A note to Kobe and his appologists

[VIPER8382]

I posted this in the game thread, but I thought it needed its own thread so that we can discuss it.

The Kobe appologists are starting to make me sick. At age 33 with a bad wrist he is averaging the 2nd most shot attempts per game of his career. Also I don't have stats to back it up, but it sure seems like a higher percentage of those shots are long 2's and 3's. Kobe is averaging 23.9 attempts per game, while Gasol is averaging 13.5 and Bynum a ridiculously low 12.0. Also keep in mind that a few of Gasol and Bynum's attempts come on putbacks from offensive rebounding. So outside of putbacks Kobe is taking more shots per game than Gasol and Bynum combined by a decent margin. This just makes no sense at all. Kobe is shooting only 43.5% while Gasol is hitting at 50.6% and Bynum is at a 56.1% clip. If Kobe went down to 18 attempts per game with Bynum and Gasol splitting up those extra 6 attempts we would be a much better team. This isn't all Kobe's fault though, as our complete void at PG hurts the offense, and it is much easier to make a perimeter pass to Kobe than to try to make a nice post entry pass to one of our bigs. So some of the fault lies with the PG rotation, but Kobe needs to remember that he can make a post entry pass to Bynum or Gasol even when Kobe isn't being double teamed. It seems like he is very hesitant to pass unless he is either double teamed, or when another player is unguarded. It seems that Kobe is too arrogant to accept that Bynum may have a better chance to score in a one on one situation than Kobe can.

[kobe808lak]

He is way to stubborn to change now. He didn't listen to Phil and he sure as hell won't change for Mike Brown. Bynum and Gasol need to speak up to him. Gasol has said it in the past about being an inside out team and knows the advantage is there every game.

[dirtymike]

This. And the fact that the offense sux! What damn offense is Brown running anyway??? THis is why the Cavs never won a ring. Spacing is horrible. Way too many isolation plays. Its 'inside out' not 'outside but if someone is open on the inside in'! Its 5 on 5 not Kobe on the whole team! Phil had the attitude like, "We are running the triangle offense. We been running it for years. You know what we run. Try and stop it." Mike Brown's mentality is, "We dont even know what the hell we running!" And on another note...Bynum needs to pass out of that damn double team better and faster! Not a happy camper right now.

[Yellow Flash]

i guess he is just all in for another scoring title now. kind of sad

[b shaw20]

He is way to stubborn to change now. He didn't listen to Phil and he sure as hell won't change for Mike Brown. Bynum and Gasol need to speak up to him. Gasol has said it in the past about being an inside out team and knows the advantage is there every game.

Agree completely. We are a lost cause..... he didn't listen to people he respected or at least had some clout with the organization from Phil, Magic, Shaq, Horry, Fox, Fish, BShaw so why the hell would he blink if Pau or Bynum said anything? Only guy that "may" have influenced him at any time was Logo.

From reading the L.A. Times today it seems that Brown called him out a little bit and predictably, Bryant didn't appreciate it much.


"He took some difficult shots that allowed those guys to come up with long rebounds and push the ball down the floor and get some easy baskets," Brown said. "He was one of those guys that I did not think took great shots in the second half."

To which Bryant paused six seconds before replying, "OK," one of many single-word answers he offered to reporters' questions. He used zero words in a follow-up question on the topic, choosing instead to purse his lips.

Let's see if anything brews out of this and hopefully something gives as a result. But I would not be surprised if Brown backpedals on his comments.

[chefy]

i didnt really expect this kind of season from kobe. specially at this point of his career, i thought we're gonna be done problemizing his shot selection/ball hogging issue. i miss the 08-10 kobe.

[ALL HAIL]

The fact that Kobe WILL NOT change is the main reason I feel as though the organization should:

(A) build the PERFECT team around him (a team that fits HIS style of play)

or

(B) make the bold decison of dumping him

As much I have never liked his style of play, I feel like you can't really dump him. You have to ride him until he has nothing left and hope that whatever piece (or pieces) you bring in can take over for him after he leaves.

You're not getting a game-changer for Gasol.

Trade Bynum for a dynamic talent at PG and let Gasol, Kobe, and the new talented PG take things over for the next four years.

[kobeaki]

live by the sword, die by the sword...

[hye-pride]

Maybe this is the real reason why we didnt sign Arenas or Beasley?? Maybe seeing how Kobe hogs the ball so much might cause a issue since both players I mentioned are going to demand the ball.

Seriously though a message to Kobe "Paaaassss the ******in Ball"

[BEazy]

I think Kobe is acting like this to send a message to management that we need to make a trade. I'm no Kobe apologist at all. I blame him for these past two games. But I remember Kobe having a similar attitude when we had Smush and Kwame. So maybe he wants management to pull a trade now.

[Leor_77]

I think Kobe is acting like this to send a message to management that we need to make a trade. I'm no Kobe apologist at all. I blame him for these past two games. But I remember Kobe having a similar attitude when we had Smush and Kwame. So maybe he wants management to pull a trade now.

Yeah, I was thinking this, as well...But it doesn't really make sense because the only message that he's sending is that he's the main problem.

[TyCobb]

Kobe playing lousy to send a message is not on purpose. Dude is just cold as **** right now. He's really getting on my nerves.

[Tien]

Kobe is not trying to send a "message" to anyone.

He's surrounded by a top 5 center and power forward.

Take advantage of these 2 bigs.

Sigh, Phil Jackson was the only guy that could coach Kobe.

[miggs]

Kobe IS sending a message, "I'm not gonna stop shooting, so either stfu or leave MY team." That is where we are at and sadly where we are gonna be. I like this:

live by the sword, die by the sword...

I agree, we've conquered the basketball world with Kobe now it's time to sink into it with him.

[DEEP3CL]

Truth be told, if not for Kobe's untradeable contract......I could careless if he was dealt. We have two inside interior threats, surround them with a penetrating/ quick guard and retool the 3 spot and the bench and this team would still make the playoffs and be a serious threat.

[Father Time]

i guess he is just all in for another scoring title now. kind of sad

Kobe only cares about rings, not scoring titles.

[wizardg]

Kobe would prefer a NBA title over a scoring title but since ther will be no NBA title. He's jacking them up like Pau and Bynum are Smush and Kwame. He does care about scoring titles. That's why he is jacking up so many shots. He cares about MVPs.
The league and the media and the lakers have created a monster. Kobe is a self centered ball player that thiniks he is the greatest perimeter player ever. "Howard would be a third option."

He basically siad "I don't want to play with anyone better than me."

Kobe wants the all time scoring title too. This season has made me a believer that the only way he doesn't get it is a totally debilitating injury.

Jim Buss and Bynum are the only people that have the courage to stand up to him.

I've got it fire Brown and hire Chris Childs as the lakers coach. lol.

[salmahayek]

Good thread and a few of my thoughts...

Definitely a shame that Kobe is not better integrating himself and his teammates for better team performances and WINS. Wins that are definitely attainable...

As for what offense Brown is running, how can anyone tell when the team runs down the floor, Kobe doesn't pass the ball to anyone and just jacks up a bad shot? Doesn't matter what offense is being run if that is what Kobe is going to do.

How many possessions do we have a game where Bynum or Gasol do not even TOUCH the ball? That's just crazy, unless it's a fast break, open lane to drive, etc., but you guys get my point.

As for the people that are still upset about not getting Chris Paul, or another very good, or even dominant perimeter player - do you really think it would work with Kobe? I don't. Kobe wants the ball, to dominate it, and score. The effectiveness of a good point guard or even small forward would be limited by the way Kobe plays. Plus, after Kobe taking so many perimeter shots, do we want even more perimeter shots taken by a PG and /or SF? I say no...after Kobe takes his 23 + shots, we need as many as possible coming from the high percentage inside shots of Bynum and Gasol.

If Bynum and / or Gasol is traded to bring in a better PG or SF, this team will get worse - not better.

I am still all for improving those positions if we can, but not at the expense of Bynum or Gasol. Lakers best chance for success is hoping that Kobe "gets it" to some degree and plays a lot better team ball and utilizes his team's strength before we are eliminated this season.

[jaypo]

Guys, please don't take this as trolling or Kobe bashing. But I'm reading these comments from Laker fans and these are the traits I've been pointing out with Kobe for years and getting blasted for around here. He hasn't changed this year. He's always been like this. It's just that now, it's resulting in losses. Phil said he was uncoachable. He obviously won't listen to Mike Brown. And he's playing for Kobe and only Kobe. The only thing different this year is that he doesn't have Shaq pointing it out and Phil keeping him in check. And all those years, it was always the OTHER guys that were the bad guys at fault for bashing Kobe!

Before you guys blast me for these comments, I'm only agreeing with what you guys are saying.

[dockingsched]

shut up