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|  #1 Posted on 26.10.03 2252.20
Reposted on: 26.10.10 2253.49 | Shaq Calls Lakers 'My Team'
Granted that Shaq and Kobe don't like each other (or at the very least wouldn't hang out with each other for a beer after practice), but with Shaq hinting at Kobe to leave the team if he doesn't like it, this is the strongest exchange between the two I've seen. Could this possibly be enough for Kobe to opt out at the end of the season if things don't get smoothed over? | Promote this thread! |             | drjayphd
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| #2 Posted on 26.10.03 2319.41
Reposted on: 26.10.10 2321.21 | I'm pretty sure Kobe said he was opting out anyway. Either way, allow me to start doing an ass dance in celebration of this latest turmoil. 
(Yes, I'm tired of Shaq, what ever gave you that idea?) | JayJayDean
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| #3 Posted on 27.10.03 0811.15
Reposted on: 27.10.10 0823.09 | My favorite line from the story is the last one:
"Said O'Neal: 'Just ask Karl and Gary why they came here. One person, not two. One. Period. ... I'm not telling [Bryant] how to play his position. I'm telling him how to play team ball.'"
Does it make me a bad person if I think Shaq's right on the money there? Would Karl Malone and Gary Payton have gone to LA if it were just Kobe, Mr. BallHogICanDoEverythingMyselfandDon'tNeedtoMakeMyTeammatesBetter? I think it unlikely. | Kawshen
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| #4 Posted on 27.10.03 1153.08
Reposted on: 27.10.10 1153.13 | Putting the case aside (which seems to be impossible these days when there is Kobe discussion....)
Could the Lakers possibly trade Kobe and get 2 or 3 decent players? It's better than losing him and getting nothing in return at least. | HitTheSnoozeButton
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| #5 Posted on 27.10.03 1406.57
Reposted on: 27.10.10 1406.58 | Originally posted by JayJayDean
My favorite line from the story is the last one:
"Said O'Neal: 'Just ask Karl and Gary why they came here. One person, not two. One. Period. ... I'm not telling [Bryant] how to play his position. I'm telling him how to play team ball.'"
Does it make me a bad person if I think Shaq's right on the money there? Would Karl Malone and Gary Payton have gone to LA if it were just Kobe, Mr. BallHogICanDoEverythingMyselfandDon'tNeedtoMakeMyTeammatesBetter? I think it unlikely.
No, it just makes you a sensible person. Bryant in my opinion, is nothing more than Pippen to Shaq's Jordan. Yes, I know that they are totally different players, I know the ways I could be torn a new one for saying that, but the bottom line is, no Shaq, no title. No Kobe, title still within reach. Kobe makes me sick...always has, always will. | BOSsportsfan34
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| #6 Posted on 27.10.03 1549.47
Reposted on: 27.10.10 1552.30 | Originally posted by Kawshen
Putting the case aside (which seems to be impossible these days when there is Kobe discussion....)
Could the Lakers possibly trade Kobe and get 2 or 3 decent players? It's better than losing him and getting nothing in return at least.
Sure they can, as long as the salaries match up per the CBA.
The question is; would another team give up 2 or 3 decent players with the strong possibility of either Kobe opting out after this season (1 year rental) or Kobe doing jail time? | DJ FrostyFreeze
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| #7 Posted on 27.10.03 1730.04
Reposted on: 27.10.10 1733.18 | Originally posted by BOSsportsfan34
Kobe opting out after this season (1 year rental) or Kobe doing jail time?
Now THAT'S an interesting question I hadnt thought of yet. I dont think any other team will touch him until the end of the trial (IF it goes Kobe's way, that is).
I'll be the first to admit that the recent wave of Kobe/Shaq trash-talking in the media had me a little nervous for a second (Dont tell Shocker I said that). But now that I've had a day to think about it, I've calmed down.
Here's my take:
There's nothing really wrong with what Shaq initially said, which was something like "Kobe should probably pass the ball more until he gets his legs back". Cant argue with that, Kobe's said himself that he's not gonna be back at 100% physically until December or so. So then Kobe, already under a lot of pressure for reasons I dont have to explain here, took that comment a little too personally (and I dont appreciate the media going back and forth between the 2 of them like lil' biatches telling one guy what the other said about him over and over), got a little defensive, and basically said "I got all my ish together. He doesnt need to worry about me. I'll worry about me, he should worry about him." Of course word of that response SOMEHOW got back to Shaq (media biatches), who inturn got a little defensive himself, and so on and so forth. No big whoop.
But I think Shaq was right on the money with his first comment. | DrewDewce
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| #8 Posted on 27.10.03 1839.40
Reposted on: 27.10.10 1840.29 | Wow. If you have ESPNews see if they're running what Jim Grey said at the end of the 6-7:30 SportsCenter from a phone conversation he had with Kobe. You almost never hear anyone really talk that way in public, and techically Kobe didn't since it was apparently told to Jim Grey over the phone, but wow.
Those of us who are Laker haters are lovin' it.
Edit: I'd post what Grey said, but even HE was having trouble reading all of his notes. Suffice to say, Kobe is pissed and he's retaliating against Shaq in just about every sense of the word.
(edited by DrewDewce on 27.10.03 1641) | Malfunkshon
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| #9 Posted on 27.10.03 1845.59
Reposted on: 27.10.10 1847.58 | Jim Gray, an ESPN NBA reporter had a recent interview with Kobe Bryant. Kobe had some harsh words to spew....
Kobe: "Nobody really cares who the leader of this team is. Only Shaq wants to make it a big deal. But if Shaq wants to be the so-called leader, he shouldnt be coming to camp fat and overweight and sloppy"
"If Shaq is supposed to be a leader, then why is he begging for a new contract? Leaders dont beg."
"Most likely, I will not play in the opener. I have a bum knee, and im not ready yet. I definitely need no advice from Shaq about playing hurt, though. I've played with numerous injuries before. I dont take 15 games off because of a stupid toe that no one took seriously"
"If I leave the Lakers after this season, one main reason will be because of Shaq's childish antics"
"If Shaq is supposed to be my big brother, why wasnt he there for me during these hearings. Even Tiger Woods and Michael Jordan called me and gave me support, but Shaq was nowhere to be found. So now its come to this..."
There was more, but I cant remember it.
Ouch. | Big Bad
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| #10 Posted on 27.10.03 1947.13
Reposted on: 27.10.10 1948.05 |
Kobe opting out after this season (1 year rental) or Kobe doing jail time?
A team in the East, desperate to match up with the Western powers, might give it a shot. Also, I very much doubt that LA would deal Kobe to a team in the West anyway, unless it was Golden State or the Clippers. | Swordsman Yen
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| #11 Posted on 28.10.03 0026.24
Reposted on: 28.10.10 0026.24 | "When all else fails, blame it on the media." -- Lucy from Peanuts
Had to dedicate that quote to Frosty there. 
Kobe Critical of Shaq's Leadership And here I was thinking that the NBA's most bitter rivalry was Lakers/Kings...
(edited by Swordsman Yen on 27.10.03 2227) | Stefonics
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| #12 Posted on 28.10.03 0036.41
Reposted on: 28.10.10 0038.38 | If those comments were direct quotes, then Kobe really is a sad, bitter, envious piece of shit. Who the fuck is Kobe to talk about what a leader should or should not do? Should a leader cheat on his wife? Should a leader allow himself to be put in a position to be accused of rape? Should a leader let everyone in the world know that he fully intends to opt out of his contract and test the free agent waters after this season? Kobe even admits (between the lines) that Shaq was correct with his criticism. Kobe: "Most likely, I will not play in the opener. I have a bum knee, and I'm not ready yet." Really? Wow, that's just what Shaq was saying. Until you're fully capable of bringing your "A" game, pass the rock more often than normal.
Then he has the balls to scapegoat Shaq by saying: "If I leave the Lakers after this season, one main reason will be because of Shaq's childish antics". Everyone knew he was gone after this season anyway. Why bring Shaq into the mess? He's leaving because he doesn't feel that he deserves to play second fiddle to anyone. That really shows the character Bryant has. To give up the chance to win more championships with proven winners like O'Neal and Jackson just so he could "shine" on some second class team shows me, as a fan, that he would rather play streetball than organized basketball. He's more interested in boosting his own reputation and stats than winning titles. When he leave LA after this season, I know I won't be shedding any tears.
Edit: I was going under the assumption that the quotes provided by the wiener above were direct. After reading the linked interview, a majority of things were left out. My position on Kobe still stands, but with a little bit of a change. Kobe seems to be blaming both Shaq and Phil for holding his game back. Shaq because the big man got upset when the offense was ran through Kobe and Phil because he defered to the big man in those situations. There is no doubt in my mind that this clown is gone from LA after this season, or maybe even before. The Lakers don't need him. As Kobe said, they brought in two future Hall of Famers. Trade him straight up for Melo Anthony and see how well Kobe does when he has a team all for himself to run. At least Melo won't be a prick.
(edited by Kidbrooklyn on 28.10.03 0147) | Jaguar
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| #13 Posted on 28.10.03 0244.12
Reposted on: 28.10.10 0244.54 | Both Kobe and Shaq come across as egocentric assholes. I have to side with Kobe here, because he's under a lot of pressure from the trial right now, and Shaq could've been the better man and not added to it. Shaq did no such thing. So while Kobe may be an asshole (and a rapist - wheee) Shaq is definately an asshole, and who wants to play with a gigantic asshole on their team? Maybe if it was getting you championships, but the Lakeshow proved last year that it's not a sure thing.
-Jag | Broncolanche
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| #14 Posted on 28.10.03 1002.02
Reposted on: 28.10.10 1002.08 | Originally posted by Kidbrooklyn
Trade him straight up for Melo Anthony
Hell no. | redsoxnation
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| #15 Posted on 28.10.03 1014.13
Reposted on: 28.10.10 1014.55 | I Hate LA, so I am enjoying this. However, someone should remind Kobe that when Shaq was out last season, the Lakers sucked. So, if the Lakers are going to have to have only one of them, I'm assuming it'll be the guy who can pull a 40-25 on 23 shots instead of a guy who can score 40 on 47 shots.
Also, Jim Gray is now Kobe's Ahmed Rashad. Kobe must wish that Jim was in Colorado in June, because he wouldn't have had the need to have the girl from the front desk come up, and no trial would be occurring. | Grimis
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| #16 Posted on 28.10.03 1029.59
Reposted on: 28.10.10 1030.20 | | All this NBA talk reminds me that there are only 3 and half weeks until the tip off of the college season... | It's False
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| #17 Posted on 29.10.03 1625.31
Reposted on: 29.10.10 1626.47 | Originally posted by Jaguar
Both Kobe and Shaq come across as egocentric assholes. I have to side with Kobe here, because he's under a lot of pressure from the trial right now, and Shaq could've been the better man and not added to it. Shaq did no such thing. So while Kobe may be an asshole (and a rapist - wheee) Shaq is definately an asshole, and who wants to play with a gigantic asshole on their team? Maybe if it was getting you championships, but the Lakeshow proved last year that it's not a sure thing.
-Jag
I was probably the only one in Lakerland NOT rejoicing over the roster additions and NOT screaming "INSTANT CHAMPIONSHIP!" and you can see why. The boat's starting to sink under the weight of so many egos.
I never thought I'd find a team where Gary Payton WASN'T the biggest ego on the roster! | Torchslasher
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| #18 Posted on 30.10.03 0029.34
Reposted on: 30.10.10 0029.44 | Well, hold on. Let's all remember how Shaq did before Kobe. He won NO world championships with Orlando. I think Kobe took it too far, but he looks to be dead-on about Shaq's weight problems and his antics. Remember, Shaq brought this upon himself. I think Shaq does need Kobe more than Kobe needs Shaq.
Now I hope Shaq succeeds in LA because the Lakers are my team, but I really hope Kobe does well because he is more dynamic than Shaq. Yes, Kobe made a mistake at the very least (the alleged rape), but that doesn't mean he can't talk about Shaq in terms of basketball. Here's to hopefully proving the old adage true that winning solves lots of problems. | Stefonics
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| #19 Posted on 30.10.03 0831.39
Reposted on: 30.10.10 0833.26 | | I don't know about you, but Shaq looks like he dropped a good 20-40 pounds in the offseason this year. So the fat comment is out of line. As for Shaq needing Kobe more than Kobe needs Shaq, that's just ridiculous. It was proven last year that the Lakers were a mediocre team at best without the big man. I agree with redsoxnation when he says that the guy who pulls down 40-25 on 23 shots is worth more to the team than the guy who can score 40 on 47 shots. And you're right. Shaq didn't win any titles in Orlando, but they did go to the NBA Finals. Losing that series wasn't embarassing either. Hakeem was very much in his prime when a very green Shaq attempted to hold him down. Had he stayed in Orlando, the question wouldn't have been whether or not he would have won a title, it would have been how many will he win. | j9479
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| #20 Posted on 30.10.03 2022.28
Reposted on: 30.10.10 2023.51 | it is of my opinion that in the west moreso that a giant at center is way more integral than a skilled guard.
this is why Shaq is more important than Kobe; the Lakers looked much like a better version of the Magic last season when Shaq was out; you got your lead scorer (Lakers = Kobe, Magic = McGrady) and you got the rest filling it out with 10 or so points a game.
now, when you have a center like Shaq alongside a skilled guard, you get another 25 or so points, plus a defensive killer on the paint... and that is how you get to be a legit contender, and one of those teams that always seems to show up in the finals.
so basically, with the Lakers team nowadays, Kobe is a nice addition, but if i'm the team, i'm not sweating it too much if he isn't starting every game.
and to quote the above poster..... imagine if Shaq stuck around long enough to wait for Mc Grady?
(edited by j9479 on 30.10.03 1825) |
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