Gary Payton: Kobe's Mentality Hurting The Lakers

Agree or disagree?

 

Sadly agree a little bit.

 

It's simple get some players on the team that can make shots. Hopefully Swaggy P coming back can help that.

 

I agree with The Glove for the most part as well. Those other 2 didn't contribute to the conversation much though.

I think what we have is a perfect storm of failure. We have a glaring lack of talent, we have Kobe playing desperate and out of control, which is hurting his decision making. Byron isn't limiting his minutes so when the fourth quarter comes, he's worn out and the rest of the team is clearly afraid of Kobe.

 

I think the problem is a lot more complicated than these glib jacka@@es make it seem. We could have Kobe go down to 15 shots a game and become the most dazzling team orientated N.B.A team ever to average 85 points a game. If I sound like a Kobe apologist than so be it. The team has to earn the respect of Kobe and crippled with injuries (Nash, Swaggy, Randle, Kelly, boozer with the d.t's, and X still recovering) Kobe does what Kobe does. He puts the team on his shoulders and plays to win rather than letting the losses happen. This is not the way he would play with a stacked team and I hate the way this is not acknowledged sometimes. The one concede is that it did cross my mind was the comment about the rec league, if I did play on Kobes team I would not get a lot of shots (though I would still pick him on my team damn it.)

 

Well said Glove but involving the other "talent" we have right now that are uninjured and playing may only amount to a slight improvement and still a team losing the vast majority of it's games against the west. I think Kobe realizes that and is thinking, hell with that then, I'm getting my numbers. I still agree it's better to spread the ball around, let the system do it's work, players are happier and play harder on the other end as well when they get touches which all = better chemistry.

 

@The Showtime Mamba . Youre spot on my man, some people are just delusional to whats actually going on. Obviously Payton doesnt watch Laker games, because if he did he would realize what happens when Kobe isnt on the floor, better yet doesnt have the ball in his hands. Outside of Lin,what usually happens is watching a mediocre,decently efficient college offense against an NBA D.

 

Scorers on the team...Kobe, Boozer, Lin....Boozer has been in decline and Lin proved he is actually a limited player. Team needs Nick Young back in a big way.

 

I agree with Kobe running to the ball and breaking up the offense but he has little choice. I do think he should let Lin try to penetrate the lane and create more but other than that I'm praying Kobe puts up the shot or creates the offense through penetration/drawing doubles. Other then Lin/Kobe creating are best option is Boozer/Hill on a pick and pop. And that is sad to say. Hopefully the Swag changes this.

 

Payton is right. Problem is that even if Kobe trusted his teammates to deliver, there's just not much talent on this roster. From an entertainment perspective, if we're going to suck regardless, you might as well have the future HOF in the last two years of his career dazzle you with his offense. That being said, our problem is not the offense.

 

can someone go deep into my brain and delete all knowledge of gary payton save for the sonics years?

 

That has been tried before.. I cant recall one time its worked. Its pretty simple and I dont know if yall have experienced it, when YOU KNOW youre the best or give your team the best chance to succeed, youre going to take charge of the situation. If taking charge means your team is going to live or die by your actions because the rest of your team is CLEARLY limited, than im fine with it. I can recall several times this season, every time Kobe goes out we either LOSE our lead or the other teams add to theirs if they have it.

 

yep. how many different times over the years are we going to have to go through this? kobe's not the idiot that much of the national press would take him for. he knows that the Jeremy lin/carlos boozer pick and roll is a total loser, and a turnaround fadeaway from 20 ft has a higher probability of success.

as for growing the team, you can't get blood from a stone. there's just so little talent on this squad. kobe can let them grow all he wants, but they're not going to grow into a playoff team. plus, most of them won't be here next year. this is why I didn't like the FO's strategy this offseason.

 

But yet again, though its easy for you guys to realize it, a lot of others out there are delusional about the fact and I got a personal attack for defending Kobe that theres simply no other choice. Take Kobe off the team if hes so horrible and I bet we lose to the 76ers, no joke.

 

Numbers dont always tell the whole story my man. Im sorry, hate me for it, hate Kobe too while youre at it.

 

I dont necessarily have to because Ive watched the tape to know what I see. Just like a scout does. You can give all the numbers you want on a players physical traits, but A TON of the time... They dont mean anything.

From what youre saying is when Kobe isnt on the floor the team is better, right? Thats what the stat says. Sit Kobe out for a game and see what happens. But we all know what would happen, we would lose to the Kentucky basketball team.