Face It: Kobe Failed

We've been getting all these angry comments and insults from very frustrated people regarding the Lakers' loss in Game 7, Kobe's role in it and Kobe's career in general. So I just thought I'd clear up a few things.

These are claims that people have made and our responses to them.

Claim: We're hypocrates because we tell Kobe to stop shooting, and when he stops shooting we criticize him and call him selsish.

Response: We don't want Kobe to stop shooting. We want Kobe to shoot intelligently (i.e. not when he's double- or triple-teamed, work with his teammates to create plays, and pass the ball to his teammates when they're open. I personally didn't criticize him for taking 35 shots in Game 6 because he actually made 20 of them. That said, someone taking that many shots can break up the rhythm of the team, leaving the other players cold, which takes away the effectiveness of the team's game. But, I could live with that. The day Kobe starts shooting an average of 60% from the floor is the day I will be OK with him taking 35 shots a game.

As to what Kobe did in the second half of the game, it is the epitome of selfish. I don't know why he only took 3 shots in the second half. No one will ever know, even if Kobe were to actually give us a straight explanation. Even those who idolize him have to admit that he always says "the right thing," as opposed to the truth. So lets look at the possible explanations for that behavior:

Explanation 1: Kobe wanted to play team ball

Do you really buy that? Had he taken 8-12 shots, I could have bought that explanation. But 3 shots, especially when his team was down 15 points at the half? Come on.

Also, lets say, for argument's sake, he was trying to play team ball. Playing team ball does not just mean not taking a shot everytime the ball is in your hands. It means (especially for a guy like Kobe who claims to be the leader) that you set up picks for your teammates, that you create plays, that you pass the ball to the open guy, and that you play great defense. Did Kobe do any of that? No. He had 1 assist the whole game. I didn't see him create a single play. And, he didn't play good defense, something he had actually improved on throughout the series.

Therefore, that explanation goes out the window.

Explanation 2: Kobe was hurt

Kobe didn't look hurt, he never said he was, and neither did Phil Jackson. So, that explanation goes out the window as well.

Explanation 3: Kobe was trying to prove some sort of point

Whether Kobe was responding to that LA Times article or not, we don't know. However, his behavior is stunningly similar to what he did last time against the Kings. So, a logical conclusion is that he stopped shooting either as a response to some criticism - whether it was the LA Times article, Phil Jackson, or anyone else. That is the explanation that makes the most sense. If you don't agree, write me and tell me what makes sense to you. If this explanation is true, you can't deny that those actions were very selfish. Maybe Kobe shooting more wouldn't have saved the game, or maybe it would have. We'll never know. But his lack of any sort of effort in that second half - on shooting, assists or defense - is nothing but his feeding his own ego.

Claim: Without Kobe, the Lakers would be at the bottom of the barrel.

Response: True, the rest of the team is nothing impressive. Other than Lamar Odom, the rest of the players are, at best, average. However, whose fault is this? It was Kobe that demanded that Shaq be traded, that Phil Jackson leave (and now all of a sudden he says he is chummy with Phil, why the sudden change of heart?), that Gary Payton was too old. Kobe wanted to be THE star, THE leader, THE Laker. So now he is. And now he's complaining that his team is young and inexperienced. He made his own bed and he has to lie in it.

Claim: Shaq hasn't gotten anywhere without Kobe either. Shaq is a nobody because the Heat didn't win a championship last year.

Response: Shaq's Heat made it to the Eastern Conference finals last year and lost to Detroit in 7 games. I think that's a noteworthy accomplishment. Without Shaq, the Heat's was unimpressive in the first half of this season. And, without Shaq, the Lakers didn't make it to the playoffs last year. I think that's proof enough. Also, don't forget: Shaq is 34, Kobe is 27. Shaq is past his prime, Kobe is in his prime.

No one claims that Shaq can win championships by himself. If a star could win a championship completely by himself, teams wouldn't bother paying all these other guys millions of dollars, they would just find 1 star and get some chumps off the street to fill space. However, Shaq is someone who makes a big difference. There are lots of good guards out there - more than 20 than average 20+ a game on a decent percentage. There are very very few good centers though. And no one as dominant as Shaq. No other player in the league commands a double team all the time. And, like I said, this is Shaq at 34, not 27.

Finally, Shaq knows his place. He doesn't go around saying that he can win championships by himself. He is not delusional. He knows he needs a good guard to help him. Unlike Kobe, his arrogance doesn't cloud his judgment.

By the way, this is a blog about hating Kobe, not about loving Shaq. We're not Shaq idolizers here. Shaq has his flaws, just like everyone else. However, it's a fact that when Shaq was there, the Lakers won championships or at least made it to the conference finals. Once he left, they didn't make the playoffs. Period.

Claim: Kobe is loyal to the Lakers.

Response: How quickly we forget. In 2004, Kobe threatened to go to the Clippers unless he got more money from the Lakers and Jerry Buss got rid of Shaq and Phil. The Clippers actually believed this and traded a bunch of players to clear cap space for him. Then, once the Lakers sweetened the deal, he resigned with them, leaving the Clippers in the dust. What a loyal guy.

Claim: The Lakers would choke if they had LeBron, or anyone else other than Kobe.

Response: Maybe, maybe not. The thing is that LeBron doesn't claim that he doesn't need anyone else to win championships. He always emphasizes the need for his teammates. And, at 21, LeBron has already done amazing things for the Cavs. And, LeBron doesn't have someone like Shaq at his side.

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Kobe Lovers, we know you're angry and frustrated. I would be too if I were you. Kobe blew the chance of a lifetime - to prove everyone (including us) wrong. But it's OK, there's always next year, right?