OK, OK, everybody, slow down a little bit. I hate to be the Kobe apologist here, but there are a few stats which stick out to me: 1. Kobe shoots 46.7% from the field, according to NBA.com. Regardless of how many shots he's shooting, he's still shooting 46.7% FROM THE FREAKING FIELD. If Cuttino shot the ball that well from the field, I don't think we'd be half as pissed about how many shot attempts he jacks up every night. Kobe may be a ballhog. Hell, he averages something like 23 shots attempted per game. But I'll take it happily if he makes as many as he makes. 2. The guy is a GREAT DEFENDER. I'll admit as quickly as the next guy that having Shaq down low helps you out defensively, as you can gamble some more. But as far as one-on-one defense, I'd personally be hard-pressed to find anyone I like better at the 2. 3. The Lakers are 25-12. I don't think that is any indication that the Lakers are in trouble. Granted, this whole Shaq/Kobe thing needs to be addressed, and fixed, and, quite frankly, I don't know how the hell to do it. But that problem is a joint problem. Kobe AND Shaq are going to have to work that thing out, not just Kobe. I think that we let our hatred for the Lakers make us a little over-exuberant when it comes to bashing Kobe. Fact is, on the basketball floor, what is Kobe doing wrong? He is shooting a good percentage, scoring a lot of points, his turnovers aren't THAT much of a problem (3.1/gm), and he still pulls down 5 boards and 5 assists per night. He makes his free throws, and his team is winning. I have no problem with people having a personal thing with Kobe. Hell, that's your prerogative. But talking about what he does on the floor--he's fine. So we can hate how much he acts like Jordan, talks like Jordan, hell, even how he sometimes PLAYS like Jordan. But I really don't think he gives a rat's ass what you, I, or a .500 ballclub's fans think. The man is cocky--but I would be, too. ------------------ Jazzkiller
I have to defend Kobe as well. I can't blame him for wanting more shots... when he's playing well enough to deserve them. On the court, Bryant seems to have everything: good shot, great moves, nice size, great defense. He can even pass and board. On another thread, someone quoted a stat that when Kobe leads the Lakers in scoring, the team has a TERRIFIC winning %, but when Shaq does, it's only 8-7. If so, then Kobe's shots can't be defined as a problem. I know it's strange to go away from what won a championship last year, but I think Kobe has matured enough to being better than Shaq. I mean, if it was *just* Shaq drawing the defense away from Kobe, the lakers wouldn't be winning nearly as much as they are. They're 26-12... and they only have two truly productive players. I sympathize with Kobe's predicament. He can either shoot, and be considered a ball hog... or he can defer to someone who probably isn't quite as good, and who can't shoot free throws. I don't think I could hold myself back, forever. When Kobe falters... spit the venom. But wait until then. ------------------ Shandon Anderson rocks. The lottery sucks. Playoffs 2001.
The odd thing is that many people still hold draft day against steve, while people are willing to forgive kobe and make excuses for all the selfishness he has shown throughout his career. ------------------
Francis in his second year shows the poise that you'd expect from a 7 year vet. He is playing like a true point guard and doing whatever it takes (averaging nearly a triple double last week). The young players in the league should look at Steve instead of all the egotistical supposed stars who get all the hype. Kobe is sick... but his ego will screw up things up eventually in LA. Can you say that then he'll be shooting 46% when he is the best (and only good player) on a crappy team? Wouldn't that be kind of like... Vince Carter?
I can't make any guarantees that Kobe will shoot as high a percentage if (or when) he ends up on a better team. I just think it's ignorant to ASSUME he will. Bryant and Carter are very different ballplayers, IMHO. Time will tell. I don't know that many people are bringing up Steve and the draft day fiasco, except in Vancouver...most people have already forgotten about it. It's old news. And as far as a "career of selfishness" for Kobe...during most of his career he has shot the ball in the 45% range...and his turnovers have never been cause for concern. The man is a great player, and, if you can shoot the ball as well as he has, why not shoot the ball as much as he has? Shaq is a consistent offensive weapon anytime he gets the ball near the basket. But he's not going to create his own shot. With the departure of Rice and the limited minutes for Rider, it should really come as no surprise to us that Kobe shoots the ball as much as he does. If you were coaching, would you tell Kobe to stop shooting (even though he's doing it reasonably well) so that he can get the ball to Mark Madsen more often? Or Ron Harper, or Horace Grant, or anyone else on that team? I'm not saying those guys can't score, but they're not really potent offensive weapons, like Kobe is. I like Bryant...I actually hope that he will go to another team where he is the number one option...then and ONLY then can we say whether or not he is what he is because of Shaq. ------------------ Jazzkiller
