Player of the Week: Kobe Bryant

by wondahbap on Feb 6, 2011 11:26 PM PST in Player of the Week

Ehh. Kobe Bryant wins his fourth in a row. You know what? He deserves it, but I kinda don't care.

I look around and think no one else has been playing their role better in this past month. Yet, team results have been mixed. This should not be the case. I mean, Kobe is playing some of his best basketball in the past couple of seasons. That's saying a lot for a player as great as Kobe. Why then, is this team still looking for that click?

Because now, more than ever, it'll take more than the greatness of Kobe to push this team back over the hump. Every off-season move and adjustment other contenders have made have been aimed at matching up with, and (hopefully) beating the Lakers. So far, so good. It's led to a series of disappointments in big games, while there's not one player (outside of Ron Artest, and probably Steve Blake) that hasn't had some stretch of great play. It's frustrating. With Kobe playing so well, and teammates having moments, it feels like this team in on the verge of giving us a reason to exhale.

So next week, I hope I'm typing someone else's name in the title. I expect Kobe to keep this pace up, thus making another winner a lovely sight. It's about time for the great play we've seen from each Laker at one point or another this season to happen at the same time against the top teams. Especially with the Grammy road trip taking course, and Boston and Orlando looming. Offensive cohesion and precision, tough defense, then clutch crunch time play need to happen in every game - not take turns.

Speaking of the Celtics, Pau's play against them automatically eliminated him from consideration. I could care less what he does against Houston or New Orleans. The C's though? Let's just say I'm really hoping to type his name after the rematch Thursday, but I'll take anyone else if it means finally notching a real signature win.

Please, please, please...pretty please, with a cherry on top, make me choose someone other than Kobe.

Here are Kobe's stats for the week:

30.25 points, 6.5 assists, 6.75 rebounds per game in 40.25 minutes per game. He shot 44-of-94 for 46.8% FG and 7-of-16 for 43.8% from three.

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Well deserved. In no game, win or lose, did you ever see him give anything less than 100%. Can’t say that for anyone else.

by Papertrail on Feb 6, 2011 11:38 PM PST reply actions

Hopefully next week it'll be Pau

With this new “aggressive, Black Swan” thing he has going on. I’m pretty doubtful it’ll be him, though. We play Memphis, Boston, New York and Orlando, so it’ll be a tough week. More Lakers have to step up for us to be successful.

"If it wasn’t for In-and-Out burger, I probably would have gone to Memphis or something." – Ron Artest

by LAL32 on Feb 6, 2011 11:40 PM PST reply actions

lol. not sure if Pau is too happy with his new nickname. Can't wait to see him battle his bro and KG.

aggressive, Black Swan

"Everything negative - pressure, challenges - is all an opportunity for me to rise."
- Kobe B. Bryant

by volar on Feb 6, 2011 11:52 PM PST up reply actions

Kind of a bitchy compliment.

Like telling a man he has graceful hands.

Silver Screen and Roll

Follow me on Twitter: @wondahbap

"open your eyes and brain then see in next five years from now will see what happen okay." - Nam Pham

by wondahbap on Feb 6, 2011 11:54 PM PST up reply actions

Which Pau has.

"2010 was a kick ass year." - Kobe Bryant
I truly believe that Kobe Bryant could go a month without food, water, or an iPad if it meant another championship. Kevin Garnett would give up trash talking for an hour if it meant two more rings. ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE! - Rod Benson

Tweetness: @SoCalGal64

by SoCalGal on Feb 6, 2011 11:58 PM PST up reply actions

Yep.

Silver Screen and Roll

Follow me on Twitter: @wondahbap

"open your eyes and brain then see in next five years from now will see what happen okay." - Nam Pham

by wondahbap on Feb 7, 2011 4:59 AM PST up reply actions

Great pick again, wondah!

Tweetness: @SoCalGal64

by SoCalGal on Feb 6, 2011 11:41 PM PST reply actions

Aww shucks.

Thanks, love.

Silver Screen and Roll

Follow me on Twitter: @wondahbap

"open your eyes and brain then see in next five years from now will see what happen okay." - Nam Pham

by wondahbap on Feb 6, 2011 11:43 PM PST up reply actions

Monster stat line for the week

such a shame one really bad shooting night in San Antonio dropped his fg%

These things happened. They were glorious and they changed the world... and then we fucked up the end game. - Charlie Wilson

TRADE KOBY FOR LUTHER HEAD!!!! (it's a movement)

by Marty Mart on Feb 7, 2011 8:28 AM PST reply actions

Are we starting to get the feeling that this is a Kobe-centric team at this point?

"A bizarre and extremely rare hybrid Blazer/Laker fan, Timbo has always struggled to contain the Beast Within, like Dr. Jekyll, Bruce Banner, or Ted Kennedy." — Miled Animal

by timbo on Feb 7, 2011 8:49 AM PST reply actions

It’s always been kobe centric, at least since shaq, which it should be. Kobe is the primary reason the lakers win. Sure, running the offense is great and all, but in the hand, kobe is the one who has to make the plays. Really, this team rarely lacks in offensive execution. It’s mostly laziness, which affects the defense greater than the offense. Minimal effort, even with superior, won’t get it done against the better teams.

This is kind of a weird entry. I see your pt. that it might seem good for others to maybe win player of week honors. But really, kobe should be winning every week. It’s just that everyone else needs to start being more consistent and doing their jobs better, with more intensity and focus.

by express34texas on Feb 7, 2011 9:10 AM PST up reply actions

No, Kobe shouldn't win every week.

He always gives maximum effort, which he should do, but so should everyone else. It wouldn’t be a bad thing for someone to have a better overall week than Kobe; it doesn’t mean he isn’t playing great. If Pau had played better against Boston, he would have been a strong contender, but he shit the bed, so whatevs.

Tweetness: @SoCalGal64

by SoCalGal on Feb 7, 2011 9:42 AM PST up reply actions

Well, Kobe certainly sets the tempo with his approach to any game and shot selection/distribution.

Maybe they are a Kobe-centric team in the regular seasons, and rest will step their games up when the playoffs start.

by E-ROC on Feb 7, 2011 10:49 AM PST up reply actions

Kobe is The Man like Homo Erectus and Detective Sipowicz...

But someone else really needs to step it up. Pau has to stop playing like Sister Odetta Johnson in my grandma’s church league when he’s up against tough, hard-nosed teams. And another thing, will someone please tell him to stop shooting that damn jumpshot from outside of the free throw line and crash to the basket??!!!

by Wil G on Feb 7, 2011 2:00 PM PST reply actions