Kobe's not overlooking the Spurs

[Old School 44]

This ESPN article by Mike Wilbon starts off talking about the comparisons between Derrick Rose and Kobe, but there are some nice comments from Kobe regarding the Spurs. I like the comment about TD knocking you to the floor and then helping you up.

Full article: http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/commentary/columns/story?columnist=wilbon_michael&id=5905465

Real challengers already have revealed themselves. "The usual suspects," Kobe called them the other night. He didn't list any names, but he didn't have to. The Celtics, Spurs and Magic … probably in that order. Obviously, the Lakers expected Boston to be championship-caliber; the two just fought each other respectfully for 12 rounds in June. And Orlando, probably a half-step back, is nonetheless a finalist once removed. But the Spurs? San Antonio was rudely chased from the playoffs the last time it played on the national stage. The Spurs looked old and sickly. Tim Duncan's minutes are down, as is his scoring. Fresh faces are scattered throughout the lineup. So Kobe couldn't possibly have expected San Antonio to race off to the best record in the NBA, to play through the first six weeks of the season the way the Spurs did in '99 and '03 and '05 and '07 when they won it all.

Kobe looked at me like I was a complete fool when I asked him whether he thought the Spurs were still capable of this kind of superlative play, and said: "Of course … of course. Why wouldn't I? The last couple of years they've had to deal with injuries all year long. But now they're healthy. Tim looks great. They have incredible coaching. All those guys know their roles. There's no question about them. … They've been this way for a decade. Fans continue to be surprised, but they're not sneaking up on us."

These Spurs have been as much a nemesis to the Lakers as the Celtics have been; some would say more so. Before trades brought Ray Allen (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=9) and Kevin Garnett (http://sports.espn.go.com/nba/players/profile?playerId=261) to Boston a few years ago, the Celtics weren't much of a threat. San Antonio directly blocked the Lakers' path to the championship more than once -- yet, as Kobe said, it's not as contentious. "It's not mean," he said. "It's not nasty. Even when they're playing you, they're nice guys. Even when Tim knocks you on the floor, he'll help you up. He'll continue to kick your butt, but … they play the game. They don't play that mean. … Boston, they'll push you to the floor."

[VBM]

I like the comment about TD knocking you to the floor and then helping you up.

Timmy needs to chill with that...can't be good for the wear and tear on his body

[timtonymanu]

I never liked Kobe but he always says good things about the Spurs.

He clearly hates Boston though as evident with that last comment.

[Old School 44]

He clearly hates Boston though as evident with that last comment.

Even more so now that they have his old buddy Shaq.

[VBM]

I never liked Kobe but he always says good things about the Spurs.

He clearly hates Boston though as evident with that last comment.

Hence the reason I've always disliked Shaq more than Kobe. It'll be a moral dilemma for me if LA meets Boston in the Finals. Shaq taking a 1-ring lead on Duncan bothers me just as much (if not more so) as the thought of Kobe going 2 up...

[lefty]

So much for flying under the radar.

Fuck you Power Rankings

[SpursDynasty85]

I never liked Kobe but he always says good things about the Spurs.


Tru, this guy has a very likeable persona. Its just the Laker zealots who get on our nerves.. saying bandwagon chants like "MVP MVP MVP" "Kobe the greatest". I can understand their opinion, but its just the way they say these things like its clear cut.

[lefty]

Tru, this guy has a very likeable persona. Its just the Laker zealots who get on our nerves.. saying bandwagon chants like "MVP MVP MVP" "Kobe the greatest". I can understand their opinion, but its just the way they say these things like its clear cut.
True

We hate Kobe because of their fans

But Kobe is not that bad

[Dex]

I think Kobe discounted the Spurs after '99, but after '03 he has really had nothing but good things to say about Tim Duncan, Manu Ginobili, Pop, and the Spurs.

[Man In Black]

True

We hate Kobe because of their fans

But Kobe is not that bad
95% true!

[ivanfromwestwood]

fuck kobe

[Rummpd]

Mr. Kobe Bryant has really matured as a person and is one of the greatest players ever and when all is said and done it will have been a honor to see him play. After dealing with personal issues, granted of his own making, he has become a top ten all time great NBA star, Olympic and multiple NBA champion and by all accounts a decent teammate and family man.

[B]That being said - Dear Spurs PLEASE kick him and the LAL a*&'s this year for at least the following reasons;

1) the Spurs are true contenders like he said and deserve as much as anyone (with their class and nationally under-appreciated still great talents) another chance at crown led by the most accomplished big three in recent NBA history.
2) break the media's heart at the loss of one leg of their dream matchups - whether that be LAL/Heat or LAL/Celtics
3) it would be a dagger to the heart of all the Laker trolls
4) it would be especially beautiful to see this competitor shed tears again when his chance to lead a tri-peat is dashed.

[LoneStarState'sPride]

...San Antonio to race off to the best record in the NBA, to play through the first six weeks of the season the way the Spurs did in '99 and '03 and '05 and '07 when they won it all.

I understand Wilbon was setting up a premise, but I hate it when people pull the "they're playing like they did when they won the title" card--nobody's ever seen the Spurs play like this before at this juncture of the season, including the Spurs themselves.


Kobe looked at me like I was a complete fool when I asked him whether he thought the Spurs were still capable of this kind of superlative play, and said: "Of course … of course. Why wouldn't I? The last couple of years they've had to deal with injuries all year long. But now they're healthy. Tim looks great. They have incredible coaching. All those guys know their roles. There's no question about them. … They've been this way for a decade. Fans continue to be surprised, but they're not sneaking up on us."

Not a fan of Mr. Bryant, but the dude knows his shit about basketball--his reaction to the question really says more than anything that he said.


Even when Tim knocks you on the floor, he'll help you up. He'll continue to kick your butt....

:lol

[DeadlyDynasty]

With the way Kobe's playing he shouldn't be overlooking Devin Ebanks.

[silverblk mystix]

True

We hate Kobe because of their fans

But Kobe is not that bad

Fuck you-speak for yourself!

Had to get that out.

Seriously, in the last couple of years...Kobe has kinda toned down his arrogance...

awww fuck it...

I still hate that fuckin' prick.

[kaji157]

Not a surprise, he never does, he always respected Tim and Manu, he even talks and praises them both in his own personal movie.
Kobe has things you could argue against him, but not knowing the game, and those who are good at it is not one of them.

[wildbill2u]

I love having Kobe and the Lakers in our conference. I want to beat good teams and great players on our way to a championship. It would be sad if any team was so good that it could walk to the championship without any competition.

Now, when we meet them in the Conference finals we'll know just how good we are.

[SA210]

Didn't Kobe even admit to Bruce Bowen being the best defender to ever guard him? I can't find that quote.

[Cessation]

still hate bryant, jordan wonnabe

[ChuckD]

Didn't Kobe even admit to Bruce Bowen being the best defender to ever guard him? I can't find that quote.

I'm not sure he's said that, but I know he's scoffed people who said Bowen was dirty.

[lefty]

Didn't Kobe even admit to Bruce Bowen being the best defender to ever guard him? I can't find that quote.
In the Spike Less documentary, during a game, he says "damn Bruce" (out of respect) :lol

[Sean Cagney]

I never liked Kobe but he always says good things about the Spurs.

He clearly hates Boston though as evident with that last comment.

Man he always respected us, no problems with Kobe there.

[TE]

Bryant best recognize.

[xmas1997]

He claimed Manu was his favorite NBA player to watch.

[GSH]

It's a shame so many Lakers fans are too stupid to understand what Kobe said there. I guarantee you Kobe knows to bring his A game any time they play the Spurs.

And for those Spurs fans who think the Lakers current record means that they will be easy to handle in the playoffs this year - guess again. I would love to see a Spurs-Lakers WCF. If they are both healthy, it would be one hell of a matchup.

I'll go out on an early limb and say that George Hill is going to give Kobe hell on the defensive end for long stretches of the Laker games this season. Nobody is going to completely shut Kobe down, but I think Hill is up to doing a good job on him.

[DMC]

Well, when Duncan runs down the court bouncing his balls like Kobe did before Roger Mason put one in his mouth, I will say that Kobe isn't that bad. However, we have a different standard. Kobe is a prick, just not as popular a prick as he used to be. Fuck him in the mouth.

Good player? Sure... who cares? He always brings his A game, otherwise we wouldn't be talking about him. Those who have B games available don't get much publicity (other than Artest).

[HarlemHeat37]

I find it funny how there are more Spurs fans that like Kobe and mention his "respect" for the Spurs, yet so many hate Shaq, a guy that licks Duncan's balls in every interview:lol..

One thing is for sure..Spurs fans are obsessed with the media/other players/other fans talking about the Spurs and giving them as much respect as possible:lol..the inferiority complex is unreal..

[DMC]

Yep. Funny no one respects JJ Reddick (red dick) for talking good about the Spurs. Amazing, you get 4 rings and suddenly people talk good about you.

[angelbelow]

Not surprising. Kobe has always had a political like respect for the Spurs. He definitely said Manu was his favorite player to watch. I still remember a game between the Lakers and Spurs were Manu was knocked down and Kobe was the first to run over and help him up.

[DMC]

I remember a different game when Kobe elbowed Manu in the mouth. I guess we have different versions of Kobe. Mine is Kobe 1.0

[BanditHiro]

Not surprising. Kobe has always had a political like respect for the Spurs. He definitely said Manu was his favorite player to watch. I still remember a game between the Lakers and Spurs were Manu was knocked down and Kobe was the first to run over and help him up.

Ljc9EPujKcc

[duncan228]

From Kobe Doin' Work


"What can you say about Tim? He's the greatest power forward to ever play the game. Period."

And...:lol


Waiting for Duncan to shoot free throws is like "waiting at the longest stop light in the world."

[milkyway21]

Kobe said, it's not as contentious. "It's not mean," he said. "It's not nasty. Even when they're playing you, they're nice guys. Even when Tim knocks you on the floor, he'll help you up. He'll continue to kick your butt, but … they play the game. They don't play that mean. …

after that "*" and Duncan winning his 4th ring, now Kobe and Shaq saying nice things about the Spurs and Duncan. The respect is now evident. I used to hate Shaq-calling the Spurs a WNBA team,,blah blah..

[SpursDynasty85]

I used to hate Shaq-calling the Spurs a WNBA team,,blah blah..


True dat. Always using the shining stage to belittle Duncan and especially DROB. The guy is sometimes a douche...