The Lakers are c-stomping Tlong

[Killakobe81]

If you don't think he does, I have a bridge to sell you. Of course he'll be PC about it in the media and say he doesn't, but it's clearly evident from watching him play. I can't count how many times he's been in at the end of games that we're either impossible to win or lose simply for the purpose of putting up a few more points.

That said, doesn't bother me. I just find it amusing.

Again not saying he doesnt chuck shots at the end of games , I just disagree on the motivation on the why. Again I cant prove I am right i am only basing it on what I have read and what I see. I dont know the man. Maybe he will write a honest tell all someday. But look at the quotes in the above post he is ALWAYS so protective of his "status" not his stats ...

[Spur_Fanatic]

Like I said I dont pretend to know the man, you may be right. What I am saying is that IMHO it's not the stats he is so focused on but the recognition (which feeds his massive ego). Let me give you 2 examples:

1. "not bad for the 7th best player on the NBA ..." Funny line but why the does Kobe care where ESPN ranks him? Maybe a reporter fed that to him, and he did not seek it out but the fact that it bothered him and his FGA's are so high to me is not a coincidence. So to me he cares about his legacy more than the stats.

2. "I have got one more than Shaq ..." True. But after winning a hard fought 7 game series vs. the Celts I would of loved to hear that I have even the score 1-1. Or now it's 16-17 and Im looking to tie it soon ...

So i do think kobe is self centered and egotistical I just dont believe he is a stat padding . I think he is fiercely protective of his legacy and status.

Other examples:
1. I could beat Lebron 1 on1
2. This team is still built around Me and Pau (paraphrasing) we eat first
3. Pau has settled as the third option Bynum becaus eof his thirst to score is now our second option

Again, ego over protective of his "status" ...never mentions stats ...

Mind you, its not like I want Kobe to stop shooting. , I like the chucker. But the risk! 17 points ahead, 90 secs to go, and he stil on the court?
Aaah, and if he gets injured then? Mind you, as I said before, its not entirely his fault. His coach is an idiot.

[Killakobe81]

And I freely admit like Chuck just said is the HUGE difference between Duncan and guys like shaq, Kobe, MJ, Karl etc. They always wanted to prove they could still score. Timmy could score more but even his prime never seemed fueled by scoring. his ego is the exact opposite of Kobe. Only knock on Tim in that regard is the PF bull , but I think that was just as much the FO than it was on Tim ...

[midnightpulp]

Like I said I dont pretend to know the man, you may be right. What I am saying is that IMHO it's not the stats he is so focused on but the recognition (which feeds his massive ego). Let me give you 2 examples:

1. "not bad for the 7th best player on the NBA ..." Funny line but why the does Kobe care where ESPN ranks him? Maybe a reporter fed that to him, and he did not seek it out but the fact that it bothered him and his FGA's are so high to me is not a coincidence. So to me he cares about his legacy more than the stats.

2. "I have got one more than Shaq ..." True. But after winning a hard fought 7 game series vs. the Celts I would of loved to hear that I have even the score 1-1. Or now it's 16-17 and Im looking to tie it soon ...

So i do think kobe is self centered and egotistical I just dont believe he is a stat padding . I think he is fiercely protective of his legacy and status.

Other examples:
1. I could beat Lebron 1 on1
2. This team is still built around Me and Pau (paraphrasing) we eat first
3. Pau has settled as the third option Bynum becaus eof his thirst to score is now our second option

Again, ego over protective of his "status" ...never mentions stats ...

Mutually inclusive concepts. Statistical performances have an effect on how your legacy is perceived. You don't win the MVP without putting up great stats. You don't win the Finals MVP without doing so. If Pippen put up better numbers in the Finals than Jordan and won more Finals MVPs, it would change the legacy of both players. Or if Malone didn't play 50 years and reach 2nd place on the all-time scoring list, no one would consider him even in the argument for a top 15 player of all-time. But they do. Kobe understands this dynamic and it's why he pads.

[midnightpulp]

And I freely admit like Chuck just said is the HUGE difference between Duncan and guys like shaq, Kobe, MJ, Karl etc. They always wanted to prove they could still score. Timmy could score more but even his prime never seemed fueled by scoring. his ego is the exact opposite of Kobe. Only knock on Tim in that regard is the PF bull , but I think that was just as much the FO than it was on Tim ...

That, and the Spurs' system in those days was the anti-thesis to big individual scoring.

[Killakobe81]

Mutually inclusive concepts. Statistical performances have an effect on how your legacy is perceived. You don't win the MVP without putting up great stats. You don't win the Finals MVP without doing so. If Pippen put up better numbers in the Finals than Jordan and won more Finals MVPs, it would change the legacy of both players. Or if Malone didn't play 50 years and reach 2nd place on the all-time scoring list, no one would consider him even in the argument for a top 15 player of all-time. But they do. Kobe understands this dynamic and it's why he pads.

I'm not saying that he doesnt score to augment his legacy. We agree on this. I think the chase for 6 and the scoring numbers are ALL about cementing his legacy. Sure, he hates to lose and loves the Lakers ...but he SEEMS to love himself more. But what I am saying the number of shots he takes is because I think he believes his fade away 20 footer is more reliable than Pau on the low block, not because he wants to score a certain number of points. Because his ego is so big he believes if he shoots he will score regardless and that is the best way for them to win ...

[Killakobe81]

That, and the Spurs' system in those days was the anti-thesis to big individual scoring.

Fair enough, but Duncan just never seemed like he would be the type to say "if the big dog doesnt get fed, he wont guard the house" ... But Shaq ffreely admits he was a "scoring center"...

[midnightpulp]

I'm not saying that he doesnt score to augment his legacy. We agree on this. I think the chase for 6 and the scoring numbers are ALL about cementing his legacy. Sure, he hates to lose and loves the Lakers ...but he SEEMS to love himself more. But what I am saying the number of shots he takes is because I think he believes his fade away 20 footer is more reliable than Pau on the low block, not because he wants to score a certain number of points. Because his ego is so big he believes if he shoots he will score regardless and that is the best way for them to win ...

Can't argue with any of that. His fearlessness and conceit is what makes him so dangerous and volatile. A player who can bring you back from 15 down by himself or put you 15 down just the same.

[midnightpulp]

Fair enough, but Duncan just never seemed like he would be the type to say "if the big dog doesnt get fed, he wont guard the house" ... But Shaq ffreely admits he was a "scoring center"...

Duncan is simply a team basketball player first. For better or worse. Mostly for the better, but there's definitely times he needed to be more aggressive. That said, he's one of the best players at adapting his role to how the game is flowing.

[tlongII]

Yeah, the Lakers beat us last night. B - F - D! We get them in the Rose Garden one more time.

[pass1st]

Tlong trying to hoist up the 1-sided rivalry again, thinking LAL considers that team a rival.

1. Celtics
2. Pistons
3. Spurs
4. Kings
...
...
10. Blazers

[pass1st]

Tlong trying to hoist up the 1-sided rivalry again, thinking LAL considers that team a rival.

1. Celtics
2. Pistons
3. Spurs
4. Kings
...
...
10. Blazers

[Killakobe81]

Im not going to dismiss the Blazers since they beat our ass already this year. But to me good teams let alone CONTENDERS (not convinced we are one still) SHOULD win big games at home. Where the Lakers can PROVE to me they are legit contenders is by getting one of the two games on the DAL/OKC trip. Right now, DAL/OKC is probably the toughest back2back you can get in the NBA ...other contenders:

DAL/SA
MIA/ORL
LAL/LAC
DEN/POR
DEN/Utah

Lakers snag 1 or both (pipe dream) then I will say yes we are contenders. If we go 0-2 they are what I thought they were ...and middle of the pack playoff team.

And don't tell me regular season dont mean , LE contenders make a few statements in the regular season. Our 3 biggest, ALL have come at home. winning in boston with their full cast is the only legit road win we have all season ...

[Killakobe81]

BTW, not saying those are the two toughest teams just saying that when you play on the road traditionally the NBA gives you those pairings as a potential back2back. Some are tough because of the crowd and some because of the talent of the teams. OKC/DAL has the best of both right now ...

[Giuseppe]

^The DAL/OKC is a twin bridge affair. We must get both to cross over. After that we can blow the bridge.

A split and we're still on this side having to build again. A shut out and it's total loss.

[Sportcamper]

T-Long…Sorry about the Oden update & waiting for the Blazers to catch a break…If the Lakers have a bad season or two its no big deal…Winning Championships year after year after year gets boring…Having to rebuild every decade or so is kind of fun to watch…But you guys are long over due for a Championship…

[Killakobe81]

^The DAL/OKC is a twin bridge affair. We must get both to cross over. After that we can blow the bridge.

A split and we're still on this side having to build again. A shut out and it's total loss.

Fair enough, but let's be real Cully a sweep maybe asking the impossible. OKC is a younger athletic team that loves to run. Westbrook will destroy Fisher/Blake and though Ron has had moments against Durant I dont think we are stopping him either. Then you factor in the fact our bench has been just passable at home and pathetic on the road.

Plus we will have had to play our big 3 major minutes to win at Dallas ... look I m not one for excuses. Other teams have won facing similar challenges ...heck our le teams would of been good for a sweep ...I just dont think this team has the stones or the talent for a sweep.

[Giuseppe]

Fair enough, but let's be real Cully a sweep maybe asking the impossible. OKC is a younger athletic team that loves to run. Westbrook will destroy Fisher/Blake and though Ron has had moments against Durant I dont think we are stopping him either. Then you factor in the fact our bench has been just passable at home and pathetic on the road.

Plus we will have had to play our big 3 major minutes to win at Dallas ... look I m not one for excuses. Other teams have won facing similar challenges ...heck our le teams would of been good for a sweep ...I just dont think this team has the stones or the talent for a sweep.

I know. I don't either. But, if we could asshole it out in the Mavs game and win the day in Oklahoma we'd be completely upright once again.

Frankly, I thought we were gonna it up last night.

[Killakobe81]

I know. I don't either. But, if we could asshole it out in the Mavs game and win the day in Oklahoma we'd be completely upright once again.

Frankly, I thought we were gonna it up last night.

As did I, especially when MB sat on his TO's like PJ while the lead shrank. Phil could get away with that because he had skins on the wall. Brown should of managed that better ...I was disgusted.

[Giuseppe]

As did I, especially when MB sat on his TO's like PJ while the lead shrank. Phil could get away with that because he had skins on the wall. Brown should of managed that better ...I was disgusted.

He looked like me on my Lazy Boy,,,scared to death, to even move. Like a gd nightmare was happening before my eyes. I thought: "oh, , I have to go into that Forum and face it if this goes topsy turvy."