The hate is strong in this one.

P.S. It is very obvious I am a bad basketball fan. I've never watched NBA before LBJ. I bandwagoned him, then followed him to MIA. But it should be noted that I have improved some, because I still don't really like MIA because LBJ is a much bigger douche and I don't like the rest of the team(Maybe sans white trash Miller). I also have noted I am moving to Chicago and would enjoy liking the team that I get to watch whenever, but have also noted that I can't just bandwagon them with all the DRose crap. Neither of these are really making me a crappy basketball fan, but much more of an improving one.

I obviously do not mean this. I mean he does not in any way use optimal game theory. He could use his talents in much better ways to improve his team above and beyond what it was pretty much every year they won the championship. Most of it revolves around not taking constant stupid shots when Pau Gasol is wide open.

I would still rather let Kobe have the ball down the stretch than anyone else. and if its between him and fisher taking the last shot, im still opting for Kobe. I understand you dislike his shot selection at times becuase he will take 2 tough caron butler esque shots down the stretch to force a bucket but Ive come to accept it. He is still one of the bests ever

ya basketball players are known for using optimal game theory

SchererBoy, your opinions on Kobe don't surprise me much - as you're pretty much the Kobe of TZ. Too many bad shots that miss a whole lot.

Not personal, btw.

I as more or less joking about that anyway, I find these debates about who and what are "real fans" to be pretty tedious.

You're saying Kobe could use his talents in much better ways? He just lets Pau stand wide open under the basket while he takes jumper after jumper covered by three and sometimes four guys? C'mon Schwallie! Hate Kobe all you want but you know better. The Lakers have been in the NBA finals three years in a row. I don't think Kobe is hurting his team all that much.

Now if you change your argument to this: Sometimes Kobe takes ridiculous shots when he should be looking to pass and I'm surprised it hasn't hurt the team more. Then I'd agree with you 100%. I've said time and again Kobe needs to be a little smarter with his shot selection and give up taking the 28 foot heat checkers. It isn't going to happen though. It's funny that people think the Lakers are capable of getting a great shot every possession. Sometimes teams just play good defense and force other teams into taking tough shots. Whenever that happens to the Lakers it's always Kobe who is the one putting up the prayer. Is there anyone else you'd rather have shooting under those circumstances?

I always find it odd that people talk about Kobe like he's MJ: "he could get a great shot off in every possession but instead takes stupid jumpers". Yes, shot selection is an issue with him (and always was) but maybe he's just not as good as you might guess from his skillset.

the real issue is kobe just isn't good enough at getting easy shots for himself like almost all all-time greats are.

exactly

ya well my point is kobe still plays amazing basketball and who gives a **** if some older guys played it better

getting all upset about it and not enjoying good stuff is silly

I wish you guys were all like jetto - just a fan of the game

agree cald, getting to watch a top 30 player of all time should be something that we should all appreciate

thanks for the support epip

yup probably this. If a 30% shot is the best you can get with Bynum, Odom, Gasol, and X three point shooter, then I guess he needs to take it. I just think a very solid amount of his shots are uncalled for in late game situations, and it's infuriating for me to watch with the guys I like and I could never explain it away for Kobe. At least Rose mostly goes to the hole.

Then again, LBJ has given up late game duties when not only has he been historically better than Wade at it(I think), but he has actually been better and more efficient in every way this year as well, even with the media saying how bad he has been(I know this, and he has been better than Wade in every way but 3pt% if it's within 3 points at 24 seconds or less, 1 minute or less, or 5 minutes or less). That kind of segued there, but what I was saying is its also infuriating to watch Wade get shots when LBJ should be taking them, which is also bad game theory and annoying to watch.

was in mood to NBA all night long, but holy **** that has to be the worst 4 games in a night in nba history

Exactly how good am I saying Kobe is?


And what Caldarooni said in the post above. I enjoy Kobe for being Kobe. Sure he takes the occasional heat checker and it can be frustrating at times but it comes with the package. Kobe isn't perfect but he's pretty darn good and as long as the Lakers continue to be one of the best teams in the league I'm not going to be looking to change anything about him anytime soon.

Nah I like watching him. I'd hate watching him if I was a fan of the team. I can't stand seeing LBJ or Wade chuck up 2 point shots with their foot on the line, and I could only imagine rooting for the Lakers and watching the massacre of shot selection Kobe puts on display nightly.

http://espn.go.com/blog/truehoop/pos...in-crunch-time

now you get it jetto. I'm obv kidding, I'd kill for a guy of Kobe's caliber to be on my team right now.

I guess that's a good spot for a K-Love joke

HATE HATE HATE HATE

So it's pretty much been determined that Sullinger is staying at Ohio St. He's said it, his buddies have said, and his dad has confirmed this. Have there been any recent cases of college players that are all but guaranteed to be top 5 picks that stay in school? What do you think his reasoning might be?

TomCollins, in this OSU Football thread, brings in this perspective:


Thoughts?

you only have yourself to blame if you're listening to skip bayless

NY doods -

Any chance Toney Douglas is the PG of the future in Mecca? He plays some defense and has responded positively to the extra minutes he's been fed. That said, he doesn't look very impressive on paper and I have no clue about his PnR abilities. Thoughts?

yeah i love following sports, but not watching ESPN has restored some of my sanity

Tim Duncan would have been the #1 overall pick after any of his 4 years.