Phil: "Kobe had to screw up the game by going one on one"

[droponov]

Also a point... Memphis took 19 more shots than did the Lakers. Their transition defense, which is a big part of why that was possible, absolutely sunk them in this game.

Agreed. Their transition D was horrific.

yongaz,

I agree in that sometimes I think Kobe cares about winning almost too much and decides to scrap "playing the right way" if he believes it gives them the best shot to win. If the team game isn't working he basically says "**** this, I'm going to win this myself". Problem is, it doesn't always work.

That's not exactly the problem.

The problem is that it works less and less frequently but he keeps trying doing it with the same frequency.

[yongaz]

Also a point... Memphis took 19 more shots than did the Lakers. Their transition defense, which is a big part of why that was possible, absolutely sunk them in this game.

Agreed. Their transition D was horrific.

yongaz,

I agree in that sometimes I think Kobe cares about winning almost too much and decides to scrap "playing the right way" if he believes it gives them the best shot to win. If the team game isn't working he basically says "**** this, I'm going to win this myself". Problem is, it doesn't always work.

you're right it doesn't always work, but neither does continuing to stick to a game plan where the players aren't delivering. It's a calculated risk I suppose.

anyway I felt like in this case Kobe was more trying to, as Phil says, energize the team rather than take the "**** this, I'm going to win this myself" approach that he used to do in the past... The Kobe of 4-5 years ago maybe more like that,but I'm glad that he's trusting his teammates more and would try to get them back in the game. I mean hey you can't argue with back to back championships right.

[yongaz]

Also a point... Memphis took 19 more shots than did the Lakers. Their transition defense, which is a big part of why that was possible, absolutely sunk them in this game.

Agreed. Their transition D was horrific.

yongaz,

I agree in that sometimes I think Kobe cares about winning almost too much and decides to scrap "playing the right way" if he believes it gives them the best shot to win. If the team game isn't working he basically says "**** this, I'm going to win this myself". Problem is, it doesn't always work.

That's not exactly the problem.

The problem is that it works less and less frequently but he keeps trying doing it with the same frequency.

I don't think we've been watching the same Kobe Bryant / Lakers team.

[Endorush]

the ZenMaster strikes again

[droponov]

I don't think we've been watching the same Kobe Bryant / Lakers team.

Maybe not. Regardless of that, Kobe's usage rate is the 2nd highest of his entire career and the highest in the entire league.

[yongaz]

I don't think we've been watching the same Kobe Bryant / Lakers team.

Maybe not. Regardless of that, Kobe's usage rate is the 2nd highest of his entire career and the highest in the entire league.

which says absolutely nothing about him "telling everyone to **** off and I'll win this by myself".

I'm not saying he doesn't do it anymore, but he definitely doesn't do it with the same frequency as before.... and by "before" I'm referring to when we weren't winning.

[droponov]

I don't think we've been watching the same Kobe Bryant / Lakers team.

Maybe not. Regardless of that, Kobe's usage rate is the 2nd highest of his entire career and the highest in the entire league.

which says absolutely nothing about him "telling everyone to **** off and I'll win this by myself".

I'm not saying he doesn't do it anymore, but he definitely doesn't do it with the same frequency as before.... and by "before" I'm referring to when we weren't winning.

I wouldn't go as far as stating "it says absolutely nothing". When you're using more than 1/3 of your team possessions, it's highly unlikely that there aren't quite a few clusters of shot-hogging.

Bolded part: okay, I can agree with that. But that's an odd standard to use. In my view he's declined noticeably since 07/08 and didn't change his approach to the game accordingly (even if his offensive game actually changed quite a bit).

[jaypo]

Actually, as far as active players go, I'd say Dwight is my 2nd, not Kobe. I think Kobe is the best overall player, but not my 2nd favorite. Although I'm a fan of Blake Griffin's style of play, so he may overtake D12 pretty soon.

Anyhow, my post was not to cast stones. I just find it ironic that things I've said for years are finally being mentioned in the media by his own coach. And I'm amazed that people are defending it!

[Dat Pass]

Actually, as far as active players go, I'd say Dwight is my 2nd, not Kobe. I think Kobe is the best overall player, but not my 2nd favorite. Although I'm a fan of Blake Griffin's style of play, so he may overtake D12 pretty soon.

Anyhow, my post was not to cast stones. I just find it ironic that things I've said for years are finally being mentioned in the media by his own coach. And I'm amazed that people are defending it!

I dont think you understand what he actually said.

[yongaz]

He's declined, but nowhere near 'noticeably' since 07/08.... "noticeably" sounds like it's hurting the team when he's clearly not. I mean 3 straight finals and back to back championships speak for themselves.

I don't know what you mean by his "approach" to the game... if you're talking about his offensive game, trusting his teammates more, not driving as much due to physical decline, posting up more, then yes he's definitely changed and for the better too.

If you're talking about his "win at all costs mentality", then no it hasn't changed... though considering the other "changes" I don't see how that's a bad thing. Again, he still has his faults and sometimes I just want to choke him, but I'd very prefer the Kobe of the past three years in terms of maturity and everything else than any other versions of Kobe (except 00-02).

I think we'll just have to agree to disagree.

[Pimpwerx]

"We get behind early on in the third quarter on some stupid plays -- poor passing, poor transition defense -- and then Kobe has to screw up the game and start energizing the team by going one-on-one and that takes the rest of the guys out as a consequence ... The game got to a point where we didn't use our strengths which is our inside player. ... When we started off the game I think Pau got six out of our eight points and didn't score again in the first half. He ended up the game with 10. He got four more points in the second half. He's too good a player for a game like that."

There's no misread here, guys. For one, he uses the phrase "screw up". Since when has that been mistakenly used as a positive? Maybe for drilling.

The word "energizing" is usually a positive, but might be missing quotations, and is such being used sarcastically. I say that because what he describes next is a negative, "takes the rest of the guys out as a consequence". Consequence is rarely ever a positive term, and taking guys out of the rhythm of the game isn't a good thing.

The obvious interpretation is the correct one. Phil ain't too pleased with hero ball. I didn't watch the game, but this is just reading comprehension. PEACE.

[Atmanne]

Kobe's crime is that he went into '**** it' mode for 3 minutes too long, which made the waning minutes of the 3rd quarter awkward to watch. But 1) they were struggling to get the ball inside with or without Kobe and 2) Pau had trouble holding on to the ball when he did get it.

As others pointed out, turnovers did them in.

[Pancho_Pantera]

Has Mamba said anything about this?

[triplet1984]

You're the coach Phil...

[Father Time]

My problem with Kobe this season has really been his defense more than his shot selection. I don't care if Kobe takes every damn shot of the game as long as the team plays great defense. But for as much as he has preached defense this year Kobe can't even be bothered to close out on his man or put a hand up.

But yeah, team defense has always been much more of an issue to me than Kobe "chucking".

[bbalnation]

Um, did any of you guys SEE the interview? It was DEFINITELY a shot at Kobe, it wasn't "kobe had to take over the game because we were down", it was more along the lines of "Kobe has to selfishly "screw up the game", which may have brought us back, but we were right back where we left off due to his 1 on 1 play"

Link: http://www.nba.com/video/teams/lakers/2 ... index.html
2:25...

I don't know, it can't be more obvious than that...

Either way, I think he's wrong. Everyone was struggling, had Artest making stupid passes, while Gasol was invisible out there. Kobe took over when he thought his team needed him, and frankly they did. Memphis realized it, started doubling, and the rest of LA was just not hitting shots, even before Kobe went off...

Just my opinion.

[LLcoleJ]

If anyone here watched the game. Watched previous games and read the entire context of the article they would know what Phil meant by this.

I understand that does not make good message board bashing. But the title and follow up conspiracy talk is incorrect.

[Den Masters]

Pretty much.

Ok let's play it that way. Phil Jackson has 11 rings.



add 1 more ring

[bl2k]

Kobe didn't seem to pleased when he called Phil's Zen methods bull

[Wavy Q]

**** hitting the fan