Should Kobe be the one trying to fit in with his team not the other way around?
970751
The key word is team.  The players have to fit into a comfort zone which includes all of them.  Kobe is a great player, so it would be foolish if they didn't try to run a lot of their offense through him: however, he has to learn to find the open man when the opponents collapse on him.  To complete this cycle, his teammates have to consistently put the ball in the hoop when he dishes it off to them.\n\nFor the Lakers to play to their optimum, Kobe has to average around 25 points and 8-9 assists per game.  If he is averaging more points, the other players are being taken out of the game too often.  If he is averaging less assists, his is not involving his teammates often enough.  All this being said and done, they have to concentrate on team defense.  The rest will come around on its own.
670094
Yes.  Kobe needs to shut his trap and play basketball.  The big difference between him and Jordan; Jordan wouldn't celebrate making a basket as time runs out, IN THE FIRST QUARTER!  You can celebrate a game winner, but not at the end of quarters or the first half.
246173
no i don't think so. It's really hard to win a nba championship and it takes a lot of time t built a complete team even though you have a superstar in it. Kobe plays like a superstar but then his team barely qualifies for playoff..! so i think boston still needs a lot of time to built that perfect team to win nba championship. I still think they are very good team but not good enought to win nba finals within this decade. a Miracle is needed.
336014
because in his mind, he's been there and done that. everyone knows he's a flashy and entertaining dunker. now, he's more matured and wants to be labeled as a player who wants to win, not show-boat...btw, i am not a kobe fan, but i would love to have him on my team which is the Warriors.
500500
The ABC commentaters were actually talking about this issue during the last Laker game at home.  According to them, both teams go down the same hallway, but the Clippers turn one way and the Lakers turn another way.  Sounds like they may be right next to each other, but obviously in between walls.  I did hear that both coaches' offices are in fact side by side.
272336
Garnett is the perfect fit for the Lakers because Kobe is the aggressor and Garnett wants to be passive.  Garnett would dominate the boards and be able to score in the post and allow Kobe to do his thing.  If the Lakers had 2 players to draw a double-team to free shots for Kobe they would be dominant.
690251
I used to like the Lakers when Shaq was there because he and Kobe made a dynamic pair.  But since Shaq was traded to the Miami Heat, guess what, I'm a Miami Heat fan.  Since the trade, Kobe has become very arrogant towards everybody especially when he was interviewed regarding the incident with Ball in the Phoenix Suns.  Kobe was calling him a kid and said and I quote, "Maybe he didn't get hugs as a child", unquote.  He must remember, the "kid" is older than he is.  Grow up Kobe!
223745
I think that the Lakers- after the Pistons and the Hornets and the Spurs- are finally playing like a team. Sure- they are getting 40 from Kobe every once in a while, but he is their superstar. Odom has been red-hot, and Smush along with a few other bench players have been doing great to give them the win. They finally realize team ball is the key. And they have taken 7th seed, 1.5 behind Memphis for 6th. The #1 thing best to do in the second half of the NBA season is heat up and go hard down the stretch of the last 30 games to make a playoff spot. You'll see- the Lakers are for real now. They've always been on and off- but I think that they all have finally realized that it's not giving it to Kobe. Kwame helps in the post, defense and offense both. Smush is a scorer, Lamar is an all-around and Kobe is the super-star. I think that the Lakers can go all the way- no joke. They've beat the Mavs, Spurs, Pistons, Heat, Clippers, but we still have the Suns. Let's go Lakers.
582785
One of the criteria for NBA MVP should always be making one's teammates better. Nash does that. Kobe does not. He's made efforts before in the past, but it never lasted for very long (see his 81-point "performance") I'm speaking from the standpoint of a former Laker fan who was a fan until they traded Shaq. And before anyone calls me a "bandwagoner", I was a fan during the "Showtime" era and continued watching through Magic's retirement and through the Shaq & Kobe era until Kobe got Shaq traded. Also, an MVP never skulks off the court without so much as a congratulations to the winning team.
1131450
Ummm hmmm if I were on a team that would mean I WOULD LIKE TO TOUCH THE ROCK during a game.... Ummm that would mean "I BETTER PROTECT MYSELF (Im a white woman  LOL) and ummmm if I LIKED BULLET PROOF VESTS, I would have been a cop... Kobe is notorious for BACKSTABBING.... so the answer is DUANE WADE, a better guy, teamplayer, and defensive player!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
116427
plse......JORDAN!!!! kobe is a jordan wan'a be, shoots the same, plays the same and wants to run the game the same. only one problem....there will NEVER be another jordan.
73981
I just thought that Kobe would one day get his top,it's just the time can tell how much he could rewite the history----And today he did!Maybe he is always surrounded by the bugs' words,claiming that he is an egoist.But check out the statistics of Lakers and you will find that the team assaults more effective with Kobe.
215974
No, Kobe won't want to share the spotlight.  Garnet will end up in the east somewhere.  Wouldn't be surprised to see him in Orlando actually.  They did clear out some salary before the trade deadline in the trade with the Knicks.  I think, with a couple other moves, that it could work.
115643
Yes, especially people like Lamar Odom and Kwame Brown and Shaquille O'Neal\nBut Kobe Bryant? No Way
770941
Man!!!! yeah he needs to average 30 or even more. \nLakers need his points. Most of the games they won last season were because he scored big.\nHowever, The team still needs to come up and back him up. He needs someone to carry the other load.\nSome one to do wat shaq used to do!\nWhen the Lakers play any team, everyone doubles up Kobe, he cant pass, he cant shoot, and the team insists on giving him the balll! yet if there was someone else that could take responsibility when Kobe is doubled or even trippled up, that person can win it for the lakers.\nI was impressed with Odom's display when Kobe wasnt in the team in the first 2 games. But he needs to do that more often even when Kobe is on the floor.\n\nImagine you have 30 average from Kobe, 20 average from Lamar, and another 20 from one of the other guys per game!!!
126599
The way Kobe scored in January it probably will be him, unless Chauncey Billups really steps up his game in the second half. He has had a better year overall, so if his averages increase as the half goes on, it will then likely be Billups.
509083
Basketball is a team sport, not a lone ranger sport.  Steve Nash is the leader of his team, and his success is clearly apparent through the improvements his players have experienced this season.  Kobe has to consciously try to be a team player, but he is a "me first" player and always will be.  I have said enough on this subject and will let game 7 speak for itself.  \n\nAll you Kobe lover boys should keep your mouth shut when the Suns hand you the pink slip on Saturday.