Bring on the negative rep.... - Dallas-Mavs.com Forums

Murphy3 · 05-09-2011, 11:21 AM

I really, really hate to say this.. But, I really gained a little bit of respect for Bryant. I know that it's setting the bar low, but at least he wasn't taking cheap shots late in games. I know that he caught some crap for believing that his team would still come back after game three, but isn't that exactly what you'd want Dirk to think if the situation was reversed?

Yeah, I'm not saying I have a ton of respect for this guy. I think he has a tendency to forget his teammates too often. I don't think he's the best leader either. But, I do appreciate that he stepped up and called out his teammates for their classless cheapshots.

Underdog · 05-09-2011, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

But, I do appreciate that he stepped up and called out his teammates for their classless cheapshots.

Yeah, at least he went down with a bit of class...

I'll have to spread some rep before I can neg-rep you, sorry.

LonghornDub · 05-09-2011, 11:43 AM

No neg rep from me. I sorta like Kobe. I don't like everything about him, and he's not half the teammate Dirk is, but I have way, way less of a problem with him than several of the other big names in the league (cough Miami Heat).

Murphy3 · 05-09-2011, 11:43 AM

I suppose I can attribute him calling Bynum out as just another instance of him wanting the negative focus directed elsewhere..but, I do respect him being a competitor on the court and gracious in defeat after the series. I don't always agree with the way he can turn into a selfish ballhog..or the way he will throw a teammate under the bus quickly when they lose... but I wanted to give the guy credit when it was deserved..

92bDad · 05-09-2011, 11:47 AM

I would like to send some positive rep to Kobe's wife, as it is alleged that she is the reason that Gasol's head was not right with ball for this series, and could very well be the "Trust" factor that Bynum spoke of.

But ya, as much as I hate Kobe...his words and his body language at the end of the game appeared to be that of a player who wanted nothing to do with the classlessness that his Lakers were showing on the court.

I have to respectfully support giving him props for actually showing some level of class.. which was quite surprising.

Kidd Karma · 05-09-2011, 11:53 AM

Don't agree with this, as the leader of this team, you're just as responsible for Bynum, and Odom, this is your team, your teammates, to disassociate your self from this is irresponsible. These are the majority of guys who helped you win 2 more rings and now it's like he's throwing them under the bus. They could not have won those 2 rings without a healthy Bynum. Kobe's the leader of this bunch.

joemoeschmoe · 05-09-2011, 12:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

I really, really hate to say this.. But, I really gained a little bit of respect for Bryant. I know that it's setting the bar low, but at least he wasn't taking cheap shots late in games. I know that he caught some crap for believing that his team would still come back after game three, but isn't that exactly what you'd want Dirk to think if the situation was reversed?

Yeah, I'm not saying I have a ton of respect for this guy. I think he has a tendency to forget his teammates too often. I don't think he's the best leader either. But, I do appreciate that he stepped up and called out his teammates for their classless cheapshots.

I was saying this exact thing to a co-worker this morning.

He gave credit where credit was due and called out the classlessness instead of trying to defend it.

Male30Dan · 05-09-2011, 12:12 PM

You all should know that I have mad respect for Kobe's game and, likewise, gained even more respect for him as a person. Obviously he made a pretty poor decision several years back that will forever haunt his legacy, which, despite a woman trying to get rich and lying on him, wasn't much different from what Jordan did that came out AFTER Jordan's career (and was brushed under a few rugs). Both equally horrible - don't get me wrong - but still. Kobe is often times not even spoken of in the same breath as Jordan but just look at the stats, rings, records, etc.

Sure, he has an ego like most superstars do but the man can give props when a series is over. He is a winner so he doesn't show his cards until then typically but he is a good dude when the final whistle blows. I think he is a tremendous player - always have - despite being burned on here before for saying as much.

FINtastic · 05-09-2011, 12:13 PM

Kinda weird, but I was having pretty similar thoughts. Like you said, I guess that shows how low Odom and Bynum set the bar.

Maringa · 05-09-2011, 12:39 PM

I would have no problem whatsoever if the Mavs could try to find a way to get Kobe without sacrificing too much...

SMC0007 · 05-09-2011, 12:50 PM

I hate Kobe's facial expressions and his overly arrogant attitude. I suppose you have to always think you can still get back in a series and it ain't over till it's over but the way he goes about it annoys the piss out of me. He can't get out of the way of his own ego and it's a character flaw

. I have such little respect for him regardless of what he said after game 4 haha. Who cares? He would have gladly put his foot on our throats in the end and bragged about how it's what champions do etc. It's always about him and not until after it's over and there is nowhere else to go and nothing else to blame because he lost by 30..then he gives credit. In his eyes that is the only game we won and it was almost fluky that we did because we shot the 3 ball so well. F 'em. great player obviously but who cares. Respect for Kobe, imo while it definitely isn't neg rep worthy, it isn't thread worthy.

alexamenos · 05-09-2011, 12:59 PM

yeah, I have more respect for Kobe than any other rapist on earth after this series.

His frankness was interesting.

iella · 05-09-2011, 01:06 PM

The thing that always pisses me off is the finger wagging. Really?

LonghornDub · 05-09-2011, 01:07 PM

To be clear, I actually wouldn't like or respect Kobe one bit if I thought he actually raped anyone. But I don't think he did. That's up for debate, of course, but that's my take.

jacktruth · 05-09-2011, 01:15 PM

I no longer respect Murphy3.

JK. But, Kobe saying what any normal athlete would and should say does not increase my respect for him. He wasn't exactly lighting up the scoreboard in any of these games and when he gave credit for game 3 win to Barea and not Dirk seemed to me like he was avoiding respecting Dirk's accomplishments.

The only thing that really surprised me was that he did not attempt to blame his ankle injury. He's less of a punk than Bynum and Odom, but so is 99% of the NBA.

Murphy3 · 05-09-2011, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jacktruth

I no longer respect Murphy3.

JK. But, Kobe saying what any normal athlete would and should say does not increase my respect for him. He wasn't exactly lighting up the scoreboard in any of these games and when he gave credit for game 3 win to Barea and not Dirk seemed to me like he was avoiding respecting Dirk's accomplishments.

The only thing that really surprised me was that he did not attempt to blame his ankle injury. He's less of a punk than Bynum and Odom, but so is 99% of the NBA.

Saying I have a little bit more respect for the guy. He's one of my least favorite athletes in the history of sport. I went from totally sports hating the guy to totally sports hating the guy a little less.

jacktruth · 05-09-2011, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Murphy3

Saying I have a little bit more respect for the guy. He's one of my least favorite athletes in the history of sport. I went from totally sports hating the guy to totally sports hating the guy a little less.

When you put it that way, I can agree.

WayOutWest · 05-09-2011, 01:49 PM

How do you issue a negative rep, or a positive one?

Underdog · 05-09-2011, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WayOutWest

How do you issue a negative rep, or a positive one?

The little blue check-mark at the top-right of a post.

Kidd Karma · 05-09-2011, 03:21 PM

Read that Kobe and other Lakers went to check on JJ.

BGMaverick9 · 05-09-2011, 03:36 PM

Based on his success and mindset, I'm not surprised if he can come off as a little prickly or arrogant (see his picture walking onto the AAC floor during shootaround for Game 3).

That being said, he'll still give credit where credit is due. During the season he always gave credit to the Mavericks and warned his team about them as a legitimate threat. He would praise Dirk, but he didn't want to go overboard with it.

He's out to destroy you every chance he can get. If you do go through him though, he'll give you the credit for beating him and the team.

dalger · 05-09-2011, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kidd Karma

Don't agree with this, as the leader of this team, you're just as responsible for Bynum, and Odom, this is your team, your teammates, to disassociate your self from this is irresponsible. These are the majority of guys who helped you win 2 more rings and now it's like he's throwing them under the bus. They could not have won those 2 rings without a healthy Bynum. Kobe's the leader of this bunch.

No offense, but I can't help but think that there's a lot of fail in your post.

Although it would have been the perfect day for it, Kobe is neither Odom's nor Bynum's mother. These two guys made the decision to go after Dirk and JJB on their own. Right after JJB went to the floor, Kobe looked like a guy who wasn't satisfied at all with Bynum's actions. Kobe reportedly apologized to JJB after the game and stated his discontent with what had happened in the postgame press conference.

While doing so, he was actually intelligent enough to never specifically mention Odom and Bynum by name. He simply distanced himself from these types of actions without directly going after his teammates. If he didn't distance himself, he would be associated with their actions. Why would he want to be? Why should he have to be? Or, to use one of your words: It would have been "irresponsible" of him NOT to distance himself from these cheap shots. Just because Bynum and Odom helped him win two rings doesn't mean that Kobe has to be okay with every decision these two guys make on the court. Just because Kobe is the leader of this bunch doesn't mean that their actions are inevitably his actions. In fact, sometimes a leader has to be critical of his teammates to achieve changes for the better.

I don't care enough about Kobe to really concern myself with him. He does seem to have a huge ego like other gifted people and/or Hollywood stars. His remarks during the series definitely came across as smug. He may not be a great teammate, certainly not one as great as Dirk (or Kidd etc.).

However, Kobe was clearly one of the classier Lakers yesterday and, after the series was finally over, somewhat left his ever-present competitive mindset (which is probably the reason for his coming across as smug) to applaud the Mavs long an hard for their victory. It would have been VERY easy for him to jump on the media bandwagon and say that the Lakers were defeated by the Lakers, that it was all Pau's fault, that the bench didn't bring anything to the table, that Artest was so stupid to get suspended. Instead, he chose to give the Mavs credit like a champion is supposed to do.

BGMaverick9 · 05-09-2011, 03:43 PM

I've rocked the low-tops hooping quite a bit like Kobe does. So I found this incredibly hilarious.

EXCLUSIVE: Nike releases images of Kobe's NBA Finals shoe: http://bit.ly/kaVHR9

Murphy3 · 05-09-2011, 03:43 PM

dalger, +1