Kobe Bryant's Game 7 No Shot Pout the most selfish act in sports since Phil Mickelson's Ryder Cup equipment switch

All the sudden travel golf knows basketball? Dont you think the Suns halftime strategy was to double & triple team the ONLY LAKER that was shooting over 35% Kobe contiually dished the ball off to wide open players who couldn't hit a shot. His teammates repeatedly shot 3's early in the shot clock. No matter what Kobe does some media members will always take the other side. I see nothing wrong with Kobe trying to get teammates to start hitting shots. Give the guy a break.

YOu criticize Kobe for shooting it too much in game 6 then blame him for not shooting in game 7, please stick to your "sport" golf and leave the commentating of actual athletic events to people who actually have a clue

Bryant should still be in jail, not playing ball for million$. He embodies everything wrong with pro basketball.

There is not even the remotest connection between this sexual predator and Phil. Mickelson has shown huge character, Bryant none.

Stick to writing about golf, you obviously have zero understanding of basketball. I'm sure you haven't watched as much as 3-4 minutes of an NBA game in your pitiful life, your HS dream girl probably shunned you to date the scholl's basketball star. Your entire understanding of the NBA game comes from Charles "I don't have an agenda" Barkley, what a joke.

HAAAAAAAAAAATOOOOOOORRRR!!!!

Seriously, Kobe can't do anything right in the eyes of the media or the public. As others have stated, if he shoots and scores 50 and the Lakers lose, people say he should have passed more. If he passes and scores less and they still lose the people say he should have scored more. When the Lakers won games 2-5 everyone was praising him for passing the ball, they won because he passed and other players HIT THEIR SHOTS. If the other Lakers stepped up and hit their shots in Game 7 the Lakers probably would have won. Show some respect to this guy for who he is as a remarkable athlete who is still young and trying to lead a young and not too talented team into the postseason. Stop judging.

I agree with all but 1. You really need to go back to golf and leave Kobe alone. He can never win with people like you! If he shoots to much he's a ball hog if he doesn't shoot he gave up or didn't try hard enough. You are obviously no where near being a basketball fan or know what really goes on. GO back where you came from and leave Kobe alone!! He is the best out there and has accomplished more than any other player out there.

You do not have to be a NBA sports writer to figure this arrogant jerk out.

Thanks Mr. Baldwin for writing the truth about Bryant. Thank goodness that other people are stepping up to the plate as well.

To the Kobe lovers. What an embarassment for you all!!!

I can hardly believe how idiotic the media is these days. I believe that all this drama will only be more bittersweet when Kobe is finally placed amongst the greatest athletes of alltime. He will continue to grow. You guys only see x's and o's. You don't see the entire picture of what's happenning. Instead everyone wants immediate reinforcements. Looking at the Lakers roster its so apparent that there is lack of experience, talent, and basic fundamentals that goes with teams that are still growing into a cohesive unit. Never in the history of the NBA has one player been able to take on the other team by himself. It takes time. Kobe I believe is finally seeing that he needs to change his game abit to make a true championship run. I truely believe that Kobe is smart enough to make that leap into greatness. True greatness is not realized in the present but 10 to 15 years after that athlete retires. The olymics will be a grand stage for the world to be "witnesses". You guys will soon see the transformation of Kobe Bryant evolving into the greatest basketball player we have ever seen. Mark my word in the next couple of years with the right mix of players Kobe will string together another Laker Dynasty for the ages.

Another Kobe hater who wasn't hugged enough as a kid.

Pretty lame article. Kobe's got lots of flaws - quitting isn't one of them. And if you actually watched the game and knew anything about basketball you'd have seen that. Regurgitating other people's conspiracy theories about Kobe Bryant is only a half step above plagiarism and makes me question your other views as well...

Kobe's crazy. He's messed up in the head. He's got issues. You don't stop trying in a game 7 with a whole half left to play and a very surmountable 15 point Suns lead. Did the Suns play great defense? What defense?? And when did a double, triple, quadruple team ever stop him from taking a shot? Kobe was just standing there, passing the ball like he's allergic to it. He shut himself down completely. So all comparisons between Kobe and MJ must stop now. MJ's no quitter. He'd rather die than quit. There may be times when Kobe looks and moves just like MJ, but the similarities end there. It's like Superman and Bizarro. Similar at a glance. But not quite. From now on I shall refer to Kobe as Kobezarro.

Sorry to break it you Kobe defenders - is that you Kobe text messaging this in yourself? - but I covered the Knicks during their 1999 Allan Houston Miami shot NBA Finals run and the New Jersey Nets during their two Finals trips (and butt kicking by the Lakers and Spurs).

I was a basketball writer in the New York area years before I become a travel golf writer.

Which doesn't make me any more qualified to comment on it than any other diehard NBA fan. Of which I am. I watched every minute of that Game 7 - even though Kobe rendered it meaningless after halftime by No-shot pouting. And anyone who watched that game and had any clue saw a superstar effectively throwing a terrible two temper tantrum.

Only instead of yelling or stomping his foot, Kobe refused to shoot to make his point.

Also note that I never criticized Kobe for shooting too much in Game 6. I said he received some light criticism in the LA papers which no doubt helped spur his baby reaction.

Kobe Bryant should have been shooting every time he touched the ball in Game 6. He's the only thing that gave LA a chance to win that game. And with the Lakers down by 15 in Game 7, he was their only chance again.

But this time, he decided to make one of his Kobe points.

The Lakers were in position to steal that series against a superior team. Instead of throwing every no-way dagger he had at them to give the Suns some pause in Game 7, Kobe went Kobe.

Hence, the most selfish act in sports since Phil Mickelson's Ryder Cup equipment switch.

It's one thing to be a typical Kobe-hater, but to stoop to such a low-level by your ignorant and obviously biased (H8R ALERT!) blog attempt is rather sad and weak.

What was worse, and quite alarming as well, was the fact you actually attempted to pass your own point of view/speculation/assumption as a "matter of fact" without even hesitating.

You loudly pointed out to your Golf fans? readers how Kobe was "the most selfish since Phil Mickelson..." yada, yada, yada (you should really stick to golf next time) and how he "sabotaged" Game 7 by not shooting in the 2nd half of the game...."

The comments/statements made above would have been acceptable if you had honored the basic journalistic ethics and stated those were only your own opinioins and not actual facts, like you clearly tried to pass them to be , but unfortunately failed miserably.

Normally your piece of garbage blog gets filed to the worthless garbage bin, but the whole hypocricy of some noname irrelevant "golf-blogger" turned into a "basketball-insider" attempt of yours was not only a joke but was too tempting to just ignore and bypass it like all the others.

wow. you actually felt compelled to defend yourself. Just imagine if you were in Kobe's shoes. How can you possibly defend your every actions from the many Kobe haters such as yourself. You just had this posted about 1 day and you are being looked at as an A*S. So you felt you needed to clear the air and give yourself credibility by stating you're have both PGA and NBA analyst background. But its cool. Keep doing what you do best and write about other peoples lives as if you are fit to judge them.

This scumbag gets away with sexual assault and the argument is about how much he shot the ball in game 7. What a society. Bryant is a characterless thug and predator.

I'm hoping to finish my first screenplay soon and really hope you all enjoy it when it comes out.

It's titled:

"Outraged: The Bob Dobbs Story"


;)

--WKW

Now, that's funny .... I don't care who you are.

WHAT A BONEHEAD ARTICLE!!!!

Ahem, I agree with Bob Dobbs. Kobe is a criminal and should be behind bars. He is also a petulant ball hog who cares more about his personal glory than winning [evidence: running Shaq out of LA]. I love the fact that Kobe fans are claiming that Kobe only shot three times in the second half because of the... Suns' defense. If you knew anything about basketball, you'd know that Suns' defense is an oxymoron, like Laker teamwork.

He was in position to steal the series!?!?! They were down by 15 when he was hitting all those miracle shots in the 1st half. How the hell were the Lakers in a position to steal the series? He did it his way in the first half and was down 15, so he decided to try it Phil's way in the second only to see his teammates wilt under the pressure.

The problem wasn't getting points, it was stopping the Suns from scoring at will. If you watched the Lakers at all this season, you'd have seen that the effort they gave defensively was dependent on how involved they were offensively. Even if Kobe had gone for his, they still wouldn't have won because defensively they'd have been awful. As it was, Kobe's teammates couldn't hit water if they fell off a boat that night. That's why they got killed.

With respect to all this "criminal" talk. I didn't know that adultery was a crime. He cheated on his wife, which is bad but it is not a crime. The accuser wouldn't testify because she knew she'd be found out for what she was, a gold-digging liar. Kobe settled because he didn't want to put his family through a long civil trial. Get over that case, innocent until proven guilty is still the law in this country. You people hate Kobe so much you're willing to piss on the values that this country was built on. If any of you ever get accused of something, I hope you get convicted before you have a chance to defend yourself, and then you'll see that all this nonsense about Kobe being a criminal is just that, nonsense.

Right on. Kobe has been cosseted his whole life and as a result, he lacks character and guts. This was also another pointed example that sports in this country is not really about sports, it's about money.

Let's set Kobe's psychology aside here because we don't know what was said by Phil or his teammates at the half. The way the game was going, Phil probably told Kobe "you ain't winning this game unless the other players get in it."

The Suns lit up the Lakers because the men from LA played no defense as a team. The Lakers took 14 more shots in the game but they hit about 35% vs. the Suns 48%.

Was he pouting? Probably more like deflated. He takes it to the hoop and he can't pass it off (since no one could hit a @#$#@ shot) or get back as easily on defense to make up for his teammates sucking there.

If he'd tried the solo act in the second half the articles would read "Kobe sets playoff scoring record, sinks Laker season" and we all know it. I'm as disappointed with the writers who've created this issue for him as I am with Kobe for caring.

How about some applause for taking an elite team to 7 games in the playoffs by elevating his team's play for 6 of them?

Oh and by the way - good job on the sensational title - I'm sure it's worth plenty of readership.

hey man u no i disagree on a lot of things u said about kobe..
1st of all yes u are right about kobe only shooting 3 shots in the 2nd half.

but he probably just wanted to see how much he could trust his team.
or teach them how to step up.

not only was kobe off but the whole team was playin horrible.
so why only blame it on kobe?

this writer is just an evil soul....he wish he was kobe....get a life loser...so how does it feel that someone is calling you names...dont like it....no

People want to talk about adultery, but do people forget that Michael Jordan the so called best player ever. He commited adultery and tried to pay off his mistress to hid it from his wife. Since it is Michael Jordan it is ok. THis is not a crime so get over it. The lakers should hold there heads up high, they were not even suppose to have a chance to win this year. It all came down to the lakers being to young and un experienced. The lakers I think are the 2nd youngest team in the NBA next to the Bulls, so they have plenty of upside. Brown is coming around in just his 5th or 6th year, Lamar is still young then you have bynum who has a lot of promise. All the laker and Kobe haters get over it. Everybody hates a winner and Kobe is a winner. One more thing how does Kobe win Scoring Title , first team Defense, and first team Offense and not win MVP. Nash does not play any defense, he is the 2nd or 3rd worst point guard defender in the NBA. I'M out

1 more thing you say Kobe quit in game 7 Which he did not. How about Michael Jordan who quit against detroit when the series was tied 2-2. He took only 4 shots in the second half of the game. Does this make Michael a quiter. No it does not. All you do is sit and critque people, you wish you had the talent to be a towel boy in the NBA. Keep writing because that is all you got, and unfortunatly for you that's not all good.

Where is your article about how LeBron James took something like 3-4 shots in the second half of a blowout loss to the Pistons? Oh wait, you media sheep aren't allowed to write anything bad about LeBron. Kobe seems to be the easy target and hating on him is the "in thing" these days. Go figure.

your a dumbass

^What he said.

And to the people that call Kobe a "criminal" when you have no idea what happened in that room, what makes you different than the Salem Witch Hunts? If there was enough evidence to even make a case, much less convict, it would've gotten to that point. The Colorado DA wanted his 15 minutes of fame and got them. The accuser wanted her check and got it. Everyone got what they wanted at the cost of Kobe's reputation, yet he is villified? Wow, what a world we live in. I sure do hope someone else becomes the next target of everyone in the media cuz soon spewing hatred towards Kobe unjustly is bound to go out of style.

Stick to golf buddy. Youre like a school girl. Kobes team didnt show up for the game. Period. He cant do it himself. He shot the ball the first half and they were down 15. It didnt work, Phil wanted him to play their original game plan cause its been successful. Im tired of Kobe being crucified for EVERYTHING! Steve Nash has 8 points and their team looses. Why didnt he shoot more? No one ever says anything about that.

You are the dumbest and the ugliest man alive

j00 are teh ghey!!!11one

Stick to golf. Who cares if you "covered" the Knicks and Nets. Doesn't mean you actually have basketball knowledge.

And nice try about Kobe not having "the guts" to confront Charles. He's spending 4 hours in studio with Chuck on TNT tonight. There goes that ignorant claim.

You're like one of these kiddie followers who is just brainwashed by whatever is trendy to do in the media. In this case it's to hate on Kobe Bryant.

He stuck to the gameplan that he and Phil drew up. Get the other guys involved and it will fire them up and have them play defense. It worked in the first four games, then his supporting cast disappeared once Game 5 came around.

If you actually knew anything about basketball, you'd realize there's no way to beat the league's best offensive team when your teammates give up 121 points on 61% shooting. Ask anyone that actually watched the game and they'll tell you Kobe was the only guy out there playing with heart on defense.

The problem was that when Kwame Brown shoots 2/10 on open layups, it's hard to "make your teammates better."

If Kobe shot the lights out in the second half and the Lakers still lost, the media still would write pieces on how Bryant's supposedly selfish for not getting his teammates involved.

And why don't you blast LeBron James for taking 3 or 4 shots in the second half in the Cavs' blowout loss to the Pistons? Oh thats right, it's not fashionable. And you're biased.

By the way, the majority of legal analysts said that charges shouldn't have even been pressed by the (racist) Eagle County office. So give up the rape claims. That was so 3 years ago.

I know you're trying to make somewhat of a name for yourself, but please, stick to something that you've actually played before. You sound like you've never picked up a basketball in your life.

Yeah, you're right Barkley never did "pull a Kobe" in the playoffs. He's never hit a big shot in the Finals. He's never won a ring. He's never taken a #2 seed to 7 games with relatively little help from a supporting cast.

Nice job on the title, too. That's really catchy. I just can't get those TWENTY words out of my head!

That's funny how you try to give yourself more credibility by mentioning you've interviewed Barkley before. I'm sure the 5 minutes you spent with him allows you to properly confirm that he is indeed a "good guy."

So, like I said, stick to golf. You obviously know nothing about basketball, or something called a "gameplan."

Your attempt to get noticed by jumping on the Kobe-hate bandwagon is PATHETIC.

Are you kidding me? Since when do you know anything about basketball dude? No shot pouting? What are you talking about? Which game 7 did you watch? Go watch some games or maybe play some pick-up ball and then you can talk until then stick to golf.

Hey, idiot. You are very blind. The Suns saw Kobe on fire in the first half and saw the rest of his team do nothing. In the second half Kobe was triple teamed. What then, you except him to shoot with 3 guys on him so when the team loses idiots like you can bag on Kobe for shooting too much? You are stupid. If Kobe went down firing 50 shots in game 7, you would have said he's too selfish. He was triple teamed and everyone else was left open because they couldn't knock down a shot. Look outside the box score you idiot.

You know nothing about basketball.

so who's this bob dobbs who posted below. was there ever proof of kobe being guilty? no. so please, and for every kobe hater out there as well, stop bringing up the "sexual assault" case. it gets old. bring up something new...like this guy chris baldwin here with his little hate article.

so did you actually watch game 7? or did you just read from the "bspn" articles out there and "made it your own" by somehow tying it in with golf? i guess that's pretty smart thinking on your part by having one of the most popular men in sports in a boring golf article. you'll do whatever it takes just to give your article the hits right?

Yes, kobe scored 50 points in game 6 (which he was called selfish for as well). But was it enough for the win? no it wasn't. Kobe needed his teammates to step up as well, which did not happen. Game 7, the lakers were in the same predicament. Kobe can score and get going ANYTIME he wants, but to win, his teammates must also step up, hence kobe being passive, which was also phil jackson's game plan. And if you watched the game, double and triple teams were being thrown at kobe the second he touched the ball. here's some basketball 101 for you just incase you decide to write another basketball article. A good offensive player takes what the defense gives him. A double team means a team mate is open, which means pass the ball to the open team mate, which is what Mr. Bryant did.
So Kobe's selfish because he scored 50 points, yet he's also selfish because he passed to his team mates.
Ok..keep on hating haters.

By the way, please stick to golf, get off the Kobe-bashing bandwagon, and leave the hate articles for real basketball "analysts"

Good luck, and more power to you.

Chris Baldwin! Your name and color says it all... You dont know nothing bout basketball, so pls stop hating. Another one of those bandwagon guys that wants to make some noice by writing non sense topic bout the main man KOBE BRYANT.

I dont know which is worse, the reporter who was fire because he wrote stories, siting statements without even interviewing the people, or Chris Baldwin. They both write made up garbage. Chris writes as though he has some special way of mindreading a player. I personally have placed him on the "do not trust" list.
Mr. Matador Defense (Charles Barkeley) is also on that list.

That jagoff Baldwin just won't stay with what he knows! here he's writing about Charles Barkely. Don't read it unless you want to get even more pissed.

you are a horrible writer. You display a complete lack of knowledge on the game of basketball. He had 23 pts in the first half and they are down 15.....it was time for a different strategy. Not to mention, he was double and triple teamed nearly everytime he got the ball. You need a girlfriend.

Wow!! Ms. Negativity takes to time away from bashing a 16 year old golfer from Hawaii to talk about Kobe Bryant. I'm surprised Baldwin even knows who Kobe Bryant is......considering the geek he is.

I'm more impressed Baldwin's mother has cable.

f u b

Go SUns!!!!!!! Baldwin, great article! Too bad most of your readers are idiots! Took down the Mavs in game 1 tonight! 7 more wins and the Trophy is in Phoenix where it belongs! Time to go make my tee time for tomorrow!