The fallout begins

Of course, the 81 point effort will not be taken for what it was...nope...it's gotta be analyzed by experts and amateur experts alike. Each throwing their personal opinion of Kobe into their analysis almost more than the actual situation.

I was going to link to these folks but then I thought 'why give them press?' But there's the constant, Kobe's selfish. Well, Lamar Odom (the number two option, heehee) was working on an '0 for' midway through the third quarter. Not to mention his recent debacle in Sacramento. So I could understand a lack of confidence in giving him the ball. After all, he finished 1 for 7 from the field. Smush scored above his season average of 11.5 with 13 points on 5 of 11 shooting. Chris Mihm was 5 of 8 and you really can't ask for much more from Mihm. Kwame 'No hands' Brown was shooting a whopping 20%. And the bench? Combined for two field goals.....

In the long run, Kobe will have to make his team better. He knows that. But he also needs some help. I've stated for quite some time that Lamar is not the number 2 option that will bring glory back the Purple and Gold. In fact, he may represent our best chance to bring in some quality as trade bait.

The funny part about the hat...uh critics....out there is they act as if Kobe hadn't given his teammates a shot. We were down by 18 freaking points in the third quarter and he had 30 or so...he had done his part. Where was his help? It became clear to him that help in fact was not on the way so he took the game on his shoulders. He went for the 'W' through sheer will. Any of these folks stating things about hearing about the 81 on the radio and thinking 'he sure is selfish' should be ashamed of considering themselves sports fans.

If you saw the game, it wasn't an orchestrated effort like Wilt's 100, it was a necessary showing for the 'W'. Selfish is shooting and missing, and continuing to do so at the detriment of your team. If you're shooting, and making, then you are in fact helping your team. Are you helping the players around you become better. Probably not, but you are building a lead, which leads to a situation, where these other players can work on their skills without the pressure of the game being on their shoulders......