Friday, June 6, 2008

What the Celtics dont have?

**A Blog entry for my Favorite player because my favorite team the Detroit Pistons choked - AGAIN**
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If Boston have the Big Three composed of Ray , Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett, they also have big problems:

Kobe. Kobe. Kobe.

Kobe splitting the Celtic defense.

Why?

Well lets see. He is the league's current MVP, and well, He IS best player in the game right now - arguably that is. Hell, I never heard anyone having his own page on NBA.com due to all that he has accomplished through out his career. However, his scoring and all his personal achievements is not the reason why he is the Boston's biggest problem, its how he makes his teammates not only look good, but feel comfortable on the floor.

Drafted in 1996 striaght out of highschool, he is now an eleven-year veteran at only 29 years old. Some consider him as old though it just looks that way because he has been in the league for so long. And just recently, he changed his number from number 8 to number 24. Kobe claims he changed his number as a start of the second phase of his career. However, fans often say that he chose 24 as he is one better than '23'.


Though Kobe does not want to be compared to Michael Jordan, fans and even NBA players say that he is one if not the best in the game. His on court performance did not slow down over the years, but his attitude off the court improved noticeably. In a discussion on TNT, Kenny Smith says that Kobe picking up the tabs at dinner is not the case, but he is now going to dinner with them. Though these things cannot be seen on the gae, it has greatly affected how the team is playing.

Kobe redeeming himself from all the criticisms he received in the past. It was just last year when he was demanding a trade and criticizing his teammates. He was digusted that the franchise was not surrounding him with enough talent. What was good about that was that there was no where to go but up. The rise of the Lakers this year is more because of adding Derek Fisher in the offseason and acquiring Pau Gasol in a trade. These has lessen the load of the Mamba. Kobe has always trusted D-Fish, ever since back in early 2000 where they won 3 championships. And then suddenly, Kobe showed confidence in his teammates. Kobe started finding open lanes then dishing out or dropping to Pau Gasol. Then, everybody started to follow his lead. Odom felt comfortable at the 3 spot and was more effective, and Kobe's game elevated the play of Farmar and the birth of Sasha "The Machine" Vujacic. O well, one year changes a lot of things.

And this is what the Celtics dont have, Kobe Kobe Kobe. You see, when Kobe plays well, so does his teammates. No one can stop him. He scores and gets to the floor almost at will. Him scoring 20 is different when Garnett scores 20. He gets his scoring from the freethrow line and puts the opponet's team in foul trouble. Then suddenly, the defense starts collapsing, he finds his teammates, and then - what do they call it back in the 80's? Uhm, oh - ITS SHOWTIME.

The Lakers winning the West against the Spurs in Game 5.

As of where he stands in the league, here are his ranks for this season from NBA.com:

Playoffs Ranks

Regular Season Ranks

Boston just couldnt handle the MAMBA. Who could? I hope this Cinderella hell of a year of Kobe will end with a ring, his 4th and Phil's 10th as a coach.

Lakers in 6.
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