2/1 - Houston Rockets @ LA Lakers. 7:30pm

[crazy8ights]

I don't mind the 26 shoots cause that is what shooting guards are suppose to do. Kobe has been ballin since spurs fairly efficient and making shots. If only we can get another Laker going with consistency like that we wouldn't be having problems at all. I also agree with the #2 option has to want the spotlight.

[Edrees]

I don't see what the problem with Kobe taking shot is when he's averaging over 50% from the field the past month. In the past Kobe taking too many shots has been an issue because he averaged under 45%. He's shooting over 50% and the Lakers are losing, and on some nights he's getting 8-11 assists a game. I think he's taking shots after he sees his teammates are being soft, rather than the other way around.

I think the Lakers are double teaming players who don't need to be double teamed and not playing enough man to man defense. They aren't rotating to shooters because they are doubling too often. The bigs need to step it up and play better man to man D so people don't have to help out more often. The less frequent the help is the less the offense can predict the laker D and the less likely they'll find the open man so quickly when we do double up.

[snaquille oatmeal]

I still don't think Kobe's offense is the problem at all. If Kobe is hurting the team anywhere, it's his drifting on defense. He needs to step his defense and be a leader on that side of the ball, and the rest of the Lakers need to step up their offensive game.

with all due respect sir, Artest should be the leader in the defensive end. Kobe is the leader in the offensive end.

[dub81]

I still don't think Kobe's offense is the problem at all. If Kobe is hurting the team anywhere, it's his drifting on defense. He needs to step his defense and be a leader on that side of the ball, and the rest of the Lakers need to step up their offensive game.

with all due respect sir, Artest should be the leader in the defensive end. Kobe is the leader in the offensive end.

I don't agree with that statement. Basketball is the ultimate team game but Kobe is the leader of the team. I'm not saying he should anchor the defensive side of the ball or anything. But if you look at Boston which is the best defensive team I've seen in a long time, they all communicate very well. The know when to double team, close out etc. You can see KG, Perkins and Pierce bark orders and they are all about to be past their primes. We just need to communicate better on the defensive end because everybody seems to be just doing there own thing. Also our transition defense is horrible. The one thing I hate about this team right now is the complaining with refs when they should be getting back on D.

[snaquille oatmeal]

I still don't think Kobe's offense is the problem at all. If Kobe is hurting the team anywhere, it's his drifting on defense. He needs to step his defense and be a leader on that side of the ball, and the rest of the Lakers need to step up their offensive game.

with all due respect sir, Artest should be the leader in the defensive end. Kobe is the leader in the offensive end.

I don't agree with that statement. Basketball is the ultimate team game but Kobe is the leader of the team. I'm not saying he should anchor the defensive side of the ball or anything. But if you look at Boston which is the best defensive team I've seen in a long time, they all communicate very well. The know when to double team, close out etc. You can see KG, Perkins and Pierce bark orders and they are all about to be past their primes. We just need to communicate better on the defensive end because everybody seems to be just doing there own thing. Also our transition defense is horrible. The one thing I hate about this team right now is the complaining with refs when they should be getting back on D.

you basically agree with what I was trying to say up to a point; on the other hand, asking the Lakers to play defense like Boston is asking way too much. it is just not in their nature like it is with Boston. so what is the alternative? how about have the defensive specialist (Artest) anchor/lead/motivate etc. the defense. I know what you mean about the way it should be, but the reality is that it is not.

[Kobay]

If the offense does not run through kobe, I consider it a waste of 24 seconds.