A little more Sacto analysis
Just came across these two clips over at Sactown Royalty (via our friends at Forum Blue and Gold). The first is fun because it shows that every team's fans, after every game, go through the same questions about officiating, coaching strategy, player performance, etc. that happens here... except these days, the complaints of the Laker Nation are pretty mellow by comparison, even after a somewhat sketchball win. Sometimes sticking a toe in the pool of another team's misery is good for perspective! In the second link, there's a great comment from ESPN.com's David Thorpe about how the Lakers, by moving Kobe onto Kevin Martin, made the Kings totally one dimensional, and that Reggie Theus didn't do much to prevent it:
The Kings did a fine job for three quarters last night in mixing in lots of offensive looks. Post ups and iso's for Artest, a spread floor for Beno drives, and lots of 2-man action with Miller and Martin. Double screens are not needed to spring Martin free - only touches for Miller in the high post. Martin is expert at using backdoor cuts or handoffs to create shots for himself or teammates.
But in the 4th quarter, Miller was not involved. Which means Martin wasn't either. One reason why Kobe could explode in the 4th was that he got to rest on defense while almost every play featured a stationary Martin watching the ball being force fed to Artest. Kobe had 21 shots in the first 3 quarters-then he really got going. Martin had 16 shots in 3 quarters, with just one in the 4th. Only 2 touches overall. I wonder if the Kings would have scored just 18 fourth quarter points if Martin was just as central to their attack as Kobe was to the Lakers. And I also wonder if Kobe would have been so effective as a scorer in the 4th if he had to chase Martin around screens and hand-offs and backdoor cuts the entire quarter. We don't know if Martin can carry this team over the Lakers in crunch time. I'd like to find out. I'm sure Miller would love lots of 4th quarter touches.
Kobe was on Martin for a reason - Phil Jackson wanted the Kings to go to Artest. Had Artest started making shots, I'd guess Kobe would have switched onto him. The Kings did exactly what the Lakers' hoped they would do.
Kudos as well for the title of their game post for tonight's tussle with the Clippers: GAME 61 at Bad Los Angeles, Game Thread
Very clever.
BK
Yes, Nemaia we ALL would love to have LBJ on the Lakers. I know this because several of us were giddy the summer he had the chance to opt out.
That being said, Kobe gets RIPPED on for what LBJ is doing.
LeBron literally goes to Spike Lee and tells him to watch him go for 50.
It's not like he had 48 and there was a minute to go or anything... what zen just said above is spot on.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | March 05, 2008 at 10:07 PM
I am not going to hate on Lebron.
He is taking over games at the end like Kobe does now.
He is putting up ridiculous stats.
And he is producing some craaaaazzzy highlights.
I think I am getting old enough where I can appreciate two players and not hate.
I love LeBron James' game. I love Kobe Bryant's game.
I think it's time for Kobe to win MVP.
If LeBron wins, I'll say he deserved it just like if Kobe wins I'll say he deserved it.
They are both putting up MVP seasons and both are great great players.
I think Kobe's career may be marked by all these crazy things.
Like, Only player with 2 Finals MVPs and no reg. season MVPs. Or 5 NBA titles and no reg. season MVPs.
In the end, Kobe will be recognized at least as the #2 SG of all time.
LeBron will be at least a top 5 SF of all time.
I appreciate and enjoy watching both. It's the only way to be a TRUE basketball fan, in my opinion.
Posted by: Korey | March 05, 2008 at 10:09 PM
Nemaia Faletogo,
Well said. I agree completely about appreciating LeBron. Same goes for Kobe, Wade, Nash, AI, Dirk, etc. They're all incredible talents. We're lucky to get to witness players of their calibur on a regular basis.
Posted by: | March 05, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Zen,
you wrote:
"10milliondollarzen,
"Lebron is 5-1 vs. Kobe in games played."
Yea and Kobe was injured in 4 of those games. Including the two this year. He won't make excuses, but you could tell he couldn't move in the last game against Lebron. Why doesn't anyone else see this?".....
...come on now, you're not that much of a homer, are you? If Kobe played, he's not hurt in a meaningful way, and as for bad calls...umm, ok....
the debate is fun, and Lebron is getting more hype tonight 'cause he did it in New York and was yapping it up with Spike Lee and Jay-Z on the sidelines; just like people were talking about Kobe playing great at the Garden a few months ago....
the Knicks are terrible, so the 50 points is just a headline, but it's funny that it lead sports center tonight with all the debate on this blog the last few days..
Kobe will win the MVP this year ....it's his time, the media in whole have already decided it...remember though, Steve Nash won in '06 for a second time, when he straight up didn't deserve it, when Kobe or Lebron could and should have won it, so it's often not that meaningful of an award...
personally, and this is just my opinion, I think Lebron is more capable to completely take over a game night in and night out than Kobe is. Kobe may take over many games more impressively than Lebron does, but night in and night out, Lebron is simply unstoppable an offensive player when he's going to the basket...better than any player I've ever seen....
Kobe has killer instinct and pure baskeball skills that Lebron doesn't have, which probably makes him a more lethal player than Lebron - and probably a better one. If we're playing game 7 of the NBA finals, I'd rather have Kobe....
as for mvp, all things being equal, I'd actually vote for Chris Paul if had a vote. As for what he does for that team and franchise (which would literally probably disapear without him -and instead has the third best record in the west) for what he means to that city, and just how meaningless that team would be without him...and his general attitude, always postive (something that is not true of Lebron and especially of Kobe) makes him, it seems, a true mvp.
Posted by: 10milliondollarzen | March 05, 2008 at 10:12 PM
Clippers go to Double OT against the Kings...
Artest and Martin are not playing...what? They weren't injured last night were they? I guess they only play against good teams?? Or just the Lakers?
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 05, 2008 at 10:15 PM
BINGO!!
LAWLER'S LAW IN EFFECT!!
I love Ralph Lawler, can't we steal him???
And AL Thornton is a BEAST!!!
Posted by: DrewPauKobe | March 05, 2008 at 10:17 PM
west and east'''''' hahahahaha,.. watch out for lakers' especially when bynum and ariza returns....
Posted by: archie - philippines | March 05, 2008 at 10:24 PM
Rick Friedman,
Yeah, but the award isn't about that extra gear, or about who is helping get their team to that next level. It's a popularity contest and LeBron wins. Plain and simple. The media loves him and they're the ones that decide, so of course Kobe will get robbed of the MVP. That's why it's just a stupid award and it really shouldn't be taken this seriously.
Posted by: gokobego | March 05, 2008 at 10:27 PM
Calling AK and Xodus!!!
Shaq had a career high 18 rebounds tonight! A career high at 36 years old! They ended up losing though, but it shows you that Shaq is healthy and motivated. Phoenix is just adjusting to a new style.
Posted by: zen | March 05, 2008 at 09:46 PM
zen,
Yeah, Shaq had good numbers, but defense will continue to be an issue for the Suns regardless of the adjustment. Here's something people have tendency to forget or overlook. Please pay close attention to what I'm about to say. Take a good look at the top rebounders in the league and tell me what is the consistent theme. Almost all of them without exception is the primary rebounder for their team with a big differential from the second leading rebounder on their team. In other words it's not surprising that Shaq has big numbers on the boards because he's become their primary rebounder now. Do you know how many boards Amare had tonight? He was second with 6. How many other Suns do you see crashing the boards with Shaq and since Shaq joined them? You see even Amare is hanging more on the perimeter leaving Shaq to do most of the board work.
The same can be said of Dwight Howard, Tyson, Chandler, Marcus Camby because they're the designated board man. This is not the case with the Lakers. I believe Andrew Bynum would possibly grab nearly 15 to 20 boards a game if LO wasn't such a glass cleaner himself. Look at how Pau's rebounding numbers are a little down playing alongside LO compared to when he was with the Griz this season. Rebounding numbers may be more even when Bynum returns. It would be difficult for anyone on our frontline to average more than 10 boards when you have Andrew, Pau and LO battling for boards not to mention one of the top rebounding guards in Kobe. The other four Suns are looking to get out and run as Shaq does the rebounding. Not taking anything away from Shaq, but it's easy to see how he could get those numbers. Rodman was still having 20 rebound games at the same age because that's all he was asked to do. No different from what Shaq is being asked to do. In fact, I'd be disappointed if Shaq even at 36 couldn't grab boards if that's all he's asked to do for a running team. Watch the Suns more closely and you'll see Amare's rebounding numbers go down because he's more concerned about scoring now that Shaq is there to rebound. Numbers can be overblown sometimes. Go Lakers!!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | March 05, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I hope Lebron wins the MVP award so Kobe can have more room for his NBA Finals MVP Award when Lakers win the title while Lebron watches at home.
Posted by: Tom | March 05, 2008 at 10:40 PM
Shaq had a career high 18 rebounds tonight! A career high at 36 years old! They ended up losing though, but it shows you that Shaq is healthy and motivated. Phoenix is just adjusting to a new style.
Posted by: zen | March 05, 2008 at 09:46 PM
Shaq's career high in rebounds is not 18! I am not going to take the time to research the exact number, but I remember him going for 40 and 20 in two consecutive games so it is at least 20!!
Posted by: pslakerfan | March 05, 2008 at 10:50 PM
I have a haunch, they will give it to Kobe. It goes with performance of the team. As I said in the previous threadif Cleveland is playing in the West, they will be in the 8th spot. You know when it's your time based on the mainstream media always talking of the Lakers. Well, let's see what happens.
AK/BK, to break the monotony of the blog on topics that never ends, as well as debates that have no resolution, we all know that we come out with almost similar goal only we are too opinionated,,,,,I would like to suggest a topic on each individual's most embarrassing or funniest experience as a laker fan. The experience must have a relation to the lakers. I'm sure we all have many funny episodes in the past.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | March 05, 2008 at 11:05 PM
Rick Friedman
"Ronny, Jordan and Sasha can regain their form. In my opinion PJ has shattered their confidence"
I don't think it's possible to shatter Jordan's confidence..
Posted by: giantsquid | March 05, 2008 at 11:07 PM
A couple of threads ago some one said only Artest could stop Kobe.
Hope who ever wrote that goes back and checks out the 4th quarter show by Kobe.
He ate up Artest and drove by him repeatedly. Artest ran out of gas and started missing his shots and Kobe turned his energy up and owned Artest.
Posted by: JustaLakerFan | March 05, 2008 at 11:29 PM
Who cares about LeBron? I'm just happy to root for Kobe and the Lakers, watch them going through hard times and then turning into one of the best teams in maybe the toughest conf ever. The only thing that really matters is the CHAMPIONSHIP RING! Kobe knows that.
Posted by: Tsiry | March 05, 2008 at 11:32 PM
Sean Marion is a B+ 27 year old player that Steve kerr trades for, and over the hill fat boy, shaq at the age of 36 and the Suns have to pay Lard ass till 2010, 50 millions big one what a hoot.Shaq sorry buddy but this is buss`s curse on you for disrespecting him and Kobe.
Posted by: WHITE MAMBA 24 | March 05, 2008 at 11:34 PM
lol stupid media really hates kobe don't they? they are all ecxited about the kings 50 point game on the nicks ... wait a minute!! did i just say the king?? the king of what , who or where? hahahhahahah its so funny how they keep talking about it and compering him to jordan like if he'd have won the championshp or something... they really want lebron to be on top of kobe no matter what kobe does. damn haters!!! i really hope lakers win it all this year pa que les arda el CULO!!!
Posted by: LAKERS4LIFE | March 05, 2008 at 11:45 PM
man, i was watching the game and sacramento's score seemed stuck on 100 forever! tee hee.
Posted by: jef | March 05, 2008 at 11:55 PM
LAGUNERO,
When Kobe leaves the game, the one who would be entertaining us would be Dwight Howard. Lebron has no originality. He only copies KG, Kobe, etc. I'm sick and tired of his one and only tomahawk dunk, too. And he only copied it from J-Rich. No wonder he refuses to join the dunk contest cuz he would lose in the first round! ha! chicken...
Posted by: SamII | March 05, 2008 at 11:58 PM
David Stern calling Portland announcers "homers"...
http://youtube.com/watch?v=sy1i9zC4ABQ
I swear I wanted to throw up just listening to them.
Surprisingly, the Kings announcers were good. Jerry Reynolds used to be a coach so what he said made sense. Props to them.
Posted by: SamII | March 06, 2008 at 12:03 AM
One of the best comments on the Kobe-MJ debate I have read from a guy called "WildYams" (it was from somewhere on haloscan.com):
I want to clarify something: I'm not someone who thinks that Kobe is better than MJ was. I really have no idea who actually was better, and feel like it's just one of those things in sports where you'll never be able to know cause the two couldn't go at each other in their primes. I will say this: if I was starting an NBA team and could pick any player from any era to start my team with, I'd pick Jordan over Kobe, but it's quite possible I'd be wrong in doing so.
In the same way that many Kobe haters just don't even bother watching him play or don't want to even read stats that don't support their hatred of his game, there are a lot of people who either never saw Jordan play, or only saw him during that second 3-peat and truly forget what Jordan was like when he was in his real prime, when he was Kobe's age and the Bulls were en route to their first three titles. This is evidenced by people who just look at Jordan's shooting percentage compared to Kobe's and say that Jordan was clearly a better shooter in those days, because that is patently absurd. Jordan didn't even bother with outside shooting for the first half of his career, except as an afterthought. In the first 8 years of his career Jordan only attempted more than 100 threes in a season one time (in 89-90 when he suddenly attempted 245 of them). In Kobe's entire 11 years in the league he's never attempted 100 or less 3-pt shots, not even in his rookie year when he averaged only 7 minutes a game, nor in the lockout-shortened 50 game season in 1999. The 3-pt shot has always been a part of Kobe's game in the way that it was a part of Jordan's only in the 2nd half of his career.
Does this mean Kobe's a better shooter than Jordan was till he was Kobe's age? Probably. But it doesn't address the real truth there: Jordan didn't even bother with outside shooting because he didn't have to. Contrary to what many in this thread have said, defenses were not tougher for the first part of Jordan's career than they are now. Sure, much more rough and physical play was allowed (see McHale's famous clothesline of Kurt Rambis in the Finals with no suspension), but this is not to say that defense was really much of a focus for any teams in the league, or that the league was populated with defensive virtuosos. The Lakers and Celtics, who dominated the 80s, did so mainly but just scoring a shitload of points, not by locking the other team down in any way (the premium put on defensive players back then is best evidenced by how Defensive Players of the Year like Michael Cooper and Dennis Rodman didn't even start for their teams).
Real lockdown, hard-nosed defense didn't make an appearance till the Bad Boy Piston teams who pioneered flopping as well as just using brute force to try to injure their opponents (the flopping clearly has been embraced by everyone, much to basketball's disgrace, and the brutish play has been something Stern has been trying to eradicate ever since). Jordan himself was probably the main reason that the Pistons began playing this way, since Jordan used to get all his scoring by just driving ad nauseum to the hole for layups and dunks. Young Jordan was much like young Shaq in this way: teams just could not stop him from dunking on them all game long. So the Pistons came up with "The Jordan Rules" which essentially were that they were going to try to physically manhandle Jordan and wear him down while daring the rest of Jordan's team to beat them.
Eventually Jordan figured out how to get his teammates to help out, and the Bulls began their title run; but after the Pistons' back-to-back titles using this type of defense, the die was cast and soon other teams (i.e. the Knicks) began using this technique. The "brute ball" of the 90s was the result of this, and it's why Stern has gone so overboard in trying to protect every player from any contact. It's also why Jordan eventually turned to the outside shot to keep his game dominant.
Kobe was introduced into an NBA game that had already gone through this transformation and he saw, just as every other good swingman in the last decade or so has seen, that to be potent in the NBA you must not only be able to drive and score, but you must have a reliable outside shot; especially with the more athletic defensive specialists you see in the NBA nowadays. This is why it's so tough to compare Jordan and Kobe like this, because if you put Kobe in the NBA back in 1985 or so when Jordan was starting out, Kobe would find he wouldn't need to bother with the 3-pt shot either because he'd likely be able to drive all day long the way Jordan was able to. Kobe in a game where illegal defense was still called so he couldn't be doubled off the ball and where he was being guarded by the likes of Craig Ehlo, do you really think he'd settle for just shooting threes over him? He'd have jammed it in his face for the full 48.
Whether Kobe lovers/haters or Jordan lovers/haters want to admit it, the two players are incredibly similar, and not because Kobe just "copied Jordan" or whatever. The reason they're so similar is because they both are/were arguably perfect when it came to basketball fundamentals. They both worked their asses off at all the minutiae of the game, and perfected it to a technological level, and seeing that they're both roughly the same size with similar athleticism, it should be no wonder they play/played almost the same exact way.
The reason I would take Jordan over Kobe if I had to choose comes down to a slightly different mindset between the two. While Jordan was an infamous competitor, to the point that he'd even cheat to win if he could, I think Kobe is actually more ruthless than Jordan was, and has a stronger desire to just cut his opponent's heart out and eat it than Jordan did, although that sometimes works to his detriment. There are still times where Kobe will take an ill-advised 3-pt shot early in the clock just because if he makes it it would be so demoralizing to the opponent that they'd probably wilt right there, and you can see that is what Kobe is thinking. What Jordan seemed to realize is that there is a flip side to that coin, and that if you miss the shot you're giving your opponent an extra chance to climb back into a game. That, the fact that Jordan's hands were bigger than Kobe's and my belief that a young Jordan was more athletic than Kobe has been, to me give Jordan the ever so slight nod.
But I think Kobe is poised to do a few things which will ultimately make it hard for historians to think Jordan was the better of the two players. For one, I think Kobe has a good shot to win more titles. Second, I think Kobe has a good chance of breaking Kareem's scoring record. Kobe's almost borderline insane, laser-like focus on playing basketball I believe will keep him playing for a long, long time; and I think he'll be able to play at the level he's been at for the last couple years for a few more years before he slowly starts to decline. It'll be interesting to see what Kobe will accomplish in the next 10-15 years (if he plays that long), and what credentials he puts next to his name in the debate for GOAT.
Although ultimately LeBron James may surpass them both due to his incredible physical advantage.
WildYams | 03.05.08 - 6:46 pm | #
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | March 06, 2008 at 12:10 AM
samll,
I'd agree with Stern's comments. The SAC announcers were suprisingly professional considering the history between the two franchises. They complimented both teams and questioned refs' calls on both sides of the floor.
Posted by: never | March 06, 2008 at 01:08 AM
Oh yeah,
Is anyone else having trouble watching their NBA league pass online? I'm trying to access the archived footage of tuesday's games but nba.com isn't showing me anything when I click on "watch live".
Posted by: never | March 06, 2008 at 01:09 AM
Lebron's the King of one thing & one thing only: Ugliness.
Posted by: ajax | March 06, 2008 at 01:13 AM
The MVP is definitely about fan needs not Kobe needs. I'm sure we want Kobe to get the thing much more than he does.
Still, I think the award is Kobe's to win or loose. If he continues to play the way he's been playing, nothing LeBron does short of overtaking the Celtics and Pistons is going to be good enough this year.
I think the anti-Kobe sentiment has cooled around the league and has gone back to being anti anything Laker instead of just anti Kobe. But Kobe really helped himself there. He didn't run from his Colorado troubles or hide behind Lawyers when he could have. Instead he came out with his wife, faced the public and was accessible and honest.
I think people respect the way he's reforged his image and will lean towards his direction if he continues to carry his team toward the top of the Western Conference.
Wes
Posted by: wesjoenixon | March 06, 2008 at 01:24 AM
In the Cavs vs Knicks video on ESPN.com, it sounds like the woman was having an orgasm! hahaha!!!
Posted by: Tsiry | March 06, 2008 at 03:21 AM
Comment on past few games: Lakers young bench is starting to feel the pressure of season-end in ultra-competitive WC as well as heightened expectations of the team to go all the way after the blossoming of Bynum and addition of Gasol. It is only natural for them to get into a slump. Jordan and Sasha, esp, depend on their long-range shooting to contribute, which tends to be highly dependent on confidence.
Only time will tell how the young Laker bench will react to the mounting pressure; no question Kobe's role will get bigger. But at the end of the day, this team can only go all the way if the young players step up and perform big-time in play-off atmosphere.
Posted by: ASM | March 06, 2008 at 05:33 AM
First KG, then CP3, now LaBrick. When Kobe carried his team the way LaBrick is doing by winning the scoring title and taking 30-plus shots a game, he was a ball hog! Now he's playing the perfect team game and he's not the man because the Lakers have an "unfair" advantage with Gasol....Give me a break! When Kobe played with a bunch of scrubs and still played at a high level, unlike wade who can't win in the east, the record of his team wasn't enough to merit consideration. Now LaBrick is doing the same dance and he's the king? WHATEVER!!!! Let's just hope Baby Bynum and Ariza come back healthy and do what we do!!! Kobe has done every posssible thing he can do to win that award, and they just refuse to give it to him. Score....make your team better....show leadership...be on a winning team....If he doesn't win it this year, it says more about the league and the voters being a bunch of waffling jerks with agendas.
Posted by: DOC4daLakeShow | March 06, 2008 at 06:20 AM
i normally don't read simmons anymore, but i thought in his latest mailbag, this gem of a paragraph was hilarious in describing the Suns-Shaq marriage:
Q: I don't get it. We run the high screen, I get into the paint, I'm going for a layup and then Shaq's guy comes over and I end up throwing the ball off someone's face. Next time down, we run the high screen, I feed Amare for one of his runaway train dunks, and then Shaq's guy comes over and takes the charge. Then we move Shaq 15 feet away from the basket to give us space, but his guy realizes immediately that Shaq can't shoot, so he just stands under the rim and gets in our way. What the hell do we do? How do we solve this? My head hurts.
--S. Nash, Phoenix
absolute comedy.
Posted by: d | March 06, 2008 at 06:31 AM
Re: LeBron vs. Kobe
"There is a theory which states that if ever anybody discovers exactly what the Universe is for and why it is here, it will instantly disappear and be replaced by something even more bizarre and inexplicable. There is another theory which states that this has already happened."
Posted by: giantsquid | March 06, 2008 at 06:57 AM
IF SCORING 50 POINTS IS YOUR CRITERIA FOR AWARDING SOMEONE MVP, THEN THE LEAGUE OWES THE BLACK MAMBA 50+ MVP TROPHIES AND A SPECIAL ONE FOR 81 POINTS.
LEBRON SCORING 50 AGAINST THE KNICKS PUTS HIM AHEAD OF KOBE'S 52 AGAINST THE MAVS?
'THA HELL OUTTA HERE!!!
Posted by: LAKERSAM | March 06, 2008 at 07:01 AM
If 50 against the Knicks makes LBJ MVP, then why didn't Kobe get it when he dropped 62 against the Mavs' (an elite playoff team at the time) 61 in three quarters, only to follow that up a little later with 81 points in a game the Lakers were about to loose?
If you remember correctly, that game was in doubt until Kobe had scored 74 points. He only really "ran up" about 7 points in that game.
How many points did LBJ "run up" with the final score showing an almost 20-point blowout?
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | March 06, 2008 at 07:19 AM
Amazing_Happens,
The final part of that post is the saddest most poignant thing, isn't it? For all that is said and done, LBJ is going to pass up everyone who's ever played except possibly Wilt himself.
And, he isn't even going to have to try really hard to do it either.
It is impossible to hate on LBJ even though I desperately want to. Desperately.
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | March 06, 2008 at 07:43 AM
All,
I have the perfect analogy of KB24 v. LBJ:
Kobe is Popeye, and his killer mentality is his spinach. Kobe has to eat his spinach to become super human.
Lebron is Brutus. He was born super human and doesn't even have to try to do great things.
But, at the end of every episode, who always won?
The final frame of this particular episode won't air until Kobe and LBJ meet in the finals. Who do you think would win?
--FearlessWhackJob
Posted by: FearlessWhackJob | March 06, 2008 at 07:51 AM
Squiddy,
Nice Douglas Adams pull. I think Kobe is powered by the infinite improbability drive.
Posted by: Mob Wagoneer | March 06, 2008 at 08:06 AM
Lebron's the best SF, Kobe's the best 2 guard.
Lebron's bigger, younger. Kobe's wiser and better looking.
I'd rather be Kobe.
Posted by: Vman | March 06, 2008 at 08:11 AM
Repost...
First of all hello everyone...
All i gotta say is WOW... First Kelly Dwyer now T.J. Simmers... Also I was watching something on the Sac newtwork and one of their guests... I gues he has a Kings blog for the Sac Bee... But he was saying the same things Kelly was saying... Lebron is better... WTF is that??
First off my take on Lebron... Yeah.. he's a gifted player and yeah... he's powerful... But he is jus a pompous arrogant @$$... His demeanor is jus so egotistical... It's nice to be confident... But this guy is jus a show off... The way he carries himself... The way he walks... The way he looks... He jus irritates me... N is it jus me or should people need to quit calling this guy "The King"... I mean... The King of what?? What has he done?? I don't even give him props for taking his team to the Finals last year... i mean... come on... Kobe coulda done that on the same team.. N probably would've won against The Spurs... or at least took it to the 7th game... All in all... I don't like Lebron... Mainly cause I love Kobe... LoL.. BUt i gotta give him this... He praises Kobe... IDK if it's real or not... But I give him props for that... They need to quit calling him "The King" though... cause it really irritates me... He's is a non proven player... That cares about individual stats..
Anyways.. I love how great the Lakers have been palying... N Kobe's killer instinct last night was jus amamzing to watch... Hopefully the team can get better n more consistent... I know everyone has their off days... But come playoff time... They need to switch to another level... Like the Lakers of old...
Posted by: cdub0512 | March 06, 2008 at 08:19 AM
King vs. Mamba. For sure, king will be killed, as far as queen does not save him.
Posted by: Jack Nickolson | March 06, 2008 at 08:23 AM
Yes, Nemaia we ALL would love to have LBJ on the Lakers. I know this because several of us were giddy the summer he had the chance to opt out.
That being said, Kobe gets RIPPED on for what LBJ is doing.
LeBron literally goes to Spike Lee and tells him to watch him go for 50.
It's not like he had 48 and there was a minute to go or anything... what zen just said above is spot on.
Posted by: Tim-4-Show | March 05, 2008 at 10:07 PM
Tim-4-Show,
Spot on post. No disagreement here. Go Lakers!!!
Posted by: Nemaia Faletogo | March 06, 2008 at 08:25 AM
ESPN's agenda is LBJ.
Gilbert A throws up 50, barely makes a ripple.
Kobe gets 61 and sits down in a blowout.
Lebronze sits with 23 ticks and a 20 point lead? This is a milestone?
NBA being what it is on the East Coast, Lebron is ratings.
The West is about a basketball league.
Posted by: Vman | March 06, 2008 at 08:25 AM
i can't believe lebron has almost 70% of the mvp votes on nba.com. kobe only has 17% ..... WTH?
Posted by: | March 05, 2008 at 08:35 PM
Where did u see this??? Cause in my research... Kobe has got a big upperhand on LBJ...
Posted by: cdub0512 | March 06, 2008 at 08:27 AM
You Ever Notice, Loved the post! That's real talk! Also quite hilarious with the oldie but goodie!! lmfao..
I had a feeling Lebron would go all out to drop madd points cuz he is definitely competing for the MVP but more so for supreme reigns as the BEST in the league, better than Kobe and I am starting to believe that he is just trying to pacify those who say he is sooo humble this and that, by complimenting Kobe as the best. He is riding his own jock and its obvious deep down he feels he is truly the best in the league regardless what comes off his tongue when the lights are all over him..
He can ball, I am not hating but he is def making this about him and Kobe, much like A.I. used to do whenever Kobe would drop 50, the next night he'd go out and drop 51 just so he could maintain his scoring title...
I don't care about the MVP no more, I know Kobe is the best in my eyes but more so in my heart.
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | March 06, 2008 at 08:41 AM
Let us concentrate on the games to be played and let the MVP choice fall into its place. The choice is just too subjective so nobody can control the score. I place more importance on the game against the Clips tonight, they are due for revenge as a spoiler. If our youth, Farmar and Sasha can play an active role as well as Ronnie Turiaf and Vlad Radmanovic provide the necessary support that the starters need, then this game tonight is again inthe W column. Anytime, we win because of Kobe-Pau-LO-Fisher, it is too predictable. Luke is an unknown, he either a starter or a bench player who will dominate or ruin the game, let's see how he plays tonight. It would be sweet if the Bench mob will deliver the telling blows this time. We have to show the firepower of our bench, we need a deep bench to win it all.
Posted by: Edwin Gueco | March 06, 2008 at 08:46 AM
Fearless - I don't mind that people appreciate Lebron, as long as they give Kobe his proper due. And that means putting Kobe in the MJ and Magic conversation.
Posted by: Amazing_Happens | March 06, 2008 at 08:47 AM
Fearless
Would the trophey be Olive, and who would be alice the goon?
Posted by: LAGUNERO | March 06, 2008 at 08:51 AM
Ain't it sweet to see Slaq absolutely killing the Suns once dominant team. He actually played decent against the Nugs but the whole team offense and defense is disrupted by his loafing presence. The only sad part is they may miss the playoffs, depriving us of the joy of kicking their and Slaq's sorry a**.
Posted by: HawaiiD | March 06, 2008 at 08:55 AM
Laker Lover,
82games.com's sortable clutch stats really only shows two things:
1. Kobe is actually ridiculously close to LeBron.
2. LeBron has played in far, far, FAR more clutch situations than Kobe. (Look at minutes)
Read this: http://tinyurl.com/24knmg
here's what it boils down to: lebron's played in way more clutch situations than Kobe because Kobe's been busy blowing out teams. but when he needs to operate in the clutch, he's still the clutch master. lebron ain't got nothing on him in the 4th.
Posted by: WWKBD? | March 06, 2008 at 08:56 AM
Fearless whackjob-
If Kobe doesn't win MVP, I don't think there's a soul alive who wouldn't put money on him DECIMATING Lebron in the finals, (Not to mention any team that has to face up agaisnt the Lakers in the Post Season)- who freaking cares if Lebron won the matchups this year.
If Lebron takes the MVP and gets to the Finals to meet the Lakers, presuming they also proceed that far- Kobe will be so far beyond pissed, moreso then we've ever seen him. we all know how well he plays when he's not happy. This will Hulkify him. He will beat Lebron into the ground and say "Good for you and your MVP- I got your Finals MVP RIGHT HERE."
As Simmons keeps saying- Kobe can SMELL a championship- he knows he's almost there.
That's not a good sign for the rest of the league.
One more thing, and I also agree with Simmons on this- for the Last two years, Kobe has had to carry this team's burden every single quarter- he didn't get to take them off. By the time the playoffs came around, he had nothing left.
Now, he only has to carry them for the last 20+ games of the season. And as the last two games showed us, we don't need him for all of them- watch him become superhuman in the fourth and we can stick around until then. Ask the 2002 Spurs. they STILL remember fourth quarter Kobe.
You think Kobe's not charging right now? Phil 's waiting for the opportunity to turn him loose- and he's got more then enough reserves to carry the team till/if Bynum gets back. I'm really, really excited right now.
Posted by: Jeff | March 06, 2008 at 08:59 AM
Never, I, too was having trouble with NBA.com broadband, ended up calling about the issue and they said I probably never shoulda had access or some crap, that my server must have crossed with somebody in my neighborhood (?) who had League pass or some ISH, re, re, re and yada yada and more yada. Their conspiracy theory worked and I ended up purchasing League pass so the last couple days I have been watching it on TV!!
Posted by: lakersrydeordie | March 06, 2008 at 09:16 AM
who defended Lebron? bunch of ???? players. Forget about the MVP. Give it to Lebron! Anyway, the most important thing for Kobe is the RING!!!!!!!!!! see what happen to Karl Malone, Charles Barkley? MVP's without rings. They even joined a champioship caliber teams just to get a RING. they went kaput...EVEN IF HE WILL NOT WIN THE MVP, KOBE WILL ALWAYS BE OUR MVP. remember he said before training camp, "I'M KOBE BRYANT, I WANT TO WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP". he did'nt say i want to win MVP.
Posted by: Botsoy | March 06, 2008 at 09:17 AM