Kobe Bryant is the problem, not the solution for Lakers -LA Times

[Bean]

 

[threattonature]

What'd he do for the series? Mike Miller shot like 90% the other night, should he be taking the majority of the Heat shots going forward? No I am not comparing Mike as a player to Kobe as a player I am pointing out how just looking at one game can give you a very skewed view of how a player performed. If he was capable of putting up efforts like that consistently then by all means he should go for it. They win it all if he does that every night. All the writer is pointing out is the fact that he is no longer capable of playing at the level consistently therefore he needs to scale it back. He's got two 7 footers up front who are more than capable offensively that no team in the league has an answer for. There is no way that Kobe's FGA should be going up at this point in his career with those two guys up front.

The problem is that our bigs aren't assertive at all. People look at the box score after the game and say, why was Kobe being selfish and not getting them more shots. But you watch the game and you'll see the two bigs not establishing good post position, not fighting for their spot on the block, getting the ball and not really looking to make a move. The problem isn't all Kobe. Kobe's biggest problem is his need to play hero ball late in games. But Pau and Bynum got to step it up and demand the ball.

Another big problem I have with the bigs are that they are the worst in the league at setting screens. They never put a hard body on the other team or create space for Kobe or Sessions or whoever else so it makes it hard to run more pick and roll offense.

 

[FTBS]

The problem is that our bigs aren't assertive at all. People look at the box score after the game and say, why was Kobe being selfish and not getting them more shots. But you watch the game and you'll see the two bigs not establishing good post position, not fighting for their spot on the block, getting the ball and not really looking to make a move. The problem isn't all Kobe. Kobe's biggest problem is his need to play hero ball late in games. But Pau and Bynum got to step it up and demand the ball.

Another big problem I have with the bigs are that they are the worst in the league at setting screens. They never put a hard body on the other team or create space for Kobe or Sessions or whoever else so it makes it hard to run more pick and roll offense.

You can't put it all on them. I never said it was all on Kobe either BTW. I watch games and see Bynum eating another team alive inside for the first 2 qtrs and then he barely gets a touch in the second half. That's not an issue of assertiveness, that's an issue of how the offense is being run. Running iso's for Kobe every play of the fourth makes it harder to run pick and roll offense. Kobe shooting contested fadeaway after contested fadeaway isn't good offense. It's bullshyt to try to put it on the assertiveness of the bigs. Their is no big man more assertive than Shaq and Kobe was gunning with him out there so what makes you think he's gonna pay attention to Bynum and co. As great as Kobe is the Lakers can't win with him dominating the offense anymore. As a matter of fact they have never won like that. In each of the championships seasons he did his thing but he reigned that shyt in and was far more efficient. He plays like he did last year they are gonna lose like they did last year.

 

[Lets Get PODed]

 

[Lakerman0834]

tj simers pulling a malc and tryin to do numbers nothing to see here

 

[holidayinn21]

kobe can only make bynum and pau do so much. the onus is on them to be assertive. like the man cheese eyes said:

"If he can't score, that's his damn problem. All I can do is throw him the ball. I can't make him move."

 

[Midwest]

I see my laker brethren dropping jews already. Daps and reps will be dropped accordingly

 

[verbaltelekinesis]

The thing I don't get is people say Kobe should relinquish this or Kobe should relinquish that. Do you have any idea what it must feel like to KNOW that you are 5 rings deeps over 16 years played and the 1 with the least to prove, but you are the hungriest player on your team? How do you relinquish things to people you know don't give the effort that you do? If he was playing with a CP3 or a D-Will, ok. Them dudes are hungry and will play just as hard as Bean, but I think everybody has seen that Bynum and Gasol, nah these dudes got 2 rings and are content.

Kobe is DYING for ring number 6 and 7. Pau and dying for ring number 3, nor is Bynum. Them dudes just aint wired like that.

 

[tremonthustler1]

The thing I don't get is people say Kobe should relinquish this or Kobe should relinquish that. Do you have any idea what it must feel like to KNOW that you are 5 rings deeps over 16 years played and the 1 with the least to prove, but you are the hungriest player on your team? How do you relinquish things to people you know don't give the effort that you do? If he was playing with a CP3 or a D-Will, ok. Them dudes are hungry and will play just as hard as Bean, but I think everybody has seen that Bynum and Gasol, nah these dudes got 2 rings and are content.

Kobe is DYING for ring number 6 and 7. Pau and dying for ring number 3, nor is Bynum. Them dudes just aint wired like that.

Yet y'all want Dwight?

 

[verbaltelekinesis]

Yet y'all want Dwight?

When the status quo aint working you gotta at least try something new. Maybe Bean can light a fire under his ass, the problem with Pau and Bynum is that they have their rings already and look very content.