JOY
watching kobe bryant go off is always an exciting thing to watch. luckily the lakers were on national tv two nights in a row, tnt thursday and espn friday. i miss fox sports and kcal. makes me want to get nba league pass again. then id get to see kobe drain a pull-up 3 in a defenders face, split multiple defenders, swish fadeaways, hit off-balance and 1 shots all the time.
but what ive been noticing this year is that kobe doesnt seem to have that killer look as much. he kind of straggles around the court a lot, doesnt get back on D right away. i think hes lost some of his competitive edge, the frustration from the mistakes of his teammates and the losses are taking a toll on his desire to win. only once in a while when the game is close and on the line do we see "killer instinct kobe mode." makes me believe that kobe will walk in 2 seasons unless the lakers make a major acquisition. its ridiculous that the lakers management put themselves in this position: forcing out shaq (possibly the best big man in nba history) and letting kobe walk (arguably the best basketball player ever).
why does phil always let his 2nd squad play through? why not put in kobe before the lead gets out of hand? i think phil jackson made a mistake of signing a two-year extension. he shouldve signed only a one-year extension, he might be coaching a team full of scrubs. i personally think that the lakers shouldnt extend jacksons contract at all. they need a change, screw the triangle, they need DEFENSIVE changes. bring in larry brown, a coach w/ winning experience and a defensive mindset. i say this as the 3rd quarter rolls to an end w/ the jazz dropping 102 points on the lakers. 102 points in 3/4 of a game. not only that but this is w/out boozer and okur. can you really blame kobe?
after seeing the highlights of the knicks beating the bucks the night after getting blown out bill walton said, "contract extensions for everybody on the knicks!"
PRAYER
for family of j.y.