Kobe on Critics: ‘I Don’t Play For Your [Expletive] Approval’

@truthteller: Respect

Kobe is 6 right now on my list and little kids on this site need to go watch some MJ games from the 1990′s and see how he played. He missed shots, chucked shots, missed teammates, ran off teammates and missed 20 shots in a deciding game to win a ring against Utah. Its so weird, Kobe is the closest thing to MJ ever, but people act like he can’t play and has done nothing. If you take MJ out of the conversation and just look at Kobe career, you see ALL that he has accomplished and his career still has to me 5 to 7 years. When the GREATEST player ever, states KOBE can be compared to him, people need to recognize, because GAME recognize GAME. Larry Bird, some people feel is over Kobe, even stated that KOBE is his favorite player in the NBA, because of his GAME and PASSION. Imagine if KOBE had the luxury of BIRD to play with about 4 HoFAMERS on his teams. I am done, Kobe lost tonight, people will talk junk about him, but DUDE just doesn’t care. BOOK IT!!

Caboose, you are mentally ill.

their inability to score without him* creating…….typo there. BTW, I still don’t think Kobe would’ve cracked the 50% FG% barrier. I would say he would consistently be in the 47-48% barrier and have more assists if he had the kind of team MJ had when he won the titles. Give or take with regards to the rest of the stats and the championships.

@Healse…….in the POs, Kobe played 219 games, put up 4446 shots and 1610 FTs while Jordan played 179 games, put up 4497 shots ( Seriously?! ) and 1766 FTs. One’s called selfish. Seriously, Kobe can’t win. Take more shots and avg. more 30 pt games than Jordan and be called selfish or not take them and be called inferior to MJ.

@Drig, dude you didn’t even mention hand-checking. MJ shot better and defenses were allowed to hand-check him…

That’s a better stance, Caboose. Now, ask yourself this : Do you honestly think that MJ didn’t benefit from the kind of D and the team makeup with regards to his individual achievements? Do you honestly think Kobe always shoots like he does just because he wants to?? The answer to both is no. I’ve already stated Kobe’s FG% will not be near the 50% barrier even if both of them are given a fair shake ( MJ would probably get 47-48% max in Kobe-role on these laker teams ). And I wish you wouldn’t bring up 04 lol. That was the worst low I’ve suffered as a Laker-Kobe fan. Double whammy of both sinking at the same time. Kobe effed up the series for us with his bad shooting ( some great D, some really effed up shot selection and some really bad botched calls )and Malone was out. I get it. He screwed up badly in 04 and I believe most of it was because Kobe-Shaq was running on fumes. But I don’t see how that changes how I said that he is a better scorer???? I mean, take 08-10. Kobe took over 550 shots each time ( and shot at a similar clip if not more vs Celts and Magic ), and the team won twice and lost once.

Heals, read my conversation with Seed and Maniac, most Kobe defenders don’t respond to facts. Drig, I’m sorry, but that is pure conjecture. Why do you think Jordan would shoot a worse percentage when perimeter defenses are looser, interior D is less tough, and Jordan would have it EASIER in Kobe’s role (given Shaq and the same coach)?

WHOA!! WHOA!…
Terrence Williams? That dude is GOAT, man. smh. lol

Caboose……….because Jordan would face doubles by long lanky defenders( and we know he found it tough vs the Pistons and their semi-zones ), Jordan would be forced to play more in the half court with a big man in the paint and hence be forced to shoot more from the perimeter to prevent D from collapsing into the paint ( Seriously, as a Laker fan, I’ve seen it so many times I feel sick just thinking about it ). Remind me again how it is more easier for Jordan to score with Shaq???? Shaq was a very good passer but NEVER LIKED to play the screen and roll as well….BTW, a double by average defenders is always harder to overcome than a single coverage by a very good defender man. Just by that logic, it’s pretty obvious why it would fall. Seriously, if you guys want me to prove anything with regards to who being the better scorer without resorting to conjecture and only relying on stats ( which donot show such intricacies ), there’s no way.

BTW, if anyone’s interested, regarding Game 4 vs OKC : There were four instances, that I counted, in the 4th quarter in which Gasol should’ve taken an open 12-15 footer. Instead, he decided to play hot potato with the ball. Three times it FORCED Kobe to take ridiculous shots as the shot clock was winding down, the 4th instance was the turnover late. Kobe jacks up enough dumb shots, he doesn’t need his teammates helping him jack up any more. I’ve seen JT quoting 2/10 stat somewhere and sometimes, I just wish guys would watch Laker games more……..

Philo, I get the fact that we get more wishy washy calls now. I assumed the increased play from the perimeter would compensate for the additional calls MJ would get and estimated he would get as many FTA per game as a Durant/ LBJ would have. Give or take 1 and it still wouldn’t make too much difference.

Uhm, the 3 years in question (the only 3 years of Kobe’s career he wasn’t playing with either Shaq or Pau Gasol) are 2005-2008. Maybe make sure you actually read the words you are arguing over. Instead of wasting so much time typing something irrelevant.

This douche is such an [expletive] DIVA. Hope okc brings these fools down a peg or two.

Do y’all see The King?
Without question, the Greatest Player on the Face of the Earth.

Oh.
And Wade has a nice bounce back game. Nice show of heart. He always had heart.

Shaq > Kobe

Well Kobe, I don’t give a **** you don’t give a ****. But you still lost the game for your team. Doesn’t change the fact that your ‘clutch’ shooting has been non existent for the past 4 years.

@Caboose……I understand and respect that. I also understand and respect the fact that MJ is a better two way player than Kobe is. Why is it so hard to see the deck was stacked against Kobe being an effective shooter because of the way he HAD to play to make the team work???? I didn’t say Kobe would easily be more efficient than MJ. Hell, I stated twice that Kobe wouldn’t even break the 50% barrier. What I did say was that his efficiency would improve to 47-48% and that with his better shooting from 3pt land makes him a better scorer in my book. I guess it ultimately comes down to whether you like the stats to support your argument more than what you see or vice versa. I don’t have any problem with either side but I wish people wouldn’t brush aside what Kobe’s done on O throughout his career without watching too many games and simply watching the boxscore and say “Look, he’s a ballhog-selfish etc”

THE SEED has some valid points… gotta agree with most.. but I have kobe higher than 6th all time.. and he’s still playing and a top 5 player in the L on any list.. unreal.. he’ll prolly win one more ring before he is done.. a couple more first team all NBA spots to boot.. let’s just enjoy the player he is and not over analyze based on stats.. as THE SEED said, if Jordan said you can compare Kobe to him then why are people saying we can’t? Jordan recognizes the skill and footwork and passion, not the stats.

@Drig, read quotes from guys who played with Shaq, he “gave” guys careers and nice paychecks with all the open 3′s and drive-and-kick shots his presence created. You’re having to go above and beyond to move your position inches, while those of us who disagree are covering ground like a young Bo Jackson (powerful and quick). A big man getting 2x teamed is never a detriment to SG’s regardless of their skill set. I saw your argument and know it’s wrong. Watch teams with subpar C’s play basketball (see Atl v Bos before Horford got healthy) or even play ball for that matter. Life is hell when you’re a SG and the D doesn’t worry one bit about your C offensively (see names mentioned above). Your argument that playing with those big men was a detriment to Kob’s shooting prowess is asinine at best…

I hate when people say we should go by how we feel while watching him play instead of looking at concrete stats. Can someone please post a link to were Jordan said that? Oh and arguments that say Kobe playing with Shaq or Pau made it harder for him, well then I’ll bump the stats you want if you give back 3-4 chips.

Shutup, Heals, you can’t win here. Kobe fans dislike actual stats because they directly disprove everything they believe in. Every other top 10 player has concrete evidence to justify their place. Kobe has feel. Here’s an interesting question, has Kobe ever been the majority-considered best player in the league? I say no, but I’m open to alternatives.

Stats are for snotty nosed four eyed freaks playing tuff guy expert in mommys basement

Top 2 most arrogant sportsmen. The other being Cristiano Ronaldo.