The fall of Kobe, Lakers a joy to behold

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 10:54 am

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/news?slug=k ... &type=lgns

No sure why he slams the Wiz, but enjoyed the gist of the article.

washington53 · Post by **washington53** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:10 pm

I presonally am a huge lakers fan, i love the wizards but ive liked the lakes for ever before Kobe and Shaq... I do think the lakers are playing sloppy. They had like 10 assists last night, shot below 40%, didnt make their three pointers. They just sucked. Part of ther reason is because Lamar Odom didn't play and hes the only person on the team that provides the Post Threat. With Post game not going, and the shooting game definatley not, they couldnt do anything. i think the biggest mistake we have done this year was making Frank Hamblen the head coach. We saw what happened to the Nuggets theyre 19-5 with coach Karl. Lakers should get a new coach. You might wonder who i route for when lakers play the wizards... its definatley the wizards... I think Kobe has a dynsaty to build. He can do it, We will have a lot cap room to sign some key FAs, the draft will help a young team. BUT THE FIRST THING IS TO GET A COACH. personally i dont mind Phil Jackson coming back, he can do the same thing he did with MJ. and if you guys say MJ did it on his own, well MJ had Scottie Pipen and more.

REDEEMEDSKIN · Post by **REDEEMEDSKIN** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 5:25 pm

If the Lakers still had Shaq ans they were struggling this way, I'd definitely take more joy in their fall from grace. However, this Lakers team is a shell of it's former self. It's rather depressing to hear about their woes.

Hopefully they can bounce back.

...that is, of course, after the Wiz win a few championships!!! :wink:

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 7:03 pm

I don't think Jackson wants to coach Kobe or he'd be there.

Kobe had the ideal situation with the most dominant big man in the game. I can't see him "playing well with others" and succeeding to build another dynasty around himself. IMO Kobe is the Peion/Slimetime of the NBA.

washington53 · Post by **washington53** » Fri Mar 25, 2005 8:56 pm

Well i think kobe would do good with people that wont mind scoring less points than he does. As for Jackson i read his book, he stated many situations were Kobe was frustrated, because of shaq. I think Jackson wouldnt mind coming back and coaching Kobe, with no big men or any other hall of famers. And if you guys think that Kobe drove off shaq and phil then your wrong. Because kobe didnt even plan on being a laker this season, he was a FA but the lakers paid him most so he came back. Its just that Shaq wanted to have his own team. The only reason his team is doing so good because the people around him are amazing (Wade and others). Kobe doesnt have the amazing players around him. And again i think with a new coach Lakers will do great. And also keep in mind that the Lakers have had the toughest schedule since the All Star Break.. I actually thought the Lakers would do so bad this year... But theyve managed to almost make the playoffs. There are only 15 games left but i think theylle atleast make a statement if they dont make the playoffs

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 2:49 am

The Lakers are nothing without Shaq... neither is Kobe.

Well actually Kobe is still a philandering rapist. :-"

hailskins666 · Post by **hailskins666** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 4:04 am

washington53 · Post by **washington53** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 11:39 am

You all keep saying that Kobe is nothing without Shaq, give me 2 seasons and ill tell you Shaq will start regreting leaving the lakers... you guys wont beleive me but weel see

ejay183 · Post by **ejay183** » Sat Mar 26, 2005 10:54 pm

washington53 wrote:You all keep saying that Kobe is nothing without Shaq, give me 2 seasons and ill tell you Shaq will start regreting leaving the lakers... you guys wont beleive me but weel see

Why would Shaq care? He is doing great with Miami. Miami had a good squad before Shaq came anyway, so he just made it better.

washington53 · Post by **washington53** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 1:34 am

He made it better, but once the Lakers get rolling and shaq and his heat stop rolling in a couple of yeras, then heel be caring. But yeah right now he has nothing to care about except winning games.

Jake · Post by **Jake** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 2:24 am

washington53 wrote:once the Lakers get rolling

When will that be?

washington53 wrote:and shaq and his heat stop rolling in a couple of yeras

That may happen but it won't be until after they win a championship or two.

BossHog · Post by **BossHog** » Sun Mar 27, 2005 11:52 am

washington53 wrote:You all keep saying that Kobe is nothing without Shaq, give me 2 seasons and ill tell you Shaq will start regreting leaving the lakers... you guys wont beleive me but weel see

Heat 53-18
Lakers 32-36

Give you two years? For what? Shaq might be done in two years... what will he care what the lakers look like in 2007-2008? And the point of the matter is that the 'Shaq-less' lakers are 4 games under 500. They finished 56-26 last year... 30 games OVER .500. The Heat on the other hand have not only locked up the division but the conference as well. No way the Pistons make up the ground in the time left. Last year the Heat finished 42-40... 2 games over .500...

So when the season is done... it will almost be a total flip of team records this year as compared to last. The lakers will likely finish with about 25-30 less wins than last year... the heat will have at least 25 MORE wins.

What exactly are we waiting around to see? Sure there are other factors in LA's fall from grace, but how can you ignore the pure number differences presented above?

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 11:01 am

not to pile on....but watch for Shaq to eek out the MVP over Nash as well

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:23 pm

It's funny how good Kobe looked with Shaq. Now Dwayne Wade looks good with Shaq. I don't see anything to suggest that the Heat with Wade and Shaq aren't every bit as good as the Lakers with Shaq and Kobe. My 2 cents

vtfootball07 · Post by **vtfootball07** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 12:47 pm

washington53 wrote:He made it better, but once the Lakers get rolling and shaq and his heat stop rolling in a couple of yeras, then heel be caring. But yeah right now he has nothing to care about except winning games.

Yeah, the Heat will stop rolling in a couple years....because he is 33 right now! His body can't take the beating forever. I look for him to retire within the next 4 to 5 years, if he even plays for that much longer.

JansenFan · Post by **JansenFan** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 1:05 pm

The drama continues....

Ross Siler, L.A. Daily News wrote:Atkins calls out 'GM' Bryant

By Ross Siler
Staff Writer

All season long, the Lakers have fought the battle of perception vs. reality when it comes to Kobe Bryant and the power he wields within the organization. Now one of Bryant's teammates officially has opened the subject for debate.

It came Sunday with a snarled answer from Chucky Atkins that silenced the locker room as soon as the words escaped his mouth. The question put to Atkins was what he would do as general manager to remake the 10th-place Lakers.

"I ain't no GM," Atkins said. "Ask Kobe. He's the GM. It's his team. Go ask him."

Atkins, who has grown increasingly frustrated in recent weeks, was asked to clarify if he was, in fact, saying that Bryant was calling the shots for the organization.

"I don't know," Atkins said. "Last I heard they told me that (general manager) Mitch Kupchak was supposed to make the decisions around here. So you all going to ask him those questions, please."

Atkins became the first Lakers player to call out Bryant this season and made his comments only a half-hour or so after interim coach Frank Hamblen had said morale on the team was "OK" despite eight consecutive losses.

"They seem to get along with one another still," said Hamblen, who accused the team Thursday of quitting in the second half of a loss to Denver. "They listen to what you have to say, try and go out and do what you want them to do."

With the Lakers all but certain to miss the playoffs for the first time in 11 years, Atkins was asked what should be done differently next season, and again his words spoke volumes.

"What would you do?" Atkins said. "You watched this (expletive) all year."

Bryant said of his relationship with Atkins: "He'll be OK. He'll just work through it. He'll be fine. That's my boy, so I look out for him, make sure he's doing OK."

From owner Jerry Buss on down, the Lakers have maintained that Bryant did not orchestrate the departures last summer of Shaquille O'Neal and Phil Jackson. Atkins' comments did not help on that front, as well as with the burden Bryant is carrying.

But Atkins, who has struggled to find his place in the triangle offense, did say he would like to return to the Lakers next season. He is due $4.5 million and will be in the final year of his contract.

"It ain't going to be like this forever," Atkins said. "I can promise you that, it ain't going to be like this forever. We just fell on hard times. We had bad injuries at bad times, the coach had problems, and things like this happen."

After spending the season sharing a backcourt with Bryant, Atkins admitted Sunday: "It's hard to play with anybody that's a star."

Atkins said anyone coming to the Lakers should know that it is Bryant's team.

"He's going to play his game - he's one of the best players in this league," Atkins said. "So you have to adapt your game around his. It's just that simple. If you're a professional basketball player, that's what the word 'pro' stands for."

Atkins said the Lakers had no excuse for not making the playoffs, let alone sliding as much as they have during the second half of the season.

"It's just frustrating," Atkins said. "I think we have a lot better talent than our record shows this season, period. A lot of people may say that maybe we're not good enough to make the playoffs but if you look at the beginning of the season, we were able to play with anybody.

"Now we're losing to teams that aren't even playing without three of their starters, and we're not even in the contest. You all can write what you want to write. But we as a team, we know that our talent is a lot better than our record indicates."

---
Ross Siler, (818) 713-3610
ross.siler@dailynews.com

http://www.dailynews.com/Stories/0,1413,200~29583~2785705,00.html

ejay183 · Post by **ejay183** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 2:11 pm

Well, I hate to say it, but the Heat will represent the East in the Finals.

Texas Hog · Post by **Texas Hog** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 3:42 pm

I love it...thanks JF!

Primetime42 · Post by **Primetime42** » Mon Mar 28, 2005 5:59 pm

washington53 wrote:He made it better, but once the Lakers get rolling and shaq and his heat stop rolling in a couple of yeras, then heel be caring. But yeah right now he has nothing to care about except winning games.

Isn't that the point? :shock: