Survive and Advance, not over yet
Before the game: Down, 3-1, I'm over it. Win tonight at the pressure moves back to Boston. Just like Kobe said, it's an NCAA tournament now, they're in the Elite 8 and need three straight to win a title. When the season started, you all would have taken that. Those questions directed at Kobe on Saturday were amazing. Here's a guy applauded all season for his leadership, how he's motivated his teammates to the finals, then Curt Schilling, one of the worst teammates ever, questions him for barking at guys during a timeout, like that's something new. It was something the Kobe-hating media was licking their chops for, I mean, Derek Fished laughed after his third-straight Kobe-leadership question, saying, "Wow. Sounds like everybody is getting their 'what happens when we lose' stories together, huh?" Or, for better perspective, read the questions Kobe was asked and how he answered them while the series is still ongoing.
Question: Kobe, there's been all this attention on all your gestures and, you know, what they mean for your relationships with your teammates. In that context, can you say, you know, is it still your position that you want to stay with the Lakers, and if they were to offer an extension this summer, would you sign it?
Kobe: First of all, you're talking like the season is over. You see what I'm saying? So like for me to even answer that question and speculate what's going to happen this summer, this season ain't over. It's far from over. So for me to talk about that would be acknowledging defeat, and that's something I just don't do.
Question: I only bring it up in the sense that can you explain what the relationship is, with the gestures, if you seem to be angry with them sometimes? What is the relationship?
Kobe: It's -- our relationship is great. I mean, I think people pay attention to it a lot more than you do when you lose than you do when you win. When you win it's great leadership. When you lose, it's -- you're a tyrant. You've got to take it and roll with it."
Guess we'll find out if he's the leader or the tyrant in a few hours. Until then, Happy Fathers Day everyone. Should be a great sports day after Tiger limps up and accepts his 14th major trophy just before tip-off.
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College Level Athletes
You're probably right about that, but I'd still keep Kobe in a heart beat and get rid of all the other weak cogs. Why does Walton and the others stand around and watch?....because you hit the nail on the head, they all lack confidence. No confidence equals weakness.....get rid of them!
You're probably right about that, but I'd still keep Kobe in a heart beat and get rid of all the other weak cogs. Why does Walton and the others stand around and watch?....because you hit the nail on the head, they all lack confidence. No confidence equals weakness.....get rid of them!
If the Lakers do not win this Championship series, watch how Kobe does not except a contract extension and will opt out after next year. The spoiled person that he is is causing me to believe that Kobe thinks he is even bigger than the NBA itself and that the NBA must accomidate him by getting him a team where he wins championships(the gasol trade). If the Lakers want to keep him they better add some more parts to the team (via David Sterns help) on the other hand the Lakers may find themself losing other players who will opt out of their contracts and getting away from the Spoiled Golden boy Bryant who upper management has allowed to vent his anger at his co-workers, Kobiashi misses shots and turns the ball over just like everyone else but I dont see anyone screaming at him. Luke Walton is afraid to shoot the ball and has lost all confindence in his shot after Kobe has chewed him out on live TV more than once. This is why they stand around in crunch time and watch Kobe go solo against 5. The rest of team does not want to hear or see him make facial gestures towards them so they back off their game to accomadate the Golden Child and this will not win you championships. Ever had a co-worker not a supervisor yell at you on the job and embarras you.? I am sure Kobes team does not like it and some are fed up by his bullshyt. He is no MJ, he is crybaby wetting the bed you know "a big wet spot that a towel cannot cover up"
The Lakers lack Synergy, the energy, inspiration, motivation that rubs off from the people around you. Magic had Worthy, Jabbar, Cooper, Cooper, Green and Rambis. All were proven leaders in their own right.
Who does Kobe have?....Fisher...that's it. Odom, Sasha, Gasol, Ramonovic, Walton are all inconsitent and weak. No supporting cast equals no Championship ring.
Get rid of those Europeans, they can't play defense and worse they can't bump and ball with the US bred players.
What our blogging Laker haters are saying ....
Luck of the Irish: Boston in Six, Lakers don't have enough.
Go Gang Green: The Celtics will win the series, the Lakers were lucky someone other than Kobe stepped up (Tuesday), if not for Sasha, the Lakers lose. Back to the old Lakers standing around and watching Kobe play 1 vs. 5. Pierce will not shoot that bad (Thursday). and Garnett will get more. Celtics win game 4 lose game 5 and kill the Lakers at home in game 6.
Gang Green: Girley Pau is no match inside for our Big Three. Perkins, Powe, Garnett, and P.J. are making life miserable for Pau Gasol. This mismatch has been exploited and the Lakers know it. This is a lopsided series.
Posted by Fred Robledo on June 12, 2008 2:29 PM | Permalink
Fred,
I have not been wrong so far.
What does this post have to do with Prep Sports?
You're arrogance will come back to bite you. Lakers in 7
This series is over tomorrow, Red's grave has a little smoke from the stogie coming from it already. The Lakers do have more recent championships (fixed?) Boston's 17th banner is coming and had Reggie Lewis not died so early on and had Len Bias would have ever put on the Green and white jersey instead of taking a Cocaine OD the Celts for sure have more banners then 17 right now. Jackson will not pass Red Auerbach and the Lakers and their fans will witness tomorrow why Boston's best record was not a fluke and they are the better team even without the crying and whining and tyrant MVP Kobe Bryant. Celtic fans are loving it, who better to beat in a championship series then the Lakers. They will not only beat the Lakers tomorrow they will embarass them. Doc has outcoached Phil and Pierce has outplayed Kobe. What a waste of Fuel, it will be laughable tomorrow at the Lakers expense. Celtic Pride!
GO LAKERS !!
You're right Fred. Hey, the Lakers should win today and go back to Boston where they will lose game, six, story over. Kobe will always be Kobe, never like MJ. When he has the ball in the fourh, Kobe's teammates still stland around wondering what he will do.
You're right, the only thing predictable in sports is what we're going to write afterward. I was telling a friend after the San Antonio series to read all this stuff about how, now, maybe Kobe is the next Jordan. You don't write that until the season is over, because if the Lakers struggle in the finals, like they're now, those same writers will change their tune, like they're now. You see, reporters like to be right, and the easiest way to be right is after the fact.
This is what the media does, Fred, you should know.