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http://thelakersnation.com/blog/2010/03 ... ions-kobe/

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http://nba.fanhouse.com/2010/03/07/gaso ... cent-woes/

Pau Gasol, who has averaged less than 14 points in the three losses, has a different take. He believes the defending NBA champions have been thrown out of sync because one guy again has become too dominant in the offense.

And guess who that guy would be?

"Kobe is a great player, the best offensive player out there ... but at the same time, we need to find some balance with our interior game, develop it a little more, moving the ball and changing sides,'' Gasol said gingerly, knowing he was treading on sacred territory by questioning Bryant and the offense of coach Phil Jackson. "We need to get focused on that a little more, to find balance, to find some flow.''

"I've always been a good post-up player, getting looks for myself, but also finding cutters, passing the ball out. It's a good way to attack,'' Gasol said. "I've always been a big believer that you work the game from inside out, and it becomes easier. The Magic do it with Dwight, and he's not a player with the best post moves, but it gives you balance. I think we need that.''

guy just can't keep anything in-house i guess.

dcash4 wrote:guy just can't keep anything in-house i guess.

Has there ever been an issue with Kobe on any of his teams that was able to be cleared up in house?

It seems like everything goes to the media with him... Coaches, players...

Maybe the rumors that Kobe's not all that aproachable aren't that far off.

Gasol was pretty much the only addition that we could make that wouldn't trip over Kobe's ego. If he's having the same issues Shaq seemed to have, there's a mich bigger problem here.

Here's how I read those quotes...

"Kobe, you've been on a steady decline for the last 3 years. You're injured, you're not getting calls, your shot's not falling like it used to, and you're starting to look a bit tentative... Pass the damn ball..."

Flip side...

"Pau you couldn't get position on or defend a wet blanket... Shut the hell up and do something on the court."

I guess it's up to us how we see it. I just hope they figure it out quick.

Gasol is at it again. This is why you seem Gasol get so much ish on the boards. Bynum keeps his mouth closed and doesn't go around calling people out. Gasol on the other hand does.

I bet you that Gasol's punk ass didn't say any of this at the team meeting they had. Then he turns right back around and stabs the rest of his team mates in the back by going to the media.

people take these little quibs for more then what they are. The media just needles and pecks until they get a quote they can run with to get attention. They just had a big team meeting where anyone could speak, if Pau wanted to then he could have.

This is also just Pau's personality, on court and off he's a puss. Kobe's never really had a problem giving Pau the ball in the past, but in the past he did much better fighting for position and making quick good decisions. Lately Pau holds it too long and gets stripped way too much.

Biggest problem with our O though is shooting. There was a good article I think on FBnG that teams are just packing the paint on us because we can't shoot consistently.

PS, I've got a new nickname for Pau... Noodles....

pau needs to really shut up! he is a second option. he must have forgot how he had the team he was the leader on in the lottery. you don't see people like odom and bynum doing this. pau is really starting to get on my nerves,especially since he wusses out in big games. man up then talk. i am starting to lean toward deep on this guy. he might not be here for the duration of that extension. bosh for pau is starting to look really good.

+1 magic1fan

Pau needs to STFU and play ball. He, more than anyone else, is the reason our offense isn't flowing. He's been giving us ZERO in the post.

You know what this sh** is starting to get ridiculous!!! So many excuses after the TEAM plays like trash!!!

Every man in that locker room from the coaches on down to the last man at the end of that bench need to look in the mirror and take fu**ing responsibility for their OWN ACTIONS. You would think that defending champions would not be dealing with this petty azz blame games at this point in the season.

The defense ( or lack thereof ) has been the main issue and that has nothing to do with who is getting touches. THAT should be the focus because if we play D and force turnovers, we can score easier in transition. Once that happens players will be more willing to pass in the half court because the all will be getting the chance to score.

This is no time to point fingers especially through the media. We can ill afford a break down from within especially between out two best players although they should be allowed to hold each other accoutable.

There should be nothing more important that defending this crown regardless of who's stats suffer. We have shown that this team built the way it is can win the whole thing and unless we realize that there are a handful of top competitors that want our place, we are fu**ed.

We got that full belly syndrome ( ITIS ) going on right now.

The Skyhook wrote:Gasol is at it again. This is why you seem Gasol get so much ish on the boards. Bynum keeps his mouth closed and doesn't go around calling people out. Gasol on the other hand does.

That's cause next to Fish, Pau is about the only person on the team Kobe might listen to... You think he'd listen to 'Ship his ass out' Bynum?

I really don't care anymore... Just win some ballgames. It shouldn't be this hard.

Pau how about you get some balls first then talk

kilroy where do you get kobe has been declining for three years? his production is right where it usually is.

Kilroy wrote:

The Skyhook wrote:Gasol is at it again. This is why you seem Gasol get so much ish on the boards. Bynum keeps his mouth closed and doesn't go around calling people out. Gasol on the other hand does.

That's cause next to Fish, Pau is about the only person on the team Kobe might listen to... You think he'd listen to 'Ship his ass out' Bynum?

I really don't care anymore... Just win some ballgames. It shouldn't be this hard.

then he should talk to kobe and not reporters.

Pau only has himself to blame for his recent slump. But, unlike other people here I am okay with a player other than the name of Kobe calling a team out in public as long as they're not at fault with the team's struggle, and Pau does not qualify.

Kilroy wrote:

dcash4 wrote:guy just can't keep anything in-house i guess.

Has there ever been an issue with Kobe on any of his teams that was able to be cleared up in house?

It seems like everything goes to the media with him... Coaches, players...

Maybe the rumors that Kobe's not all that aproachable aren't that far off.

Gasol was pretty much the only addition that we could make that wouldn't trip over Kobe's ego. If he's having the same issues Shaq seemed to have, there's a mich bigger problem here.

Here's how I read those quotes...

"Kobe, you've been on a steady decline for the last 3 years. You're injured, you're not getting calls, your shot's not falling like it used to, and you're starting to look a bit tentative... Pass the damn ball..."

Flip side...

"Pau you couldn't get position on or defend a wet blanket... Shut the hell up and do something on the court."

I guess it's up to us how we see it. I just hope they figure it out quick.

+1

Starting with some Acrimony now. Drama ahead... should we actually lose this year I expect Shaq vs Kobe saga getting dredged out, players on the block, all kinds of ish. And with Andrew in the wings it aint Kobe on the block.

magic1fan wrote:kilroy where do you get kobe has been declining for three years? his production is right where it usually is.

There's more to a player's performance than just production...

If you think his explosiveness, elevation, finishing, and shooting touch are the same as they were 2-3 years ago, I'd say you might have blinders on.

I know you don't make friends in Lakers forums by saying anything at all remotely bad about Kobe, but his performance this season, in spite of the injuries, has not been all that impressive... Look past the last-second shots...

To paraphrase a Latina I dated, Numbers are like White-Boys... They lie.

Is Kobe still one of the top 2 or 3 players in the League all things considdered? Of course...
Is he the clear Numero-Uno anymore? Sadly no... And that isn't just because LeBron has gotten better...

Kilroy wrote:

The Skyhook wrote:Gasol is at it again. This is why you seem Gasol get so much ish on the boards. Bynum keeps his mouth closed and doesn't go around calling people out. Gasol on the other hand does.

That's cause next to Fish, Pau is about the only person on the team Kobe might listen to... You think he'd listen to 'Ship his ass out' Bynum?

I really don't care anymore... Just win some ballgames. It shouldn't be this hard.

Man if I'm Bynum I still remember the ship my out crap and get back at Kobe. The I intimidate Gasol and put him in his spot. Bynum's been sitting quite for too long. I hope he goes on a tear and has a stretch of big games before the playoffs.

Kilroy wrote:

magic1fan wrote:kilroy where do you get kobe has been declining for three years? his production is right where it usually is.

There's more to a player's performance than just production...

If you think his explosiveness, elevation, finishing, and shooting touch are the same as they were 2-3 years ago, I'd say you might have blinders on.

I know you don't make friends in Lakers forums by saying anything at all remotely bad about Kobe, but his performance this season, in spite of the injuries, has not been all that impressive... Look past the last-second shots...

To paraphrase a Latina I dated, Numbers are like White-Boys... They lie.

Is Kobe still one of the top 2 or 3 players in the League all things considdered? Of course...
Is he the clear Numero-Uno anymore? Sadly no... And that isn't just because LeBron has gotten better...

i agree with the elevation and explosiveness but the other stuff seems a little far fetched. i don't see him attack the rim as much. some of that is miles,and some of that is the lack of respect he get's imo. i guess we just agree to disagree.

I think both Kobe and Gasol are to blame for our recent struggles. Kobe is just shooting way too much, for all these years, Kobe's shot selection still isn't very good. Gasol on the other hand was just a straight up pussy for the last couple games.

magic1fan wrote:

Kilroy wrote:

The Skyhook wrote:Gasol is at it again. This is why you seem Gasol get so much ish on the boards. Bynum keeps his mouth closed and doesn't go around calling people out. Gasol on the other hand does.

That's cause next to Fish, Pau is about the only person on the team Kobe might listen to... You think he'd listen to 'Ship his ass out' Bynum?

I really don't care anymore... Just win some ballgames. It shouldn't be this hard.

then he should talk to kobe and not reporters.

Aha... Totally agree...

Only it doesn't seem to be that easy, and it seems to be a on-going problem with Kobe teams. That's just my perception so maybe it doesn't mean that much...

But I agree with you 110%... Pau should be talking directly to Kobe. The fact that he doesn't is the whole problem with Pau... He's too damn passive.

He's supposed to be the 2nd best player on this team. If he can't man-up and address an issue with the best player on the team on the sideline, during the game, or in the locker-room, then nobody can... And that's a huge problem.

So the solution is two-fold... Man-up Pau (handle your business on and off the court)... And Man-up Kobe (be open to your team-mates and divert when it makes sense)...

magic1fan wrote:

Kilroy wrote:

magic1fan wrote:kilroy where do you get kobe has been declining for three years? his production is right where it usually is.

There's more to a player's performance than just production...

If you think his explosiveness, elevation, finishing, and shooting touch are the same as they were 2-3 years ago, I'd say you might have blinders on.

I know you don't make friends in Lakers forums by saying anything at all remotely bad about Kobe, but his performance this season, in spite of the injuries, has not been all that impressive... Look past the last-second shots...

To paraphrase a Latina I dated, Numbers are like White-Boys... They lie.

Is Kobe still one of the top 2 or 3 players in the League all things considdered? Of course...
Is he the clear Numero-Uno anymore? Sadly no... And that isn't just because LeBron has gotten better...

i agree with the elevation and explosiveness but the other stuff seems a little far fetched. i don't see him attack the rim as much. some of that is miles,and some of that is the lack of respect he get's imo. i guess we just agree to disagree.

Maybe... But just to clarify... This is Kobe.
A couple of years ago, he could drop 60 on anybody in the league on any night and no matter what you threw at him. You'd just see him 'decide' to do it and do it no matter what. He was dropping numbers on double, triple, quadrouple teams.
He just doesn't seem to be able to do that any more...
He didn't look up to it last season very often, and this season he looks even less like his old self.

Is it injuries? Maybe... But in my opinion, you don't get to play the injury card if you continue to play. If you 'play through' injuries and aren't able to contribute at a reasonable level, when resting might get you back to where you were, then you're no hero.

It's not like he's Iverson over night or anything. I'm not insinuating he's on the verge of retirement.
My point is really that this team was built around unstoppable Kobe... If he isn't able to get 20+ points on high-efficiency shooting no matter what the team throws at him, at will, then I think we have a pretty serious issue. Because without Kobe, we have no serious perimeter threat on a night in and night out basis.

I mean if you think about it, this team in spite of all the talent we have around Kobe, is still a team that if you severely limit him (while he's in uniform) more likely than not, we aren't going to be successfull.