Crank Up The DVR
May 16, 2006 | 10:55
am
Or TiVO, if that's your preferred television recording technology, because Kobe Bryant will be in the TNT studio Wednesday night serving as a guest analyst on their playoff coverage. After Sir Charles popped off on air about about Kobe's Game 7 performance and an irritated Kobe apparently texted Barkley until his PDA exploded, it'll be interesting to see if/how they approach the subject.
BK
will they be text messaging each other during the show?
Posted by: Blind Worshipper | May 16, 2006 at 11:13 AM
Yet again, Kobe makes headlines and is the center of attention, long after his team at home and other teams battle for the trophy.
Who wants to bet that the ratings for Wednesday nights game are higher than they have been for all the other non-Laker games?
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 16, 2006 at 11:13 AM
If I was the TNT producer, I would start out the Inside the NBA segment with Kobe and Chuck silent, and Kobe text messaging Chuck "Thanks for having me on", and Chuck replying "No problem Kobe, thanks for stopping by the studio".
Or, a variation on that, Kobe and Chuck could give straight dry analysis, but as they spoke, you could see a "text message" with what they really think.
Posted by: Blind Worshipper | May 16, 2006 at 11:19 AM
It's gotta suck for Kobe analyzing a 2nd round playoff game. Out of complete historical ignorance (because I have no idea what the answer is), who was the last NBA great in their prime that had a team do this bad? Lets define that as:
A player that was close to the greatness that you believe Kobe has reached.
Had been in the league at least five years.
Had not started deteriorating due to age.
Did not have significant injury issues.
Had his team miss the playoffs and get bounced in the first round in consecutive seasons.
Has it happened before? Often? To whom?
Posted by: Jon | May 16, 2006 at 11:36 AM
Maybe next we can get Mitch Kupcake to be on TNT and explain why he can't get a good team together and drafts all the wrong players year after year. That would be worth hearing.
Posted by: 8BALL | May 16, 2006 at 11:47 AM
JON
That would be Kevin Garnett.
Posted by: dymandave | May 16, 2006 at 11:47 AM
you guys happen to have the picture of the laker's gone fishing?
Posted by: andrew watkins | May 16, 2006 at 11:52 AM
Jon I have no idea what point your trying to make But Ill give you some numbers ok?
1962-1963 Lakers went 53-27 Lost to Boston in the Finals 2-4, 1963-1964 Lakers went 42-38 Lost First round to St. Louis 2-3, 1965-1966 Lakers went 45-35 Lost to Boston in Finals 3-4 1966-1967 Lakers went 36-45 Lost to S.F. First Round 0-3, 1972-1973 Lakers went 60-22 Lost to NewYork in Finals 1-4, 1973-74 Lakers Lost Milwaukee First round 1-4, All these teams included Jerry West, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, Happy Harriston, Pat Riley, Walt Hazzard Tommy Hawkins, Don Nelson. More Current rosters 79-80 Lakers won NBA title over Philly 4-2 80-81 Lakers Lost to Houston in the First Round 1-2 Roster included Magic, Kareem, Wilkes, Nixon, Cooper. 90-91 Lakers Lost to Chicago in Finals 1-4 91-92, 92-93 teams lost in First round, rosters included James Worthy, Sam Perkins, Byron Scott, AC Green 93-94 didnt advance to Playoffs 94-95 Team Lost in second round. These were just Laker teams. Thats not including all the Major Stars that never even made it to the Playoffs or made it past the 1st round from other teams. Hoped that helped you out.
Im looking forward to seeing Kobe go at Charles should be fun.
Posted by: Gary M | May 16, 2006 at 12:15 PM
lol thanks for the heads up
great! now since i don't have to tape laker games anymore (yes, i'm still stuck in the 20th century) i'll just use all that tape space for kobe the analyst
that's hilarious! kobe being personable ... should be great television!
Posted by: CBuck | May 16, 2006 at 12:23 PM
Game 7, people want Kobe shoot more, but they don't know if Kobe miss a shot, Phoenix Suns will rebound and score more, that's why Barkley didn't win championship because he took some bad shots, so don't blame Kobe on game 7.
Posted by: Kevin | May 16, 2006 at 12:28 PM
Has anybody noticed that the La Times website has been very slow and non-responsive lately or is it just me?
Posted by: Zen | May 16, 2006 at 12:55 PM
Ratings will definitely be the highest since the game 7 Lakers/Phoenix series.
David Stern is doing everything he can to attract some interest to an otherwise boring 2nd round.
What's the best answer...get Kobe on TNT as an analyst...or for that matter...get Kobe to show up anywhere to boost ratings.
Love him or hate him...everyone watches when Kobe's on!
Posted by: ECJ | May 16, 2006 at 01:01 PM
Looking forward to it...is Magic going to be there as well?
Which games are on tonight anyways (Det-Cavs, or Heat-NJ---sorry I've been out of the loop for awhile, just isn't as fun for me anymore hehe).
Posted by: Faith | May 16, 2006 at 01:11 PM
watch out folks, all those writers who had expended all their kobe material can't wait to watch that segment, so they can analyse his statements and demeanor for their next article. anything kobe says would be used aainst him. well kobe never says what he truly feels anyway, his answers are all rehearsed, i don't blame him either. the press don't really care how he feels about anything, but how he would say it, so it can be misconstrued. no kobe no news! it's a shame where lebron, wade, or shaq does good, and it automatically becomes an article about kobe.
Posted by: emman | May 16, 2006 at 01:29 PM
ATTENTION! - NEW NAME FOR MITCH KUPCHAK
("cupcakes" is too cute)
....
and let it be known that Ajax made this up!
....
"MITCH UPCHUCK"
-Ajax
Posted by: Ajax bleeds purple and gold | May 16, 2006 at 01:30 PM
I actually heard about this last night during the Mavs-Spurs game. I was planning on watching tomorrow anyway but Kobe being on guarantees that I'm watching the whole pregame, halftime and postgame shows.
BTW, I've mentioned on here a couple times that I want to be a sports writer. And I've taken my first step towards that because my first article has been printed today in the Gainesville Sun!
It's not directly sports related but it's definitely a start. And eventually after enough experience I'll start coverinr sports and become a paid freelancer.
Here's the link to the article if any of you fellow bloggers are interested in reading it.
http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/DAYBREAK/60515058&SearchID=73244758386254
And if you guys do read this and want to contribute to the cause here's the site for that: bikeandbuild.org
Posted by: Xodus | May 16, 2006 at 01:38 PM
While Kobe will be analyzing FISHING EXPEDITIONS off the southend of Santa Monica Pier. Shaq and DWade will be leading an EXPEDITION of RING HUNTERS on what can be considered a PERENNIAL TREK towards another Eastern Conference Finals game, with the ultimate goal of an NBA title and FOUR (4) rings for Shaq linguering in the horizon.
It was blatantly foolish for the Laker organization to let one of the MOST DOMINANT BigMen in the modern times of the NBA to leave the Lakers. The Laker organization in the past had always coveted NBA Hall of Fame Centers from Mikin, Chamberlain to Jabbar as a tradition of GREATNESS.
Shooting guards are a dime a dozen, but the Center position is one that is hard to fill. It is especially hard to find a center that is talented on both ends of the court, freethrows notwithstanding.
As The Big Aristotle and Flash head toward greatness and a date with an NBA Title. Laker fans and organization are left with a text messenging, ball hogging, chest pumping, elbow flinging, 35 shot taking, teammate shoving, TV tossing, uncoachable, arrogant AND pompus 'Drama King'.
Posted by: Steven | May 16, 2006 at 01:44 PM
dymandave - so you think that KG is a player equal to KB?
Gary M - I don't get your examples at all. In the first stretch, they never missed the playoffs, and they made it to the finals every other year! The only team that you mentioned missing the playoffs was the post-Magic lakers. Which one of their players are you equating to Kobe Bryant?
My point was that true historical stars don't sit at home when everyone else is still playing. Look at the MVP-level players - Nash, Lebron, Dirk, Chancey, Brand, Wade, Duncan - they're all still out there (some people would even put Carter on that list). I'm not calling all of those guys historical stars, and some of them aren't even on Kobe's level yet, but they're the ones who are keeping their teammates playing in May/June. Look at the truly historically great players and how they carried their teams, even just the recent ones:
Magic Johnson never missed the playoffs and was only bumped from the first round once, in his 2nd season.
From his fourth season to his second retirement, Jordan never got beat before the 2nd round. He only lost in the conference semis twice.
After losing in the first round of his rookie campaign, Shaq has never missed the playoffs or even been bounced from the first round again.
Tim Duncan has made it past the first round for six straight years, only missing it in his 3rd season in the league.
Clyde Drexler never missed the playoffs in his entire career.
Malone and Stockton never missed the playoffs in their entire careers.
Patrick Ewing didn't miss the playoffs once between the ages 25 and 37.
Isaiah Thomas made the playoffs every single year from ages 23 to 31.
David Robinson made the playoffs every year from his 3rd season until he retired, except for the season he missed due to injury.
None of those players were hanging out in the studios during early-round playoff games while they were in their primes. Except when they were in their first few seasons, or old and decepit, they were bringing their teams to the big games every year.
The closest comparison I can find is Hakeem the Dream, who did miss the playoffs once in his first 15 years in the league, and had some 1st round exits right before that. I'd say that Hakeem and Kobe fall at right about the same level historically.
Posted by: Jon | May 16, 2006 at 01:55 PM
Take him to the octagon KB!!! Show Barkley why you're a champ and he's not! Kobe you're the man and I'll always support you man!
Posted by: Marcel | May 16, 2006 at 02:03 PM
What time does the show start?
Posted by: mannie | May 16, 2006 at 02:46 PM
One error in my post - Duncan has never missed the playoffs. He's never even been knocked out in the first round. The one time he didn't play in the playoffs was because he was injured.
Posted by: Jon | May 16, 2006 at 03:08 PM
The Heat will not win the championship this year.
Posted by: G-D | May 16, 2006 at 03:13 PM
Jon,
"they were bringing their teams to the big games every year."
The difference there being those players you mentioned all had/have "teams" to play with, Kobe had a consistently-inconsistent cohort in Odom and a bunch of guys from Starbucks. Take any of those other starts you mentioned, then compare their "team" to Kobe's "team" ... 'nuff said. Even KG with an infinately better squad last year (cassell, spree, wally) missed the playoffs entirely, most would say because his 'teammates' became selfish money-grubbing attitude nebulas. While you do need at least one great player to get you to the playoffs and beyond, you also need a solid team built around that player (or players) to succeed. The Lakers will get there again, but you can't seriously compare this year's Laker squad minus Kobe to any other team still in the playoffs minus their greatest player and have anything remotely close to even.
Steven,
You're still the funniest guy on the blog. Nobody regurgitates drivel better than you, you've reached a never-before-seen level of ignorance today and it has really brightened my entire afternoon.
Posted by: Kevin McK | May 16, 2006 at 03:20 PM
Xodus,
You're link doesn't work.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 16, 2006 at 03:34 PM
aw wally wasn't their starter in the 2004-2005 Season.
Posted by: arthas (Tom Brady) | May 16, 2006 at 03:40 PM
Allowing Steven's posts on this blog is like the Loose Cannons allowing Jeff from Tarzana to vote on anything lakers-related on their Cannon showdown segment. You can't help but laugh at the ignorance.
Posted by: Lakerfan | May 16, 2006 at 03:47 PM
Is it time to talk about off season trades/signings?
Players available this summer:
1. Ben Wallace, PF/C, Detroit - no chance in HELL!
2. Jason Terry, PG, Dallas - nice PG, but will cost too much. rather save the money for 08.
3. Peja Stojakovic, SF, Indiana - great shooter, but a bigtime chocker. career on decline. will force LO to play PF.
4. Al Harrington, PF, Atlanta - nice player but wants to play in NY.
5. Mike James, Toronto (Player option) - good player on a bad team playing in contract year. shoot first PG (stated he wont change his mentality for any coach) that will cost a lot .... NO NEED!
6. Chris Wilcox, PF, Seattle (Restricted) - just what the lakers need. a tuff PF with intensity. too bad seattle will match what the lakers can offer.
7. Nene, PF/C, Denver (Restricted) - big body. decent PF but bad attitude. likes to bully teammates.
8. Drew Gooden, PF, Cleveland (Restricted) - soft and no intensity. being outplayed by teammate Anderson Varejao in playoffs.
9. Bonzi Wells, SG/SF, Sacramento - a really nice player to try to sign... but stock might have risen too high after this year's playoffs domination.
10. Matt Harpring, SG/SF, Utah - should get some consideration
11. Joel Przybilla, C, Portland - a great catch if can be sign for cheap. gives lakers the inside presence they need along side kwame.
12. Ronald Murray, Cleveland - strong scorer but a little reckless. no defensive.
13. Speedy Claxton, PG, New Orleans - should be strongly considered. very good PG on both ends.
14. Vladimir Radmanovic, SF/PF, LA Clippers - We have his twin... COOK!! no thanks unless its for cheap.
15. Jared Jeffries, Washington (Restricted) - very long player. good defender and rebounder. nice potential.
16. James Posey, SG/SF, Miami (Player option) - I doubt he'll be leaving shaq
17. Nazr Mohammed, C, San Antonio - could be good with the lakers. will have a decent chance at him especially if the spurs loss to the Mavs.
18. Reggie Evans, PF, Denver - DEFINITELY TOP PRIORITY!!! one of the best rebounders in the game today. must got after him strong. Him and LO will dominate the boards.
19. Keith Van Horn, SF/PF, Dallas - soft and injury prone.
20. Sam Cassell, PG, LA Clippers - will help lakers tremendously... but not getting younger and no defense. we dont have brand or KG to protect the paint when he gets beat off the dribble.
21. Alonzo Mourning, Miami - Pipe dream, but still one of the best Centers in the game. will make lakers a much much better defensive team. should give it a shot.
22. Fred Jones, Indiana (Restricted) - I rather resign Profit or Rush.
23. Ruben Patterson, Denver (Player option) - might be a ok pickup for cheap.
24. Bobby Jackson, PG/SG, Memphis - can still be a great PG off the bench. instant offense
25. Francisco Elson, Denver (Restricted) - Not worth pondering.
Players lakers might consider trading for:
KG - will make lakers contenders but will cost us Odom and Kwame or Bynum, which i think is too much to give away. 30 years old compare to the 26 odom. rather wait 2 years for his contract to be over. kobe, odom, kg, kwame... championship
Boozer - If we can get him for Mihm, ??? and picks, (which almost happened before trade deadline) I say do it. He might not be a good defender or shot blocker, but he can avg 20 10 for us.
Jermaine - Bird said there will be a lot of changes coming this off season. Hopefully he's included. Id give up Bynum, Kwame, mihm and more for him and Granger (aka Artest verson 2). No backup C??!?! who cares... Jermaine, Odom, Granger and Kobe will takeover the world. besides Tariff can play some backup lol.
Miles - great athlete. no desire and thinks of basketball as just work. Can make lakers very lengthy and a decent shot blocker. Id trade mihm for him.
K-mart - bad knee, long contract, but still a great pf when he plays. About one whole year of rest and might want to proof people wrong next year for saying he's done. still too risky.
Dalembert - steven hunter been doing well with the starting job and Phi might be willing to trade him. just the shotblocker and rebounder we need.
Gerald Wallce/Josh Smith - I'd trade Bynum for either one in a sec. Both are good defenders and 2 of the best shot blockers in the league. I prefer Josh Smith (17 9 4 in april) since Wallace is injury prone (only player to avg 2 steals 2 blocks for the season). Both those teams need a center and have too many SFs.
Hinrich/Duhon - Dont know how but would be nice to have them.
Starting 5 for Lakers realistically
Kwame
Boozer or Reggie Evans
Odom
Kobe
Marcus Banks
I think I forgot Marcus Banks. I would really like to see him on the Lakers. very good defender and very young.
Posted by: the Lamar Show | May 16, 2006 at 03:47 PM
someone get the TNT transcript from tonite and post it on the blog! I'm going to be at work and might miss the fireworks!!!
Posted by: Korey | May 16, 2006 at 03:47 PM
Kevin - the funny thing about you is you just spout off your opinions and expect that to hold up, because you're speaking amongst like-minded people. On the other hand, I base my argument off of fact. Why is that funny to you?
Which player on the Cavs has carried the team other than Lebron? He's had three times as many points as anyone else on the team, twice as many assists, and leads the team in rebounds (he's 2nd in both blocks and steals). Look at the two wins against Detroit - Hughes wasn't there, and Z didn't do anything. Can you name a single teammate who's made a deciding impact in even 3 playoff games this year? The team would be worse than Atlanta without him - just like they were before he came.
Here's what I find interesting. You guys seem to really believe that Kobe is the only player who doesn't get a team. Why is it that every currently elite player other than Kobe has a team? Why is it that all the historically elite players I listed from the last 20 years had a team? What has Kobe done differently, that he is the only one who doesn't get to have a team?
Posted by: Jon | May 16, 2006 at 03:51 PM
It's very peculiar to hear people talk about Kobe and other stars without any regard to the teams they are playing for. The Dallas Mavericks are much better than the Lakers, and yet, is there anyone on the Mavericks that is better than Kobe? Isn't basketball a team game? And still, people try to create a "weakness" in Kobe's game, citing lack of "team" play, and "elevating" other players. I really find this concept, well, annoying. If his teammates were better, are you implying he would LOWER the level of their play? If Kobe were on the Mavericks instead of Dirk Nowitzki, do you really think they would be WORSE? I think that why we call it "hating", because Kobe has reached a level of basketball skill that others can criticize tangible aspects of him game, so the only left is to criticize something intangible (read: imaginary), and to say no one want to play with him, he created this situation, ad nauseam.
G-D OUT
"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward." Colossians 3:22-24
Posted by: G-D | May 16, 2006 at 03:55 PM
Thanks for the heads up Andrew Z. That's really weird though because I just tried the link and it worked. Well here's the link this should work.
http://gainesville.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060516/DAYBREAK/60515058&SearchID=73244768241877
Posted by: Xodus | May 16, 2006 at 03:58 PM
Jon - Those historically elite players all had a team because they had time to build one. Their general manager didn't trade away one of their superstar at half-cost, or else they built up the team through the draft and smart moves. Remember KB24 is really only in his second year post-Shaq. We'll be able to judge more reasonably in 5 years. Right now, it's easy to criticize KB24 after a bad game, a bad series, or a bad season, just as it's easy to over-praise him after good ones. We need a larger sample size (more seasons) scientifically speaking to make a sound judgement on his historical status.
Posted by: Blind Worshipper | May 16, 2006 at 03:59 PM
I think people are forgetting a couple of things as they criticize Kobe:
1) Kobe has already won three titles, and so while it's easy to talk about how other stars always made the playoffs, a lot of those stars never won titles. And yes...without Kobe, the Lakers would not have won their most recent titles.
2) Free-agency makes it more likely that a team can go from being a championship contender to a playoff pretender. The Lakers, as all teams, have had a number of free agent defections. They also suffer from having one of the worst general managers in the game.
3) Most importantly: As the Lakers are currently constituted, this season should be treated as Kobe's second season, not his eighth. When a star joins a team, the team is usually in the rebuilding stage. Although Kobe is a veteran, the Lakers are rebuilding and few star players are vying for a championship in the first or second year of rebuilding. It is unfair to compare Kobe to Jordan in his eighth year, when the teams were much different. Jordan didn't win a championship until his 7th year. I would bet that after this team has gelled, Kobe and the Lakers will do their thing.
Posted by: Throwback Laker Fan | May 16, 2006 at 04:01 PM
That should read "CAN'T criticize tangible aspects of his game, so they criticize the intangible"
Posted by: G-D | May 16, 2006 at 04:01 PM
Lamar Show,
Don't you think Boozer is a bit too overpaid? He's a nice player but he's being paid like a superstar and we don't even know if he's an allstar caliber player.
Posted by: Xodus | May 16, 2006 at 04:02 PM
Steven,
True, the lakers and Kobe have gone fishing for the rest of the season, Kobe will be appearing as a analyst on TNT wednesday, and Shaq, D Wade, A Walk, J Will, GP , and Zo are still playing. That is until they meet up with the "D" in the next round and are ousted just like last year. So the point you we're making about that was?
Also true, SG's are a dime a dozen and so are centers for that matter. Kobe and Shaq are special one of kind players. Sure, we could have paid an overweight Shaq the money he was DEMANDING and maybe made it to the finals again. Only to see B Wallace single handedly hold Shaq to under 20pts and 10 boards and lose again, that would have been fun. The reality of it was we had a choice, keep the 2000 ferrari or the 06' lambo. Personally, i'm glad we kept the lambo.
Posted by: Reg | May 16, 2006 at 04:02 PM
Jon,
I agree with you, the Cavs without Lebron versus the Lakers without Kobe would be a toss-up. Both teams would suck royally. What Lebron has done this year is pretty damn amazing and he deserves every bit of credit he gets, if not more. When it's all said and done I'm glad that I will have watched the best basketball player to ever play the game.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 16, 2006 at 04:09 PM
"because Kobe has reached a level of basketball skill that others can criticize tangible aspects of him game, so the only left is to criticize something intangible (read: imaginary), and to say no one want to play with him, he created this situation, ad nauseam."
First of all, huh? Second of all, I'll give you tangible:
Regular Season:
Kobe scored/assisted 16.7 fg/game, 45% of the Lakers’ output.
Lebron scored/assisted 17.7 fg/game, 48% of the Cavs’ output.
Kobe got 6.3% of the available rebounds.
Lebron got 8.3% of the available rebounds.
Kobe had 177 steals/blocks.
Lebron had 189 steals/blocks.
Kobe shot 45% on fg’s, 35% on threes, and 85% on ft’s.
Lebron shot 48% on fg’s, 34% on threes, and 74% on ft’s.
Kobe won 45 games.
Lebron won 50 games.
Playoffs:
Kobe scored/assisted 15.4 fg/game, 41% of the Lakers’ output.
Lebron scored/assisted 17.8 fg/game, 50% of the Cavs’ output.
Kobe got 8% of the available rebounds.
Lebron has got 10% of the available rebounds.
Kobe had 11 steals/blocks.
Lebron has 17 steals/blocks.
Kobe shot 50% on fg’s, 40% on threes, and 77% on ft’s.
Lebron shot 49% on fg’s, 38% on threes, and 73% on ft’s.
Kobe won 3 games.
Lebron has won 6 games and counting.
It's funny - if I quote exact stats, people will run in complaining "stats don't tell the whole story". If I talk about the "intangibles" people run in saying, "Ha! You have no tangible proof!" So here's both, in the same thread. Should I throw in all the boorish behavior that makes people dislike him too?
You guys can think he's the greatest if you want. Just don't try to convince anybody else of it unless you can form an argument that actually works. Many of you claim this was his best season ever, and he wasn't even the best player this year. Get some perspective.
Posted by: Jon | May 16, 2006 at 04:13 PM
This TNT thing concerns me a little, not a lot, but a little. I love watching Kobe and couldn't agree more with the decision to build a franchise around him as opposed to the big lazy. However watching and listening to Kobe for years reminds me of listening to homeschooled children speak. I don't mean this as a knock on anyone who has been homeschooled but it is an observation of my experiences.
Homeschooled kids were always a half step behind everyone else, socially. Usually they were academically head and shoulders above the rest of the kids, but socially handicaped. Kobe didn't have the typical childhood with typical friends and neighbors. He grew up travelling and learning multiple languages and perfecting an amazing talent to play basketball. But he doesn't seem to understand social interaction that well. I think that's why leadership skills have developed only recently. I think its the reason he likes to take over games. As a kid he didn't have a best friend to rely on, he moved around too much. And when he finally settled in Philly it was as a highschool phenom at a private school. Kids worshiped him and told him what he wanted to hear, they weren't true friends. It's always just been Kobe, he never had to be careful about what he said and when he said it.
Now you put him on TV in front of a guy that has been overly critical of him all season and its going to make for good TV. I just hope Kobe comes off good. I think Charles could try to push his buttons just for a reaction. I hope not, but I wouldn't put anything past him.
Go Kobe!
Posted by: Peter | May 16, 2006 at 04:18 PM
Jon,
They're going to throw the Defense thing at you and then come back with the three rings thing. I personally don't think one player is better than another strictly on the fact that they have more rings. Is Robert Horry better than Tim Duncan? Rest my case. It's a team game, so unlike golf where you can judge a players greatness on major championship wins, in basketball the amount of championship rings one player has should be taken with a grain of salt.
I think Lebron had a better year than Kobe. In a game of one-on-one, I'd probably take Kobe, but if I was a GM and had to pick one guy to build my team around, for one year or many, it would be Lebron. He's that good.
Also Jon, Lebron has a strange beard, that makes Kobe better.
Posted by: Andrew Z | May 16, 2006 at 04:25 PM
how do these Lebron V. Kobe conversations keep coming up?
How about we say this. Both Lebron and Kobe are absolute studs. It's a toss up as to who is truly the best player in the league, you can't go wrong with either guy.
Posted by: Xodus | May 16, 2006 at 04:29 PM
"Which player on the Cavs has carried the team other than Lebron? He's had three times as many points as anyone else on the team, twice as many assists, and leads the team in rebounds (he's 2nd in both blocks and steals). Look at the two wins against Detroit - Hughes wasn't there, and Z didn't do anything. Can you name a single teammate who's made a deciding impact in even 3 playoff games this year? The team would be worse than Atlanta without him - just like they were before he came."
PREACH IT Jon!!!!!!
For some reason, diehards can't get it through their heads that Kobe DOES NOT make those around him BETTER!!! Kobe was just given 'free rein' for two (2) reasons this regular season. Playing alongside Kobe has NOT helped Lamar Odoms game one bit.
The players around Kobe on the Laker team are PROFESSIONAL Basketball players, they GET PAID to do what they do. Now the arguement made is that Kobe is surrounded by virtual non-NBA type caliber players. That being the case is it the fault of management, or coaching in preparing these individuals who are under contract to play basketball for the Laker organization in the NBA?
It does not take a team of 'ALL STARS' to win an NBA Title. One look at the 2003-4 NBA Champion Detroit Pistons, the whole team was a collection of castoffs assembled by Joe Dumars, under the coaching guidance of Larry Brown. The arguement made that Kobe does not have support due to lack ALL STAR caliber players is fallacious. A player has to have the concept of being a TEAMMATE, not just an individual player.
Kobe had PJ under his thumb, the offense wasn't a 'triangle' it was a 'Kobeangle offense'. Kobe shot and demanded the ball so much during the regular season, his teammates FROZE when it counted in the playoffs!!!! Using a Barkleyism, there were Lakers with "sphincter muscles so tight, you couldn't jackhammer a needle through there."
The LeBron James AND DWade models of playing TEAM basketball should be required study for Kobe during the offseason and we know he'll have plenty of time.
OUT!!!!
The truth
Posted by: Steven | May 16, 2006 at 04:32 PM
Jon
Lebron is the greatest of all time!!
We are not worthy!! Please spread the word of "Lebron" to those who are more deserving than us!!
The world is a big place, please go to other blogs and tell the good news!!
Lets us repent and hopeful change our ways!!
So Jon go, go now and go quickly there so many who need to hear you preach!! Because we are none believers and anything you say, we will never listen to you!!
Therefore spread you gospel to those of likeminded and belief the "Lebron is the Second Coming"
Laker_Uk
Posted by: Laker_Uk | May 16, 2006 at 04:34 PM
Jon-
I am not denying Lebron's greatness.
I'm merely saying that if he played on the Lakers instead of Kobe and faced the Suns in the first round, that team would lose the series as well, maybe in less games.
G-D
"These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."
Proverbs 6:16-19
Posted by: G-D | May 16, 2006 at 04:37 PM
Blind Worshipper -
A good reason that many of those teams didn't trade away a superstar at half cost was because they had no superstar to trade. What superstar was Drexler playing with all those years? He didn't miss the playoffs. How about Ewing? Robinson?
Look at Hakeem - he won the Finals without any all-stars on his team at all. He carried them, the same way Jordan carried his teams, the same way Duncan carried his team the last few years. Who the heck did Iverson have when he took his team to the Finals? I'm not saying that Kobe should win the finals alone - that's not possible. But he isn't as alone as you make him out to be (Odom is a huge talent and had a monster playoffs this year, and Walton/Kwame could definitely be solid contributors on a championship team). There is no reason for a superstar to make first round exits...or worse.
Posted by: Jon | May 16, 2006 at 04:43 PM
Who cares what Kobe has to say. We should only care on how he plays. We all know Kobe we'll be prep for Barkley. Kobe is part of the Media. Kobe and Barkley are in this together. They need better ratings. Some of us Lakers fans are as foolish as the media and Barkley. Sure, bring Kobe in the same studio as Barkley. Who recently had some foul Text exchanges. Kobe is the Best player in the league, but he's not the brightest though.
Posted by: willn2win | May 16, 2006 at 04:43 PM
Steven
Please explain that when Laker win you are nowhere to be seen and when we lose you are on our boards like a bad smell!!
You must have some sort of sad life or a real sad person who gets on people when they down!!
I want to know why you hate the lakers so much but insist on being on the our board?
Where you abused as kid for supporting the lakers and are now taking your revenge!!
Please let us know your reasons!!
Laker_Uk
Posted by: Laker_Uk | May 16, 2006 at 04:47 PM
G-D
I agree with you 100%,especially the Apostle Paul's quote, amen brother! Now, regarding basketball, none of the players these guys mentioned have bad teams. Kobe's team was by far the worst, and yet the Lakers came one missed rebound away from the second round! Jon, Lebron is very good, and yes, an elite player, but if you compare Kobe's team against Lebron's, Dirk's,Wade's, etc...., there is no comparison! It's amazing how much hate Kobe has generated this year! I think he became too much of a threat to MJ's legacy too fast! Kobe never said he was Jordan's successor! The Media labelled Kobe and when he broke their hearts in Colorado and by sending Shaq and Phil away (their words, not mine)they turned on him like cheer leaders at a tornament! Kobe could have scored 200 points and averaged 50pts per game + 15 assist for the season, he never would have won MVP. He's Barry Bonds, Muhummad Ali, Rodney Dangerfield and Susan Lucci all rolled in one(can't deny their skill and talent, but it's more fun to hate them)well, maybe not Rodney, but you get the point! It's a "hate Kobe bandwagon, you're not legit, if you're not with it." That's one of the reason's I support him, it's obvious the ref's are bias against him, the press, and all MJ worshippers! With or Without a good team, Kobe is the best basketball player alive, period!
Posted by: M&M | May 16, 2006 at 04:49 PM
Xodus
Yah I do but I think he can avg over 20 10 easily if he's healthy. Look at his scoring numbers for April... 26pt, 21, 23, 25, 25, 30, 27, 22.
However, I rather get Reggie Evans.
Posted by: the Lamar Show | May 16, 2006 at 04:50 PM
Jon and Steven weren't hugged as kids.
We've got bigger fish to fry than Jon and Steven.
Posted by: Blind Worshipper | May 16, 2006 at 04:53 PM