Kobe Bryant: "The worst player in the world"

by grungedave on Apr 4, 2009 11:00 AM CDT

Hey, guys, ummmm... it's not like Kobe Bryant needed any additional motivation to kick the Rockets' collective asses. He's like, uh, good and stuff.

Though I guess we have resolved the mystery of what it was that Ron Artest said to Kobe Bryant the last time the two teams played and Kobe went off for 37 points (30+ in the second half when Artest was guarding him). Artest:

"I called him the worst player in the world," he said. "I told him he was the worst player I’ve ever seen in my life."

Jesus Christ, guys - how many times do you have to be told...

And if that wasn't bad enough, the awesome New York Times article that called Shane Battier the "No Stats All-Star" - yeah, um, that also kinda sorta backfired on us last night. Or maybe not, but....

"The Lakers’ offense should obviously be better with Kobe in," [Daryl] Morey said in the story. "But if Shane is on him, it isn’t."

Lakers coach Phil Jackson made sure Bryant read the story. "I told him about his penchant for taking on guys that contest him," Jackson said, "and, at times, making it mano y mano and taking us out of our game."

Bryant’s reaction to the story?

"I enjoyed it."

Battier played good enough defense on Kobe last night... Kobe only took 11 shots but he played a phenomenal all-around game. And still got his 20 points. Whatever it took to win.

I really like you Kobe, but please stop humiliating my team. Pretty please?

And Rockets... please remember: Do Not Taunt the Mamba.

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yes, dave

that makes perfect sense. Because Artest told Kobe he sucks, Kobe simply decided to play well.

by Only_A_Lad on Apr 4, 2009 1:00 PM CDT reply actions

basic psychology...

Kobe was going to play well anyway.
Artest shit talking only made him focus MORE.

(I know for a fact when people trash talked me… I played MUCH better usually)

by grungedave on Apr 4, 2009 2:12 PM CDT up reply actions

but doesn't that violate your whole reason for loving Kobe?

That he’s just such a great worker and such a consummate professional and he trains and plays so hard. Wouldn’t the Black Mamba play at his highest level no matter what?

by Only_A_Lad on Apr 4, 2009 3:24 PM CDT up reply actions

Kobe is a human being, not a damn robot

You’re being naive. Smack talking and criticism does motivate players.

by goingforthecorner on Apr 4, 2009 4:14 PM CDT up reply actions

Kobe is a professional

and I really doubt he came into the game saying “I’m going to take this one off.” The Rockets are a playoff-bound team, not the Thunder, and I think Kobe would treat playing against Ron and Shane as a challenge, whether or not Artest taunted him.

I think the better explanation for what happened last night – and what happened the other times the teams have played one another – is that the Rockets focused on guarding Kobe for three quarters, other scoring options opened up as time went on, and Battier and Artest were finally forced to guard Kobe much less closely in the final quarter. The result is an offensive explosion in the final minutes.

It’s kind of the opposite of what happens with the Rockets. Teams guard Yao very closely in the final minutes, Artest, Scola, Wafer, etc. largely fail to motivate those other teams to open up, and so Yao doesn’t get the ball. It’s made much more devastating because getting the ball to Yao is significantly tougher than getting it to Kobe, so the opposing defense has to open up even more. The Lakers can get away with just Pau and a few other outside threats – the Rockets have to make their non-Yao points in the last quarter, or he’ll continue to get shut down.

by Only_A_Lad on Apr 5, 2009 5:45 PM CDT up reply actions