Kobe's 81...Can We All Just Stand and Clap?

[AceD]

Now, we all know that Kobe Bryant spurns more love and hate that just about any athlete....but based just on tonight's game, there is NOTHING to hate about Kobe. The man is a beast. Wow. I'm stunned. Obviously he was still a bit off of Wilt's 100, but this still might be the best offenseive performance considering the level of competition. Regardless...what a performance.

[CaptainGyro]

Yes I have to begrudgingly clap. damn that hurts.
I could argue that I believe lots of other players from NBA's past could have scored 81 points also, but it'd just makes me look like a sore loser.

Eh screw it. I AM a sore loser. I think Bird and Jordan could definitely have scored 81 points also . I just had to throw that in to be a bitter jerk..
People are going to use this game as an argument that Kobe is the most unstoppable player ever, and I just dont believe thats true. I still consider his shot too erratic.


Good job Kobe I admit it.. I still dont like you though, and I still consider you incredibly selfish overall..

[daddiefatsacks]

well considerin he lit up my raptors, nah i aint gonna clap

[notchreturns]

Meh.

[Trail_Blazer]

*Stands up and claps* God bless ya Kobe! :D

[Mr. HokeyPokey]

Kobe is the best player in the league and this might just cement his MVP trophy.

10 years from now = Jordan who?

[TheDeadWalk]

I wish it had happened to a better person.

[AceD]

"I wish it had happened to a better person."

Please explain? The man is not a rapist. Unfaithful, yes, and I'm not excusing that, but it's not like it is an unusual thing in his profession. I think he's a decent guy who's made some public mistakes. And no, he didn't run Shaq out of town, Jerry Buss did. You have every right to your opinion of him obviously, just wondering where you're coming from on that.

[Lord Raiden]

Originally posted by Mr. HokeyPokey

10 years from now = Jordan who?

:p Thanks, man. Haven't laughed that hard in a long time. I'll give Kobe his due...the man's the pure best athlete in the NBA right now. He's a bit of a ball hog and gloryhound, something I'm sure MJ was accused of in his early years. The fact is that MJ is not only a 6 time world champion, but also won the Finals MVP all 6 times. Unless the Lakers try to buy another championship like they did a few years ago with Gary Payton and Karl Malone...I don't see Kobe or the Lakers returning to the promised land anytime soon. Also, MJ really put in the NBA on the map (along with Magic and Bird) and made people WANT TO WATCH, something that has been sorely lacking in recent years. So yes, give all the props to Kobe you want...he deserves it on the court. But to say something as forgetting #23, well...I'm sure you're just trying to get a rise out of people...but I thought it was just damn funny. Thanks. :D

[bob]

People are going to be down on Kobe for his career...he's the only player in any sport who could score the second most points in LEAGUE HISTORY and get a reaction of "meh" (not to pick on notch, but that's what I heard a lot today).

Kobe's a pimp. Flat-out. 81 points in one fucking game? That's insane, and the man deserves to be recognized as one of the best and yes, most complete, talents in the game again.

Hats off to Kobe.

[brodeurnumber1]

I think Kobe's the best player in the game and is a great scorer and defender. If Andrew Bynum works out, he'll be in fine shape. I'll congratulate Kobe, but that doesn't mean I like him.

Shaq already picked on Bynum(of course got no punishment for punching Bynum, but that's the league, and I'm going a bit off topic here). If Bynum doesn't pan out, they can always trade the house for Dwight Howard.

[CaptainGyro]

Originally posted by bob
People are going to be down on Kobe for his career...he's the only player in any sport who could score the second most points in LEAGUE HISTORY and get a reaction of "meh"

yeah thats what I was thinking. That game should have ignited a lot of excitement about the NBA, but a whole lot of people dont seem to care, or not really impressed..
It made me start wondering why I dislike Kobe and what it is about him that doesnt appeal to me.. and I cant really put my finger on it Its not totally because of jealousy.Its not totally the rape thing( I really dont care at all about that). Its not totally because he's selfish and has a huge ego. lots of NBA players have been selfish and had huge egos. Ive still liked them. But theres just nothing really likeable( personality wise) about him, at least not for me. He doesnt have any charisma. Bird was cocky, but likeable..Shaq and Charles Barkley had colorful quips. Jordan's personality overall was boring, and might have been a jerk behind the scenes, but overall presented himself as a classy heroic guy. Magic Johnson looked like he was having fun while playing. LeBron is new, but he seems down to earth ( for an NBA star), and seems likeable. Kobe's... just there. His personality doesnt do anything to offset the negatives. So the first association that pops in with Kobe is "ego" for me.
All of the negative things said about him might be unfair, but really he hasnt done much to come across as a guy I want to root for. I gues thats unfair, but I like my heros with a little likeabilty, not just determination to prove they are a great basketball player.

[Trail_Blazer]

While understandable Gyro, I still don't see why everyone concerns themselves with the personal qualities (or lack therof in some people's minds) about professional athletes who they don't know personally or will never know personally? I don't get why everyone's gotta shit all over someone they don't even know outside of the sport, why they can't just enjoy the game, and the players ability to play said game....

Now here's the difference for me (and correct me if I'm wrong anybody, please) but to my knowledge, Kobe's never gone out and said "You know, I'm not really trying... I'm not really playing that hard, I'm not doing my best out there" like those fucking pricks McGrady and Carter... THAT'S what draws the line for me... When these fucker's who get paid SO much fucking money to PLAY A GAME come out and admit that they're not even fucking trying? Because it's directly related to the NBA and Basketball, that's just inconceivable and un-fucking-acceptable in my mind...

Whereas everyone hates on Kobe, why? Cuz he had legal problems outside the game? Cuz he's arrogant, cuz he knows he's good, cuz he's a ball hog? So what? At LEAST he's WORKING for his money, and seems to enjoy doing so... If I were him, and I knew I was as good as he is, I'd prolly do the same damn thing! But NEVER would I half-ass my job, and then go out and tell all the media and my fans that pay their hard earned money on my merchandies and to see ME play: "You know, I just haven't been playin worth a shit, cuz I don't feel I want or need to"... THAT is fucking HORSE-SHIT... And that is where I draw the line on likeability... Because by doing that, they're not only making themselves look like total fucking jerkoff pieces of shit, but are also saying FUCK YOU to everyone who PAYS their fucking salaries... That's just completely fucked up to me...

I'm not going to fault a guy for doing the same things that I would prolly do, if I were in his position....

[jeo4]

Originally posted by TheDeadWalk
I wish it had happened to a better person.

Awesome. :D

Originally posted by Lord Raiden
I'll give Kobe his due...the man's the pure best athlete in the NBA right now. He's a bit of a ball hog and gloryhound, something I'm sure MJ was accused of in his early years. The fact is that MJ is not only a 6 time world champion, but also won the Finals MVP all 6 times. Unless the Lakers try to buy another championship like they did a few years ago with Gary Payton and Karl Malone...I don't see Kobe or the Lakers returning to the promised land anytime soon. Also, MJ really put in the NBA on the map (along with Magic and Bird) and made people WANT TO WATCH, something that has been sorely lacking in recent years. So yes, give all the props to Kobe you want...he deserves it on the court.

I agree completely, Raiden. Kobe is the best athlete in the sport as of now. And the Lakers are still going nowhere.

And yeah, Jordan is still a better player. Bar none.

As for the record setting night, congrats to Kobe.

[VictimOfChanges]

Kobe Bryant is a ballhog. I hope he dies a horrible gruesome painful death.

[CaptainGyro]

I dont think his personality should affect how he's judged as a player. He could go statistically as the greatest offensive player ever if he contiues playing like he has been this season, and he'd derserve credit for what he'd done
But when it comes to picking my personal favorite player, I throw personality in there. My fav doesnt necesarrily mean the best. For example I think Hines Ward will never have a season as good as Randy Moss has. Moss is /was a more talented receiver, but I still like Hines Ward more.

Thas just the way I am in sports. I root for my fav guys, even if they are not the best.. Not saying thats right, but I think some other people do that too, they like to root for the guy that comes across as less of an a-hole.

For all I know Kobe could be a great hilarious guy. But he never shows it, and I think there will always be people who dislike him until he changes how he comes across.

[bigred760]

Just because the guy puts up 81 points in one game doesn't make him the greatest player to play the game. I'll give him credit for a great performance, but there's more to the NBA than a great shooting performance. I want to see the guy lead this team to more NBA titles. Because right now, his championships are playing with Dwyane Wade in Miami right now.

Originally posted by Mr. HokeyPokey

10 years from now = Jordan who?


Yeah, Kobe will not have won three more rings in ten years. Jordan was a better player because he was a better leader.

[thedudeman69]

Kobe Bryant is the most overrated piece of shit in Basketball today. He is basically a glorfied ball hog. But, damn. That 81 was sure impressive. But, it still doesn't change the fact that he is a ball hog.

[AceD]

"Kobe Bryant is the most overrated piece of shit in Basketball today. He is basically a glorfied ball hog. But, damn. That 81 was sure impressive. But, it still doesn't change the fact that he is a ball hog."

He's a ball hog, certainly. But I don't think he's overrated. RIGHT NOW, no one is playing better offensively (I don't mean just the other night but for the last month). And you can question his motives as much as you want, but no one who can do all the things he can do plays as hard as he does (as has been said over the past few days he doesn't take any plays off). Lebron is still an average shooter. TMac is comparable since both he and Kobe have incredible jumpshots, but for whatever reason (injuries, lack of heart or desire or whatever), TMac doesn't get it done consistently enough, and his team doesn't win enough games.

Ball hog, yes. But also perhaps the best wing player in the game on the offensive end.

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by AceD
"I wish it had happened to a better person."

Please explain? The man is not a rapist. Unfaithful, yes, and I'm not excusing that, but it's not like it is an unusual thing in his profession. I think he's a decent guy who's made some public mistakes. And no, he didn't run Shaq out of town, Jerry Buss did. You have every right to your opinion of him obviously, just wondering where you're coming from on that.

I just think he's an asshole who alienates everyone else around him. I don't think he is a good teammate, and you can blame Jerry Buss all you want. It has nothing to do with alleged rape.

I don't think Kobe is on the same level of Ron Artest, but I do think he is a bit of a long-term cancer and I wouldn't want to see him in Cleveland.

[AceD]

"I just think he's an asshole who alienates everyone else around him. I don't think he is a good teammate, and you can blame Jerry Buss all you want. It has nothing to do with alleged rape.

I don't think Kobe is on the same level of Ron Artest, but I do think he is a bit of a long-term cancer and I wouldn't want to see him in Cleveland."

All fair points. Thanks for the explanation.

[Trail_Blazer]

Eh I disagree with Kobe being a long-term cancer... Kobe's hardly "over-rated" as well... I wanna ask how many rings does Artest have? I also wanna ask, how the fuck can someone who scores 81 points in a game be OVER-rated? Like that's a BAD thing? It makes me wonder if people said the same bullshit about Wilt when he dropped 100.....

[AceD]

"It makes me wonder if people said the same bullshit about Wilt when he dropped 100....."

They didn't. And if ANYONE else had dropped 81, people would want to make a holiday fo it. As Reggie Miller said, critics are just jealous.

[TheDeadWalk]

Vince Carter thinks it's bad for de kids.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5275220

[Trail_Blazer]

Vince Carter's a fucking piece of shit, so fuck whatever had has to say... :o

[thedudeman69]

Originally posted by Trail_Blazer
Vince Carter's a fucking piece of shit, so fuck whatever had has to say... :o

Oh, really? He's not that bad.

[Ripper1888]

Originally posted by TheDeadWalk
Vince Carter thinks it's bad for de kids.

http://msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/5275220

I laughed my ass off when I heard Vince's statement,Vince Carter calling someone selfish and a bad role model thats rich.Though I do agree with what he said.

Imo Kobe Bryant is a sefish prick who only cares about Kobe Bryant,that being said the fact that he scored 81pts is impressive and no matter how much you may hate him you can't deny that.

As for the Jordan comparisons STOP! as pure scorer yes I'd say Kobe's right there but Jordan also made his teamates better and he played D Kobe does neither.

[Trail_Blazer]

Good points Ripper... Yes, that fuckin prick Carter talkin about bein selfish and shit, that's the pot/kettle/black thing... Whatta gaddamned worthless asshole...

[Trail_Blazer]

Originally posted by thedudeman69
Oh, really? He's not that bad.

You're fucking kidding me, right? If you scroll up, you'll see why he's a fuck-head:

Originally posted by Trail_Blazer
Now here's the difference for me (and correct me if I'm wrong anybody, please) but to my knowledge, Kobe's never gone out and said "You know, I'm not really trying... I'm not really playing that hard, I'm not doing my best out there" like those fucking pricks McGrady and Carter... THAT'S what draws the line for me... When these fucker's who get paid SO much fucking money to PLAY A GAME come out and admit that they're not even fucking trying? Because it's directly related to the NBA and Basketball, that's just inconceivable and un-fucking-acceptable in my mind...

Whereas everyone hates on Kobe, why? Cuz he had legal problems outside the game? Cuz he's arrogant, cuz he knows he's good, cuz he's a ball hog? So what? At LEAST he's WORKING for his money, and seems to enjoy doing so... If I were him, and I knew I was as good as he is, I'd prolly do the same damn thing! But NEVER would I half-ass my job, and then go out and tell all the media and my fans that pay their hard earned money on my merchandies and to see ME play: "You know, I just haven't been playin worth a shit, cuz I don't feel I want or need to"... THAT is fucking HORSE-SHIT... And that is where I draw the line on likeability... Because by doing that, they're not only making themselves look like total fucking jerkoff pieces of shit, but are also saying FUCK YOU to everyone who PAYS their fucking salaries... That's just completely fucked up to me...

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by Trail_Blazer


Whereas everyone hates on Kobe, why? Cuz he had legal problems outside the game? Cuz he's arrogant, cuz he knows he's good, cuz he's a ball hog? So what?

So? So fuck him. To me, he's just a cocky piece of shit, and I want to see his team fail. I don't care if he goes out and plays against Moses' All-Stars and scores a triple triple in the game of the universe. I won't stand up and applaud him.

[AceD]

"Imo Kobe Bryant is a sefish prick who only cares about Kobe Bryant"

"So? So fuck him. To me, he's just a cocky piece of shit, and I want to see his team fail. I don't care if he goes out and plays against Moses' All-Stars and scores a triple triple in the game of the universe. I won't stand up and applaud him."

A lot of people feel the same way you do. But his peers who aren't just jealous of him (i.e. Vince) always talk about his "killer instinct" and that all he cares about is winning. He may go about that in a selfish way because of what he believes he can do and what he believes his teammates can't do, but he cares about winning games, he's not just out there to pad his stats. That's where I don't get the hate, because he never takes games or even plays off, he has a ton of respect for the game...I'm not saying you can't hate him, because I hate athlete too even if sometimes I'm not sure why. Kobe's the type o guy that rubs people the wrong way...I don't think that'd be any different if he were a lawyer or a basketball player or a cashier.

[Mr. HokeyPokey]

This year Kobe is shooting just over 33% of the teams shots.

Jordan shot over 40% (regular season) of the shots when they won their 6 championships.

Kobe will take his crown easily if he doesn't get injured. Give him a few more years and they will be right back in the finals.

[CaptainGyro]

Originally posted by Mr. HokeyPokey
This year Kobe is shooting just over 33% of the teams shots.

Jordan shot over 40% (regular season) of the shots when they won their 6 championships.



No he didnt. Jordan probably averaged 24 shots a game the championship years. If that was more than 40%, the whole team would be taking only 60 shots a game.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.html

wow Ive got a lot of time on my hands but I actually figured out the % of the shots he took. It was 27%. 11293 of 42114 of team shots.

[Mr. HokeyPokey]

Originally posted by CaptainGyro
No he didnt. Jordan probably averaged 24 shots a game the championship years. If that was more than 40%, the whole team would be taking only 60 shots a game.
http://www.basketball-reference.com/players/j/jordami01.html

wow Ive got a lot of time on my hands but I actually figured out the % of the shots he took. It was 27%. 11293 of 42114 of team shots.

I guess I shouldn't listen to ESPN.

[James Logan]

Read Scottie Pippen's blog. He makes one very good point -- with all the new rules over hand checking, and how fast referees whistle, MJ would've scored 80 today too. Let's remember that, in the MJ era, rules had to be made tougher, so MJ couldn't go on and score 63 on the Celtics anymore, whereas since he left, the League has made the rules easier and easier on scoring guards, which is the only reason why three players (A.I., Kobe and LBJ), great as they are, score 30+ points this season.

Now, the pointless MJ-Kobe comparison (MJ was much better. Period.) put aside, lemme do this.

*stands up and claps*

Whether someone else could've done it or not, 81 is still a major fucking feat. And it confirms that Kobe, even though he's not even close to being the greatest ever, not even CLOSE, is, indeed, one of the greats already. He's got three rings. He's got an All-Star MVP title. And then, in his second year without the Big Shaq, he's single-handedly willing a Lakers team with no big men, a dysfunctional triangle offense, and a-one-night-on-one-night-off Lamar Odom to the playoffs. He's the number one scorer in the league (and he plays less minutes than Iverson or LeBron or Gilbert Arenas or even Ricky fucking Davis), he pulls down 5.6 rebounds and 4.3 assists a game, and is known as a very, VERY solid defensive guard. That, and he whipped 62 points on a so-called title contender, and just a few weeks later, pulled out 81, a franchise high (and we're not talking any franchise here).

And in the same time, Allen Iverson's team is having the same kind of season the Lakers have, only Iverson has (supposedly) Chris Webber and Andre Iguodala and Jamal Mashburn to help him out. And LeBron, as awesome as I think he is, and think on pure talent and skill and game the best player in the league right now, still has a team that underplays and plays down to its opponents.

I hate Kobe's guts as much as anyone else. I was at the Miami game on Christmas Day, and I chanted "Kobe sucks" with as much gusto as everyone else in the place. But let's face it -- as long as the Lakers make the playoffs this year, Kobe Bryant should be the undisputed, uncontested, MVP of this regular season. Hands down.

[Haddonfield]

When talking bout the greatness of Kobe. Lets remember that when Wilt hit 100 points....he also averaged 50 a game that year.

impressive.

[VictimOfChanges]

Everyone in the NBA is a scumbag thug. If they wern't playing B-Ball they'd be dealing crack.

The NBA is such a pile of rubbish nowadays.

[thedudeman69]

Originally posted by VictimOfChanges
Everyone in the NBA is a scumbag thug. If they wern't playing B-Ball they'd be dealing crack.

The NBA is such a pile of rubbish nowadays.


Artest and Ben Wallace are some prime examples.

But, you got to admit, excluding Artest, most of them got talent.

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by VictimOfChanges
Everyone in the NBA is a scumbag thug. If they wern't playing B-Ball they'd be dealing crack.

The NBA is such a pile of rubbish nowadays.

Just imagine how many crack rocks Yao Ming could hide up his ass!

[AceD]

"Everyone in the NBA is a scumbag thug. If they wern't playing B-Ball they'd be dealing crack.

The NBA is such a pile of rubbish nowadays."

Even if I agreed with statement #1 (I don't, obviously)...the NBA has better and more talent now than it EVER has before. The league may be weaker as a whole because of expansion, but the amount of great players is as high as it's been.

[James Logan]

Originally posted by thedudeman69
Artest and Ben Wallace are some prime examples.

But, you got to admit, excluding Artest, most of them got talent.

Ron Artest is one hell of a cocksucker, but the man can play ball. Nowhere near as great a defender as people claim -- he's solid, no more no less, and gets most of his edge out of his reputation and Bill Laimbeer-worthy cheap shots --, he's still one of the best all-around players in the NBA. Can defend, can shoot, can rebound, can drive...

As for the Kobe-and-Wilt comparison someone raised -- sure, Wilt averaged 50 a game that year. He also averaged 20+ rebounds to go with 20+ points and 9 assists a game in 1968. But, even setting aside the fact that Wilt Chamberlain was a physical FREAK by the day's standards, which made his job a lot "easier", considering he didn't need so much speed or talent or skill since he was so huge, there's a huge difference. Kobe plays in an NBA with 30 teams, 82 games a year, November to spring (and that's excluding pre- and post-season), which is a MUCH more gruelling schedule than Chamberlain ever had to go through. Also consider that in 1962, defense was a lot less emphasized than today -- the lowest-scoring team in the NBA that year averaged 111 points a game. The LOWEST scoring team.

Consider this. Kobe scored 81 points in 42 minutes, Wilt scored his 100 in 48. Kobe is a guard, so he's had a lot more to do than Wilt, who simply ran up the court, posted up, and waited for the ball every play so he could dunk over a guy six or seven inches smaller than he was.

What I'm saying is -- put Shaq in that situation, in that exact situation, with only two other players in the league his size, and so on, and he'd average 50 points a game, and 20 boards. Same goes for Kevin Garnett -- heck, same goes for Yao Ming. You put Yao Ming in 1962, he does what Wilt Chamberlain did. No question.

Here's something no one ever mentions, but that always struck me -- if Wilt Chamberlain was such a great player, why'd he get traded twice in his career?

[TheDeadWalk]

Originally posted by James Logan
Here's something no one ever mentions, but that always struck me -- if Wilt Chamberlain was such a great player, why'd he get traded twice in his career?

Because Wilt Chamberlain needed some new pussy.

[VictimOfChanges]

People in the NBA do have talent. I'm not saying that. But if may quote the great film White Men Can't Jump.

"Black guys wanna look good first, win second."

It's true. That's why the NBA is such a mess.
(I still love it though.)

[AceD]

"People in the NBA do have talent. I'm not saying that. But if may quote the great film White Men Can't Jump.

"Black guys wanna look good first, win second."

It's true. That's why the NBA is such a mess.
(I still love it though.)"

Umm...no. I know you're quoting a movie, but that's a sweeping statement. It's also a racist statement. Look, I'm not all worked up because as I said I know you're just quoting a movie, but what you said there can clearly be taken to mean that the NBA is a mess because there are a lot of black people in it now.

Still, the statement is not true, obviously. If you think guys like Kobe, KG, Tim Duncan, Iverson, the entire Pistons starting 5, and many others care more about looking good than winning, you're entitled to your opinion, but I think most people here (as well as many pros and former pros who have spoken about those guys) would totally disagree with you. Yes, some people only care about looking good, but it has nothing to do with skin color.