Kobe: "Loss had nothing to do with me"

[TheMACHINE]

Jordan was selfish early in his career, but by the time he won his first championship, he knew how to regularly get his teamates involved. By staying within the offence throughout the game, keeping it close, and then taking over in the fourth to close it out. Yet another aspect of the game where bean is inferior to jordan. Maybe if bean wasn't such a chucker he'd be able to take over a game with effieciency, when the defence tightens up.

Jordan 6

Bean 5

Duncan 4

[Josepatches_]

Horry 7

[Giuseppe]

Pippen saved Jordan from a fate worse than death.

[SpurOutofTownFan]

No.

Kobe: 5

tired old bag Duncan: 4

& you've no room. Your Neal raped as well.

hey i want some kool aid too

[Giuseppe]

hey i want some kool aid too

Bend over. I'll give ya some f'in' kool aid.

[JamStone]

Most people, including myself, dont detest Kobe simply because of the type of person he is. Its because his ego-filled character is interrelated with how he plays the game, I dont think theyre independent of each other at all. Bron is completely full of himself but on the court he drops that and plays the right way...you cant say the same for Kobe. This needs to be the center of attention at all times on the court, and hes made it pretty apparent with how he plays the game that theres only one way to do that. And thats by scoring. Which means tons of shots, even at the expense of his team's success. Its been pretty well chronicled over the years that Kobe going into chucker makes the Lakers a very ordinary team. Yet this continues to be a re-occurring issue, at age 33 and 15(?) seasons in?? Ridiculous.

Yes, hes won alot during his career but the Lakers are a storied winning organization. Theyve won before him, with him, and will unfortunately win without him. They attract talent and like you said talent wins. Kobe's been blessed with that, which makes alot of people overlook the fact that for as talented a player as he is he also has a tendency to negatively affect his team. Can you imagine Kobe playing a more balanced game and feeding his bigs? The Laker's road to championships would be so much smoother, nobody in the NBA can compete with that frontline in a 7-game series. Yet theyve had their struggles these past two years because Kobe refuses to share the spotlight. I mean make no mistake about it, Kobe has been the biggest reason why theyve won these two les...but at the same time his egotistical way of playing the game has also hindered those Laker teams. Im convinced that you put someone equally as talented as Kobe but with a more team-oriented mindset and their road is easier. And vice-versa, switch Kobe to a team like the the '10 Cavs with less individual talent and moreso solid role players that depend on a superstar to create for them and Kobe gets exposed. This 's at ude and selfish approach to the game makes him absolutely suck at maximizing his teammates talents.

This clown is a Top 10, possibly even Top 5 individual talent of all-time no doubt. But this media-driven notion that hes a Top 10(and rising) basketball player of all-time is a joke. Basketball is alot more than just being able to put the ball in the basket at will.

You're en led to your opinion.

I think Kobe is just wired a certain way. And I look at it this way. Kobe wouldn't have had the success individually or team-wise that he's had if he wasn't the way he was. Some of the great players in the NBA want to be all stars. Some players are just happy to be in the league and want to have fun. Some players want to be rich and famous. Some want to be the best player in the league. Kobe doesn't want to be the best player in the league. Kobe wants to be the best player ever. That's Kobe. That's his mentality.

Now I believe that's why Kobe is the way he is. Throughout his career, obsessively imitating Jordan who was considered the GOAT by most, obsessively training and conditioning his body even in the off season, being the first guy in the gym and the last guy out. That type of . It has also bred that ego and stubbornness and probably the borderline foolish confidence. You know why he wants the spotlight all to himself? Because he thinks he's the best, the second best, the third best, and probably the fourth best option for his teams to win. It has to be in his hands. That's how much confidence he has in his ability and his preparation for those moments.

Now we all know he's not the greatest ever. And it's a virtual certainty he won't even be in the conversation when he's done playing. But it's that obsession to be the best. It's that obsession to surpass Michael. It's that obsession as to why he is the player and the person that he is. I think him being a of a teammate and leader is a product of that. His teammates are worried about winning games and hopefully challenging for championships. Kobe is concerned about that BUT ALSO about his own legacy. He's absolutely selfish in that regard.

That's Kobe. There's both good and bad as a result of it. But if he wasn't that way, I doubt he would have had the success he's had, both individually and in terms of championships for his teams. That obsession for ultimate greatness is what I appreciate about Kobe as a player. The byproduct of being a and a negative leader and poor teammate and coming off as a selfish asshole are things that seem to be indirect results.

[cobbler]

^
Well said.

Couldn't agree more. And it's also the very reason Buss chose Kobe over Shaq. Boiled down and in 2 words. Work Ethic.

[HarlemHeat37]

Yes, that was it..it wasn't age, or anything of that nature..

[SomeCallMeTim]

Wow, guess I'm late to the party on this one. Ten pages?

What Kobe said was totally inexcusable. Doesn't even matter if it's true -- and of course it isn't completely true. You win as a team and you lose as a team. Anything else is unacceptable.

[Giuseppe]

And it's also the very reason Buss chose Kobe over Shaq. Boiled down and in 2 words. Work Ethic.

& we've never looked back.

[Red Hawk #21]

Kobe had zero assists last night...ZERO! That loss had everything to do with him. What a stick.

This man really had zero assists. I mean come on, everyone knows he's a ballhog but ZERO assists?

[da_suns_fan]

& we've never looked back.

Yeah..except in 2006 when Daddy won his fourth and Kobe was demanding to be traded.

[Giuseppe]

Yeah..except in 2006 when Daddy won his fourth and Kobe was demanding to be traded.

I'm saying we never looked back with regret at running Daddy off.

Kobe getting after Buss with hammer & tong is a separate & yet another sage decision by Kobe.

[cobbler]

Yeah..except in 2006 when Daddy won his fourth and Kobe was demanding to be traded.

Yeah.... that was right about the time your team was choking its 38th season in a row with ZERO les. Perhaps someone along the line, maybe even 2 time MVP boy, should have made some demands and you wouldn't be so envious. BTW... How did the big Craptus work out for ya?

[Man In Black]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...pops-playoffs/

When it gets down to it, can't get any better than 2nd best SG ever.

[Ashy Larry]

lol @ the Daddy ......

The Lakers organization had to make a choice. Kobe or Shaquille. You can only have one.

Lakers chose Kobe. Dude may be a or may may be a good guy, but on the court, no one works harder than him. If you ran a business and it was open for 82 days, you'd probably hire Bean as your employee figuring he'd show up for work while Shaquille will more than likely show up for fifty, if that.

Bad fingers, bad ankle, bad back and Bean played 82 regular season games. Shaquille?? LOL

Doc Buss didn't get a PhD in chemistry, millions in real estate and get to hang out with Heff at the Mansion by being stupid. He knows what he's doing. That's why his offices are laced with these and a hot daughter:

[Ashy Larry]

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2...pops-playoffs/

When it gets down to it, can't get any better than 2nd best SG ever.

totally agree .... he's there right now. Really don't see him passing Black Jesus unless he goes on a magnificent run in these last four years ...... this year being one of them, can't let this year go to waste.

[Man In Black]

You're en led to your opinion.

I think Kobe is just wired a certain way. And I look at it this way. Kobe wouldn't have had the success individually or team-wise that he's had if he wasn't the way he was. Some of the great players in the NBA want to be all stars. Some players are just happy to be in the league and want to have fun. Some players want to be rich and famous. Some want to be the best player in the league. Kobe doesn't want to be the best player in the league. Kobe wants to be the best player ever. That's Kobe. That's his mentality.

Now I believe that's why Kobe is the way he is. Throughout his career, obsessively imitating Jordan who was considered the GOAT by most, obsessively training and conditioning his body even in the off season, being the first guy in the gym and the last guy out. That type of . It has also bred that ego and stubbornness and probably the borderline foolish confidence. You know why he wants the spotlight all to himself? Because he thinks he's the best, the second best, the third best, and probably the fourth best option for his teams to win. It has to be in his hands. That's how much confidence he has in his ability and his preparation for those moments.

Now we all know he's not the greatest ever. And it's a virtual certainty he won't even be in the conversation when he's done playing. But it's that obsession to be the best. It's that obsession to surpass Michael. It's that obsession as to why he is the player and the person that he is. I think him being a of a teammate and leader is a product of that. His teammates are worried about winning games and hopefully challenging for championships. Kobe is concerned about that BUT ALSO about his own legacy. He's absolutely selfish in that regard.

That's Kobe. There's both good and bad as a result of it. But if he wasn't that way, I doubt he would have had the success he's had, both individually and in terms of championships for his teams. That obsession for ultimate greatness is what I appreciate about Kobe as a player. The byproduct of being a and a negative leader and poor teammate and coming off as a selfish asshole are things that seem to be indirect results.

All of that stems from his FATHER'S inability to become a star player in the NBA. So he infused all that disappointment and hate into his son. Jellybean always felt that he should be franchise player but was never treated as such in his time in the NBA. Even when he played for the Clippers in San Diego, he wasn't treated as a star. He was a ballhog then too but when your team has Lloyd "World B" Free and Randy Smith, you don't need a ballhog scorer to dominate the ball, so he bailed off to Italy. That's what it took for Jellybean to get his SPOTLIGHT. Once his kid started to show some talent, Jellybean took BEAN and meld him into the player that he wanted to be. It's a typical Father living his dream through his son thing but having his son exceed the ego to a point, the son gives his Pop's a capital F-you, I marrying the Hot Latina chick and doing my own thing.
of a player yes, 2nd best SG ever with no chance at #1 yes, charitable...at times, loved and hated all over the NBA...no doubt. Bean is a polarizing figure, but if you wanted to know how he got that way, look no further than his father.

[Giuseppe]

All of that stems from his FATHER'S inability to become a star player in the NBA. So he infused all that disappointment and hate into his son. Jellybean always felt that he should be franchise player but was never treated as such in his time in the NBA. Even when he played for the Clippers in San Diego, he wasn't treated as a star. He was a ballhog then too but when your team has Lloyd "World B" Free and Randy Smith, you don't need a ballhog scorer to dominate the ball, so he bailed off to Italy. That's what it took for Jellybean to get his SPOTLIGHT. Once his kid started to show some talent, Jellybean took BEAN and meld him into the player that he wanted to be. It's a typical Father living his dream through his son thing but having his son exceed the ego to a point, the son gives his Pop's a capital F-you, I marrying the Hot Latina chick and doing my own thing.
of a player yes, 2nd best SG ever with no chance at #1 yes, charitable...at times, loved and hated all over the NBA...no doubt. Bean is a polarizing figure, but if you wanted to know how he got that way, look no further than his father.

Like Amadeus' daddy, only instead of musical instruments Jellybean used a leather sphere. Daddy would be like F. Murray, I'd be the gusset in Mrs. Amadeus' lingerie drawer. Herself would be Marie Antoinette, and Kool would be her brother Jeffrey Jones. The Count Orsiney Rosenberg would be rightfully played by hardass Jammie.

A QM Production.

[JamStone]

That's an interesting take. Didn't really care to know how Kobe got the way he did, but that's cool. People are often affected by their upbringing and their parents and other influences when they were kids. Your theory is reasonable. I'm sure it has something to do with it, probably a good deal to do with it.

I only bring up Kobe's personality as it relates to the opinions in this thread about how he's a bad leader or big headed, stubborn, and an all around jerk. I don't defend it. I just think it's part of who he is and a big reason why he's been as successful as he has been in his career. Wherever it stems from is not really a big deal to me. People are motivated by a lot of different things. He could be a great leader, accommodating, approachable, nurturing to his teammates, a sympathetic and compassionate friend to them, a diplomatic and endearing media personality. He could be all of that and I don't think he'd be the player he is today. Maybe it works for some players. Maybe a Magic Johnson smile works for some. Maybe being buddy-buddy to all your teammates like LeBron was in Cleveland works for a certain type of personality. But that's simply not Kobe. I'm sure some of Kobe's teammates consider themselves friends of Kobe. Deep down inside, I don't think Kobe gives a if they're his friend or not. And yes, he's a mean cuss and an all around S.O.B. And that's how he'll always be. It's how he got where he is. And he's not apologetic about it.

10 years from now when Kobe's giving his Hall of Fame speech, it wouldn't shock me at all if in his acceptance speech he says " you, dad" and " you, Shaq." I'm sure he'll smile then.

[Giuseppe]

10 years from now when Kobe's giving his Hall of Fame speech, it wouldn't shock me at all if in his acceptance speech he says " you, dad" and " you, Shaq." I'm sure he'll smile then.

I just hope he's standing there with at least 7.

[DMC]

I'm saying we never looked back with regret at running Daddy off.

Kobe getting after Buss with hammer & tong is a separate & yet another sage decision by Kobe.

I agree with this. The reason the Lakers are winning again is because of the pressure Kobe put on the organization.

Some guys, even really great players, are content to just tough it out every season and come up short. Some even thrive on really ty teams for years. Kobe knew he was in his prime and didn't want to sit around for 10 years watching the Finals.

[Cry Havoc]

"Game 2 had nothing to do with me either."

[Josepatches_]

Kobe was right.

The problem is Pau.You can't win when your best player sucks

[djohn2oo8]

"Game 2 had nothing to do with me either."

Crucify em' Cry. Send that Kobe fanboy ass to the tree of Woe