It sure would have been a good game for Kerr and Curry to miss. Miss a Lakers game and they'll do this to you. A team playing under Murphy's law. I do worry that Kobe will start cheat on these rest breaks and end up in the gym trying to train himself into becoming the deserved focal point of the offense again. 36 year old Kobe is the greatest enigma in basketball. How to fit him into this youthful team. I would love to know what Phil, Pop, Fisher and a few others think about this season and this Kobe is going. Phil would probably just give that shrug of those wide shoulders and say he will work it out - like he did during the MDA season. But what would he say to Kobe?
All this game showed me is what we've seen in the past, guys immediately step up when Kobe is out because they have to. They did it for 5 games in '07/'08, and they did it Halloween night in that classic season opener when we stunned the Suns with LO having a huge game. We aren't a better team without Kobe in the long run just like we weren't then. What I hope this does though, is show Byron (and Kobe) these guys can be trusted more than they have been. I mean, going with no PG to finish games so Kobe can have the ball all the time? That's insane, this isn't a video game. Lin at the very least (aside from Price) did nothing to deserve that. Also showed me we need to be more of a running team if possible, as we have a some young guys that want to get out and run, and that is the way of the league for the most part now. They say the game slows down in the playoffs, but I'm not even sure that's true anymore. Finally what it showed is something that's obvious with a guy in his 19th season, our defense against Klay and as a team was better without him. That's not on Kobe, dude's old, young guys can't even stay on Klay, and of course Kobe can't help and recover like he's 26. But the team defensive effort was better with younger bodies tonight. I can only fault Kobe for gambling when he shouldn't, if he can't stay in front of all these young guys today it shouldn't be shocking. Where we go from here with him back, I don't know. I can only hope these other guys step up as much on D with him around, and continue to move, cut, and as Boozer said "set hard screens" like they did tonight. And that we stop going with so much Kobe ISO, because it is clearly not working anymore, and it's making Kobe do much more than he needs to do for no reason, these guys can clearly score running a regular offense without everything going through Kobe.
I hope Kobe saw tonight's game and I PRAY that something went off in his head saying "hey, these guys CAN play if you let them." To say Kobe is going to change is a long shot, but who knows. Kobe is too stubborn to evolve in a way that will help this team win more games. He still wants to play hero ball, and play iso with his back towards the hoop taking fadeaways. The ball stops with Kobe, and the offensive rhythm stops when the ball stops with Kobe.
kobe is probably just laughing this win off i know it's a given that he'll continue shooting at his usual pace but maybe, just maybe if he gives the kids a chance to play, they might be able to make something out of it. unless he really was only playing to pass MJ on the scoring list and he'll be fine with passing up shots at this point
I'm afraid for the Christmas game. Kobe vs. Pau, so we know that Kobe will be amped up, it's Christmas day, national tv, primetime. I just feel like Kobe will just continue the way he's played throughout the season, ball dominant.
No excuse can be found for Kobe ... and for Scott for letting Kobe doing that .. I've never seen a such total absence of accountability for a player and coaching for a coach .
This ain't 2008 anymore ... We are better without a Kobe whose refuses to adapt and just plays pickup B-ball out there . It's not like we would win 40 or 50 games without Kobe but at least it would allow some players to improve both individually and in a team concept ... something which might be good for our team in the mid/long term .
I hope this win will open eyes to kobe and byron,it shows that team can take some load of kobe shoulders,and to stop overusing him. But i can already see topics from hater newsreporters who will use this win as excuse to disrespect kobe and to portrate him as cancer,even thought we would lose that game easily 8 out 10 times.
Well this was just one of those games where we couldn't miss. Amazing. Anyways, a few of you remember I went on this "hater" Kobe rant a few nights ago in the Game Time Chat. Well it was never a hate rant, but more of an observant rant. Let me be clear when I say I don't hate Kobe. I've loved him from the start, and to up to now. But it's very obvious what makes this team click, and it's been seen throughout this season. I made a statement that this team seems to play better without Kobe in the lineup. And a few posters just kept defending Kobe to no end. To be fair, it was an assessment of the season and not that particular game which I do apologize for not making clear. (OKC game) But lets face it, this team plays, runs and defends way better without Kobe. I'm not hear to place the entire blame onto Kobe, cause it's not his fault that his coach expects Kobe to do every single thing out there on the floor. But Kobe should take some of it. Kobe says he's not young anymore, he can't do everything like he used to, etc... Then during games, Kobe should allow for the offense to flow. let the PG run it, set screens, and move around. From what I observed, Kobe sets a few screens here and there, and then posts up and completely stops the flow of the offense. I'm not saying the post shouldn't be used every now and then, but doing it all the time? It just isn't going to work anymore. Believe it or not, there are guys that are bigger, stronger, faster than Kobe. It's fact. I'm not sure if it's Kobe pride, but he's going to have to change that. And hope Byron catches wind that hey, maybe these guys can play? Our defense... Kobe is one of our most glaring faults in defense along with Boozer. To be fair, none of our guys are known defensive stoppers. But the hustle.. The hustle and energy is what beat the Warriors. The contesting was great to see. Even in other games, our bench hustles and plays defense wayyy better. If Kobe is going to be out there, he needs to stop gambling so much and stop being lazy on defense in general. I can't tell you how many times I've seen Kobe force someone to switch (too many times) when his guy gets a screen or does a cut and our defense just completely collapse cause of that. I've also seen Kobe just decide to not go out and contest and just look at the guy shoot a three pointer; numerous times. That has to stop. I'm not saying we'd be championship caliber, but seeing our team play like that was an amazing sight and I'm sure many of you would agree. That's good ol Lakers basketball at its finest. I'm not saying to boycott Kobe, I'm not saying Kobe needs to go away or whatever. He needs to somewhat adapt, he needs to put forth effort on defense. Basically what I'm saying he needs to get with the program. THIS RANT IS BASICALLY SAYING WE CANT DO KOBE BALL ANYMORE. IT HASN'T WORKED AT ALL THIS SEASON, AND IT WILL CONTINUE TO NOT WORK. We're easier to defend and its a lot harder for us to score.
You nailed it. There's so much talk around here about Byron makes Kobe do this or Kobe has to do that. What is constantly unstated is that Kobe plays the way he's always played... His entire basketball life. He wants to dominate the ball and he especially wants to dominate the ball in crunch time. We are talking about his identity. He's a scorer and he wins games. He has said that about himself and he's used it as an excuse to this very day--that it's his job. So now he's finally hit that wall. He has to change his identity or have a sad sad end to his storied career. It's up to him.
No need to apologize for stating the obvious bro. Kobe needs to change his identity as a player or his career will end sadly. Nobody makes him do anything. That's a total excuse. He just not able to be successful with the scorer, wins games, dominates identity anymore. He's got to change. I honestly have a hard time imagining him playing another year unless he becomes a different type of player. I 'm afraid he might rather go out with an injury. I sure hope not.
Pretty much agree with what a lot of posters are saying. I said it early in the season that we weren't playing the "right" way. Our team did not collapse without Kobe like some were saying because quite frankly, our team wasn't any better WITH Kobe on the floor. We weren't running an offense that induced team improvement or one that optimized our team's talents. Part of the blame falls a bit on everybody. In terms of players, Kobe gets most of the blame because of his inability or unwillingness to adapt, but really, I think most of it should fall on Byron for not actually coaching and for running Kobe into the ground.
I'd like to see Kobe play no more than 28 minutes to 30 minutes with back to backs off...I had a great time watching a young, athletic team get up and down the floor, shoot lights out, show effort, and beat the best team in the league this season. Not to say they can't do that without Kobe; I think they can; the SA game as an example. However, he needs the rest and he has 1 more year on his contract. Let him play at a high level in limited minutes, in close games in the 4th when he's fresh, and allow him to go out on a high note.
I think Kobe gets a lot of the blame because he's leading the league in FGA and shooting 37%. That's indefensible and guaranteed to lose games. There's no way around it.
I'm very glad to hear that Byron will be cutting his minutes down. He should be more effective in smaller doses. Him playing full quarters or close to full quarters just wasn't right. 8 minutes max.
Yeah, WTF with the whole 1st quarter routine?? 7 7 7 7 plan of Ireland's is looking real good to me. 7 minutes to start and close each half, and stick with it unless extraordinary reason to bump minutes in ONE game by 4 or 5.
Mike Trudell ✔ @LakersReporter First player on the LAL team plane? Kobe Bryant. He'll be ready for @paugasol and the Bulls tomorrow.
LOL .... yes am sure that his shooting arm is well rested. Look at me.... Kobe's play of late has turned me into Let's Go Lakers now for chrissakes . Come on Mamba you are better and smarter than this after 19 years. I think ....
