Kobe Bryant was worth anything and the everything the Lakers wanted from the Bulls.
That was never more evident than Tuesday. He just plays on a level two notches above anyone on the Bulls, including Luol Deng.
That is not a very good supporting cast around Kobe. Lamar Odom is a very good talent, but he's not an elite player. Luke Walton? Please.
This is Kobe and some role players, and they still have a good record in the Western Conference.
Kobe is a transcendent force, and you can throw away all those character questions. He's focused and unstoppable.
I think the Bulls missed their chance, but if they get another opportunity, pull the trigger.
Another thing about the Bulls is I think Scott Skiles should just leave Tyrus Thomas on the floor. The guy is just more talented than anyone else on the team, with the possible exception of Luol Deng. Thomas energizes this team with his blocks and dunks, and while I know there's more to basketball than blocks and dunks, and I know he might not be the hardest-worker on the team, you need this guy's talent. I like the way he and Noc play off each other.
Respectfully disagree. If he was all that - he would not have lost to the Suns in game 7 at home. I saw, but wasn't impressed all that much. Another gunner, just like Ai. Unfortunately for us fans - he is one of the top talents in the league. A draw, but not a winner like the Bulls want.
Roman responds: See, I think this proves the theory that if something happened more than 2 months ago, we forget. AI? I don't think so. Kobe won three rings. Yes, they were with Shaq, but Michael won all six with Scottie. Do you not think MJ was a winner?
If we're gonna be in the business of giving up a team for one guy....I would really much rather have LeBron James....
Kobe's great...LeBron is greater-est-lee-er than Kobe
Wouldn't the Cavaliers just as easily give up one guy for four?
Upon watching that game last night, I never thought it was dominant performance by Kobe. In fact, I thought Kobe forced alto of bad shots simply because he thought he could get a shot off.
Ff anything, last night proved how much more cohesive as a team the Lakers are then the Bulls. Playing TT only 20 minutes and having Noah SIT THE WHOLE GAME was a huge mistake by Skiles.
Roman responds: Kobe didn't have a huge game, but he made plays that reminded me of Jordan's brilliance and dominance. He's unbelievable.
Roman responds:
Kobe won three rings. Yes, they were with Shaq, but Michael won all six with Scottie. Do you not think MJ was a winner?
Hitman pushes down KLS (sorry bro)...and interrupts:
MJ won 6 rings without a dominant center...and the 4 west conf. champions they played didn't have a dominant center, either..Scottie was great, but Shaq...do I really need to say it? South Beach, Honey...
OK...ya want a solution?....trade everyone ya have to and maybe some draft picks....Ready John Paxson....Listen Up...
Get Jason Kidd and Kobe Bryant into Chicago...if ya get Kidd first...Kobe will really start to kick and scream ...probably get both deals done in a two day period...
I'm sure Skiles has matured enough as a coach to respect Kidd and Bryant...if not....hey, we got Kidd and Bryant...and a new Coach!!
Well, whattaya waitin for?...Baby Bulls Back to Pitre Dish (Headline contest winner)
I agree with Hitman. LABRON. A winner does what a scorer cant - make others better. If not for Phil Jackson - the Lakers would be a complete mess. I also credit Derek Fisher and Lamar Odom for being the glue of the team. Kobe is a prolific scorer, that is why they still win without him in the lineup. But without Fisher or Odom - they lose at a greater clip.
Who was the last MVP to play for the Lakers? And who was the last MVP to play for the Bulls? There is a DIRECT correlation with the MVP and Championships. MVP leaves - Championships go with him to Miami. Scottie was a great second fiddle - my favorite Bull, but he was part of the reason the Bulls DOMINATED, not the reason they won - just like Kobe.
Yes kobe can be a dominate player but wasn't last night. I fault Skiles for last night's loss.First as Roman pointed out Tyrus should have played more minutes, while he was on the floor good things were happening and the team was energized. Also Gray needs more playing time. It would also appear as if any of the so-called core players is expendable it is Ben Gordon. Hinrich seems to have turned the corner but Gordon is very predictable and more easily defended and still lacks defensive skills.
I defended Skiles last year when Keith was screaming for his head but I now believe he is not a championship caliber coach, a get-the team to the play-offs coach yes....but winner take all coach? I don't think so.
Although the Wizards are a team the Bulls should beat what was significant about the win tonight was the minutes played by both Tyrus and Aaron Gray. Tyrus and Gray played well enough in the first half that Skiles brought therm both back in in the 3rd quarter when the Wizards made a run to get with in 2 points and left them both in for the remainder of the game. Gray put up a double double and Tyrus scored 14 points had 6 rebounds, 2 steals, 2 assists and 3 blocked shots, the last of which resulted in a foul called on Jamison and a technical also and basically sealed the game for the Bulls. Now let's see if Skiles continues to play them measningful minutes.
Isnt trade deadline soon?
Id even wear the damn pink sox hat, if it meant Kobe would come, or LeBron. Id take Gasol at this point.
Good win tonight. Lots of highlights, but Washington is a team in bigger dissaray than we are.
At least Roman see;s the light now!
Gray Had 10 pts - 10 boards- 5 assts tonight!!!!
Roman, your commentary has my vote. We need Kobe and his mere presence on the floor stood out to me. It reminds me of Michael in his prime. He would have 20 and you'd be pressed to remember most of it but he'd make a spectacular play that stood out. That's when you would just think, "damn he's great". I do that when I watch the Lakers and Kobe. Real bad boys move in silence but they always seem to affect everything they're involved in. Kobe has that special gift. For all of you calling Lebron a winner, I have a few thoughts. First, how many rings does he have in his first 4 years? Second, just look at the Bears as an example of a team that may have made it to the big game but you never really thought they had a chance to win. Cleveland got swept in the finals last year. I can guarantee no one here thought they had a chance. Lebron walked through a depleted Washington Wizards team, an overacheiving Toronto team and a Pistons team beat up by a long series with a tough Bulls team. Kobe has 3 rings and he was significant in each victory. Stop overrating Lebron and his "the youngest to" this milestone and that milestone. I remember when Kobe was "the youngest to" back in his first few years in the league. We were all hating on him because he was always passing Jordan as the fastest player to set a milestone. Kobe is the best in the NBA period. I just watched Cleveland get smashed by the Knicks. Last time I checked, Lebron played in that game.
Lakers are going to fail - and its going to be because they dont have a winner - unless Fisher and Odom steps up. And when that happens - look for Kobe to whine whine whine. Its inevitable.
Tim Little - that is why I called Skiles a career killer. He has some very good reasons for wanting to bench a player (lack of effort), but he hurts the overall team when you take the talent out of the lineup like that. Tyrus is our BEST shot-blocker - and without a legitimate starting center - that makes him important. He also takes the ball to the rim with authority. He might not deserve it all the time, but you have to play him. I am so GLAD Ben Wallace is out of the lineup. Dont wish harm on anyone, but this is good for the Bulls. Gray is effective in the post because he is a legit 7'2 Center. He is not as athletic as Bynum, but very capable of giving the Bulls what they are trying to trade for in Gasol. They did right by bring JamesOn back up to. We need scoring from the guard position. When Gordon is cold, we have to have someone come in as spell him like Duhon is doing with Kirk. JamesOn is very important because he can pass and might be the playmaker we need.
Why do you want Kobe now,Brian? Didn't you bring up all his indiscretions including his infidelity as a reason for him not to wear the red and white? Losing a lot sure bring out the change in attitude. I wonder how you're gonna feel about Vick upon his release and the BEARS are without a QB? ...Joking.....
culzie I believe the trade deadline is around February 20th but I wouldn't hold my breath waiting for a blockbuster deal. But just for the sake of discussion would you be willing to trade the two Bens and a draft pick for let's say Gasol and Mike Miller? I believe I would.
Ernest my friend the best in the game period is Mr. Duncan. The best all around Player is LABRON - (that is why he ended up in the finals with a supporting cast who's best player was Boobie Gibson). The best playmaker is Steve Nash. And the most potent scorer is Mr. Bryant. Labron has a worse everything than Kobe, with opposite results. Reminds me of Dominique Wilkins and Michael Jordan.
Vick would be better than Griese...I know that much!!!
Roman responds: Vick would be the Bears' best QB right now, and maybe even when he gets out.
I would even say...LB for LB...Nash is BEST ALL AROUND PLAYER in the game.
Roman, KObe is developing a supporting cast, Andrew Bynum is emerging as one of the better young big men in the game and jordan farmar is a fine point guard. he now has better young talent around him then the bulls can provide. two one sided wins over the bulls this season prove that. As for lebron, let's see what he does this year when he has to play tough teams in the playoffs and not walkovers.
Roman responds: You're right, Kobe is developing those players. He's making them better. That's what the great ones do.
As was mentioned earlier, Aaron Gray can possibly open up the offense much more with his presence, but a Bird, Magic, Jordan, or Kobe presence just blossoms a team to unfathomable heights. Though Bryant has the least desireable demeanor of the past superstars, I'm not seeing enough growth in the team to shy away from the fact we really could have used this guy. Too late for that, but it's not too late to get some of our team owners out to the shooting range to teach them how to 'pull the trigger'!
Kobe developing talent!!! LOL! They are prospering in the triangle under the great phil jackson. Kobe developed them about as much as Alen Iverson developed Andre Igodola, Kyle Korver and the Sixers who despite his leaving are doing just as well. That is why I wanted Kobe to leave. He aint as good as folks paint him.
Roman responds: Great players make their teammates better. Kobe's a great player with three rings. I assume you're LOL about people saying Jordan Farmar would be this good without Kobe.
Jordan developed Pete Meyers!!!
lakers win again tonight with another big game from bynum and bulls lose by 30 in boston. yep we don't want kobe, he is simply turning a bunch of twenty something into stars while bulls are becoming laughable. Roman got it right.
Hey Ricky....are you in Richmond too?
Kobe can defeat a triple team, let alone a double team. Our guards cannot even defeat a double team consistently, nor in crunch time. Enough said.
Chuck 1...I think we need to repaint the RexMobile as the KobeWagon now? What do you say?
Roman you are killing me! Pippen was the person who made all the Bulls better - including MJ!!!! Phil was the calming influence and gave them the triangle (tex), but make no bones about it - Pippen had the all around game on the Bulls. MIKE was the person who was smart enough to ADJUST. He humbled himself and got along. That made the Bulls a TEAM and when that happened he was able to PASS to John Paxson.
Kobe got those rings courtesy of Mr. ONEAL who was so good that he still got another one after he left LA. Remember Robert Horry has 7 rings. That doesnt make him the best of all time. Means he was good, but always in the right place at the right time. And just like Andre Igudola, Jordan Farmarr would flourish without KOBE. He is not the necessary player. Its Odom and Fisher. I know that is hard to beleive, but it is true, and just like Philadelphia, LA was going to find out. They are playing much better this season and guess who wants to stay now??? Nothing more than a flashy Dominique Wilkins.