Raja Bell: "Shaq had a secret code for not passing the ball to Kobe"

[sdot_thadon]

The Kobe-Shaq feud is coming back from the dead, because the media says so.:lol On the heels of Kobe and Shaqs back and forth this nugget finds light:

"Shaq told me a story. We had a kid named Gordon Giricek on our Suns team, he had gotten there, and Gordon would go in the game, and Gordon was about his buckets. So Gordon would get in, and no matter what we were doing, no matter what the flow or the chemistry was, Gordon would be just, you know, shooting the ball. Gordon was my guy, I played with him in Utah.

"But Shaq started saying 'hey guys, this is the symbol' (twitches thumbs downward) 'when I give you this, Gordon doesn't get the ball anymore.' And I'm like 'dude what is the background on that, where'd you come up with that?' And he was like 'when Kobe was young, he would be going in and just trying to get 'em, so the rest of us had a universal kind of code that if we looked at each other and went (gives signal) then that meant Kobe didn't get the ball anymore.'"

:eek:

https://www.cbssports.com/nba/news/raja-bell-shaquille-oneal-had-a-secret-code-with-lakers-teammates-to-stop-passing-kobe-bryant-the-ball/amp/

and there's this:


Interviewed a Kobe teammate for my upcoming book. We talked about 2004 Finals loss to Pistons. Much blame was placed on Karl Malone injury. Guy told me, "That loss was on Kobe. He wanted to be MVP of that series, and he just ... kept ... shooting."

Here. we. go.

[scuzzy]

Originally Posted by Jeff Pearlman
Interviewed a Kobe teammate for my upcoming book. We talked about 2004 Finals loss to Pistons. Much blame was placed on Karl Malone injury. Guy told me, "That loss was on Kobe. He wanted to be MVP of that series, and he just ... kept ... shooting."

Shaq was absolutely dominating Ben and Sheed all series, there was zero answer. Arguably his best Finals imo

Larry Brown said lets just give Kobe the Rondo treatment and let him chuck :oldlol:

[Doranku]

Funny story, but what's even funnier is Raja Bell's hatred for Kobe. :lol Of course it's this dude who pipes in with a story like that.

[superduper]

Raja bell got anally raped his entire career by Kobe of course he wanted him to pass :oldlol:

[LAmbruh]

https://i.makeagif.com/media/12-02-2015/vNDoAt.gif

[The Iron Fist]

Funny story about Kobe























They all said he would never win, much less sniff another finals without Shaq. :roll:

Now they come here daily trying to explain why a guy with 6 finals losses is better, and they played in the same era.

[sdot_thadon]

Funny story, but what's even funnier is Raja Bell's hatred for Kobe. :lol Of course it's this dude who pipes in with a story like that.
Right. Who else could we expect to come out of left field with this sort of timing?

[fourkicks44]

Remember when 3Ball said he played at Florida International University with Raja Bell and posted some old school pic of him dunking.

Nobody other than me questioned this. 3ball refused to respond to any of my questions about it....

[Bosnian Sajo]

Shaq was absolutely dominating Ben and Sheed all series, there was zero answer. Arguably his best Finals imo

Larry Brown said lets just give Kobe the Rondo treatment and let him chuck :oldlol:


Arguably his best finals?? Are you legitimately ****ing retarded? You think 27/11 was Shaq's best finals?


Do you understand that Shaq put up 38ppg and 17rpg against the Pacers in 2000? 33/16 against the 76ers? 36/12 against the Nets??? :oldlol:


Bro some of yall just type, you do no thinking whatsoever you just throw words on a post and hit submit.

[ImKobe]

Arguably his best finals?? Are you legitimately ****ing retarded? You think 27/11 was Shaq's best finals?


Do you understand that Shaq put up 38ppg and 17rpg against the Pacers in 2000? 33/16 against the 76ers? 36/12 against the Nets??? :oldlol:


Bro some of yall just type, you do no thinking whatsoever you just throw words on a post and hit submit.

Averages aside, these idiots haven't watched a minute of the 2004 Finals so they don't understand how bad Shaq was at defending the P&R and the paint in general.

As far as saying Kobe kept shooting, he shot his usual 20-25 times a game and didn't touch the ball as much due to how the defense was playing him to get the ball out of his hands. Lakers as a whole played a terrible Finals there's no one player to blame. Shaq was efficient because they played him straight-up so Kobe and the rest of the guys couldn't get in a rhythm, Shaq was washed up in 2004 and didn't have the conditioning to consistently dominate in the paint, they wore him down in the first half, just like how the Warriors and other teams have given Lebron single coverage to wear him down and not let his shooters get in rhythm.

[Bosnian Sajo]

Averages aside, these idiots haven't watched a minute of the 2004 Finals so they don't understand how bad Shaq was at defending the P&R and the paint in general.

As far as saying Kobe kept shooting, he shot his usual 20-25 times a game and didn't touch the ball as much due to how the defense was playing him to get the ball out of his hands. Lakers as a whole played a terrible Finals there's no one player to blame. Shaq was efficient because they played him straight-up so Kobe and the rest of the guys couldn't get in a rhythm, Shaq was washed up in 2004 and didn't have the conditioning to consistently dominate in the paint, they wore him down in the first half, just like how the Warriors and other teams have given Lebron single coverage to wear him down and not let his shooters get in rhythm.


I mean they do have a point with the Kobe knock though, he DID shoot the ball excessively...but what they fail to mention is the fact that he HAD to. They couldn't rely on Payton and Malone as they were absolutely shut down by Detroit's defense (plus with Malone being injured), the rest of the role players ALL shot worse than Kobe believe it or not...and you can't solely rely on Shaq down low.


Shaq was not washed up at that time, that's a bull shit take tbh he was still the dominant big man he always was for the Lakers...it's just that the Lakers had no options on offense other than Shaq, Kobe, and Rick Fox of all people.


They played against arguably the best defensive team of all time not counting the Celtics of the 60's, and you know how the saying goes....you can beat a good defensive team with better offense. WELL, we didn't have better offense than their all time great defense...so there's that.


It's a shame those Pistons didn't win back to back titles in 2004 and 2005, imo that speaks volumes on just how good the Spurs were at the time as well, to be able to beat that Pistons team.

[stalkerforlife]

Now you know why Kobe shipped his ass out.

And eclipsed him.

Poetic justice.

[Mr Feeny]

The mental gymnastics that Kobe fans invoke to defend him is just insane:lol
The guy single handidly lost the 2004 finals by refusing to pass. His teammates aren't holding back now.

[egokiller]

Raja bell got anally raped his entire career by Kobe of course he wanted him to pass :oldlol:

And the topper of it all was when Kobe was asked about Raja his response was "I don't know this kid. I don't wanna know this kid." :roll:

Imagine closelining someone and they get right back up, brush the dirt off their shoulder and wag their finger at you making you their bitch. :oldlol:

[warriorfan]

And the topper of it all was when Kobe was asked about Raja his response was "I don't know this kid. I don't wanna know this kid." :roll:

Imagine closelining someone and they get right back up, brush the dirt off their shoulder and wag their finger at you making you their bitch. :oldlol:

Lil raja was fuming :roll: :roll:

[90sgoat]

I remember watching that series.

Kobe definitely played awful and selfish.

Not to say they would have won otherwise, but Kobe for sure was selfish and ineffective.

[Doranku]

I remember watching that series.

Kobe definitely played awful and selfish.

Not to say they would have won otherwise, but Kobe for sure was selfish and ineffective.

Kobe was indeed awful in that series, but so was legitimately everyone else on the team except for Shaq. Kobe only took 13 shots in game 3 and it was the Lakers biggest loss of the series.

It's crazy how the entire team just crumbled, look at the shooting numbers:

Kobe: 43-113
Fisher: 11-36
George: 11-28
GP: 9-28
Malone: 8-24
Medvedenko: 6-17
Rush: 7-22
Walton: 5-13

That's everyone besides Shaq who took more than 10 shots in the series. Not a single player broke 40% shooting. Absolute lockdown from the Pistons.

[Dro]

Funny story, but what's even funnier is Raja Bell's hatred for Kobe. :lol Of course it's this dude who pipes in with a story like that.
Hey, if its true its true.:confusedshrug:

[PickernRoller]

Raja still can't let it go... :roll:

That's the thing with b1tches who tried to make name out of themselves by associating with Kobe (being his doormat).... they're always bitter to the end.

The man is still taking shots at Kobe after all these years - ringless - thanks to the Bean.....shitted on by Kobe for all of his career. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

At this point you gotta ask if the man has any self-respect left. He's a fvcking millionaire after all. Reminds of another *** that constantly makes a fool of himself on TV. Isiah Thomas every time the name MJ comes up. Even when it doesn't come up the man finds a way to throw shade. Absolutely ***** ...... when you consider his age, the more so.

Winners have lots of enemies. For you to win, and be so dominant, you have to wreck a lot of careers.

[egokiller]

Raja still can't let it go... :roll:

That's the thing with b1tches who tried to make name out of themselves by associating with Kobe (being his doormat).... they're always bitter to the end.

The man is still taking shots at Kobe after all these years - ringless - thanks to the Bean.....shitted on by Kobe for all of his career. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

At this point you gotta ask if the man has any self-respect left. He's a fvcking millionaire after all. Reminds of another *** that constantly makes a fool of himself on TV. Isiah Thomas every time the name MJ comes up. Even when it doesn't come up the man finds a way to throw shade. Absolutely ***** ...... when you consider his age, the more so.

Winners have lots of enemies. For you to win, and be so dominant, you have to wreck a lot of careers.

And the best part is once KD and Lebron both retire, Lebron will be bitching for the next 20 years about how KD out colluded him. :roll:

[PickernRoller]

And the best part is once KD and Lebron both retire, Lebron will be bitching for the next 20 years about how KD out colluded him. :roll:

You know his stans are all about "it wasn't the same" narrative. So fvcking pathetic in itself it makes me laugh to tears... :roll: :roll:

[Mr Feeny]

I remember watching that series.

Kobe definitely played awful and selfish.

Not to say they would have won otherwise, but Kobe for sure was selfish and ineffective.

He was awful. He took 60% more shots than a guy who was dominating the Pistons and shot them at 38%fg. He refused to play defense. Refused to pass the ball. They weren't going to win with him playing that badly.

[Mr Feeny]

Raja still can't let it go... :roll:

That's the thing with b1tches who tried to make name out of themselves by associating with Kobe (being his doormat).... they're always bitter to the end.

The man is still taking shots at Kobe after all these years - ringless - thanks to the Bean.....shitted on by Kobe for all of his career. :oldlol: :oldlol: :oldlol:

At this point you gotta ask if the man has any self-respect left. He's a fvcking millionaire after all. Reminds of another *** that constantly makes a fool of himself on TV. Isiah Thomas every time the name MJ comes up. Even when it doesn't come up the man finds a way to throw shade. Absolutely ***** ...... when you consider his age, the more so.

Winners have lots of enemies. For you to win, and be so dominant, you have to wreck a lot of careers.

You realize that Kobe tripped over his feet and begged Rajah Bell to join him on the lakers, don't you?:lol
I'm glad he's exposing your hero.

[PickernRoller]

You realize that Kobe tripped over his feet and begged Rajah Bell to join him on the lakers, don't you?:lol
I'm glad he's exposing your hero.

When was the last time you made a corpse tingle with your trolling? RRR3 doesn't count.

[Mr Feeny]

I seem upset that my hero is being exposed:cry:

:lol

[Horatio33]

And the topper of it all was when Kobe was asked about Raja his response was "I don't know this kid. I don't wanna know this kid." :roll:

Imagine closelining someone and they get right back up, brush the dirt off their shoulder and wag their finger at you making you their bitch. :oldlol:

Imagine being 3-1 up in a series against Raja Bell and then you blow it and lose and then in game 7 where the myth is you play your best and you are clutch and a killer and all that crap, you stop being aggressive and stop shooting because you

[Mr Feeny]

[QUOTE=Horatio33]Imagine being 3-1 up in a series against Raja Bell and then you blow it and lose and then in game 7 where the myth is you play your best and you are clutch and a killer and all that crap, you stop being aggressive and stop shooting because you

[The Iron Fist]

He was awful. He took 60% more shots than a guy who was dominating the Pistons and shot them at 38%fg. He refused to play defense. Refused to pass the ball. They weren't going to win with him playing that badly.
You do realize that 10 of 12 Lakers shot less than 40%, right? Kobe could have shot 50% and they still would have lost.

[The Iron Fist]

And then calling Bell and begging him to join you:oldlol:
Kobe shot 58%, 57% and 50% in games 5,6 and 7. Where did he blow it at?

[Mr Feeny]

You do realize that 10 of 12 Lakers shot less than 40%, right? Kobe could have shot 50% and they still would have lost.

I do realise that if most of Kobe's shot went to Shaq who was shooting 60+ instead of 38% and if Kobe bothered playing defense, the lakers would have won.

[Mr Feeny]

Kobe shot 58%, 57% and 50% in games 5,6 and 7. Where did he blow it at?

Is this a joke? He has 1 point in the 2nd half of the biggest game of the season while being guarded on single coverage by one of the worst defensive teams in basketball.
Becoming the - at the time -9th team to lose a 3-1lead is blowing it. But that's expected from a choker.

[PickernRoller]

:lol

That's o'right. You know I take the switch any time on the Bran side. But do step your game up. Your nonsense is too transparent these days. No bite.

[Mr Feeny]

That's o'right. You know I take the switch any time on the Bran side. But do step your game up. Your nonsense is too transparent these days. No bite.

Double yawn:sleeping

[PickernRoller]

Double yawn:sleeping

Yawn all the way to the morgue...your choice....:oldlol:

[BarberSchool]

Arguably his best finals?? Are you legitimately ****ing retarded? You think 27/11 was Shaq's best finals?


Do you understand that Shaq put up 38ppg and 17rpg against the Pacers in 2000? 33/16 against the 76ers? 36/12 against the Nets??? :oldlol:


Bro some of yall just type, you do no thinking whatsoever you just throw words on a post and hit submit.Word up. Lotta emotionally-driven slowpokes sh!tting up the board.

[90sgoat]

He was awful. He took 60% more shots than a guy who was dominating the Pistons and shot them at 38%fg. He refused to play defense. Refused to pass the ball. They weren't going to win with him playing that badly.

I always felt like Kobe did this on purpose to get Shaq out.

There was basically no coming back from that.

You had to get rid of one of them.

[305Baller]

shaqs a bum!!!!

[ImKobe]

The mental gymnastics that Kobe fans invoke to defend him is just insane:lol
The guy single handidly lost the 2004 finals by refusing to pass. His teammates aren't holding back now.

Do you have data to back this up? How did Shaq get so many more touches compared to the rest of the season if Kobe refused to pass? 22 FGA is pretty average, Kobe didn't have a single game shooting 30+ shots and one of the 27 FGA games came in an overtime win that he was responsible for. Why is it that the Lakers worst loss of the series came when Kobe barely shot the ball at all?

Fact is that the series wasn't winnable for the Lakers with Malone injured and Kobe coming off knee surgery with shoulder issues and with Shaq being 380 pounds and "rehabbing on company time".

[Mr Feeny]

I always felt like Kobe did this on purpose to get Shaq out.

There was basically no coming back from that.

You had to get rid of one of them.

He definitely did. Phil Jackson was furious at him and later - in his book - claimed that Kobe sabotaged the lakers. Shaq - after game 3 or 4- said he needed more touches as he showed the reporters in the press room the box score. Kobe had missed more shots than Shaq had taken.

Kobe single handidly lost the series.

[Mr Feeny]

Do you have data to back this up? How did Shaq get so many more touches compared to the rest of the season if Kobe refused to pass? 22 FGA is pretty average, Kobe didn't have a single game shooting 30+ shots and one of the 27 FGA games came in an overtime win that he was responsible for. Why is it that the Lakers worst loss of the series came when Kobe barely shot the ball at all?

Fact is that the series wasn't winnable for the Lakers with Malone injured and Kobe coming off knee surgery with shoulder issues and with Shaq being 380 pounds and "rehabbing on company time".

Data? Box scores, genius. You could see that Kobe took about 60% more shots than Shaq while the latter was shooting 60+%of and torching Detroit and while Kobe was stinking up the place with his 38%fg.

Rather than pass to the superior player, he decided to chuck for fmvp and cost his team the title.