OT: Simmons article on Kobe

[Cyclical]

http://sports.espn.go.com/espnmag/story?id=3896242

Though old Bill is starting to bore me lately this one pretty much sums up how I feel about Kobe - especially the last couple of paragraphs.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I actually almost actively dislike Simmons now, but this article was pretty much dead on...

[MasterRyu]

Sadly, I did not see either the Kobe's or Lebron's historic performance at the Garden. In terms of scoring finesse Bryant > Lebron. But you can't argue with the numbers. Lebron's was more of an accomplishment. Kobe played by himself with 61 points and just 3 assists. What I don't understand is how can a player of his calibre not get 1 rebound? I mean, whether you're scoring or passing, you're bound to see the bound in your vicinity. Was he staying in the back court all day?

[DEEP3CL]

Pure garbage...........as soon as I read the first paragraph that was all I needed to see. Bottom line is this cat is just bitter and nothing better to write about. It wasn't like Kobe just shot the ball relentlessly the whole game. For those who didn't see the game your not allowed to judge. Go back in all the high scoring games from star players and see what the next guy had.

Nobody mentioned Pau's 31 points, even when Jordan would go off what did the next guy have ? I bet they never had over 20.

Bottom line Bill is a hater....................but just too coward to flat out admit it.

[e in boulder]

Best writer in the country,

hate on haters.

[Cyclical]

^
Hmmm... I guess we're all "haters" then. Ridiculous. Just because you're a Lakers fan doesn't mean that anyone who doesn't always like the way Kobe plays is a "hater". What a moronic high school term. I agree with the article. I watched that game. I watched the 81 point game against Toronto. I've watched Kobe throughout his career. I live in LA. Still, for all his undeniable talent, I think he's overrated by, um, "lovers" shall we call them? And, I don't enjoy his approach to the game. It's a perfectly legitimate point of view. One that's shared by many others around the world. Especially those who grew up watching tons of team ball. Not everyone has to blindly love your favorite players.

[shobe_81]

I guess the Green Homer Goggles are on sale for FREE! and Bill seems to have extra pairs as back-up. Not surprising given his fan base background.

That was one of the worst Piece of **** article I've read and that's an understatement.

He hasn't been the greatest teammate this decade, both on and off the court.

Really sounds like Curt Schilling, the moron who started his dumb blog saying Kobe lashed out on his teammates during the finals game. Where the hell was this (Please Use More Appropriate Word) when KG made Big-Baby cry?

It's been documented ad nauseam, even in books by people paid to coach him.

I'm just wondering why's that coach coming back to coach the same player? Please Bill, explain it to us.

On the other hand, his teammates stood around and watched him like movie extras.

Referring to Knicks game

Really Bill, so Gasol had 31, and he must have done it from the bench?

LeBron's 52 came in the flow of the offense.

Hmmm, Here's a healthy dose of stats:

Lakers had 25 Total assists, 2 players had 4 assists, and 2 players had 5 assists, Kobe had 3.
Cavs had 20 Total assists, Lebron had more than half (11), and next highest was Ben Wallace with 3

Ben Freaking Wallace was the high man after Lebron in assists You tell me Lebron wasn't hogging the ball accounting for half the assists of the whole freaking Cavs team, while Kobe's whole team had the assists spread out, SOUNDS like BALL-FREAKING-MOVEMENT for the Lakers to Me while Lebron was jacking up 2 more shots than Kobe and holding the ball more than half the time.

And a side note, Lebron Threw up 7 3'pointers. You tell me that's within the Flow of the game Lebron attempting something he cannot hit!

And if Kobe ever put up a 52/9/11, yes, I would love him, too.

Really Bill, maybe if you did your search you would actually know something in that spray-can head of yours! Since you're so good at analyzing Kobe's game, you outta look at some previous games:
50Pts, 8Reb, 8Asts against Clippers in 2006
53Pts, 10Reb, 8Asts against Rockets in 2007

They look pretty similar to LBJ King JAMES 52/9/11

Again, Not surprised given where it's coming

[RocketPower23]

If I really had to choose who I felt played a more efficient game, I'd choose Kobe, I watched both games, Kobe scored most of his points within the flow of the offense, not really forcing anything, while LeBron would stand out at the three point line and hold on to the ball way too long, making the Cav's offense stagnant. Regardless, they both played terrific games, and both of their performances were so great, that there is no point in trying to argue whose performance was better. I really think though it's pretty dumb to try to say whose was better, since they were both great in their own ways. I think only a true hater for either player would flat try to prop out one player's performance and diminish the other one. So yes, Simmons is and always has been a hater.

[3pt %]

invasion of the Kobe fans...

[Bad-Thoma]

I've had nightmares about this moment... the Kobe fans are here in full force. Me... I'm an unabashed Kobe hater, and I still can't stand Bill Simmons.

[GuyClinch]

Simmons has written some good stuff - that sure wasn't it. I thought some of his Manny stuff was great. BTW anyone believe Manny without steriods is the really greatest hitter of his era? Imagine if the guy took roids? He would have been just as good as Bonds and much better then A-Rod..

Anyway I think Kobe the person is easy to dislike. He comes across like smug guy (and it's partly because while being a great player he might be introverted). But disliking him as a basketball player because in one game he didn't rebound and pass enough? Classic hater styling..

PP or Ray Allen have occasional nights where they don't rock the boards or pass the rock. So what? Furthermore its hilarious that Simmons rags on internet boards some while launching a classic hater attack.

That's what haters do. They come up with some semi-valid point (Kobe didn't play that well rounded that night) and try to attack a guy. I'd seen the same done with Pierce (every time he didn't win the game he was seen as "not a clutch guy" or "not a guy you can win a championship with."

That was more a filler column out of Simmons. He actually should read up on the Curmudgeon guy so he can sharpen his hater game.. Not only is he hater but he isn't really THAT great at it.

Pete

[MyInsatiableOne]

I've had nightmares about this moment... the Kobe fans are here in full force. Me... I'm an unabashed Kobe hater, and I still can't stand Bill Simmons.

We must be long-lost brothers from another mother then...I agree 200% with it all...

[MyInsatiableOne]

^
Hmmm... I guess we're all "haters" then. Ridiculous. Just because you're a Lakers fan doesn't mean that anyone who doesn't always like the way Kobe plays is a "hater". What a moronic high school term. I agree with the article. I watched that game. I watched the 81 point game against Toronto. I've watched Kobe throughout his career. I live in LA. Still, for all his undeniable talent, I think he's overrated by, um, "lovers" shall we call them? And, I don't enjoy his approach to the game. It's a perfectly legitimate point of view. One that's shared by many others around the world. Especially those who grew up watching tons of team ball. Not everyone has to blindly love your favorite players.

I can agree with this. Even Jordan wasn't as joyless to watch as Kobe...when you watched MJ you got excited, even if you rooted against him. Maybe it was because he was actually a likeable player? I dunno.

[Joe Kleazy]

Come on now guys, simmons has the right to his own opinion...........as biased and (Please Use More Appropriate Word) as it may be. When it all boils down to it NOBODY CARES what the man thinks, including kobe. He just has the resume that allowed him the abilty to obtain his job and he does whatever is needed to keep it during this recession even if it is to spew nonsense.

Nobody can deny that kobe has been for the last 13 years one of the nastiest ballers on the court and if all of these disturbed writers botherd him at all it would be obvious in his game. Hell they may have of better chance of breaking kobe by over loving the guy.

Words can be spoken at any point but you cant take back what the kid has accomplished whether you like it or not. Most of these articles only piss off the fans rather than the person that they are written about unless your dealing with a fragile ego.

SPEW AWAY SIMMONS.

[Joe Kleazy]

^
Hmmm... I guess we're all "haters" then. Ridiculous. Just because you're a Lakers fan doesn't mean that anyone who doesn't always like the way Kobe plays is a "hater". What a moronic high school term. I agree with the article. I watched that game. I watched the 81 point game against Toronto. I've watched Kobe throughout his career. I live in LA. Still, for all his undeniable talent, I think he's overrated by, um, "lovers" shall we call them? And, I don't enjoy his approach to the game. It's a perfectly legitimate point of view. One that's shared by many others around the world. Especially those who grew up watching tons of team ball. Not everyone has to blindly love your favorite players.

I can agree with this. Even Jordan wasn't as joyless to watch as Kobe...when you watched MJ you got excited, even if you rooted against him. Maybe it was because he was actually a likeable player? I dunno.

Of course he was with all the gatorade, nike, wheaties, etc. commercials being force fed through your television every 20 minutes. MJ had the same goal in mind that kobe has now, which is to dominate EVERYBODY. I love MJ and think that his greatness will never be surpassed but I am also smart enough to realize the power of marketing. MJ was getting high, drinking, and jizzing on broads foreheads during his times too but the man was a endorsement king in the spotlight. Hell I think I liked him more for the off the court things that we had in common and made him more real .

[Who-rod]

To be completely honest, and it pains me a bit, Kobe is a slightly better, slightly more conceited, Paul Pierce. I love Paul because he is green, and has bought into team first, but the man undoubtedly loves him some Paul Pierce. I hate Kobe, because he is yellow, and I have the looping image in my mind of him posing in the mirror after taking a phantom winning jump shot in his hotel room. I really think if a hoops angel descended from the heavens and told Kobe, you get two options:

1.) You're going to average 12 ppg, shoot terribly, not be the best player on your own team during the finals, and watch Gasol pick up the Finals MVP, but win, or:

2.) You are going to be on fire, average 40+, and have a 30% chance of winning the finals.

He would take option #2, and then bitch slap the angel for doubting him.

[MyInsatiableOne]

To be completely honest, and it pains me a bit, Kobe is a slightly better, slightly more conceited, Paul Pierce. I love Paul because he is green, and has bought into team first, but the man undoubtedly loves him some Paul Pierce. I hate Kobe, because he is yellow, and I have the looping image in my mind of him posing in the mirror after taking a phantom winning jump shot in his hotel room. I really think if a hoops angel descended from the heavens and told Kobe, you get two options:

1.) You're going to average 12 ppg, shoot terribly, not be the best player on your own team during the finals, and watch Gasol pick up the Finals MVP, but win, or:

2.) You are going to be on fire, average 40+, and have a 30% chance of winning the finals.

He would take option #2, and then bitch slap the angel for doubting him.

And then try to bend the angel over a chair? (someone had to say it!)

[Joe Kleazy]

^^^^^^^ I think that to be on a top level like MJ, Bird, Kobe, etc, you need to be able to have that type of mindset to be great. Not many on these boards can truly understand the thought process of a HOF athlete so you take certain things that they do and say out of context. I agree kobe has had plenty of selfish motives and has not been the greatest teammate BUT he has always strived to be his best.


Why would he choose to be less of his own expectations just to play a role player situation when he is capable of leading a team and winning. Save that type of sh** for TMAC who has always had the talent but is obviously missing something that kobe has. The fact that kobe has remodeled his game to give the lakers what they need in a timely fashion shows that your statement is completely false about him. Also how realistic is it that they win with kobe averaging 12ppg.


Lastly Paul is not on kobe's level. His MVP could have gone to any of the big three, and even though he had a hell of a postseason I think he won it mostly for his WHEELCHAIR HEROICS. Kobe has been a stud in the league with or without a talented team wheras paul although being a allstar a few years has just only last year been on people mind outside of boston.

[Cyclical]

Oh please, enough. "Hater" is a preposterous term. What are you 15 years old? Are Love and Hate the only two terms you're familiar with? There are many shades in between. I (plus Bill and many, many others) don't particularly enjoy Kobe's style of playing, while still agreeing he's a beast of a baller. Yes, personality has something to do with it but mostly, when you grow up learning and loving the team concepts - passing, setting screens, spreading the floor and spreading the wealth it's a little hard to root for a player that tries to individually dominate so many offensive sets. That often he has the ability to do it is not in question here. That's it. No more, no less. End of story. If he was a low level player like, let's say Mike James, he would not get any press about it. He's Kobe - the man that draws comparison's to MJ (who was similar in some ways but definitely a better player) on a weekly basis. Of course people who hold a not so positive opinion about Kobe will sound out every once in a while - they're still in a minority in the media. That's it. No need to jump and protest. No need for a "Hater" label. I still can't believe that word got into pop culture - should be reserved for actual hate. Not everyone has to agree with you on your favorite player

[MasterRyu]

Oh please, enough. "Hater" is a preposterous term. What are you 15 years old? Are Love and Hate the only two terms you're familiar with? There are many shades in between. I (plus Bill and many, many others) don't particularly enjoy Kobe's style of playing, while still agreeing he's a beast of a baller. Yes, personality has something to do with it but mostly, when you grow up learning and loving the team concepts - passing, setting screens, spreading the floor and spreading the wealth it's a little hard to root for a player that tries to individually dominate so many offensive sets. That often he has the ability to do it is not in question here. That's it. No more, no less. End of story. If he was a low level player like, let's say Mike James, he would not get any press about it. He's Kobe - the man that draws comparison's to MJ (who was similar in some ways but definitely a better player) on a weekly basis. Of course people who hold a not so positive opinion about Kobe will sound out every once in a while - they're still in a minority in the media. That's it. No need to jump and protest. No need for a "Hater" label. I still can't believe that word got into pop culture - should be reserved for actual hate. Not everyone has to agree with you on your favorite player

I agree in that the "hater" word is the most despicable (lol..hateble?) product of internet conversation. It's completely childish.