The 24-point meltdown wasn't Kobe's fault

[Don Draper]

Let me start off by saying, I'm not a fan of Kobe and never will be. I think he is spoiled and has a false sense of entitlement. I never see I guy think he is owed so much. Plus this trusting teammates crap is so overblown by the media. But thats a different subject.

But game 4 wasn't all his fault. People are saying Kobe cost the Lakers the game by not driving. But look at it in the context of the game.

1) The first half Kobe Bryant did a good job of facilitating the offense. From the outset it was obvious the Cs weren't going to let him score 36 again and he did a pretty good job of finding the open man

2) In the second half the Cs played possessed on the defensive end. And Paul Pierce slowed down Kobe (with some help of course)

3) In the 3rd quarter the Lakers went away from what got them the lead. They started over dribbling and settling. Also their defense got so much worse in the 2nd half

4) I personally blame Phil Jackson's coaching moves in the 4th. Derrick Fisher was very aggressive in the 1st half. Why did Farmar play most of the second half instead? Also in the 4th quarter Kobe Bryant was flanked by 3 defenders at all times, but the lineup Phil Jackson had in there was not a shooting lineup and they couldn't spread the floor. He didn't even try to disguise the fact that they were going to try to let Kobe score every play. Why would run pick and roll when the Cs are playing a box and 1? You are just bringing more defenders. The Celtics were packed in and there was no way there were going to let Kobe burn them 1 on 1. Doc Rivers simply out coached PJ.

5) Kobe takes partial blame for looking to score a little too much and for being the superstar, but not as much as people are giving him. If the Lakers would have won, Kobe would have gotten the credit, so if they lose he deserves the blame. But even still it had more to do with coaching than Kobe playing bad.

If only Kobe were MJ...

[JordansBulls]

Of course it wasn't his fault only but when a team blows a huge lead like that the first player people look at is the star for allowing it happen. If they came back from down 24, he would get the credit wouldn't he?

[hoops4life]

sure it wasn't..

[guy1]

It definitely wasn't all his fault, but he deserves some of the blame. And due to the expectations of him that fans/media have, he deserves alot of criticism. People, including himself, want to anoint him as the GOAT even over Jordan, but MJ would've never let this happen.

[Flash3]

Finals Thread, Please!