The Kobe haters around here amaze me. We're talking about one of the greatest players of all time, a guy with 5 championship rings, who continues to play at an extraordinary high level, and you guys don't want to give him any credit whatsoever. Sure he makes mistakes, but so what? Every elite player is going to make mistakes. There are very few guys I would want more on my team.
And as far as Kobe ripping Gasol, I love Gasol, but Gasol deserves to be ripped for Saturday night's effort. Gasol played 39 minutes, same as Kobe. Kobe had 7 rebounds and Gasol had 3. 3! 3 rebounds for a 7 footer. That's inexcusable. Jordan Hill played 13 minutes, and he had 8 rebounds.
Kobe comes to play every night. He tries hard every night. Gasol doesn't. Gasol takes time off, sometimes whole games off. Gasol is soft at times, that's just the way he is. When Gasol got the ball at the end of the game, he didn't want it. He didn't attempt to turn toward the basket, he didn't make any moves at all, he just passed it as quickly as possible. Reminded me of the way Chris Webber used to play on Sacramento. During crunch time, Webber never wanted the ball either. Rip Kobe all you want but, just like Durant, he always wants the ball. Give me a guy who always wants the ball.