NBA: Honest question/Honest answer

[Michael Jordan.]

If Kobe Bryant had not pushed Shaq out, then Shaq would have limited the Lakers by not accepting his declining level of play. Remember that this feud was the result of two egos clashing, if Shaq had forced Kobe Bryant out and Bryant had won as a 2nd banana once again - the story would be the same, but roles reversed.

The Lakers became bad because they walked into an inevitable situation. Large egos simply cannot habitat the same environment for long. Even with success, there is only one pie to share.

You mean like Kobe is doing now? You have recent teammates saying he isn't willing to pass the ball so do you think he's going to accept his declining level of play?The Lakers lost the 04' finals because Kobe couldn't accept the fact that he cannot be the man. Shaq was still about 22/10 and 20/9 for 2 years after he left L.A. And yes it was about egos. Pretty sure Shaq eventually accepted his diminishing role anyway. But why is it teammates are still saying the same stuff about Kobe now that Shaq said about him then?

[Rogue]

Daddy still had 2 good years left in him when he left LA in 04 imho. There were many reasons that drove shaq out of town and Kobe was only one of them. Shaq probably thought the Lakers were done seeing no hope of winning the championship again with Kobe. I mean, if the Lakers had won the 04' le I would doubt if Shaq would've still made the same decision. They were all professionals in this game and I don't see how they would quit a winning team just because of a slight dispute with some teammates imho.

[Katherine Robinson]

You mean like Kobe is doing now? You have recent teammates saying he isn't willing to pass the ball so do you think he's going to accept his declining level of play?The Lakers lost the 04' finals because Kobe couldn't accept the fact that he cannot be the man. Shaq was still about 22/10 and 20/9 for 2 years after he left L.A. And yes it was about egos. Pretty sure Shaq eventually accepted his diminishing role anyway. But why is it teammates are still saying the same stuff about Kobe now that Shaq said about him then?

What Kobe Bryant will do and has done recently is not the subject matter.

We are speaking of the inevitable situation the Lakers had been in. Two egos will collide at one point and one will have to be eliminated in order to diffuse the situation. Kobe had ran off Shaq, but the latter could and would have run off the former as well. Shaq had declined to a point where his contribution would be on Kobe Bryant's level and this allowed the power struggle to begin.

Kobe Bryant is responsible for making his team bad sooner, rather than later. He had pressured his team into elevating their talent level to win twice more. If he had accepted his role under Shaq, there would be no further le wins unless there was an injection of servisible talent to rival the new contenders. You can assume this would happen, but it would simply be assumptions.

If you wish to discuss the inevitable price of Kobe's new contract and how that will ruin the team, I've already had aplenty word on that.

[LkrFan]

You mean like Kobe is doing now? You have recent teammates saying he isn't willing to pass the ball so do you think he's going to accept his declining level of play?The Lakers lost the 04' finals because Kobe couldn't accept the fact that he cannot be the man. Shaq was still about 22/10 and 20/9 for 2 years after he left L.A. And yes it was about egos. Pretty sure Shaq eventually accepted his diminishing role anyway. But why is it teammates are still saying the same stuff about Kobe now that Shaq said about him then?

I disagree with the bolded. No way in would Shaq willingly take a backseat to Kobe even though his production dictated that it was time. Why? Because he hated Kobe.

Unlike KAJ - who willingly took a backseat to Magic around the 1985 season. Results? 3 more rings. Shaq should have learned from KAJ. Too late now though.

[HI-FI]

I came to SpursTalk in peace. After my first post, I was called a got. You guys made me this way. Now you crying like a li'l . Check mate.

I highly doubt that. You already admitted you used to troll OregonLive, then for some reason you disappeared and went off the grid around 2005-2008 (ie hid in the Lakersground cocoon), not sure why exactly. MVPau came to LA like a savior out of Bethlehem and you coincidentally found this site as well. I'm guessing you came here to troll 5 > 4.

I disagree with the bolded. No way in would Shaq willingly take a backseat to Kobe even though his production dictated that it was time. Why? Because he hated Kobe.

Unlike KAJ - who willingly took a backseat to Magic around the 1985 season. Results? 3 more rings. Shaq should have learned from KAJ. Too late now though.

I imagine if Phil Jackson hung around, he would've gradually gave up more possessions to Kobe to chuck away. He clearly respected Phil, Rapist not so much. I never understand why LA has thrown Shaq, Pau, even sugar fiend Odom under the bus. You always mention "name on front..." but you're looking like a Kobe like the rest tbh.

[LkrFan]

I highly doubt that. You already admitted you used to troll OregonLive, then for some reason you disappeared and went off the grid around 2005-2008 (ie hid in the Lakersground cocoon), not sure why exactly. MVPau came to LA like a savior out of Bethlehem and you coincidentally found this site as well. I'm guessing you came here to troll 5 > 4.

- check my post history. I didn't start clowning (what you guys call trolling) until y'all started calling me a got. Hnest. But yes, I regularly clowned on OL with Laker Lanny and co. - I'll readliy admit that. Good times.

I imagine if Phil Jackson hung around, he would've gradually gave up more possessions to Kobe to chuck away. He clearly respected Phil, Rapist not so much. I never understand why LA has thrown Shaq, Pau, even sugar fiend Odom under the bus .

No. Not just no, but no. PJ used to pour gasoline on the situation. Those two were at each other's throats literally (there is a pic out there that show's scratches around Kobe's throat - so I know they fought). He wouldn't have conformed for Kobe. I refuse to believe that .

Shaq got thrown under the Buss because he cursed out the one who signed his paychecks after making a routine dunk in preseason. He was also thrown under the Buss for ballooning up to 485lbs (remember that year Kevin Willis was beating him up and down the court in 2003? I do. SMH). Also, you need to choose between a 12-sandwich eating, Krispy Kreme annihilating, unmotivated fatass or an up and coming 25 year old superstar in the making. Who would you have chosen?

Pau was scapegoated for a few reasons. Big Perk took his cookie in 2008 Finals. To his credit he redeemed himself in '09 and '10. But then _irk took his nutz in '11, then he fell off the face of the map in '12. '13 was just embarassing - him and Howard should have run a train on Jim (no pun intended). How'd that turn out?

LO was not thrown under the bus. He was traded then had a meltdown because he didn't want to leave the LakersPERIOD.

You always mention "name on front..." but you're looking like a Kobe like the rest tbh.

I still believe in name on the front first. Sure, I give Kobe his props because he is a Laker. And when I hear you farmers clowning on him unjustifiably, naturally I'll come to his defense. But make no mistake, I'm a Laker Fan first and foremost (hence my screen name).

[Rogue]

Lakers were done as a championship contender with Shaq/Kobe being their core following the 04' defeat, Kobe and Shaq both knew it so they reached to the agreement of divorce. They started hunting more rings respectively and both succeeded, Shaq once and Kobe twice. The Spurs were simply dominating the west back then imho