The transformation of Kobe Bryant

[Psyblast]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

LMFAO Nobody else took 1000 shots...

46 players took over 1000 shots last season.

[malek05]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

Bull. I can tell you right now that AI(took around just as many, if not more shots), LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Paul Pierce, and Gilbert Arenas ALL took about 1400-1800 shots.

right right. but 1400-1800 shots... is not over 2000.:wink:

[malek05]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

The Lakers wouldn't have done much last year w/o Kobe taking all those shots. He didn't have many options last year and guys weren't used to the offense. Kobe had to take on teams by himself cuz last year his teammates weren't good enough.

go back and look at the shooting percentages for the laker players from last year, then give me a logical reason as to why kobe wouldn't give them the ball more.

[NoSkillz50]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

go back and look at the shooting percentages for the laker players from last year, then give me a logical reason as to why kobe wouldn't give them the ball more.

They wouldn't have shot at those percentages if they had to shoot more than 5 shots a game. They shot so well because the only time they shot the ball was when they were wide open.

[Streets]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

They wouldn't have shot at those percentages if they had to shoot more than 5 shots a game. They shot so well because the only time they shot the ball was when they were wide open.

Wow....

[NoSkillz50]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

I watched every Laker game and rarely did I see Kobe take a tough shot and wish that he had given up the ball and let someone else make a play. Odom was good last year, but Walton, Mihm, and Smush weren't very good.

[cocobee]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

i still think he is a wanna be mike J.

What's wrong with striving to be the best, MJ was the best. Period. If you have a son who plays basketball, you'll tell him to model his game after Chris Dudley or MJ? I hope MJ.

Put down the haterade.

[sroz39]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

I just don't understand how some of you guys can hate on a guy that, if chose to, could have coasted through life with his God-given talents by being a pretty good NBA player but instead works his butt off every freakin' day to go down as one of the greats.

The parallels between himself and Jordan are undeniable and Jordan wasn't much of a team guy early on in his career either. The difference is the media scrutiny that surrounds this guy that didn't exist around Jordan until his second string of champioships. They even cheated on their wives, for cryin out loud, but Jordan gets a free pass there while Kobe gets ripped for it?

I'm sorry, but the hating on Kobe needs to stop and some of you need to ask yourselves why you rip the hardest working player in basketball.

[Brankles]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

I just don't understand how some of you guys can hate on a guy that, if chose to, could have coasted through life with his God-given talents by being a pretty good NBA player but instead works his butt off every freakin' day to go down as one of the greats.

The parallels between himself and Jordan are undeniable and Jordan wasn't much of a team guy early on in his career either. The difference is the media scrutiny that surrounds this guy that didn't exist around Jordan until his second string of champioships. They even cheated on their wives, for cryin out loud, but Jordan gets a free pass there while Kobe gets ripped for it?

I'm sorry, but the hating on Kobe needs to stop and some of you need to ask yourselves why you rip the hardest working player in basketball.

Plenty of other NBA players work hard. Gilbert Arenas, TMac, Yao Ming, Steve Nash... heck, most NBA superstars worked hard to get where they are.

Just because someone works hard doesn't legitimize everything they do, nor does it make them comparable to the best basketball player ever.

Kobe Bryant is a great talent, but his mentality is both a gift and a curse. He puts himself above everything else... and this attitude is what got him his scoring titles, his 81 points in a game, and all the other personal accolades he's received.

However... the curse side of this mentality is one that cost him and his teammates a 4th NBA title (shooting the Lakers out of the Finals against the Pistons), causes personal problems between his coaches, teammates and family, and broke up arguably one of the best perimeter/post duos of all time.

Just because someone's a hard worker doesn't mean they can't be arrogant, narcissistic and a negative energy to be around. Basketball is more than statistics and hard work.


And please, don't compare Kobe to Jordan anymore.

[NoSkillz50]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

I highly doubt that Gil works as hard as Kobe does.

[HMcCoy]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

Plenty of other NBA players work hard. Gilbert Arenas, TMac, Yao Ming, Steve Nash... heck, most NBA superstars worked hard to get where they are.

Just because someone works hard doesn't legitimize everything they do, nor does it make them comparable to the best basketball player ever.

Kobe Bryant is a great talent, but his mentality is both a gift and a curse. He puts himself above everything else... and this attitude is what got him his scoring titles, his 81 points in a game, and all the other personal accolades he's received.

However... the curse side of this mentality is one that cost him and his teammates a 4th NBA title (shooting the Lakers out of the Finals against the Pistons), causes personal problems between his coaches, teammates and family, and broke up arguably one of the best perimeter/post duos of all time.

Just because someone's a hard worker doesn't mean they can't be arrogant, narcissistic and a negative energy to be around. Basketball is more than statistics and hard work.


And please, don't compare Kobe to Jordan anymore.

Even if you believe Kobe shot the Lakers out of that last Finals it was 1-of-4 championship runs he "ruined". Does that completely wipe out of all the last quarter surges, and big performances over 3 previous post seasons?

Did you even read the piece? There's a reason its called the "transformation" of Kobe Bryant. Both Bryant and McGrady have grown over the last few years. By your logic Kobe should at this moment be your favorite player...unless...somehow....there's some...I dunno....irriversable bias? Lets be real, if Kobe plays the way he is for the rest of his career, are you gonna join the masses and sing his praises?

LOL...Somehow, I really doubt it. Youd rather call Kobe fans overbearing and obnoxious for showing him love, while throwing around oh-so-mature "TMac's healthy now, bitches. Holla!" shots.

[sroz39]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

Even if you believe Kobe shot the Lakers out of that last Finals it was 1-of-4 championship runs he "ruined". Does that completely wipe out of all the last quarter surges, and big performances over 3 previous post seasons?

Did you even read the piece? There's a reason its called the "transformation" of Kobe Bryant. Both Bryant and McGrady have grown over the last few years. By your logic Kobe should at this moment be your favorite player...unless...somehow....there's some...I dunno....irriversable bias? Lets be real, if Kobe plays the way he is for the rest of his career, are you gonna join the masses and sing his praises?

LOL...Somehow, I really doubt it. Youd rather call Kobe fans overbearing and obnoxious for showing him love, while throwing around oh-so-mature "TMac's healthy now, bitches. Holla!" shots.

I'm not a Kobe fan in any way. I have found him irritating at times, but his talent is undeniable and so is his work ethic. Sure there's players that work hard. But Kobe works the hardest. I think that at the root of the hate on Kobe a couple of things. Number one, he is arguably been the best player the last five or so years and people don't like rooting for the best. Number two, he's been blamed for the break-up of a potential dynasty, fairly or not. And number three, he doesn't have street cred. His upbringing was not one of struggle or anything that makes him like Iverson, Melo et al and some guys hold that against him.

The part that bothers me mostly is that he is the closest thing this generation of players has come to being like Jordan. Yet, Jordan's first few years in the league are dismissed in any comparison while Kobe's are dissected and stacked up against Jordan when he was 30+. Not fair in any way, and the same things that some of you hate on Kobe for were the same things Jordan could've been accused of in his 20's.

[Brankles]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

Did you even read what I was responding to? My fellow poster, who's opinion I completely respect, asked how could anyone dislike a hardworking player? I gave him reasons. If you'd like to re-read my post and his post, it might be beneficial.

Even if you believe Kobe shot the Lakers out of that last Finals it was 1-of-4 championship runs he "ruined". Does that completely wipe out of all the last quarter surges, and big performances over 3 previous post seasons?

Yep. None of it counts.

Did you even read the piece? There's a reason its called the "transformation" of Kobe Bryant. Both Bryant and McGrady have grown over the last few years. By your logic Kobe should at this moment be your favorite player...unless...somehow....there's some...I dunno....irriversable bias? Lets be real, if Kobe plays the way he is for the rest of his career, are you gonna join the masses and sing his praises?

If Kobe actually changes and becomes a more complete basketball player, I'd certainly respect him more. Last Sunday against the Cavs, Kobe shot way too much. There was a stat on Sportscenter... Kobe's last 6 games against the Cavs. 1st 4 they went 3-1. He only attempted 14 FGA those games. Last 2 games, 0-2. He attempted 28 FGA those games.

Too often he returns to his shoot-first, second, and sometimes third mentality.

LOL...Somehow, I really doubt it. Youd rather call Kobe fans overbearing and obnoxious for showing him love, while throwing around oh-so-mature "TMac's healthy now, bitches. Holla!" shots.

Jeeze... you're really enjoying trying to put words into my mouth today.

How is that a shot? Can you recognize sarcasm? And when did I call Kobe fans overbearing and obnoxious?


It's just pretty funny that a lot of these same Kobe fans (including you) a few years ago were saying "Yeah! Kobe's doing what he has to do! He needs to shoot more, he's doing what's necessary!" and now, when he starts to play differently, you're praising him for this new style of play (which has lasted for about 15-20 games). Pick a side and stick with it.

[NoSkillz50]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

If Kobe actually changes and becomes a more complete basketball player, I'd certainly respect him more. Last Sunday against the Cavs, Kobe shot way too much. There was a stat on Sportscenter... Kobe's last 6 games against the Cavs. 1st 4 they went 3-1. He only attempted 14 FGA those games. Last 2 games, 0-2. He attempted 28 FGA those games.

In the 4th quarter Kobe was scoring at will and keeping them in the game. The Lakers most favorable matchup in the end of the game was Kobe(lakers best offensive player) vs. Lebron(one of the cavs worst defenders). Why would they go away from Kobe?

[nkhera1]

Re: The transformation of Kobe Bryant

Plenty of other NBA players work hard. Gilbert Arenas, TMac, Yao Ming, Steve Nash... heck, most NBA superstars worked hard to get where they are.

Just because someone works hard doesn't legitimize everything they do, nor does it make them comparable to the best basketball player ever.

Kobe Bryant is a great talent, but his mentality is both a gift and a curse. He puts himself above everything else... and this attitude is what got him his scoring titles, his 81 points in a game, and all the other personal accolades he's received.

However... the curse side of this mentality is one that cost him and his teammates a 4th NBA title (shooting the Lakers out of the Finals against the Pistons), causes personal problems between his coaches, teammates and family, and broke up arguably one of the best perimeter/post duos of all time.

Just because someone's a hard worker doesn't mean they can't be arrogant, narcissistic and a negative energy to be around. Basketball is more than statistics and hard work.


And please, don't compare Kobe to Jordan anymore.

Yes because clearly Shaq had nothing to do with. While I agree to assign Kobe a large share of the blame, I don't think he deserves all of it. He was in a screwed position no matter what he did. If he stayed with Shaq then his all life he would have heard how he only won because of Shaq which is what everyone on this board says a lot. Besides he wasn't the one who requested to be traded. Not thats not to say Kobe doesn't have any faults, but i find it hard to believe that people interpret Kobes drive as selfishness yet T-Mac's supposed complacency as him being a team player.