NBA - Sports Rumors

Sat Jan 12, 2008 7:11 am EST

Kobe doesn't have to do it all for Lakers to win

By Joe Zedalis

Kobe Bryant, Phil Jackson

Getty Images

The Los Angeles Times noted Kobe Bryant's scoring average is down from the last two seasons. The Times also noted Los Angeles Lakers Coach Phil Jackson isn't complaining.

"This is probably a good thing for the team," he said.

With the emergence of Andrew Bynum, the return of Derek Fisher and the strong play of the Lakers' reserves, Bryant simply hasn't had to do all the scoring, although he did come up with 37 points in a 110-105 victory over the Milwaukee Bucks on Friday. He is averaging 26.7 points a game, down from the 31.6 he averaged last season and way down from the 35.4 in 2005-06. He won the scoring title each of those seasons.

"I think that it's game-by-game, is what it really is," Jackson said. "It's how well we're playing as a group and how well we're shooting the basketball."

Source: Los Angeles TimesNew Window

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148 Comments

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  1. Rudy88
    1. Posted by Rudy88 Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    I wonder if Mick has been secretly talking to Jerry to get some tips. GO LAKERS!
  2. Kevin L
    2. Posted by Kevin L Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:50 pm EDT

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    thats an old picture ..kobe still wearing 8
  3. Cotton Piquer
    3. Posted by Cotton Piquer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    Aren't the Lakers 8-1 when Kobe-me scores less than 20 points? Hasn't Kobe-me taken 20+ shots, plus FT in 3 of those games, and still scored less than 20?
    Kobe-Me should be responsible for the creation of a NEW award. LVP ( least valuable player). The less he does, the better his team does.
  4. Chucky R
    4. Posted by Chucky R Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:25 pm EDT

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    You're a moron #4
  5. t
    5. Posted by t Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    Go lakers!
  6. t
    6. Posted by t Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:16 pm EDT

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    Go lakers!
  7. joens o
    7. Posted by joens o Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:38 pm EDT

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    i guess what #4 says is right. kobe deserves to receive the "LVP" trophy.
    but GO CELTICS GO!!!
  8. ip f
    8. Posted by ip f Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:26 pm EDT

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    Best player in the game, but not on the best team
  9. Spymark
    9. Posted by Spymark Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:59 pm EDT

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    Im waiting for the game between lakers vs suns and lakers vs spurs. See how my showtime lakers demolish these two teams and #4 will eat his words. Excited to read what will Kobe haters write after demolishing these two teams.
    GO LAKERS GO.
  10. Spymark
    10. Posted by Spymark Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:59 pm EDT

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    Kobe is doing a Lerbron now and Lebron is doing a Kobe before. What a twist in role. Kobe is doing the assists and Lebron is doing alone the scoring.
    YOOUUUUUURREEEEE THHHEEE MMMAAAAAAAAANNNNN KOBE!
    You deserve to win the MVP this season.
  11. lpn4sure99
    11. Posted by lpn4sure99 Thu Sep 03, 2009 6:58 pm EDT

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    When it comes to #4 and #10, I think they are on drugs. I think, as a Laker fan, that it think L.A.L are doing a pretty good job, and Kobe is just being Kobe no matter what. I just everything goes better for this team so that everybody gives them the credit they deserve, especially the Kobe haters.
  12. Basil B
    12. Posted by Basil B Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:01 pm EDT

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    #4 & 10 are both stupid. He is under the weather and he still managed to score 37 and 16 in the 4th "LVP" you stupid morons?
  13. pharoadon
    13. Posted by pharoadon Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:09 pm EDT

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    It amazes me that after all these years... the KB haters still persist.... first you used to say AI was better....then T-Mac...then for a while it was D-Wade....now LBJ
    When will you concede...throw in the towel already....any guy you throw in the ring against him will lose miserably...even Jerry West just recently called him the Best Player in the NBA...who are we to listen to...The LOGO or you morons
    Give it up....the haters have lost.....you are DEAD...stay dead so we can allow you to RIP!!!
  14. tasylikecandy
    14. Posted by tasylikecandy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    I agree with #17. Kobe is the standard that all of the wannabe great NBA players are measured against... the single handedly and simultaneously most loved, most hated, and most feared player in the world.
    Haterz were put on Earth for one reason, to motivate. Do your job haterz!!! so Kobe can keep doing his.
  15. tasylikecandy
    15. Posted by tasylikecandy Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:57 pm EDT

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    KOBE for MVP!!!
  16. inside chan ho park hr
    16. Posted by inside chan ho park hr Thu Sep 03, 2009 7:36 pm EDT

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    Kobe still has to score 40...and try to lock down their best man defensively. But the pot smoking Laker organization has blossomed this year, allowing the support around Kobe to flourish. Seasons past would have been about setting the ball up for Kobe every possession down as the focus w/in the triangle offense. Now, they have good ball movement, a guy like Bynum that can get the ball down low and isnt TO prone. Kobe is/was sick last night and only beat the Bucks by 5...so Kobe still needs to be 30+ a night, taking between 15-20 shots.
  17. Cotton Piquer
    17. Posted by Cotton Piquer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    rick j
    If the garbage you are spewing were true, then Kobe-Me would have done whatever it takes to keep the Lakers from not making the playoffs in 05. Kobe-me would have done whatever it took to beat the Suns in the playoffs in 06 & 07.
    If shooting 2-9 & 1-10 in 4th quarters vs Phoenix last year in the playoffs is what it takes, he will do it.
    If taking 28.5 shots per game and shooting 37.6% while the Lakers lost 8 of 10 to drop to a # 7 seed is what it takes, he will do it. Just like last year.
  18. tr1ple5
    18. Posted by tr1ple5 Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:19 pm EDT

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    GO CELTICS???? you probably a bandwagon fan. GO LAKERS!
  19. ChuckFromDetroit
    19. Posted by ChuckFromDetroit Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    I am not a big fan "ROOM-SERVICE"!
    DEEEE-TROIT BASKETBALL! GO PISTONS!
  20. Tim M
    20. Posted by Tim M Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:23 pm EDT

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    Please Lakers make it to the Finals, so you can be "CRUSHED" by the Celtics!
  21. NUPE4LIFE
    21. Posted by NUPE4LIFE Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:53 pm EDT

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    OK..Im NOT going into a Kobe/LeBron debate because they don't need to be compared every single day, but "Lifetime LA Fan"..do you watch basketball? Kobe is passing and LeBron is doing all the scoring? LeBron is doing a lot of his team's scoring, but he is also averaging more assists than Kobe...yet "Kobe is doing all the passing"? What people aren't realizing, which ISN'T a knock on Kobe, is that he ISN'T passing more..his assists aren't up much from last year. He is allowing his teammates to be more productive..which is showing his growth as a player. The Lakers now have a team that can produce enough points, without Kobe putting up 30 per night, to win ball games. So..I hafta disagree..Kobe and LeBron havn't reversed roles..Kobe has taken on a whole new one.
  22. shipwreck
    22. Posted by shipwreck Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:36 pm EDT

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    Any basketball fan would appreciate the things that Kobe has done for the sport. He plays his heart out every single game, on both ends of the floor. He has tremendous talent and skill. Funny thing is, most of those who hate him are those who don't know how to play the game. With the way the Lakers are playing, Kobe deserves a good fraction of the credit.....GO LAKERS.....
  23. WESTCOAST AMBASSADOR
    23. Posted by WESTCOAST AMBASSADOR Thu Sep 03, 2009 9:30 pm EDT

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    Kobe can take over the game at any time of the game he wants and he has proven so countless times, and anyone who disagrees is just a moron. Grow up and accept the fact that 1) He is one of the best or IS the best player in the NBA and 2) almost every kid/man/woman/person out there wants to play like him. Kobe is not my favorite player in the league, but I can say he is one of the most dominant players to play.
  24. Cotton Piquer
    24. Posted by Cotton Piquer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    nupe4life
    This is Kobe-me's 11th season. He wouldn't have much room for growth, unless he failed to grow in the previous 10 seasons.
    #'s 29 & 30
    If Kobe-me could take over a game any time, why did he fail to do so in any of the Lakers 40 losses last year? Why didn't he take over games in the playoffs vs the Suns in the last two years?
    When you say take over, do you mean launch the most bricks? Shouldn't "taking over" end in wins, not losses?
  25. Cotton Piquer
    25. Posted by Cotton Piquer Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:14 pm EDT

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    nupe4life
    This is Kobe-me's 11th season. He wouldn't have much room for growth, unless he failed to grow in the previous 10 seasons.
    #'s 29 & 30
    If Kobe-me could take over a game any time, why did he fail to do so in any of the Lakers 40 losses last year? Why didn't he take over games in the playoffs vs the Suns in the last two years?
    When you say take over, do you mean launch the most bricks? Shouldn't "taking over" end in wins, not losses?

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