Kobe Shoulders Load in Game 1, Will it Be Enough vs. Nuggets?

Isn't it too quick for you to be so critical of Kobe, after Game 1 of Western Final? What if Lakers win Game 2? What if Lakers snatches one game or two in Denver? What if they go to the NBA Final? If Kobe doesn't have the leadership, they won't be here today. For Ali's sake, be a fair commentator and don't bully with you pen!

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I am appalled at the BAD officiating against the Lakers in tonight's game. One on Bynum who did nothing. Kobe's clean block, no body contact whatsoever. The phantom call against Pau under the basket. Nene bear hugging Pau under the hoop. Chauncey's shoulder grab on Trevor's steal at the end.
The Nuggets cannot handle the Lakers with good D. Too much Laker talent. Nuggets go back to Denver for some more tats...How about "LOSER" ON THEIR FOREHEADS.. ?

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C'mon Terrence, as Mark Jackson would say, you're better than that. Kobe is a 2 guard, it's not his job to get everybody involved, but he tries anyway. Unfortunately for him, he's the only stone cold killer on the squad so it looks like he's being selfish, when really it's just a matter of survival. It's just Kobe doin' work..

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Terrence your the one who doesnt " GET IT ". Kobe has inspired and Helped his team get better and better all year. Did you take in to consideration that they had the best record in the west by more than 10 games?? That they were the leading scoring team in the NBA. That they had the best away record in the NBA. Do you actually think that would have been the case without KOBE. Are you a blind Moron or do you just not like the Lakers. Try writing something that you pay a little more attn to so you can get the facts straight

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Mr. Moore, you sound like a Moron? Look you reside in Atlanta, GA. and you're trying to comment on the Kobe? What arew you going to say when your precious CAVS lose a game? I said it once and I will say it again, Kobe is the best closer in the the game. Stop being bias because you hate Kobe and the Lakers. The cream always rises to the top. Go L.A.

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what exactly has lebron won? i know he's 0-1 in the finals? I know that shaq has lost just as many finals as kobe (although he has 1 more win). I know that steve nash is walking around with one of kobe's mvp's. stop hating son, kobe is about two mvp trophies short and everyone knows it. hopefully this year his squad can man up and get him ring #4.

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I have to agree with 'Wondogwade,' the officiating was terrible. It appeared to me, the refs were trying to give Denver the game. They certainly miss the call on that last three that Billups hit; his foot was on the line. No matter, Lakers won inspite of the bad calls; or lack thereof.

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I am an avid basketball fan and since the official retirement of Michael Jordan, I do not watch as much basketball, however, with the emergence of Kobe Bryant who in my humble opinion has many of the same skills as many basketball greats before him..........this fine athlete has done a magnificent job of motivating members of the Lakers squad and he should be hailed for such leadership...this is only game I and there is a remote possibility that the Lakers will be victorious at home ...many of the loyal fans such as Jack Nicholson and Denzel Washington just to name a few will continue to make their presence known and ultimately motivate the fans to rally around the lakers.....the Denver Nuggets is an outstanding and athletic basketball team coached by a future hall of famer........let's sit back, stop complaining and enjoy the rest of the season...remember all of the basketball teams consists of professional athletes

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Not really sure what you were trying to get at with this article. You say that Billups has the ability to make his team better (which is why they are where they are), but they still lose to a Kobe-led team that played sloppy and thru bad officiating with Kobe leading the way.

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Mark Cuban was right! The Nuggets are a bunch of thugs! Check out the blindside Chris Anderson laid on Shannon Brown. And the refs ignored it!And the bearhug on Pau by NeNe.And the refs ignored it!And Mello was grabbing Kobe even more than Shane Battier did! And the refs ignored it!And the league alllows this.Why?Is this the way we want our children to perceive that the game is supposed to be played?I don't think so!

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Jerry West's comments lost the series for the Nuggets. All his comments did was FIRE UP Kobe and as we have seen when Kobe has a point to prove, he usually makes his point(s). I will take Kobe over Lebron in 2009 but the future is Lebron's its just not now. Lebron is great but in this post season, I am taking a motivated Kobe over anybody else.

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The officiating was terribly biased against the Lakers and the Lakers started out flat and played rather poorly as a team, yet still found a way to win. This series could be a sweep very easily if the Lakers can get it together.

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HEY ARTICLER EDITOR
GET OFF THE LAKERS NUTSS YOU FUKIN DUMBASS
LAKERS ARE GOING TO WIN IT ALL
KOBE DOENST NEED TO PROVE SHIT HE IS THE BEST

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I understand now about the decline in good old fashion sport journalism..and Terrence you shouldn't be able to pick up a pen and comment on anything sports related. Shaq won his Championship with Kobe and vice versus, Shaq won a Championship with Miami in his first year there.. Miami was on the cusp of winning a Championship anyway, they just needed that one piece which was a center you idiot..Alonzo Mourning was plague with a life threatening injury, steps in Shaq a complete team at the time that was primed to win...Kobe is the best player in the West..it's no fault of his that the Lakers were lackluster on getting more experienced players to surround him. Bynum a Joke,Luke, Fisher, and Lamar needs to be traded after this year win or lose..Fisher makes non known point guards superstars..Lamar plays when the Moon is aligned with Pluto during a meteor shower...and Bynum it's just a kid trying to play with the Big Boys. I can actually feel Kobes pain when he himself must carry the Lakers.

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We need police to get O.T. because Kobe is coming to a colorado hotel.Last time a woman was beatin and raped and if it's Kobe it's o.k.

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Dave your a complete Meth smoking idiot..Never in history has someone has giving into consensual sex, go home give her other lovers sexual favors.. get pissed (Scorn) calls Kobe a rapist (Or any man to that matter)..decide that her loose behavior is being played out across the world, and opts for a payday instead..What woman you know wouldn't want justice for an actual RAPE! versus go away money?...So next time remove the pipe from your lips before making any more idiotic comments.

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this article's assertion is interesting in that it questions whether or not Kobe is capable of instilling the fire into the bellies of the other players...there are several ways to look at this in comparison to the Billups phenomen.
#1. their jobs are different - yes billups is a phenomenal leader and his presence and experience have made a huge difference in a team that is a first round out or worse under the "leadership" of the main scorer, Melo. However, and this is a big however, Billups job is to distribute the ball, use his experienced court vision and see what needs to be done...plus he's skilled to score on his own...he's a PG first and foremost and he's doing his job well. So...one wonders if it's his effective distribution and court sense that has led to the turnaround in much the same way Nash did for first few seasons with Sun. Both "made their teammates better" by delivering the ball to them in the ideal positions for them to score. Just witness some of those same teammates NOT thriving after leaving the Suns and Nash's passes.
2. Was Billups arrival the catalyst or the last straw? Billups arrived at a time of frustration for Nuggets and the departure of a "me first, while talking the talk of team" player. Was it just a matter of the final piece of the puzzle clicking in a team FINALLY ready to acquiesce to the direction they're now taking after their individualist and headstrong ways had beaten the crap out of them with failure. I suggest this is a factor as well.
3. Does Kobe give the fire to the belly for others...well, yes and no, AND, it's up to them to take from the inspiration and neither be awed by his talent and will, nor intimidated to it. "you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him be committed to drinking it" If one can't be inspired by Kobe's dedication, work ethic, talent and passion, then that's actually their problem more than Kobe's...some will, some won't...

so all in all, while an interesting premise, I don't necessarily agree with the conclusion drawn from the observations of the situation.

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While I don`t much agree with the question of Kobe`s leadership, or lack thereof, the triangle offense is supposed to be the team leader, not an individual, it certainly isn`t hating on Kobe to ask the question. Claiming Kobe is a rapist, when the girl admitted from the outset SHE tried to Seduce HIM, and eventual dropped charges, much less added he beat her and paid her off like a whore, which she did not allege, is hating based on lies. Bryant being an adulteror isn`t nasty enough? I think this Laker team needs two perimeter starters benched, by adding greater quality, that isn`t Bryant`s lack of leadership, Rome wasn`t built in a day. James is a leader? He`s an actress. I love his grumpy old man character, but he hasn`t led anyone much of anywhere yet. It is pure wishful thinking to pretend James has proven or won much of anything yet. And reflexes peak at 20, so he will increasingly need skill, not just talent. I hope he will develope it. Too many similarly talented basketball players haven`t. There is an excellent chance the Nuggets will win in 6, resulting in Anthony vs. James. It would be an excellent rivalry. It is up to the Magic and the Lakers to win for themselves, on the court, fans, like me, can`t win thru for them, neither can the refs. Individuals want the ball? They should go get it. MOVE. Kobe does, LeBron does, Carmelo does. And since they can dribble, they do that a lot. Howard wants the ball, then he should cut without the ball to create a passing lane to get it. And should learn how to shoot, not just dunk, the ball. Kobe and LeBron and Carmelo have learned how. Basketball players usually have their best stats at 25, 26, 24 years of age, but usually don`t WIN until later, once the have better teammates sharing their stats and learn to blend with them. I hope Bryant wins his Shaq-less Championship, giving him more a claim to equal Shaq, but he has his work cut out for him with this BIpolar bunch, and he won`t want it any other way. What good is winning if it is given to you, easy, it is worthwhile because it is hard.

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DAVE YOU'RE AN IDIOT! LET THAT DENVER INCCIDENT WITH KOBE GO. NEWSFLASH DUMBASS NO1 CARES ANYMORE. AND THE ONLY REASON COPS NEED TO BE CALLED IS BCUZ THOSE DAMN DENVER THUGGZ ARE GONNA BE PISSED WHEN THEY LOOSE. WHAT NOW TRIX?? GO LAKERSS ALL THE WAY!!! AND IF YOU DON'T LIKE IT, YOU CAN SUCKIT BIAATTCHH

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where's your Lebron now?

All his "leadership" and led him to 49 points on a losing effort.

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