Friday, May 30, 2008
Gotta give Kobe his due
The Clarion is not a fan of Kobe Bryant, but after the Lakers moved into the NBA finals by defeating the San Antonio Spurs, even we can admit one has got give Kobe Bryant his duly earned props.
There are a myriad of things that can be said about this post-season and this Laker team, but let us highlight a few for our faithful readers that underline why Kobe deserves most of his accolades. Going down the stretch of the regular season, all of the experts were saying this was the toughest NBA Western Conference in ages, maybe ever. Well Kobe and the Lakers won the Western Conference playoffs. Yes, the Spurs typically win only every other year, they don't have enough gas in the tank the next year to go back to back. Yet still, someone has to knock them off, the Hornets couldn't do it. Shaq, Nash and the Suns never got close. (It cost Mike D'Antoni his job.) Despite their amazing regular season streak, the Rockets and T-Mac still couldn't get out of the first round.
When evaluating Kobe, beyond the competition, there is the supporting cast question. We know everybody raves about the super-soft Spaniard, Pau Gasol, but the fact is, he was winless in post-season series coming into this year. Young, dynamic, center Andre Bynum hasn't even played in the post-season. The haters can't even complain that Kobe got all the calls against the champs. After shooting 96 free throws in the Utah series, Bryant only shot 11 against the Spurs.
The Clarion won't go too far. The comparisons to Michael Jordan are premature. Jordan had six rings, with no dominant big man. Kobe has yet to win a ring without Shaq, coming into this year Bryant and the Lakers had yet win a playoff series since Shaq departed. Winning these Finals would begin the process of making the comparison more palatable.
Comments:
I really do despise Kobe; I think he's a "basketball bitch," as my friend Neil liked to say. The fact that Gasol was gift-wrapped to LA makes him even easier to not like.
That said, I do get the same feeling I did with Jordan when he has the ball: that he can score anytime he wants.
That said, I do get the same feeling I did with Jordan when he has the ball: that he can score anytime he wants.
a. c.- I do agree it seems Kobe can score at will. As yet he doesn't play Jordan-esque defense or will his teammates to be better.
This series is a real opportunity for him to take it to the next level, to move into the realm of the Jordan conversation. Scoring 81 points is nice, but its the rings that count.
He is impossible to like, makes A-Rod look like a bon vivant.
It is going to be easy to root for the Celtics.
You got a prediction?
This series is a real opportunity for him to take it to the next level, to move into the realm of the Jordan conversation. Scoring 81 points is nice, but its the rings that count.
He is impossible to like, makes A-Rod look like a bon vivant.
It is going to be easy to root for the Celtics.
You got a prediction?
One time in they put a camera in the huddle at the end of a timeout during a playoff game, between the third and fourth quarters and Jordan was admonishing his teammates: "Let's put these guys away fast, I want to rest the last four minutes." That's the killer mentality and the foresightedness (is that a word?) that wins championships.
I fear the Lakers are going to win, so it's hard for me to make a real prediction even though I've seen both teams. If Ray Allen scores I feel like the Celtics can hang, but their perimeter D is pretty awful. Maybe the let Kobe get his and let Garnett shut down Lebron -- that's actually a really good match-up for the Celtics, especially if Gasol has to gaurd Garnett.
I fear the Lakers are going to win, so it's hard for me to make a real prediction even though I've seen both teams. If Ray Allen scores I feel like the Celtics can hang, but their perimeter D is pretty awful. Maybe the let Kobe get his and let Garnett shut down Lebron -- that's actually a really good match-up for the Celtics, especially if Gasol has to gaurd Garnett.
I too fear the Lakers, the best player, plus the best coach is a tough combo to overcome.
I wonder who is going to guard Garnett. I don't think the Lakers have anyone who can do it...but will K.G. really grab the series by the throat? I hope so, but I'd put my Bejamins down on Kobe.
I think foresight becomes forethought when it is described in the past as a state of mind.
Post a Comment
I wonder who is going to guard Garnett. I don't think the Lakers have anyone who can do it...but will K.G. really grab the series by the throat? I hope so, but I'd put my Bejamins down on Kobe.
I think foresight becomes forethought when it is described in the past as a state of mind.
