Who is smiling now Kobe? As Kobe hit a shot on the right side over Jason Kidd to beat the shot clock in game three, he looks over at Mark Cuban and smiled or was it a smirk. More significantly, why did he do it? To indicate “you can’t stop me” or “I am too good as an individual player” yet the LA Lakers are down three games to none at that point. This is the attitude that turned a Lakers’ fan into disliking the team from southern California. I was an avid Lakers fan back in the late 70s when Norm Nixon, Michael Cooper, Jamaal Wilkes, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar graced the hard wood in Inglewood, CA. But it was not until the ’79 – ‘80 season when they added Earvin “Magic” Johnson to their roster and went on to beat Julius Erving’s 76ers in the NBA finals. I enjoyed watching Lakers and 76ers rival in the early 80s and when they picked up James Worthy in the ’82 – ‘83 season and then Byron Scott the following year, the Lakers beat the Suns and Celtics, respectively, in the NBA Finals in the succeeding years. Mid 80’s, a revived Lakers/Celtics rivalry preceded a “Lucky Charms” in the finals then the Lakers and Pistons rivalry in the late 80s kept the motor running. Those were the great Laker eras where Magic was the point guard distributing to Wilkes, Worthy and Cooper for the “Lake Show”. Byron “Great” Scott was their sharp shooter that opened the paint for Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Truly a team effort!
In the ’96 -’97 season, the Lakers pick up a young Kobe Bryant from Lower Merion HS, PA and brought Shaquille O’Nneal from the Magic to form the nucleus for another title run but, initially, it was not to be as the Jazz and Spurs knocked the Lakers from the Western Conference playoffs in the next two years. It was not until 2000, when the Lakers returned to the finals and won against the Pacers, 76ers and Nets for the trifecta. Then trouble loomed as rumors of Shaq and Kobe began to surface as the latter individual wanted to be the focal point of the offense. The dynamic duo was not as effective as they were knocked off the Western Conference playoff the following successive two years and, eventually, led to Shaq being traded to Miami as the Lakers opted to stay with the younger Kobe.
Because of Kobe’s desire to be the focal point and wanting more notoriety, it caused the city of LA a couple of more championships and solidifies “my team’s” immortality and could have been spoken in the same breath as Red Auerbach’s Celtics during their championship reign. During the Shaq/Kobe championship run, the Lakers went to the Louisiana colossal to pound the opponents with fouls and or points. It was a very effective strategy and a formula for success as evident of the Larry O’Brian trophies. However, Kobe discontent turned to selfishness, arrogance & egotistic and brought an abrupt end to their success. What a shame! By the way, if you are keeping score, Shaq and the Heat won the NBA championship during the ’05 – ‘06 seasons and Kobe went on to win the scoring title in ’05 – ‘06 and in ’06 – ’07 but were either ousted in the first round of the playoffs and did not qualify for the playoff in two successive year.
He became the main option for the Lakers and his accolade satisfied in individual accomplishments. I actually believe he enjoy that more than winning a championship until it dawn upon him that what he and Shaq had was the epitome of success. Soon afterwards, some of the games I witness, he actually tried being a team player and actually passed the ball when a teammate was open. Nevertheless the Lakers did not qualify for the playoff for the ’04 – ‘05 seasons and was knocked of in the first round by Suns in the two consecutive seasons. It was not until the Lakers added Pau Gasol, the development of Andrew Bynum along with Lamar Odom that they had enjoyed significant success as they lost to the Celtics in the finals. Of course the Lakers won the NBA finals the past two years as the “Big Three” big men were able to offset some of Kobe’s individual antics. Kinda see a pattern here Kobe? Something called team play.
Sure, I’ll be the first to say Kobe is a great talent and he’s made outstanding shots but he takes a lot of shots. I mean A LOT of shots! For each shot missed, it’s an opportunity for the opponent and he can’t make every shot so pass it for God sake. Be less spectacular and chances for high percentage shot will likely occur on team play rather than individual play AND it gets your teammates involve. Game three of the Lakers/Mavs series is a perfect example. Bynum was having a dominant game and they should have ridden that horse all night but, of course, Kobe had to get his shot albeit he did not have a typical “take a lot of shot” night; but a missed shot was still an opening for the Mavs. Like I alluded to earlier, Kobe is a great talent, an outstanding talent but I just hate his game. Lakers’ championship eras were all with dominant big men or three…again, a formula for success. Game four…who’s smiling know?!
I didn’t know that.
It truly is difficult to get familiar people on this matter, however you sound like you no doubt know exactly what you are posting about! Cheers