Monday, April 26th, 2010 at 11:45 am  |  47 responses

Kobe Bryant Not Too Worried About OKC

Following the Lakers’ beatdown at the hands of the Thunder in Game 4, The Oklahoman spotted Bryant leaving the arena while puffing on a cigar, which they took to mean that he wasn’t all that concerned with his team’s performance in the series: “As Kobe Bryant strolled out of the Ford Center following the Thunder’s 110-89 win in Game 4 on Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star lit up, brazenly lifting a cigar to his lips and puffing merrily just before exiting the building. The trail of smoke reeked of every ounce of arrogance the Lakers have carried into this first-round series. The scene, though, belied the bountiful problems Bryant had just finished confessing in his postgame press conference. By his own admission, Bryant has been affected by a knee injury and is now unsure of the mindset of his once mighty team. And those are just the start of L.A.’s issues. The lone edge the Lakers still own over the Thunder is home-court advantage as this series shifts back to Staples Center deadlocked at 2-2. But make no mistake, the Thunder is now in control of this showdown going into Tuesday night’s Game 5.”

  • Add a Comment
  • Share
  • RSS

Tags: , ,

  • riggs

    kobe bryant puffing on a cigar after reading jordan did the same thing….hmmm.

  • http://www.shawn-kemps-offspring.blogspot.com Eboy

    I think he’s preparing himself for an early off-season and pondering where to spend his extended summer. That, or maybe he was thinking he should match the two morons with the yellow hair on his squad who both contribute nothing to the team.

  • http://Www.slamonline.com Myles Brown

    …….

  • Sovainmag.com

    Respect Kobe, but he needs to worry. OKC has made the Lakers look extremely slow and the Lakers look like they lost a step. Injury plagued? Maybe, but I’m surprised hasn’t dominated seeing as though OKC is a little weak downlow.

  • 6marjons

    douche

  • Brahsef

    He’s a d**che for smokin a cigar and then a third rate newspaper makes a story out of it?

  • BostonBaller

    Didn’t MJ & Pip light up BEFORE the game to send a message? How exactly is this the same? Kobe is his own man.

  • http://www.realcavsfans.com Anton

    The victory cigar…you’re doing it wrong.

  • UnRel

    or maybe it was just a cigar.. nothing more.. nothing less..

  • memyselfand9

    stay blunted kobe.
    reporter forgot to add that he had his be like mike cassette on repeat from then until they flame out of the playoffs.

  • Joey E.

    he shouldn’t be worried. OKC can not win a game at STAPLES. Lakers lucked out. this is just like the Boston/ATL series, or Lakers/Rockets last year. don’t worry

  • Dtown

    Lmao @boston baller .. saying “BEFORE” like it’s that much of a difference. Kobe Imitates Jordan so much but Jordan wouldn’t have went an entire quarter without a bucket.

  • robb

    I love those OKC kids, but the Lakers are gonna win and then they’re going straight to the finals. People don’t believe me, but these series are the toughest the Lakers will have in the West. The Thunder is specially difficult for them because of their speed and athleticism, specially at PG.

  • http://www.mybleedingfingertips.blogspot.com/ Myles Brown

    What he said.

  • The Philosopher

    The Lake Show is in trouble.

  • 6marjons

    he’s a d**che because he’s one of the worlds greatest athletes not looking after his own body – i dont really care what kind of message he’s tryna send. it wasn’t impressive when mj did it, that was a bit d**chey and this is too. It’s just fucking up your personal health and well-being to send a ‘message’. People would kill to have Kobe’s talent/opportunity and he’s finishing his career early by sending a ‘message’.
    Just save it for the court.

  • Th3_R3al_Chris

    While I believe The Lakers will win the series, it’s not as if they are superior to The Thunder in any area but experience. These Thunder remind me a lot like the ’07 Warriors. They are brash, they believe in themselves, and they are talented. Truth be told, The Lakers barely got away with the win in game 2. I think if it goes to 7 games, it’s anybody’s series, but if The Lakers lose Tuesday night, it could be a monumental upset.

  • riggs

    lmao @ Anton

  • Sparker

    i’m just happy to be watching this one

  • Coney Islander

    I said at the end of the season that who ever drew the Thunder first round was gonna lose. Ever laid in bed during a heavy rain shower? Remember how you felt when that Thunder woke you up from your sleep? Keep sleeping Laker nation, keep sleeping.

  • http://www.nba.com/bobcats Anton

    Hopefully the Lakers step their game up.

  • riggs

    i hope the lakers lose the series, but i KNOW that it would be impossible for the thunder to grab 2 on the road (Especially in LA) but i hope the lakers respect this young team from now on.

  • hillbilly

    “As Kobe Bryant strolled out of the Ford Center following the Thunder’s 110-89 win in Game 4 on Saturday night, the Los Angeles Lakers’ star lit up, brazenly lifting a cigar to his lips and puffing merrily just before exiting the building.
    Mr. Bryant then proceeded to use the aforementioned stogy to pop the balloons of several special needs children waiting to board a bus outside the arena. Seemingly oblivious to their anguished cries, he sauntered casually across the street to a pet store & purchased several adorable puppies. Once outside, he began cackling maniacally & tossing them, one at a time into oncoming traffic.”
    (Wow. Just…wow.) SMH

  • http://www.slamonline.com/ niQ

    The Unvictory Cigar.

  • Exile

    I love the Thunder’s athleticism and game. I love KD’s class. But, lets be clear…Mamba’s Lakers will get by this series. Is Kobe worried… probably not… but is he torqued? More than likely.

  • http://Egotastic.com Michael

    Seemingly not Worried? Kobe’s been saying the series was going to be a dogfight since before it started.

  • andrew

    Remember the Lakers are the World Champions so every team that plays them steps it up a notch, back to back rings are not easy, I love that they are being tested, but when they are pushed to the edge and they cant be pushed no more, i promise they will get it done ther simply to talented. To all the haters who hate the Lakers thers only one reason why, Rings Rings Rings Rings…………

  • vtrobot

    the lakers barely won the finals last year. if courtney puts in that lob and nelson steps up to defend a 3, it’s 3-1 ORL and not the other way around. i don’t think an occasional cigar is really that bad for your health, but it doesn’t help your douchiness if you’ve just had your azz handed to you prior to you firing it up. perhaps it was a blunt that morrison packed for him. i’m sure ron is on that program because there’s no way that he was sober when he let someone do that to his hair. better shave that off now or really contribute to your team winning the series. losing to a # 8 is really bad. losing to a # 8 while you have that hair cut? i don’t even know how to describe that.

  • BostonBaller

    I’m glad I gave you a laugh Dtown, 2 many fans take this 2 seriously. lol. Was he inhaling? Dr. Dre gave him that OakTown stogie. hahaha

  • http://www.alloutblitz..com Cordeazy

    crazy thought, but maybe he just likes cigars and it has no implication on this playoff series (other than the resultant shortness of breath that smoking contributes to over time)?….no? ok.

  • http://www.sonicbids.com doyouwantmore

    Sorry, but Kobe Bryant is just not the sharpest tool in the shed if you know what I mean.

  • http://www.sonicbids.com doyouwantmore

    It should have been Seattle celebrating this playoff run.

  • LA Huey

    @doyouwantmore, just because the “Sonics” don’t play HERE anymore, doesn’t mean we’ve lost our disdain for the Lakers. =)

  • Donovan

    Kobe knows Sternbot will not allow the Lakers to lose in LA. I bet Kobe shoots at list 10-15 free throws in game 5.

  • The Philosopher

    @hillbilly: Good sh!+.

  • jorge

    You guys don’t get it!! Kobe is telling Gasol and Bynum: “see waht happens when I pass the rock to your weak, fragile little behinds. I did this on purpose. You guys can call Shaq, he’ll tell you!!
    Odom, you want to join the party because you’re another weak, fragile, (versatile….) player. Let’s make you tougher….let’s get you involved with a Kardashian and show it on tv so they get an idea how tough you are!!.

  • Cool Dude

    “Donovan Posted: Apr.26 at 6:31 pm

    Kobe knows Sternbot will not allow the Lakers to lose in LA. I bet Kobe shoots at list 10-15 free throws in game 5. ”

    Sorta like Durant by himself shot 13 FT vs the entire Lakers shooting 12 FT right?

  • http://www.stuffwhitepeoplelike.com Tarzan Cooper

    Mr bean better be worried. His team is getting steppd on by the too young to win thunder. While mr bean is overconfident chiefn on modified swishers, kevin durant and westbrook are not satisfied with two wins

  • http://www.youtube.com/ The Promise

    Well, they are the champions, so they can be arrogant if they want to. But at the same time, They went through game 5 like it meant nothing. Kobe didnt even play the 4th quarter. But I think thats more of a coaching move my Phil to have him well rested for game 5, because they have to have it. If they lose next game, I say the Lakers are done, because I don’t see them winning in OKC. But this is a different series than it was 3 or 4 games ago, because OKC got the jitters out, and they figured out how to beat them. You cant just try to shut down Kobe, because now, he has teammates, and if you leave them open, they will knock down shots on you, so what you have to do is, in my opinion, is try to lock down the supporting cast, while putting Durant on Kobe, which is what they did in game 3, from what I got to see, and I worked, cause Kobe had a really hard time shootig over those long arms. Gasol is the key. They can’t let him get going, cause if he does, it opens up the perimeter, and Fisher can kill you with his shooting, so can Kobe when he heats up from the 3. Their best chance is to leave Artest open because he has failed to knock down shots lately, and he seems to be having a hard time finding his niche in the offense even still. And even if they do all that, its gonna be really hard to beat L.A. at Staples. I’ll be suprised if they pull it off. L.A. will be ready, they feel the urgency, I’m sure. Don’t get your hopes up for an upset.

  • Logues

    kobe needs to stop trying to be like jordan, he will never be like jordan

  • Jazz

    Jorge is right…this is about Kobe showing his team mates what happens when Kobe dose not show up….See you guys can’t even handle these OKC Kids. It took a while for Gasol to understand what Kobe was really doing because as you can see even Gasol stopped playing after while.

    Guys..learn from LeBron…he did a James Brown on Chi Town “it’s the big payback”. Do you really think OKC can take the Lakers???…please..keep dreaming…hahah

  • fahrenheit

    i dont know what is worse, kobe trying to be like mike, or all the idiots trying to make his every move something he took from mj. beyond ridiculous. get a life people.

  • JoeMaMa

    Fahrenheit just told himself to get a life. Am I right?

  • fahrenheit

    exactly.

  • JoeMaMa

    you have one, fahrenheit. here with us. now excuse me while I cry in the shower.

  • jorge

    I give Kobe a lot of respect for what he’s done for LA. At the same time, he cannot be compared to MJ. He’s way above that. MJ loved the game to the point where He wouldn’t sabotage a game to prove a point. MJ would have said: “PHIL, I AM GOING TO GUARD WESTBROOK…SO YOU HAVE NO SAY ON THAT, at the same time I will make Artest guard Durant and I will compete with Artest to see who can keep their player to their lowest points…At the same time, I am goint to score 30 points. And every time the ref’s don’t blow the wistle, I will get back on D and won’t stay there complaining like a selfish kid!!!
    So please, don’t compare Kobe to MJ.

  • jorge

    Damn….I should be a coach….”PHIL, I AM GOING TO GUARD WESTBROOK”….Finally Kobe!!!

Advertisement