[scottmandue]

Originally posted by the
At this point of his career, Kobe just wants the team to win. He has nothing left to prove to anyone as an individual player, and he knows that.

He is able to integrate himself into a team, he's done that already with this current team in the last couple of years. Problem is, it didn't work. Because the players surrounding him stink. Who are you going to have taking the last shot of the game, Smush Parker?

To contend for a title, a modern NBA team needs to have TWO superstars, a solid third player, and then some very good role players. The lakers have one superstar and a bunch of inexperienced and/or unskilled players. That's where the laker's front office screwed up. They let a lot of good people get past them in the last couple of years - Carlos Boozer, Baron Davis, etc. were all in their reach.

Another thing a modern top team needs to have is a good coach AND a respected "player/enforcer." That player has to be fully on the same page as the coach and willing to crack down on behalf of the coach. Jordan/Jackson, for example. A current example is Duncan/Popovich. And Nash/D'Antoni. Kobe and Jackson respect each other, but the relationship between them is not strong enough to work well, esp. during tough times.

Right on target... when Kobe "shares" the ball the team loses... when he "Hogs the ball" he can score 30 points, he and Jackson have tried it both ways and neither is working, every winning team has a superstar point guard AND a superstar center... until the lakers get the center they won't win another championship.