http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/7389268 ----------------------------------------------- NEW YORK (AP) - Charles Barkley is calling out Kobe Bryant again for dogging it. Barkley criticized Bryant on Monday for the way he asked the Lakers to trade him, then for not appearing to give his full effort since owner Jerry Buss said he would consider a deal. So when Barkley goes on the air Tuesday night for TNT's season-opening doubleheader, he will probably have some strong words about Bryant for the second time in three years. He said Phil Jackson's questioning of Bryant's effort over the weekend was the "final straw." "What Phil Jackson said yesterday, that was like they're at the point of no return now. There's a point where you know you can make a marriage work, but what Phil Jackson said yesterday, that was the end of it," Barkley said at a luncheon with fellow studio analyst Kenny Smith. "That's the one thing I respect most about Kevin Garnett. Even though he played on terrible teams, there is not a player in the last 10 years who played harder than Kevin Garnett. And that's the one thing that disappoints me. Phil said that Kobe's just going through the motions. ... And if your coach tells you you're just going through the motions, that's pretty much the end of the straw." Barkley called Bryant "selfish" after Game 7 of the Lakers' first-round playoff loss to Phoenix in 2006, after Bryant took just three shots and scored only one point in the second half while the Suns pulled away. Bryant told Barkley he was upset in some text message responses, then made a guest appearance on TNT's coverage later in the playoffs to discuss the matter with Barkley on the air. Though Barkley said at the time he should have handled his criticism differently, he maintains now he was right, even recalling a game a couple of years earlier against Sacramento when Bryant was also accused of not shooting as a way to prove a point. "Did you see anybody defending him? Did you see any of his coaches or players saying what Charles said wasn't right?" Barkley said. "You can't fool people. I like Kobe Bryant. I think he's the best player we got in the NBA. I didn't like what he did in Phoenix at all." TNT will show the Lakers' opener against Houston on Tuesday night after televising NBA champion San Antonio's game against Portland in the opener. Barkley and Smith said the Bryant situation will come up, and both will probably criticize the way Bryant has acted since last season ended. Smith said Bryant broke "etiquette rules" by publicly criticizing teammates during his trade demand. Barkley was harder on Bryant's actions since camp opened. Bryant skipped practices and games — Barkley called it a "sabbatical" — after Buss said he would consider trading his star, and Barkley blames both of them for creating the situation. "When Jerry Buss comes into training camp and says they're going to trade Kobe, Kobe says, 'All right, I'm going to take a week's vacation,"' Barkley said. "Jerry shouldn't have said that. Wasn't no doubt in my mind (Bryant) was just blowing off games and practice because he was (mad) about what Dr. Buss said. They shouldn't have said that. He should have went to Kobe 'Kobe you want to be traded, we'll try to make it work.' But the guy's skipping practices, going through the motions." Barkley said the Lakers need to find the best deal possible to make sure Bryant doesn't eventually leave without them getting anything back. Smith didn't sound as certain he'd make a trade. "If I was the Lakers, I'd still have Shaq, too," Smith said. Barkley also said he plans to address the Tim Donaghy scandal Tuesday and praised commissioner David Stern for saying the league would lighten the casino gambling restrictions on its referees. During its coverage, TNT will also talk with Stern, who will be in San Antonio for the Spurs' ring ceremony. ---------------------------- Oh this sucks, yeah, please give Kobe another reason to drop 70 on us tomorrow. I hate when people critisize starts before we play them. Setting us up I think!
I love how our Rocket heroes are not afraid to call out the League's biggest star for being a punk. Bravo!
PROPS FOR WHAT? Van Gundy fired by Rockets after four seasons Associated Press HOUSTON -- If Jeff Van Gundy had decided sooner that he wanted to return to the Houston Rockets, he would still have a job. At least that's what the team was saying Friday after firing him. The Rockets' Game 7 loss to Utah meant a first-round exit for the third time in Van Gundy's four seasons, raising the possibility that the coach would step down or be dismissed by owner Les Alexander.
It must be July and snowing in Houston. tinman, I actually agree with you on something. I hope this doesn't mean some unnatural disaster is going to happen.
Props for taking Kobe to school. I'm thinking of the second or third game we played with them last year, at Toyota Center when they were getting blown out in the third quarter and Kobe basically walked off the court, saying to his team "F-ya'll". And then Phil was so stupefied that he ended up picking a fight with the ref, and you could tell the ref knew Phil wasn't into the argument so he just let it slide. Phil got so pissed off that he walked off the court himself, and the ref was forced to give him that second T as he was walking away in order to save face. That was my most satisfying moment as a Rox fan last year. LOL
Look what the Rockets did last year, Won 52 games with our two best players were out for 45 of 82 games, a backup center (that started for Yao) that is 40 years old, and a coach that has no offensive scheme whatsoever. The Rockets won 52 games in the WESTERN conference. One more shot to go in vs Utah, and we would still have JVG as our coach right now. Believe it or not, Utah was our ONLY roadblock to the championship.
You get props for what you DID DO. Let me freaking refresh your memory. WE FREAKING LOST IN THE FIRST ROUND WITH HOME COURT ADVANTAGE AND WE WERE UP 2-0. IF IT WEREN'T FOR THE MAVERICKS, WE WERE THE LAUGHING STOCK OF THE LEAGUE. WHY DONT YOU GIVE ALEX RODRIGUEZ A CHAMPIONSHIP RING TOO WHILE YOU ARE AT IT. GO SHOP AT VICTORIA'S SECRET FOR SOME ROCKETS PANTIES TOO.
I like Barkley but it's hard to listen to him criticize someone for not giving 100% in practice/preseason when the Chuckster himself coasted through his whole career.
Let's stay on topic. This is bad news for the Rockets. I said yesterday we'd kill the Lakers because Kobe will be playing hurt and unmotivated. THanks to Barkley, that all changes now.
didn't barkley admit to doggin' it a little after he gained some weight during his last season with the rockets?? maybe i'm totally off, but it would seem he's being hypocritical if that were the case.
I know huh, it's hypocrisy at its finest. "Kobe, you should work hard, just like I did all throughout my caree...nevermind."
