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Archive for December, 2007

Kobe: “It’s up to the Lakers to trade me or not trade me.”

Published by Chris Manning on December 22, 2007 in Kobe Watch. 24 Comments

Interesting article on the Kobe trade possibility. Sure it may be played our or old by now, but this is a new article none the less…

OC Register.com: Kobe Bryant likes his teammates, loves his coach and thinks the vastly improved Lakers are one tough but makeable step away from joining the NBA’s elite.

Is that enough to draw an assumption that Bryant no longer wants to be traded?

Not given his still chilly relations with Lakers owner Jerry Buss, General Manager Mitch Kupchak and certain others in the organization — and not given what Bryant was saying Saturday.

“It’s all what Mitch wants to do, really,” Bryant said. “Mitch and Dr. Buss. It’s all on them. They can either trade me or not trade me. It’s completely their decision. Since the season started, I don’t get into it, I don’t talk about it, I don’t discuss it, I don’t think about it.”

The Lakers started this four-city trip in Chicago, which Bryant confirmed Tuesday was “on his list … with a bullet” during trade talks just before the regular season started. After practice Saturday at an Upper East Side health club, Bryant acknowledged interest in playing in New York.

He revealed the Knicks, Bulls, Dallas Mavericks and Phoenix Suns were the teams on his list of preferred destinations when he plotted it out during the offseason. And Bryant didn’t exactly shut down speculation on being traded from the Lakers now when he said: “If a Martian came to me and said, ‘You can go to Mars tomorrow’ … I probably wouldn’t entertain it. Mars is a little too far.”

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Kobe returning to the Garden, missed trip last year

Published by Chris Manning on December 22, 2007 in Articles. 5 Comments

Kobe will return to the hoop church of Madison Square Garden tomorrow and ESPN did a little research on Kobe’s return. Last year, New York fans misse out on Kobe as he was suspended by the controversial, “un-natural basketball act.” I’m glad this year the league won’t let them miss out on the most explosive player in the game…

ESPN: Happy Anniversary, Isiah Thomas! Saturday marks four years in charge of the Knicks and Sunday’s reward is a visit from Kobe Bryant, who has a thing for Madison Square Garden.

This will be Bryant’s 10th trip to MSG, where he’s averaging 34.3 points on 51.4 percent shooting in his past four visits. And he figures to be especially motivated after losing out on his only chance to play there last season thanks to that one-game suspension for striking San Antonio’s Manu Ginobili. Kobe’s last MSG appearance was Jan. 31, 2006, when he went for 40 in a 130-97 cruise for the Lakers.

Kobe, Lakers on same page; won’t ask to be traded again

Published by Chris Manning on December 22, 2007 in Kobe Watch. 16 Comments

Kobe clearifies a myth about, if the Lakers will do bad, he might ask out again. Good little read and it sounds like Kobe is truly on the same page with his teammates.

PE.com: The most pointed question was when he was asked to address the perception that if the Lakers’ play slips that he’ll ask to be traded again.

“That’s not true,” Bryant responded. “That’s not the first thing they would be wrong about.”

Bryant said the “turning point” was a conversation he had with his teammates before the season started in October.

“I went to the guys and kind of talked to them about the business side of the game, ’cause the business of basketball a lot times can really mess things up,” Bryant said. “I wasn’t the only player that was being talked about in trade discussions. Lamar (Odom), he was talked about in trade discussions, as well as some other players.

Continue reading ‘Kobe, Lakers on same page; won’t ask to be traded again’

Kobe on the infamous Bynum video: “It seemed to have lit a fire under him”

Published by Chris Manning on December 22, 2007 in Articles. 32 Comments

Kobe was asked about the infamous “Kobe video” and he responded with nice comments ab0ut the emerging Andrew Bynum…

L.A. Times: What a difference six months makes, the relationship between the current and future foundation of the Lakers no longer shredded at the seams, the telltale signs of repair and restoration playing out publicly night after night.

The latest sample came after Bynum’s career-high 24-point effort in the Lakers’ 106-101 victory Friday over the Philadelphia 76ers at Wachovia Center.

Bynum made 10 of 11 shots, took 11 rebounds and picked up another dose of flattery from Bryant.

“I thought Andrew played exceptional for us,” Bryant said. “I think [his] poise comes from good work ethic and having the confidence to be able to do something and be able to perform. He’s been working extremely hard. The key for him is to keep it up.”

Bryant also smiled when asked about the infamous amateur parking-lot video in which he said Bynum should have been shipped out of town for All-Star guard Jason Kidd.

“It seemed to have lit a fire under [him],” Bryant said without a trace of rancor. “It’s awesome.”

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Lakers spoil reunion of Sixers’ title team behind Bryant, Bynum

Published by Jaime Quintanilla on December 21, 2007 in Postgame Comments. 25 Comments

ESPN: Dr. J roused the Philly diehards into an appreciation for the city’s last championship team. Kobe Bryant riled up those Sixers fans simply by touching the ball.

The 76ers could only wish to matter as much as those two greats.

On a night Julius Erving and Philadelphia’s 1983 championship team was honored, Andrew Bynum and the Lakers stole the show. Bynum scored a career-high 24 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and Lamar Odom had 21 and 11 to lead Los Angeles to a 106-101 win over the Sixers on Friday night.

“We got the ball in people’s hands and they delivered,” coach Phil Jackson said.

Bryant, the Lower Merion High grad who was typically booed all game, was held to 19 points. Bryant failed to thrill his hometown fans, but he did leave Philly with a more memorable keepsake: the Lakers’ first regular season win in the city since February 2000.

“It’s always special coming here,” said Bryant, still bothered by a groin injury. “Every time I come here, I realize how much I miss it. It’s always fun.”

The experience would have been more fun for Bryant had he caught up with Erving. Bryant wanted to chat with the Hall of Famer he patterned his game after in his formative years.

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A little kicksology: Kobe’s new shoe - “ZKIII”

Published by Chris Manning on December 21, 2007 in Kobe Watch. 15 Comments

For all you shoe lovers out there, KB24.com highlighted Kobe’s new shoe which Kobe debuted last night against the Cavs…

KB24.com: For all of you sneakerheads out there: Kobe sported his new Nike shoe - the Zoom Kobe III - Thursday in Cleveland. Here is a closeup of the shoe on his feet from the game:

zkiii_black.jpg

KB will be wearing the white color way during Friday’s game with Philly and vs. New York on Sunday the 23rd. Here’s a shot of the white version:

zkiii_white.jpg

The shoe will officially go on sale in the states on February 8, 2008. A limited number of pairs may drop before that date, so stay tuned to KB24.com for more details…

Thorn says GMs aren’t Kidd-ing around as much

Published by Chris Manning on December 21, 2007 in J-Kidd Watch. 12 Comments

After an interesting week of Jason Kidd rumors, a new article suggests there is no Kidd-ing around now…

NJ.com: About all those magnanimous trade proposals that all those GMs are making to Rod

Thorn regarding Jason Kidd:

“They’re going down,” the Nets president admitted last night, with a trace of relief and derision.

Because … why? Have they finally caught on that it’s futile to try to steal the Nets point guard?

“Yeah, you could say that,” Thorn replied with a laugh.

Are the calls picking up with regard to any of his other players?

“One or two,” Thorn said.

Though Thorn refused to name names, it is widely assumed that the most sought-after Net is Sean Williams, with Richard Jefferson (and his $12.2 million salary) a distant second.

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Kobe (nearing 20,000 pts) & Phil is one win away from #8 all time!

Published by Chris Manning on December 21, 2007 in Articles. 3 Comments

This is very cool. Kobe is nearing 20,000 points for his career. In fact, he is 39 points away from it. As for Phil, he is one win away from #8 all time. Tonight’s match up against Philly could be a historic game for both of these NBA greats.

From kaos128@LG.net: Kobe only has 39 points to go till he reachs 20,000. Will he get it in Philly his hometown, MSG where Kobe loves to play, or what about the outside chance that he does it against Phoenix on Christmas day? I’m going with Philly I’m sure Kobe would love to get 20,000 there after getting booed there in the all star game.

Here is the news about Phil!

PE.com: Jackson still needs one victory to tie Dick Motta for the eighth-most by a coach in NBA historyJackson’s career record of 934-403 gives him the highest winning percentage in league history. Mota had a record of 935-1,107.

“That brings back memories,” Jackson said. “It’s just memories of Dick and what a coach he was, the kind of guy he was as a coach. Seemed like he coached forever.”