Kobe Bryant blames Pau Gasol for Lakers' Game 4 collapse against Thunder

[Shepseskaf]

Not any different from the Denver game where Gasol did not show up.
I thought Kobe was very PC. He was gentle.
He COULD have gone off on Gasol for being incredibly passive all game and getting dominated by Ibaka.
All Kobe said, after being asked repeatedly, is that Gasol should have shot and needs to be more assertive.

Anyone who's watched the games knows that Pau should be more assertive. Kobe shouldn't have answered the question directly, no matter how many time he was asked.

Now, the team has this hanging over its head going into an elimination game.

It just isn't good team leadership.

[jdem]

You own a media company who's revenue is contingent upon page views. And in that respect, "Kobe blames Pau for Laker's loss" beats the hell out of "Kobe says Pau should take more shots".

At the end of the day, Kobe has 5 rings, Lebron has 0.

[NoGunzJustSkillz]

Seriously, c'mon. Kobe's been dealing with the media for nearly two decades. Do you think he didn't know this response would cause an uproar?

He should have made a PC-type statement, which he's very good at doing, that didn't implicate Pau in any way. Then, he should have privately spoke to Pau.

Bottom line: it should have been kept in-house, especially when an elimination game coming up.

stfu already, jeses christ.

[RRR3]

You own a media company who's revenue is contingent upon page views. And in that respect, "Kobe blames Pau for Laker's loss" beats the hell out of "Kobe says Pau should take more shots".

At the end of the day, Kobe has 5 rings, Lebron has 0.

What does LeBron have to do with this thread?
Kobe fans simply are INCAPABLE of not bringing up LeBron when Kobe gets criticized, Jesus Christ. Talk about insecure. You guys have been petrified of LeBron since he came into the league, and have hated him since he was hyped to be "Jordan 2.0" (which he hasn't been obviously, so calm down) and you felt Kobe got "slighted" or some nonsense. Jesus paranoid as ****

[tmacattack33]

You own a media company who's revenue is contingent upon page views. And in that respect, "Kobe blames Pau for Laker's loss" beats the hell out of "Kobe says Pau should take more shots".

At the end of the day, Kobe has 5 rings, Lebron has 0.

Where the F did Lebron come into this?

Insecure much?

[LakersReign]

I actually believe this guy over you unreasonable haters.

Just read some of the insane threads posted here. "Why did Kobe go into Kobe ball mode when everything they are doing is working?" Haters just want to make it sound like Kobe is a selfish ballhog who wanted to change a winning strategy to satisfy his ego. Really? Is Kobe, a 5 time ring winner, such a childish loser and so dumb?

It's obvious OKC's defense has changed, and Gasol did not step up. Kobe had to take over because Gasol didn't want to. If Kobe wanted to ballhog, he'll do it at the start, not play team ball and suddenly decide to be a hog the second half. That is insane. The man has proven that he knows what to do to win, and I'm going to give him the benefit of the doubt.

We'll see if what he says is true. If Gasol takes control next game and Kobe won't give him the ball, you haters will have your point. But right now you got nothing.

Just another case of S(ame) O(ld) S(h*t). The funny part about the whole thing is, they'll try to make anything involving the Lakers, Kobe's fault. Even when there's really no logic to support it. You have a bunch of haters seeing things that aren't there, trying to draw lines to invisible dots. Then you have another set of ret**ded haters, co-signing the same things that weren't there to begin with. Coincidentally, the other set of ret**ded haters have to be dumber than the first set of haters to buy into the delusion. Then they have the nerve to wanna try and get mad when people who know better don't take them seriously. It would really be funny if it weren't already so sad.

[RRR3]

Just another case of S(ame) O(ld) S(h*t). The funny part about the whole thing is, they'll try to make anything involving the Lakers, Kobe's fault. Even when there's really no logic to support it. You have a bunch of haters seeing things that aren't there, trying to draw lines to invisible dots. Then you have another set of ret**ded haters, co-signing the same things that weren't there to begin with. Coincidentally, the other set of ret**ded haters have to be dumber than the first set of haters to buy into the delusion. Then they have the nerve to wanna try and get mad when people who know better don't take them seriously. It would really be funny if it weren't already so sad.

So Kobe hasn't cost the Lakers in this series.

[tmacattack33]

Just another case of S(ame) O(ld) S(h*t). The funny part about the whole thing is, they'll try to make anything involving the Lakers, Kobe's fault. Even when there's really no logic to support it. You have a bunch of haters seeing things that aren't there, trying to draw lines to invisible dots. Then you have another set of ret**ded haters, co-signing the same things that weren't there to begin with. Coincidentally, the other set of ret**ded haters have to be dumber than the first set of haters to buy into the delusion. Then they have the nerve to wanna try and get mad when people who know better don't take them seriously. It would really be funny if it weren't already so sad.

This same thing happened last night.

Your argument (if were to believe it in the first place) may explain why Kobe TOOK 8 shots in the last 8 minutes.

But it does not explain why Kobe MISSED 7 of the 8 shots.

[Da_Realist]

Anyone who's watched the games knows that Pau should be more assertive. Kobe shouldn't have answered the question directly, no matter how many time he was asked.

Now, the team has this hanging over its head going into an elimination game.

It just isn't good team leadership.

The Lakers have been conditioned to be passive and wait on Kobe to deliver them to victory. Look at how he threw a hissy fit at the end of Game 2 because MWP didn't throw an ill-advised cross court pass to him. The Lakers know what's up. Play hard for 3 and a half quarters and then let Kobe be Kobe.

Kobe said through the media that Pau should be more aggressive, but that's not the mandate he's set all these years. Kobe's throwing the team under the bus to deflect away from his own horrible quarter.

[WeGetRing2012]

Just another case of S(ame) O(ld) S(h*t). The funny part about the whole thing is, they'll try to make anything involving the Lakers, Kobe's fault. Even when there's really no logic to support it. You have a bunch of haters seeing things that aren't there, trying to draw lines to invisible dots. Then you have another set of ret**ded haters, co-signing the same things that weren't there to begin with. Coincidentally, the other set of ret**ded haters have to be dumber than the first set of haters to buy into the delusion. Then they have the nerve to wanna try and get mad when people who know better don't take them seriously. It would really be funny if it weren't already so sad.

Im a Laker fan too but you have to admit Kobe's play in the 4th quarter of game 2 & 4 cost us this series. Its just time to move on... Kobe has never had to create for others in his career and he was asked to this year. He is the greatest scorer in the league but we need another player to create shots and control the tempo of the game. Kobe will bounce back though...

[WeGetRing2012]

The Lakers have been conditioned to be passive and wait on Kobe to deliver them to victory. Look at how he threw a hissy fit at the end of Game 2 because MWP didn't throw an ill-advised cross court pass to him. The Lakers know what's up. Play hard for 3 and a half quarters and then let Kobe be Kobe.

Kobe said through the media that Pau should be more aggressive, but that's not the mandate he's set all these years. Kobe's throwing the team under the bus to deflect away from his own horrible quarter.

Exactly. And thats where some on the blame on Mike Brown goes he should have pulled Kobe aside and told him to do what's working (GO INSIDE!).

[Shepseskaf]

stfu already, jeses christ.

This is a message board where people post their opinions. Did you not get the memo?

[LakersReign]

This same thing happened last night.

Your argument (if were to believe it in the first place) may explain why Kobe TOOK 8 shots in the last 8 minutes.

But it does not explain why Kobe MISSED 7 of the 8 shots.

Clown please.

You idiots don't actually watch games then come in here, talking sh*t, making yourselves look stupid, then wanna turn right around and get mad cuz you made yourselves look stupid. Dumbest thing I've ever seen. Yeah...it's Kobe's fault that OKC fronted Bynum and Pau, forcing them to pass out of the post. Yeah, it's Kobe's fault that no matter who he passed to, they passed it back to him, with almost no time on the shot clock. Did he take some unnecessary shots, yes, but to try to make the loss all his fault is pathetic. Love it how whenever Kobe's titles are brought up, y'all are the first ones to say hpwthey're a "team accomplishment". But the minute the Lakers lose, it's ALWAYS....ONLY Kobe's fault. What happened to the team? GTFOH!!!!

[rmt]

Seriously, c'mon. Kobe's been dealing with the media for nearly two decades. Do you think he didn't know this response would cause an uproar?

He should have made a PC-type statement, which he's very good at doing, that didn't implicate Pau in any way. Then, he should have privately spoke to Pau.

Bottom line: it should have been kept in-house, especially when an elimination game coming up.

This. It's ironic that it's only the crazy one (MWP) who talks about every single one of them playing a role in the losses.

Kobe just doesn't learn. As a true leader, you're supposed to have your team mates' backs. In this situation, you deflect (as MWP did) and speak privately to the individual. Don't throw them under the bus in public especially when he himself shot 2-10 in the 4th - taking ridiculously difficult shots.

[tmacattack33]

Clown please.

You idiots don't actually watch games then come in here, talking sh*t, making yourselves look stupid, then wanna turn right around and get mad cuz you made yourselves look stupid. Dumbest thing I've ever seen. Yeah...it's Kobe's fault that OKC fronted Bynum and Pau, forcing them to pass out of the post. Yeah, it's Kobe's fault that no matter who he passed to, they passed it back to him, with almost no time on the shot clock. Did he take some unnecessary shots, yes, but to try to make the loss all his fault is pathetic. Love it how whenever Kobe's titles are brought up, y'all are the first ones to say hpwthey're a "team accomplishment". But the minute the Lakers lose, it's ALWAYS....ONLY Kobe's fault. What happened to the team? GTFOH!!!!

I'm going to DL the game and watch his 8 shots. I guarantee you that in no more than 3 of them did he get the ball with less than 5 seconds left on the shot clock clock.