Did anyone notice on that Luis Scola offensive rebound putback in the third that finally got the Rockets going again, Kobe just wailing his arms around complaining about his big men not boxing out? No, Kobe, that's called defensive rotation, you were the guy just standing there not boxing out as Scola ran past you for the putback. Moments later you get outhustled for another offensive rebound putback by Shane Battier. You got to do the little things, also, Kobe. I won't say Kobe doesn't have a strong desire to win. He clearly does. But also, clearly, desire to win does not equal leadership or heart.
If you're giving crap to kobe about getting at Gasol, or getting on his teammates about poor defense, you must not have ever been an athlete. He's being a leader, trying to get Gasol pumped up, and telling Vujcleillelfkjel what he needs to do to defend better. That's what a leader does.
What's stupid is Kobe was getting after him to play better defense on Scola. Hey Kobe, why don't ever guard anyone other than the least offensive threat on the floor? Like you'd know the first thing about playing lockdown defense. You gaurd Shane Battier on defense for crying out loud, and even he lit you up for 23 in game 4. Punk.
I think it would be akin to the Astros acquiring Clemens. Forget for a minute that Clemens was a Texas hero, many folks would say no way should the Astros sign him. For most teams, it was "Clemens is an A$%h^&, but he's our A$%h^&". I think Kobe would bring a similar sentiment.
Kobe does have heart, I will give him that. But he is not on Jordan's level as far as teammates giving him respect. It may be due to the fact that he really doesn't have a teammate alongside him (possibly Fish), that is as hard and sticks to him as close as Pippin stuck with Jordan. Pao is as soft as butter. You watch him fold like a cheap tent when he starts getting roughed up. He is soft, soft, soft. And if we don't put them down in game 7, Denver and their interior guys are going to expose Pao's softness even more. And Odom is a knucklehead. Odom has some heart, not as much as Kobe but a whole lot more than Pao. But his problem is his brain is discombobulated at times, like there is still some Mary Jane smoke wafting around inside his noggin that clouds over his thought process every so often and he makes boneheaded plays. He has gotten better with Kobe torquing on him. But dude is still out there. Bynum? Dude has already got superstar syndrome. And he ain't even a superstar. Granted he's hurt this series. He's got talent. But I don't see the heart. Fish? Dude has heart, probably the only teammate that has anything close to the same heart as Kobe. Him and possibly Walton.
It's been brought up here in passing before, but forgetting all the off-court issues (and the sideline assaults against fellow teammates), I've never been able to mesh the above statement with one of Bryant's previous game 7s, not all that long ago, against Phoenix in 2006 after the Suns had come back on Bryant's Lakers. http://www.basketball-reference.com/boxscores/200605060PHO.html Bryant went for 24 on 8 for 16 shooting, but, tellingly , That explanation rang hollow; it came after a series in which he was criticized for being selfish/ a ballhog. For anyone who actually watched the game, however, it seemed he was trying to prove a point about his unselfishness by refusing to score. During the second half he simply refused to shoot, passing up open shots and drives to the lane. He seemed passive, disinterested even, to the point that the apolitical announcers remarked upon it. The passes he made that half largely weren't assists off the drive, but back out around the perimeter. It was an odd game to watch. (Remniscent of Bill Worrell calling out TMAC before he shut it down for the year, for TMAC standing back at the halfcourt line when the Rockets were on offense this season; at least TMAC was injured, though.) Admittedly, Bryant's teammates were inferior, but that was all the more reason why he should have played up to his level. An honest question: has Bryant truly matured since that game, or will he fold again in a Game 7 without a Shaq by his side?
Because every player on the Faker team not named Kobe feels that he is playing for Kobe, they don't feel they are playing for the team, for themselves. Win is Kobe's win, lose is Kobe's lose, they don't care.
OMG was this really from last night? What a piece of sh** teammate. Notice how the other guys uncomfortably look away trying to ignore it. I wouldn't be surprised if Pau shows up next game w/ a black eye and says he got it from falling down the stairs. Everyone was making fun of Lebron for doing his stupid pregame stuff. Compare the posture and the camaraderie of the Cavs to the Lakers. 'Nuff said. BTW, I'm sure everyone has seen several animated gifs flying around the internet of Kobe physically hitting his teammates. This is far from the first time.
I don't know if it's just me, but throughout this entire series, the difference in comradery between these two teams has been remarkable. This Rockets team is so obviously a tight group of guys (as they have been all year, especially the second half of the season), looking to lift each other up when they are down, and the Lakers, well, high fives are a dime a dozen when they cruise, but when the chips are down, they just b**** at each other when the refs stop listening.
This LA Times article describes Kobe to a T. Vintage Kobe. http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-simers-lakers15-2009may15,0,2245538.column
Are you kidding? Kobe's a pretty damn good defender. Over the years, he was forced to guard the other team's best perimeter player, and he usually did a good job of it. Now that they have Ariza, they put Kobe on a weaker offensive threat so that he can roam... but that's the thing that makes Battier dangerous. If you roam away from Battier, he'll knock down the open three like it's nothing. And you guys are STILL overreacting about that Kobe/Pau thing. I mean seriously, there were so many moments in Game 5 where I was hoping somebody would walk up to every Rockets player and slap them in the face telling them to get their **** together. That's basically what Kobe was doing to Pau, and I can't really blame him for it. Pau was playing like trash and giving absolutely no effort out there.
I disagree, Mr. Brother, sir. I don't believe we want a Prima Donna here. I think he can shoot his ass off when he isn't pissed... and he can defend well, but... no way teammates would want to hang out with some WHINY ass b*tch like him. ALL SUPERSTARS whine when they don't get calls going their way. WATCH KOBE walk, shoot, celebrate a made shot, talk to the media, show his arrogance, dribble, talk to the refs, etc.... just like QUITTER Michael Jordan. I hate his IMITATING m'f'ing ass. I wished he were original, then maye I would like hi... no, wait, I wouldn't. That's what I immediately thought. Kobe wouldn't do that to Yao or to Artest... maybe to Battier or AB, but not those two... "WTF did you just do, MF'er?!?!? DO IT AGAIN" - Artest
he still hasn't learned about playing with others. right now, they're winning with talent, not team chemistry or toughness. his players don't follow his lead at all in terms of toughness and preparation. he's a terrible leader. but b/c the lakers are so talented, they can win with just that. but apparently, they're going to struggle mightily to do that, if at all.
