Did Kobe Give Up?

[George O'Brien]

The "company line" was that Kobe felt the entire team had to get active for them to win, yada, yada, yada. The truth is that when the Suns ran the margin up to 20 in the second half, it was obvious to everyone that the Lakers were not going to win.

If Kobe jacks up 20 shots in the second half the margin might have been closer, but he saw the handwriting on the wall. The Lakers were not going to stop the Suns from scoring and with a 20 point lead you can't win if you can't get stops.

By not shooting, no one can accuse his shooting as the reason they lost. In the first half he scores half their points and the Lakers are still behind by 15. If they've lost anyway, why should he take the blame?

 

[HardBall]

Kobe was screwed either way. If he continues to shoot, he is selfish. If he dishes, he is a quitter. He brought all the negative attention on himself and deserves the scrutiny. I personally think he quit and was trying to show management that he IS the Lakers and they better get some support players with game. Punk-ass move in my opinion.

Not as punk-ass as running off the court without shaking hands, but still punk-ass.

 

[jibikao]

Who cares. It's funny how Kobe IS still getting so much attention after the loss. That's how much attention he gets. I am not going to talk about Kobe now. He doesn't deserve it. It doesn't matter if he gave up or not, the game was over. He will be the blame either he shoots or he doesn't shoot. Live with it.

 

[arthurracoon]

I hate kobe as much as the next guy, but he was in a no-win situation tonight.

 

[jbeecham]

I don't like Kobe either, but it definately wasn't his fault the Lakers struggled so badly. No one on the Lakers played team defense, most of them didn't defend their own man effectively. The Suns were shooting high % shots and making a high % of them and team can't come back from 20+pt defecits without getting stops. They really needed a total team defensive effort and it didn't happen.

 

[Billy Bob]

IMO He quit, just to show that He did it Phil's way and We lost.
1 point and 3 atempts in the second half.

 

[MVP]

I don't like Kobe either, but it definately wasn't his fault the Lakers struggled so badly. No one on the Lakers played team defense, most of them didn't defend their own man effectively. The Suns were shooting high % shots and making a high % of them and team can't come back from 20+pt defecits without getting stops. They really needed a total team defensive effort and it didn't happen.

Kwame Brown missed some shots that I've rarely seen a player miss before. I found myself saying, "How do you miss that? Even Kwame Brown could make that layup!" But then I catch myself and realize that maybe i am wrong.

Anyway, kobe played amazing in the first half and the lakers were down 15. What's he supposed to do? Like Shawn Marion said at halftime, "man, well we're up 15 ya know? so, man..." and then he made an inaudible sound and walked toward the locker room. But the Lakers offense wasn't really that much of a problem last night. They have players out there being called upon who score 10 points per game in the regular season, and they were missing easy looks that any player - kobe, luke walton, smushy parker, turiaf, etc. etc. - has to take and is expected to make. So they weren't dropping? the point is, the lakers were up 3-1 because they were playing defense for 24-seconds every Suns possession, and they weren't letting Nash dribble until somebody on the Lakers turned his head and a Sun cut to the basket. The Suns will absolutely tear you apart if one member of the defense loses concentration for a second; the Lakers were doing a good job of not letting that happen in the first 4 games. But for some reason - youth, lack of focus - they failed to do that for 7 straight games, and it cost them the series.

How you blame this on Kobe, though, is beyond me. They should've been forcing the ball down to Lamar Odom against Marion or Diaw every single possession, and he should've been wearing them out just as he did in the beginning of the series. If the suns double, you kick it out and you have sasha or cook or somebody take a jumper, or you have kobe go to work... but the game plan was never to have kobe bryant jack up tons of shots. Sure, he could've done that when they were down 20, but how does that help anything?

If Kobe could single-handedly bring his team back from a 25-point deficit in 15 minutes of play, then Steve Nash should drive over to kobe's house while the team is in LA and drop off the Mvp trophy himself.

 

[Ryanwb]

How you blame this on Kobe, though, is beyond me. They should've been forcing the ball down to Lamar Odom against Marion or Diaw every single possession, and he should've been wearing them out just as he did in the beginning of the series. If the suns double, you kick it out and you have sasha or cook or somebody take a jumper, or you have kobe go to work... but the game plan was never to have kobe bryant jack up tons of shots. Sure, he could've done that when they were down 20, but how does that help anything?

LMAO! You Kobe apologists are all the same..... You're second guessing perhaps the greatest coach in the history of the NBA because there is no way in hell that Kobe did ANYTHING wrong, he is just too perfect. Do you just disregard the fact that he took 3 shots in the second half? The guy blew it, he gave up on the team and he showed absolutely no class in the defeat.

 

[Billy Bob]

Ryanwb

 

[JCSunsfan]

Yes Kobe quit. No doubt about that.

In understand the "no win" idea, but Kobe only scored 1 point in the second half. You could argue that he was trying to get his teammates involved, but you do that by scoring some yourself, not dumping it off to your teammates and refusing to score.

If Kobe had scored 10 in the second half, I could buy the argument. But he scored 1 lousy point. Kobe could do that with his eyes closed. For Kobe to score only 1 point means that he didn't try.

For Kobe to only score 1 in the second half means

He did not push the ball and draw blocking fouls.
He did not play aggressive with the ball and get to the line.
He did not shoot the ball, thus keeping the opposition honest.

With his superstar status, he should at least have scored 4-5 from the free throw line.

BTW, how many assists did he have?

IMO he was making a point, and he's done it before. He either dominates the ball or does nothing on the court to show how right he is and how miserable his teammates are (coach too).

The Lakers should trade for Stephon Marbury and they could have a matched set.

 

[D-Dogg]

He missed all three shots (and missed one terribly), and got two offensive foul calls on him when he drove to the hole. So he tried to get the team going and start to hit shots.

For anyone to question the guy's desire to win is stupid. He's trying to build a team here, not jack up tons of shots in a meaningless effort. He came out in the second half trying to get the other guys involved, which is what Phil wanted to have happen still. Try to get them hot. He took a few shots but mostly facilitated (and if you actually watched him he wasn't standing around, he was trying to work guys to get them good looks). However, while this was going on (and he missed his few attempts or got called for charges), the Suns continued to blister the nets and turn a 15 point game into a 25 point game...that was over.

Kobe didn't give up on the game...but you go on thinking that because really, what does it matter?

 

[D-Dogg]

With his superstar status, he should at least have scored 4-5 from the free throw line.

BTW, how many assists did he have?

Kobe averaged less than 7 FT attempts per game in this series. You think he's gonna get 4-5 in a half the way he was being called? When he went to the rack he went from 1 foul to 4 fouls in 8 minutes or so.

BTW, didn't the Lakers not named Kobe shoot 24/75? A blistering 32%? I'm not going to complain about assists when most shots weren't going down, and the ones that were made often came off a fortunate rebound of a brick. I've never seen a team miss so many good shots in my life.

But of course, it's all Kobe's fault.

 

[gdiddy]

Why are you making it seem like Kobe is caught between a rock and a hard place? Who is it that put him in the catch-22 situation that he was in last night?

When you're pimping yourself to the media, making comments like "I've got bigger fish to fry" in reference to one of the best defenders on the perimeter, hinting at your MVP merit, what the hell do you expect?

This is the guy who at beginning of the series said, and I paraphrase, "I can make any shot, anywhere, and anytime against this team." Remember that? You don't say stuff like that unless you're full of yourself.

And Kobe is full of himself. He's also full of something else...

So if that's the case, if you go onto that stage with the world of confidence that he has, you will also put the burden on your shoulders. He's chosen to accept the responsibility of his team (81 point game?).

And that's why his no-show in the second half of yesterday's game is a topic of conversation.

But don't blame the fans, don't blame the media....blame Kobe! He brought it upon himself.

 

[BC867]

BTW, didn't the Lakers not named Kobe shoot 24/75? A blistering 32%? I'm not going to complain about assists when most shots weren't going down, and the ones that were made often came off a fortunate rebound of a brick. I've never seen a team miss so many good shots in my life.

But of course, it's all Kobe's fault.

The playoffs are a little late to change team philosophy. It just doesn't work.

Evidently, as the 7th cede, Phil Jackson did not spend the season having Coby work on making the rest of his team better.

The results were logical. A 7th cede was eliminated by a #2 . . . even with a commanding 3-1 lead.

 

[CardShark]

I posted this on a different thread;

It wasn't Kobe's passive second half in game 7 that cost them the series. It was his domination of team play all season. While he has been focused on proving to the world that he belongs to be in the same category as Michael Jordan, it has hindered his team from really developing. They are so tuned into the plot that when they are behind, Kobe takes over and takes all of the shots. When it came time for them to step up, they didn't have the game experience or confidence to do it. This is why Kobe cannot be considered for league MVP. He is detrimental to his team. This is exactly why Steve Nash is the reigning MVP. He makes everyone on his team better.

When Kobe stops being the selfish player that he is, helps to develop his team and realizes the coach has to be the one in control, he will probably be a lock to win the MVP title and have a legitimate team to take into the playoffs. I just can't stand the person he is now.

Contrary to what people were saying about Kobe sticking to the gameplan, Phil Jackson said the gameplan was for it to be a team focus with Kobe taking the shots that he needed to in order to keep them in the game but if the team didn't respond, then Kobe was to take over the game. He didn't stick to the gameplan then.

I credit the Suns with playing a great defensive game as well as having a scorching offense. I actually think it killed Kobe's desire when he saw how a true team played. In his presser he described the Suns as "they just kept coming at us in waves". He was overhelmed as were the rest of the Lakers.
__________________

 

[Errntknght]

Strangely enough, the Suns defense on Kobe played a major role in his miserable second half - they doubled him much more aggressively from the start of it than they had the whole series up until then. He was having to just give the ball up with no chance to make the killer pass. It was a well planned maneuver by D'Antoni because it gave the Laker's brain trust so little time to counter.

Oh, Kobe hurt his team's chances plenty - parading all puffed up around the floor with his big self-congratulatory smirk after Raja was tossed. And he compounded it by elbowing Leandro in the face which was like throwing a switch for the 'Blur'.

 

[JCSunsfan]

This simple things apply still.

Kobe is an immense talent that can score at will, for him to score just 1 point in a half in a playoff game is unthinkable.

I know he wanted to get his teammates involve, but so does Steve Nash. In fact, Nash does it better than anyone in the league, and he still scores often.

I'm a big homer, I confess, but even I don't think Raja's defense was THAT good.

For Kobe Bryant--as great as he is--to only score one point in a half--well he just has to deliberately choose not to score. That the bottom line.

But I am beating a dead horse here.

 

[Big Deal]

Kobe quit, if he were a real man he would have been out there until the final buzzer. What a jerk, I don't think people would hate him if he wasn't such an a$$. Seriously, Jordon wasn't the nicest guy but everyone respected him, he didn't disrespect everyone he played against and you could actually enjoy watching the guy. Kobe is probably the most talented player in the league, he is without a doubt the worst person in the league....hence people hate him and he will never have the respect of fans outside of LA. Deal with it and stop defending him, he is morally bankrupt.

 

[D-Dogg]

LeBron James was 0/3 in the second half today. Sat out the whole 4th quarter.

Did he quit on his team? Where are the ESPN articles about this? Where are the fans laughing about what a loser he is?

I'm soooooo tired of the double standard. So tired.

 

[arthurracoon]

LeBron James was 0/3 in the second half today. Sat out the whole 4th quarter.

Did he quit on his team? Where are the ESPN articles about this? Where are the fans laughing about what a loser he is?

I'm soooooo tired of the double standard. So tired.

I will agree with you there.

although, that was a game 7, and I would definately say kobe is a better scorer then lebron.

 

[gdiddy]

LeBron James was 0/3 in the second half today. Sat out the whole 4th quarter.

Did he quit on his team? Where are the ESPN articles about this? Where are the fans laughing about what a loser he is?

I'm soooooo tired of the double standard. So tired.

No offense to LeBron, but the it's not worth mentioning the obvious. The Pistons mauled the Cavs. It was a game one, not a game seven. And LeBron, although a frequent ball hog himself, is more of a team player than Kobe. Kobe's got the rings, the coach, the experience. He also played a game seven where he was most needed.

There is no double standard. The only standard we're measuring against Kobe is the one established himself. "I can make any shot, any time, anywhere against this team." If that is the case, why didn't he walk the walk in game 7?

 

[Southpaw]

This is the biggest quit job since Scottie Pippen refused to go back in the playoff game 12 years ago.

Kobe quit on his team. I guess he showed the basketball world the Lakers were his. He made it impossible for Phil Jackson to coach this team in the future. Hard to feel sorry for Jackson. He created it. Jerry Bust gets what he deserves. Saves the Lakers and Kobe the humiliation of losing to the Clippers and in the aftermath the BB following of LA fans. Kobe took one for the franchise without knowing it.

 

[Southpaw]

LeBron James was 0/3 in the second half today. Sat out the whole 4th quarter.

Did he quit on his team? Where are the ESPN articles about this? Where are the fans laughing about what a loser he is?

I'm soooooo tired of the double standard. So tired.

Because they were getting their butts whooped.

 

[TucsonDevil]

I was just a little surprise that his number next year will be #24, when he should make it #1 or the league should insist on 23squared.

No one should be surprised on what he did second half. Ric Bucher reminded us he pulled the same stunt when the Pistons were clobbering them in the Finals two years ago - Kobe quit shooting then as a statement, "well, this is Shaq's team, let's see them win it with Shaq".

Kobe is the most talented player in the league right now... few would debate that, however, he has the maturity of a 13 year kid. It really is a shame.

 

[D-Dogg]

There is no double standard. The only standard we're measuring against Kobe is the one established himself. "I can make any shot, any time, anywhere against this team." If that is the case, why didn't he walk the walk in game 7?

He said take any shot he wants...not make them.

His point was that he was trying to play the team game with these guys and that he was confident that he could get shots whenever he needed, not that he was bothered by the defense. Instead, his focus this series was to involve (sometimes over-involve) the other guys.