makes a point....
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/sports/...q031605,0,3733454.story?coll=sfla-sports-heat

Having also played with Penny Hardaway and Kobe Bryant during his career, O'Neal made a strange analogy when describing the trio.

"The difference between those three is in 'The Godfather' trilogy," he said. "One is Alfredo, who's never ready for me to hand it over to him. One is Sonny, who will do whatever it takes to be the man. And one is Michael, who, if you watch the trilogy, the Godfather hands it over to Michael. So I have no problem handing it to Dwyane."

 

this is actually a pretty funny quote

 

damn, i thought he was going to say he was michael, then boom, he's straigth up brando

 

"Us" is the correct answer.

 

Kobe needs shaq more than shaq needs kobe. Kobe is trying to be the next MJ and it aint' working.

Kobe ran everyone out of town.

 

let me just say that as much bball stuff I read, I really can't stand Scoop Jackson. What does he bring to the table, except for the fact that IMHO, he is a racist? This was dumb read. I enjoy the Kobe/Shaq games. They are good for the L.

 

Sometimes I feel for Kobe. Look, in those championship years, he contributed greatly, although you can argue that Shaq had more impact etc. But, do you seriously think Shaq could win without Kobe? Shaq normally started, and Kobe closed it. I would say that's two MVPs in that Lakers team, plus some very good role players. But no, the media, Shaq, PJ, they had to remind Kobe after every single game, that it is Shaq's team. Who could stand that? Yes, Kobe is a top 5 player, a great shooting guard, of course he would shoot, whenever he thinks he can make them, just like TMac. But did he try to involve others, of course he did. Remember PJ said that Shaq had to admit that Kobe's feed was most comfortable?

I think Kobe did an incredible job to help the team win. That needs to be appreciated by Shaq and PJ. I am totally against the whole discussion about whose team it is. I am so glad that TMac and Yao avoid that kind of talk, and give props to each other constantly, that's how you play a team game. Shaq and Kobe need each other, and Shaq didn't make Kobe. Yeah, Shaq played with Penny and Wade with success. Yes, but that's Penny and Wade, they are both great. You can't compare that with Kobe playing with Odom and Mihm. What if Kobe plays with Yao (god forbidden), or Big Z? Would the current Lakers be much better? Of course!

Kobe's case was withdrawn by the accuser. Guilty till proven. Please don't call him a rapist. I don't understand, if someone read the whole story could come up with that conclusion. I don't like Kobe personally, coz I never like cocky people, but I definitely dislike Shaq and his pesudo-intellectual comments more. I hoped that they could stay together, and TMac and Yao duo could get a chance to challenge them.

Of course, Kobe has fault that Shaq and PJ left. But in my opinion, Shaq and PJ, and the media have as much fault, if not more. It's always easy to stomp on somebody when he's down. But, I really think we should give credit where credit is due. Kobe is a great player. To be honest, everyone has pride, if you are doing something great and contribute greatly to the team success, people reminds you every single day that you are a side kick. Even if he's just a side kick, what's the point to repeat it over and over again loudly?

So on the end, the situation was that Kobe doesn't want to stay with Shaq on the same team. Did he drive Shaq away? Yes and No. The organization made the decision to stay with Kobe's age and talent, while Shaq still has large trading value, and they saved huge paychecks for Shaq and PJ. Why is that Kobe drove him out of town? Be fair.

 

Scoop Jackson is the columnist equivalent to Steven A Smith's TV work.

He doesn't write to convey information, he writes as if he's trying to do some sort of funky sports hip-hop beat poetry.

I hit my head against my desk when I saw ESPN picked him up.

Kobe's 60% at fault, Shaq 30% (he was not exactly trying to smooth things out in LA), and I'll toss 10% at the media.

Evan

 

I beg to differ There is only one true dominent center in the league, that is Shaq. But there are couple of top guards out there. So you can't argue based on that and say Kobe is NOT great. Shaq's impact is bigger, but Kobe is Kobe. Shaq can't win alone, like you said, you need to replace Kobe with AI, TMac (not sure about VC), he still needs a "sidekick", a great one. But, if you want your side kick to support you, you have to appreciate him. MJ wouldn't say it to Pippen in face, whenever he got the chance:"this is MY team, you are just a side kick!" Nobody would be happy about it. Yao is willing to defer to TMac, but TMac also appreciates Yao's contribution. If TMac says to Yao over and over again, this is my team, blah blah. Yao is humble and nice, but I am sure he would be ticked too. So it's just natural for Kobe to come to the management and say, trade me, I can't stand that guy any more. I would do. Now, it's the management making the choice, as I mentioned and you agreed, age factor and trading value.

By the way, for argument's sake, Shaq is not irreplacable either. I am pretty sure if you replace him with TD, or KG, Lakers was very possible to repeat their success. As always, two super stars, I mean real super stars, not just max players, they have a legitimate chance.

And for argument's sake again, without the help from referees, even with Shaq, they could easily got beaten by Portland and Kings in two of their 3 titles.

 

OKAY SO, shaq is vito, wade is mike, so penny was frdo and kobe is sunny????

 

You could replace Shaq with TD, and they still would have won. Not so sure about KG though (good chance, but I would not say it definately would happen).

 

I think it's Kobe's fault. Is just the battle of two big egos, and Kobe's ego was simply too big and uncompromising. My girlfriend was witness to an example of this. A couple of years back, we were sitting on the couch, watching the Lakers beat some team. After the game, some floor analyst caught Kobe and Shaq, and Shaq had one arm around Kobe and said on National TV something to the effect that Kobe was the best player in the world. And Kobe just stood there with a big smile on his face, giving no props what so ever to the Daddy. My girlfriend then turns to me and says, "Kobe's an @ss, isn't he?" and I just nodded.

Kobe is one of the best ballers playing right now...but no question about it, there's something more important to him then just his team winning.

 

While is was probably easier to replace Kobe than Shaq on those championship team... Shaq was not irreplacible. Let me make this real simple for you in two words.
TIM DUNCAN.

Replace those championship lakers team with Tim Duncan and Kobe and you think their chance of winning it all is HELL NOO???
You do realize that Tim Duncan had WON 2 championships during that period.

Conclusion:
Your assertion that Kobe + anyone else = no chance at winning a championship is WRONG. Kobe + duncan would easily have won championship and lets not forget also reigning MVP Kevin Garnett.

note:
FOrgot to mention, in total agreement with you on the article sucking major balls.

 

Shaq has wade this year lets see if they win. Shaq has never won a championship without kobe and kobe hasn't won without shaq. While shaq is more important you guys can't deny kobe's clutchness at the end of games.