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OT...The game all season that I was looking for was game 2 vs. Boston REGULAR SEASON I was all set to watch a great matchup, and the Lakers break out the nutters, unbeleivable, horrible Kharma, they were busier pulling down their shorts than they were guarding the C's. A win there would have helped the Lakers in the playoffs IMO. Maybe that's a stretch, damn was I pissed at that stunt. I mean couldn't the Lakers pick another game to pull that stunt, the C's did have the best record in the L at the time. That was the worst promotion all year, 2nd being Los Lakers...OT

OK on to my take... I was out of town for a few days immediatly following game 6 so I really didn't hear or see any opinions to whether or not there was a quit in the Lakers beyond the obvious quit job in game 6, more specifically, did Kobe quit?

The team I can kind of understand a little they were frustrated from the C's D having little experience in the NBA postseason, let alone the NBA Finals, vs. one of the best D's in a long time. I can kind of understand why at times they looked really bad. The LAL toughness, and effort was questioned by all.

Here's what I'm really asking did our favorite player Kobe quit in that series? It's hard for me to see that being the kiss ass Kobe fan that I am, but what do you think happened? He can't beat them by himself, especially when he is trapped and at times double and triple teamed. I realize Kobe was setting the offense up high to open the court for easy looks, always deferring because they were determined to not let Kobe beat them, BUT I really expected more fight from the MVP. Going down in a blaze of glory, especially when his back was agianst the wall. Where was the incredible fire and brimstone we are so expected out of KB24 when a challenge is thrown in front of him?

Did he lose his legs? Did he think the odds were just too huge, that there wasn't a chance (hard to believe)? Did he have some weird injury that we didn't hear about? It's just unfamiliar territory for us as Laker fans to see Kobe anything other than brilliant, like the C's were the Kyrptonite to the Kobe's Superman game. I think we all thought the C's had a strong advantage going back to Boston for 2 games to get 1, but I think we expected more of a battle. Truly it scared me a little, I'm like where is our MVP dammit? Like a black mamba without the venom. WTF happened beyond the C's great D? Any closing thoughts are appreciated.

The team quit in general in the last game. Overall, we just got outplayed by a superior team.

I was very disappointed in Bryant's performance, but at the same time, other than the Game 4 debacle, where he had an opportunity to carry us to victory down the stretch and didn't, I'm not sure what he could have done. Boston has an incredible defense, and they simply shut him down. Nobody else was able to step up and prevent them from keying on him, which only made it worse.

To sum up: Sometimes you have to tip your cap to the other guys and acknowledge that they were better.

NO Kobe didn't quit..................it's kinda delirious on any one's part to think Kobe would keep pulling that type of stunt he did last year in Phoenix. Even though I understood why he did that last spring .

Kobe quit?

What was Kobe supposed to do? Make all his contested jump shots? Posterize KG every time? They literally put the entire team on him, and that's not hyperbole, that was the Boston's game plan.

Kobe did the right thing, which was to play within the offense. He didn't quit, he averaged 22-23 shots a game, and the number of shot attempts were very consistent from game-to-game. The most he took was 26, the fewest, 19.

If the Lakers were a big, physical, rebounding team, it might make sense for Kobe to start gunning it. But that's not how this team arrived in the Finals. The way the Lakers played ALL YEAR was to move the ball, play unselfish, and allow everybody to contribute. They even started to give that a name, "Laker ball." And Kobe was a very big part of that - the reason why he presumably got the MVP - finally - because he passed the new rule, the old criticism: making his teammates better.

When interviewed, every Laker said that when they move the ball and get everybody involved, they're unstoppable. It was their mantra.

Well against the Celtics, they were stopped. Pau Gasol wasn't a post presence, Odom was terribly inconsistent, Vujacic missed shots he hit all year, Fish and Farmar were uneven, Walton was negligible, and Radmanovic bought and paid for Pierce's MVP trophy.

You have to understand, Kobe bought into the team concept, our particular version of it, and embraced it. All the way to the bitter end. He deserves some props for that.

Some people wanted kobe to "do a Jordan." The Bulls were just built differently. When they were winning championships, every player was a veteran, every player had a niche, every player had a distinct role - and these guys were among the league's best at their jobs.

This current Laker squad was inexperienced, players with uncertain roles, players growing into them, and some players trying to figure out how they fit in.

The Bulls knew when Jordan was going to take over, and everybody shifted into that mode. Shooters spread the floor, Pippen facilitates, Rodman chases the boards, and Luc Longley spots up for the offside forward shot.

This Laker team isn't built that way. Odom doesn't have a clear role, Pau tried to be a conventional post player and failed, our outside spot-up shooters were inconsistent, and nobody could facilitate the way Pippen could.

But here's the thing - Kobe stands there holding the bag. He has to take responsibility for all the shortcomings of the TEAM.

Add to that the coaching staff - where was the defensive preparation? The Mihm experiment? Why was Radmanovic played so much? Why Ariza, so little? Where was the p/r defense?

But everything goes back to Kobe. The media jumps on this because of there the ones who built the Jordan worship, the Jordan comparisons, and it's a zero sum equation. There are no other variables other than Kobe and Jordan. They don't play with teammates, they don't play under coaches, they don't have offenses. It's a one-on-one game with Kobe and Jordan. Ignore all the variables, ignore all the factors.

"If he were good enough," if he were Jordan, he would've magically made it happen. Nevermind the fact that Jordan failed every year until the role players were brought in who could step up and do their jobs. No matter what Gatorade or Nike tells you, Jordan never was able to win a championship by himself.

Now ask yourself, how many of Kobe's teammates gave him enough help? Everybody, categorically, was a disappointment.

It's unfair for Kobe to take all the heat, but I respect Kobe for manning up, not throwing his teammates under the bus, not trying to deflect criticism. Not going ape-dookie.

He had the right attitude, still optimistic, still showing faith in his teammates and the organization.

And that faith is going to build his teammates up, not bring them down. I can see guys like Farmar, Vujacic, Walton, all working their asses off, trying to redeem themselves. Some of y'all might feel better if Kobe went down gunning, but it would have destroyed what we built all year, it would have stunted the growth of his teammates. Now, nobody can blame Kobe for not passing. There's no crutch anymore. Players need to look themselves in the mirror and get better.

Look, it was Boston's time. They thoroughly outplayed us, they outcoached us, they were just clicking on all cylinders. Every player on that team contributed to victory. Every player on our team contributed to failure.

We were missing Bynum, Pau entered midseason, Ariza went out, things were hardly optimal. I'm glad we beat some tough teams in the playoffs, but look at the Spurs - Ginobili was hurt, they couldn't play up to their optimum level, and they lost to us. Anybody thinking that next year we'll dispatch the Spurs as easily will be mistaken.

Make no question, we didn't quit, we were beaten. I've said since the beginning of the season that Boston was the team to beat.

But once Bynum returns, Ariza gets fully healthy, and the role players grow further into their roles, more consistent, more reliable, more experienced, we're going to be devastating.

And a key component to that will be Kobe's continued unselfishness, leadership, and trust. He went down like a captain on his sinking ship. He didn't jettison his teammates to save himself, to save his own reputation.

There's honor in that.

I realize kobe isn't a quitter, he's a competitive battlecat, I get that, but in that particular series, something was up BESIDES the great D...hurt, insurmountable odds, something was missing in Kobe's game, tired legs, something.

how did a Kobe-led team blow a 25+ point lead again?

kobe is human,and our team just wasn't consistent enough. Kobe didn't shoot well but he played okay. The really sad part is the celtics admitted to anyone who would listen that they would clamp down on kobe and dare the other guys to beat them,and instead of taking that as a challenge the other guys wilted. Game four was crazy but it was no different than what the lakers had been doing all year. I can't begin to count how many times we had a big lead only to have the game go down to the wire. The problem is we are so used to kobe doing wonders on the court that when he doesn't do it,instead of just accepting it we try and find ways to justify it. Sometimes the ball just doesn't bounce your way.

Honestly...

BYNUM QUIT

Fish and Bryant played injured. Bynum is dancing at UCLA frat parties. I know why risk a young career but lets see... Kobe has a town pinky, Fish had a hurt leg, Ariza rushed back on a broken foot... we've seen LO play w/ a torn shoulder, heck Brown has played hurt in the play-offs for this Lakers team.

Bynum went down Jan 13th I believe and I know I'm hard on him but he shouldnt be a party animal in LA dancing at night clubs and at frat parties if he is injured.

I believe he nursed an injury that a vet would have played through. When your team is in the finals you have to try to get back. We saw how Pierce's return affected his team. If Bynum played a single minute I think the Lakers win.

Did Kobe quit? no, he didn't quit.

Did Kobe play like the MVP? i can't say he did. i can't.

his mentality wasn't killer instinct mentality. he didn't drive to the hoop as much as he could've. i think he had a couple halves where he took like 3-4 shots?!

it just didn't seem like he ever decided, "okay I've had enough, guys gimme the ball and get out of the way." Yes, I know that Boston's plan was to stop Kobe. I know he's only human. but in the FINALS, he didn't take his game to the next level. I'd say his game regressed in the Finals.