Kobe shows why he's not MVP, but MSP

[BillsCarnage]

Most Selfish Player.. He let his team lose by not shooting in the second half. He wanted to show them that they can't do win without him. He lost complete confidence and rather than taking over and shooting he just let them fall apart.

What a selfish bum. Enjoy the fishin.

 

[D-Dogg]

Wrong, he tried to get the team going because there was no way we'd win if he dropped 60...unless we played defense. He was actively involved and passing out of doubles, getting guys open looks. The team game was working a bit better and we started a mini run, then the wheels fell off.

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

 

[Card Trader]

Kome continues to show why he is a great player, but not an MVP.

 

[Renz]

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Exactly. The haters are going to rip the guy no matter what he does.

 

[TucsonDevil]

D-Dogg, he gave up. Clearly the first game plan wasn't working - so Why didn't he switch back to his talent - He should have! That is what great players do - they go down swinging. I agree - he wanted to prove a point by letting the team struggle alone.

 

[Card Trader]

I love seeing the way Laker fans all over the internet are trying to come and say he didn't tank......the guy tanked it, big time.

 

[D-Dogg]

D-Dogg, he gave up. Clearly the first game plan wasn't working - so Why didn't he switch back to his talent - He should have! That is what great players do - they go down swinging. I agree - he wanted to prove a point by letting the team struggle alone.

Except they didn't struggle then...they played better offensively and got much better looks, and fewer threes were taken.

They still shot them like crap, but they had much better spacing.

The defense didn't show up though on the other end.

He also brought it in the paint and drew two offensive fouls, too.

 

[mribnik]

My guess is that it was probably a little bit of both. I'm sure he wanted to get his teammates involve, but only 3 shots!?

 

[TucsonDevil]

Except they didn't struggle then...they played better offensively and got much better looks, and fewer threes were taken.

They still shot them like crap, but they had much better spacing.

The defense didn't show up though on the other end.

HUH? Suns kept increasing the lead in the second half. what do you mean they played better?

 

[bko32]

I love seeing the way Laker fans all over the internet are trying to come and say he didn't tank......the guy tanked it, big time.

as a laker fan, i think he gave up in the 4th qtr realizing that no matter what he did, the suns were going to win. however, it's a catch 22 with him. had he started jacking up shots in the 3rd and didn't connect on many, he would have been viewed as being selfish and not sticking to the game plan to help the lakers win. even if he would've gotten hot and scored a bunch of points, the suns were probably still going to win, and everyone would say he was selfish for taking so many shots and not getting his teammates involved. however, by not shooting, everyone will now say that he tanked just so he could prove a point. he loses either way.

 

[O]

Oh poor Kobe, he's so misunderstood. Boo hoo.

Still a punk!

 

[D-Dogg]

HUH? Suns kept increasing the lead in the second half. what do you mean they played better?

Quality of shots, spacing on the court were far better, and the team was trying a lot harder.

Shot making stayed low however, and the Suns kept hitting everything. The defense didn't come around.

Up to one of Kobe's last shots, an off balance three, the Lakers shot 20 of them. They finished the game with 27 after getting the focus off of the threes and back onto trying to go inside with Lamar.

The Suns running down and scoring at will took all hope out of the game by the end of the third.

 

[TucsonDevil]

Here is the problem, The lakers only scored 20 points in the 3rd. Kobe was shooting a good percentage. He could have scored 20 by himself in the 3rd quarter. Also, with him hot from 3 point land, it would soften underneath, so he could get his guys even higher percentage shots. I stand by the original post, Kobe just gave up. He quit fighting - MVPs don't quit fighting.

 

[tlim]

THe problem, as both Phil andKobe have said, is that yes, Kobe could score 50,60, or 70 points. The problem was that the ways the Lakers were playing defense, they would have still lost by 20.

In order for the team to have any chance, the others needed to make their WIDE open shots. The Suns were doubling hard on him, and he passed to the other guys. What's he going to do? Out dribble them, eat up the clock, and then probably turn the ball over while trying to attack 1-on-3?

Noone else showed up except Kobe, and Kobe was trying to get them the ball in places to help them show up. But it was brickfest for the other players.

Average age of 24 for the team, and playing scared. I knew this was going to be a loss, no matter what. This isn't the 2002 Lakers playing in Sacramento for game 7.

 

[thirty-two]

Kobe gave up. End of story.

NASH - MVP baby!

edit: he was on fire with those 3's though.. wow.

 

[elindholm]

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Boy, that's for sure. Come on, guys, try to keep some perspective.

 

[jbeecham]

I agree, even if Kobe starts going off, his teammates still weren't playing defense and couldn't hit their shots. Maybe his heat would've rubbed off on them if he hit some tough shots, but they really needed a total team effort to mount any kind of a comeback.

 

[jibikao]

I am going to defend Kobe a little.

I think Kobe was trapped in a HUGE dilemma. All the media was saying when Kobe scored huge, Laker lost and I believe Phil Jackson did say something about it. Now Kobe tried to get others going and they failed to respond. I guess Kobe could take over the game and tried to bring the game closer but it could be out of reach. They lost their biggest game of the season in game 6.

However, I don't feel bad for Kobe because he is an arrogant prick. He is going to suck it. He is the focus of the media and that's the price you pay for being popular. Deal with it.

 

[fball13]

A true leader takes the team on his shoulders when they're tanking. Kobe got gun-shy, why I don't know, he was shooting lights out.

Two things to note:
1. I never saw Jordan shut down like that... you need supreme confidence to lead a team, something Kobe clearly doesn't have (fine line between cocky and confident).
2. In his press conference, he said that Raja is a nothing defender... coincidently at the same time his scoring for each game was being shown on the screen... his only normal game was game 6. Raja owned him all series, but he couldn't admit it...

What a great series... now time to worry about Elton Brand... LA's best player.

 

[Mainstreet]

IMO, Kobe definitely tanked the second half. What did he have one technical free throw and I believe zero shots. I think Kobe deliberately tried to make Phil Jackson's coaching stategy look bad so he could blame the loss (at least in his mind) on the coach.

I think Jackson's stategy was good to push the ball inside where Phoenix is weakest... it's just the Suns were ready for it. Kobe could have at least put some more points on the board in the second half for his Laker teammates (who I thought wanted to win), his coach and the Laker organization. Phoenix's defense was good, especially upfront, but Kobe could have at least drove the ball inside, created and hit some open jump shots in the second half.

For you Laker fans there is some solice, your team and your coach didn't quit trying. They just needed a leader in the second half. As a Suns fan I was sure happy to see Kobe quit trying as I thought the Lakers would at least make one run in the second. I think Turiaf is a real find and the team is young.

I respect the rest of the Laker players, coach and organization. What a great legacy the Laker organization has had over the years and all the Championships. Unless Kobe's attitude changes, I just don't think he is the type of player a team builds a Championship around. Too bad because he may be the most talented player in the NBA when he wants play.

 

[jibikao]

I guess in a way you can say Kobe is selfish because his puts his "reputation and pride" first. Was he trying to prove a point that if he didn't score, the team would lose? Or was Phil Jackson telling him not to go one-on-one?

I am sure we'll see more Laker drama later. Phil Jackson can say Kobe quitted as the leader and Kobe can say it was Phil's gameplan. Mind you, Phil Jackson is good at pushing problems away.

 

[Djaughe]

Real MVP's don't quit in the 2nd half of a game 7.

 

[playstation]

i don't think kobe intentionally tanked, but i just think he is a man that lives on extremes and doesn't understand moderation yet.

i think his gameplan was flawed by what he did in the FIRST half. he scored a bunch of points, but it was in the suns way:by taking jumpshots. if he wanted to, he could have attacked EVERY TIME and not only scored necessary points, but gotten the suns in foul trouble. you know it could have been done, especially for a player of his caliber playing in a game 7 (the refs would have been more than willing to help i'm sure). however, he was content drilling 30 ft'ers. as a result, while he scored a bunch, their offense was stagnant, and the rest of their guys didn't get in any sort of rhythm. in the second half, kobe started passing to all these guys who weren't in rhythm, and they stunk it up.

however, i wouldn't blame kobe for this loss. the lakers just are not better than the suns. the better team won. i mean, the lakers gameplan called heavily of kwame brown to be the man. i mean, how long can THAT last???

 

[cly2tw]

Damned if he does, damned if he doesn't.

Exactly the same words I used a couple of days ago, great minds think alike. Heheh.

To be fair, the Lakers reached their limit and beyond in this series. The composition and total level of talents are just not great enough to win it all. That must be frustrating for Kobe in the second half to know exactly that they wouldn't had even a peeps of a chance had he taken over by scoring himself alone! This also says, he is mature enough to not even try it. They should be good next year.

 

[Mainstreet]

i don't think kobe intentionally tanked, but i just think he is a man that lives on extremes and doesn't understand moderation yet.

i think his gameplan was flawed by what he did in the FIRST half. he scored a bunch of points, but it was in the suns way:by taking jumpshots. if he wanted to, he could have attacked EVERY TIME and not only scored necessary points, but gotten the suns in foul trouble. you know it could have been done, especially for a player of his caliber playing in a game 7 (the refs would have been more than willing to help i'm sure). however, he was content drilling 30 ft'ers. as a result, while he scored a bunch, their offense was stagnant, and the rest of their guys didn't get in any sort of rhythm. in the second half, kobe started passing to all these guys who weren't in rhythm, and they stunk it up.

however, i wouldn't blame kobe for this loss. the lakers just are not better than the suns. the better team won. i mean, the lakers gameplan called heavily of kwame brown to be the man. i mean, how long can THAT last???

The Suns played well, but I do not believe if Kobe plays up to his level of ability the Lakers lose this badly, especially in game 7. Does anyone really think Kobe gave 100% in the second half?

When I saw some of the Laker players on the bench, I saw some players that cared about the outcome and I seen the anger in Lamar Odom's eyes about losing. I didn't see it in Kobe in the second half for whatever reason.