Be Who You Is... Not Yet Ready For Prime Time | DePar727's Blog

There's something very odd about Los Angeles. I'm not talking about the fact Malibu hasn't transcended its prime real estate local into becoming the French Riviera of the West Coast. Or the fact that everybody talks about conservation but refuses to carpool or have public transportation day every week. Or even the fact that Los Angeles doesn't have a football team. In the land of fake boobs, hair (dye jobs, extensions and comb overs) and financial status, the oddest thing about La, La land is the delusions of who they are, and then being upset when they are shown the mirror of reality. They want dogs to be carried like cats. Cats to be walked like dogs. They want Kobe to score 40 points a game. But they also want him to share the ball. And they want him to be Michael Jordan but better. Unfortunately, it is very unfair to compare Kobe to MJ, as it was to compare MJ to Doc. Jordan was head and shoulders above Julius and the short shorts players. Michael took the game on a higher level and never returned it to NBA league regulation. Here's a golden rule I learned in my years of writing copy for clients - you can't be everything to everybody. In addition to that, know who you are, and accept it. Kobe is still learning the game. But he needs to understand when to score, when to pass and when to dominate, throughout the game. Kobe won't win six like Mike; and to date hasn't won one without Shaq. And won't eclipse Jordan's greatness. The Lakers showed who they were in game 6 of the NBA Finals: soft pretty boys, not ready for prime time.

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June 20, 2008 02:10 AM ET

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Pretty Boys? Pau Gasol a pretty boy?

YODA

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June 20, 2008 01:39 PM ET

So what if Kobe didn't win one without Shaq? Its not like Jordan won without PIppen. It's a team game morons! Did KG win one without Allen and Pierce? How come no one is giving them a hard time about that? The media likes stirring things up by creating nonsense like this. They like having things to say when there's not much going on. Keeps their paycheck coming.

leavekobealone

Valencia , CA

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June 20, 2008 06:02 PM ET

You are ignorant

CrAsHaR

Banning , CA

Total Comments (1)

June 21, 2008 08:59 PM ET

Lakers had a great season. Kobe had a great season. They just ran into a defense the likes of which may never have been seen before. One that trumps any talk of superstars. The Celtics rotation and defense of the pick and roll was a thing of beauty. And they were successful with it in both playoffs and regular season when they had the best record against top teams.

The Lakers have enough talent, but they cannot rely on reach-ins in lieu of defense. They're young and can move their legs. Their offense is fine, whether they go with this lineup or with a Bynum variation. Kobe has to continue to be open to allowing his teammates to develop so that no easy equation will defend a one-man oriented offense.

But hey, next year is next year, and there are lots of good teams out there improving. Maybe we'll be looking at Orlando versus New Orleans!