Guest GameCop Report post Posted February 24, 2003 After watching the Lakers-Sonics game last night, I realized one thing: Kobe is overrated. Granted, he has scored 40 or more points in the last nine games and at least 35 in the last thirteen. However, as Scottie Pippen noted: there is only one reason why Kobe is scoring more points -- he now takes WAY too many shots each game, sometimes at the expense of his team. To corroborate my assertion even more, Kobe was 4-19 from the field last night in the 2nd half. He missed 12 of his last 14 shots and 11 of his last 12. Kobe's selfishness became even more prominent when he took seven wild shots in the closing minutes of the game just so he could extend his 40+ streak. He missed every one of those shots after REFUSING to pass on each possession; this, in turn, allowed the Sonics to crawl back into the game. Although Kobe has been scoring many points, his assists and rebounds have been drastically down since this streak has started. Not much of a complete player now, is he? T-MAC, on the other hand, had 46 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists in his last game on only 16-27 from the field. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted February 24, 2003 Are you forgetting that in the early months of the season that Kobe almost had 3 Triple Doubles in a row, which did include 13 assist or more each time. If the team is winning with Kobe being the "ball hog" , then what is the problem? Rick Fox not throwing enough air balls or causing turnovers for you? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Human Fly Report post Posted February 24, 2003 I can understand both sides of this argument. Kobe is hogging the ball, but the Lakers are winning. He was throwing some crap up late yesterday to try and get 40. Anybody of similar skill level could be getting 40 with the amount of shots that Kobe is putting up, but the Lakers keep winning. Charles Barkley says that Kobe has got to pass more because none of his teammates are having any fun while he's taking so many shots. None of his teammates are saying anything about Kobe that is negative (at least to my knowledge) but I'm not hearing anything positive either. My feeling is that Kobe needs to pass more. There have been several times in the games I've watched since this streak began where he has been double teamed but still puts it up while his teammates are wide open. In the Rockets game they were leaving Horry wide open and doubling Kobe almost every time down the court and Kobe would still take the shot. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest alkeiper Report post Posted February 24, 2003 I have no problem's with Kobe's shooting, but it does raise an interesting point. What happens if Kobe is sitting on 39 points shooting bricks, or he's nursing a minor injury. Does the streak take precedense over the game? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest razazteca Report post Posted February 25, 2003 Well Phil Jackson better do his job as coach and force Kobe to sit out if the team is losing the game and Kobe is shooting bricks. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Still Fly Report post Posted February 25, 2003 Oh God, here we go again with this crap. Granted Kobe is shooting the ball a lot, but if you read the LA Times he apoligized for taking 38 shots. Nobody seems to remember when he was averging triple doubles. Nobody on the Lakers is complaining they are happy hes playing so well. Why frezze out a guy if hes winning games? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest jimmy no nose Report post Posted February 25, 2003 Kobe is 11th in the league in assists, he hasn't been hogging the ball all year or anything. Only the last couple games has it been clear that he's trying to get to 40, but still they've been winning. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest NoCalMike Report post Posted February 25, 2003 Bottomline is....As long as the Lakers are winning with Kobe taking 35+ shots, there won't be a problem, however if they start losing and he is still doing it, then there will be a problem. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Crazy Dan Report post Posted February 25, 2003 I think that the Lakers would be a much better team if Kobe dished the ball more. I think he has the passing skills to pay tha bills. I think that when you don't get your teammates involved, it can come back to haunt you. My only real complaint about Kobe is that he tends to ball hog a little too much. But if you had his supporting cast, sans Shaq, I would shoot it all the time too. Just another reason I can't get into the Lakers. I am interested to see how Ron Artest plays against Kobe. Even if Kobe still score big, I just want to see Artest lose it, nothing says comedy like Ron loosing it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Polish_Rifle Report post Posted February 27, 2003 I will admit, he has been pretty lucky lately but the bottom line is that he is overrated! If he was doing the same thing in Milwaukee or Denver. the NBA wouldn't have such a hard on for him. He's got game, but a lot of the attention he gets is due to the fact that he plays for LA and they have Shaq and Phillip. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Guest Spicy McHaggis Report post Posted February 27, 2003 Bottomline is....As long as the Lakers are winning with Kobe taking 35+ shots, there won't be a problem, however if they start losing and he is still doing it, then there will be a problem. Exactly. The Lakes have won 13 of their last 15. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
