"If I need to tell them what to do, they do not deserve to be champions" - Kobe

[Allstar24]

Again, no matter what is ever said, or done regarding Kobe, whether its good, or bad, you can count on the same exact posters showing up to negate it in some shape or form.

This. Add to that the fact that they're completely disregarding the REAL quote...Kobe wasn't calling out his teammates from any angle...he said WE every time he pointed out the mistakes they made. That part seems to fly right over their heads.

[ginobli2311]

Yeah but then you said he has no right to yell at his teammates which is absolute bullshit.

His team played quite possibly the shittiest defense I've ever seen in the finals considering they have all the tools and matchups to be successful.

Also kobe could not rely on a single teammate throughout the whole game to hit a simple, open jumpshot. Ron Artest? Lamar Odom? Bynum? The bench lol? No one has any confidence in their shot except kobe and gasol so he has every right to get on their backs.

Shit artest couldn't even contain pierce, the only thing he was really expected to do.

ok......it goes both ways dude. but....no....i don't think he has a right to yell at his team......

where was kobe's defense? rondo was 9-12 and got penetration all night.....where was kobe on the boards? he is in prime rebounding position all the time because he sags off of rondo.......

kobe wasn't making shots in the 1st half either......4-12. where was kobe in the 4th qtr??????? why does kobe get a pass for bad defense/fouls on pierce/allen in the 4th and costly turnovers in crunch time?

kobe was by far the best laker last night. but he still didn't play a great game....and he was a big part of that bad lakers defense that you reference.

so no.....why should call out his teammates?

[crisoner]

It reminds me of this:



Swap Wade with Kobe, and Richardson with Gasol

LOL

Great pic.

Kobe calling them out....I don't know if this tactic will work. If they win games 6 and 7 I guess it does.

[tpols]

ok......it goes both ways dude. but....no....i don't think he has a right to yell at his team......

where was kobe's defense? rondo was 9-12 and got penetration all night.....where was kobe on the boards? he is in prime rebounding position all the time because he sags off of rondo.......

kobe wasn't making shots in the 1st half either......4-12. where was kobe in the 4th qtr??????? why does kobe get a pass for bad defense/fouls on pierce/allen in the 4th and costly turnovers in crunch time?

kobe was by far the best laker last night. but he still didn't play a great game....and he was a big part of that bad lakers defense that you reference.

so no.....why should call out his teammates?

First off don't even try it with rondo. Half his points came on the break when kobe wasn't guarding him and kobe forced him into 7 turnovers.

Second, kobe kept his team in the game when they would have gotten BLOWN OUT if not for his 3rd quarter. He also led the charge to lead his team within 5 points with 90 seconds left when they looked done 2 minutes prior. How are you gonna hate on a man that shot over 50% and scored 38 points?

Lastly, if the lakers TEAM had played at least decent defense, this game could've been very different. (not saying kobe is to be excused in this area completely as D is a team concept, but his teammates have no excuse for such pitiful defense and the inability to hit a shot on the offensive side of the ball as well)

[824]

ok......it goes both ways dude. but....no....i don't think he has a right to yell at his team......

where was kobe's defense? rondo was 9-12 and got penetration all night.....where was kobe on the boards? he is in prime rebounding position all the time because he sags off of rondo.......

kobe wasn't making shots in the 1st half either......4-12. where was kobe in the 4th qtr??????? why does kobe get a pass for bad defense/fouls on pierce/allen in the 4th and costly turnovers in crunch time?

kobe was by far the best laker last night. but he still didn't play a great game....and he was a big part of that bad lakers defense that you reference.

so no.....why should call out his teammates?

Why would he not call out his teammates? He is the best player on the floor nearly every night, even if it's an off night, he is the team leader, he is their veteran general.

I'm sure he is quite critical of himself too, would you like him to slap himself while yelling at the team and say you too? Just stop.

[ginobli2311]

First off don't even try it with rondo. Half his points came on the break when kobe wasn't guarding him and kobe forced him into 7 turnovers.

Second, kobe kept his team in the game when they would have gotten BLOWN OUT if not for his 3rd quarter. He also led the charge to lead his team within 5 points with 90 seconds left when they looked done 2 minutes prior. How are you gonna hate on a man that shot over 50% and scored 38 points?

Lastly, if the lakers TEAM had played at least decent defense, this game could've been very different. (not saying kobe is to be excused in this area completely as D is a team concept, but his teammates have no excuse for such pitiful defense and the inability to hit a shot on the offensive side of the ball as well)

ok....here is your problem:

you say rondo only scored on the break and you give kobe a pass....but then you credit kobe for forcing the 7 turnovers.......5 of rondo's turnovers came on the fastbreak or in semi transition.....can't have it both ways. rondo also made a few jumpers and got a couple transition opportunities directly off kobe's turnovers.

kobe's third quarter was great.....better than great. i have never said otherwise in any post since the game.

like i said in my original post. kobe is very much a big part of the team defense and rebounding for the lakers and he needs to do a better job in both areas.....just like the rest of his team.

[Blue.Legend]

First off don't even try it with rondo. Half his points came on the break when kobe wasn't guarding him and kobe forced him into 7 turnovers.

Second, kobe kept his team in the game when they would have gotten BLOWN OUT if not for his 3rd quarter. He also led the charge to lead his team within 5 points with 90 seconds left when they looked done 2 minutes prior. How are you gonna hate on a man that shot over 50% and scored 38 points?

Lastly, if the lakers TEAM had played at least decent defense, this game could've been very different. (not saying kobe is to be excused in this area completely as D is a team concept, but his teammates have no excuse for such pitiful defense and the inability to hit a shot on the offensive side of the ball as well)

Rondo in the first half blew past everyone and drove to the hole. He went 9/12 and most of his shots came from driving. I woudn't call 75% FG being well defended.

7 Turnovers resulted from stupid mistakes by Rondo himself and his teammates unable to hold onto the ball. Kobe did not even bother to defend Rondo and was always late to help after he sags off him. Hes been making those mistakes all series long.

[tpols]

ok....here is your problem:

you say rondo only scored on the break and you give kobe a pass....but then you credit kobe for forcing the 7 turnovers.......5 of rondo's turnovers came on the fastbreak or in semi transition.....can't have it both ways. rondo also made a few jumpers and got a couple transition opportunities directly off kobe's turnovers.

kobe's third quarter was great.....better than great. i have never said otherwise in any post since the game.

like i said in my original post. kobe is very much a big part of the team defense and rebounding for the lakers and he needs to do a better job in both areas.....just like the rest of his team.

Dude 5 out of 7 of his turnovers came while kobe was back playing his foul line defense. Regardless, Kobe played defense a lot better than the lakers supposed defensive specialist ron artest who got lit up throughout the crucial mid game stretches. Even Garnett handled gasol even though I'll give garnett credit for hitting some tough shots.

[ginobli2311]

Dude 5 out of 7 of his turnovers came while kobe was back playing his foul line defense. Regardless, Kobe played defense a lot better than the lakers supposed defensive specialist ron artest who got lit up throughout the crucial mid game stretches. Even Garnett handled gasol even though I'll give garnett credit for hitting some tough shots.

false....rondo turned it over at least 4 times in transition plays last night.

so let me get this straight......its on artest and gasol when the players they guard have a good game....but its not on kobe......hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

not only did rondo score well.....he had 8 assists.....pierce and kg were just making shots....they didn't get the entire team involved. kobe allowed rondo to shoot a high percentage, get out in transition, and get his teammates involved.....the worst possible combination.

[Solid Snake]

God the Lakers other than Kobe and Fisher are some straight punk *******. Other than lying and deception, the number one trait I HATE in a human being is the lack of HEART. I don't give a shit if you airball, fumble, get KTFO within 20 seconds, strike out at the plate, get domniated for 12 rounds, get submitted on the ground via rear naked choke instantly (did I miss any major sports?), but at least GIVE IT YOUR ALL.

STFU if you're going to argue that that's what they're doing. No it's not. Only Kobe and Fisher (with his limited skills at this stage) are giving it their all. Everyone else is ****ing playing nervous and tentative.


And for you buffoons that'll probably say it, yeah, let me premptively answer the question for you: you god damn right I'M MAD.

YOU MAD?

[tpols]

false....rondo turned it over at least 4 times in transition plays last night.

so let me get this straight......its on artest and gasol when the players they guard have a good game....but its not on kobe......hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

not only did rondo score well.....he had 8 assists.....pierce and kg were just making shots....they didn't get the entire team involved. kobe allowed rondo to shoot a high percentage, get out in transition, and get his teammates involved.....the worst possible combination.

He's their point guard and he had a 8:7 turnover to assist ratio.

You talk about how kobe let him get out in transition and then go onto mention how most of his turnovers occured in transition, which by the way were another reason the lakers were only down 6 at half time despite shooting HALF the FG% of the Boston Celtics.

[tpols]

God the Lakers other than Kobe and Fisher are some straight punk *******. Other than lying and deception, the number one trait I HATE in a human being is the lack of HEART. I don't give a shit if you airball, fumble, get KTFO within 20 seconds, strike out at the plate, get domniated for 12 rounds, get submitted on the ground via rear naked choke instantly (did I miss any major sports?), but at least GIVE IT YOUR ALL.

STFU if you're going to argue that that's what they're doing. No it's not. Only Kobe and Fisher (with his limited skills at this stage) are giving it their all. Everyone else is ****ing playing nervous and tentative.


And for you buffoons that'll probably say it, yeah, let me premptively answer the question for you: you god damn right I'M MAD.

YOU MAD?

You got it right man. His teammates lack of heart is what is causing their lack of performance. It's messed up.

[Yung D-Will]

Kobe's right on this one the play last night was pathetic he was by far the best player last night yet his teammates let his performance go to waste.

['Toine=MVP]

"If I need to tell them what to do, they do not deserve to be champions" - Kobe

This is a true statement, however...

"If I need to tell them what to do, but for whatever reason I don't tell them what to do, then I do not deserve to be champion" - Kobe (not a real quote)

This is also a true statement.

I honestly think that the Celtics are a more complete team, and a better overall team on talent alone, especially with a hobbled Bynum. Many people disagree, but whatever. So maybe Kobe will tell them what they need to do, and be as inspiring as MJ, or KG/Doc, and they'll still lose. But if he just assumes Ron Artest and Lamar Odom are going to be primed, ready, and are going to know what to do out there, he is not worthy of this championship.

Again, I don't know what Kobe is going to do or say in these next days, but if he says nothing, as his quote indicates, he'll be as much to blame as the guys who aren't playing right. Being the best player in the NBA is a big burden. He'll still be arguably the best if he says nothing and let's his team blow his chance to CEMENT his legacy, as one of the true greats, instead of just being probably one the top 10 players ever, but outside the true gods.

I couldn't imagine Magic, Bird, or MJ just hoping the rest of team matched their desire and intensity. Even Shaq wouldn't be that passive with regards to his teammates. Not to mention there are plenty of players in relatively recent history who are not quite as talented as Kobe and who haven't accomplished as much as Kobe, who also would never say such a thing (Barkley, Malone, Stockton, KG, etc).

Again, it could be just a thing Kobe said. But he has a bit of problem in his post game press conferences, win or lose. He seems to be trying way way to hard to say the right thing, and act the right way, maybe trying to copy the way others have done interviews in the past. I'm not sure what it is.

In my opinion he's the best player in the game, and he tries as hard as anyone in the game, but I do not think he is one of the better leaders in the game, for a variety of reasons.

[rfm767]

How can i EDIT the thread name to change the "they" for "we"?