I didn't get to watch game one, but I thought Boston would be the team to beat. Guess not...so far, anyway.

Let's just say his strong point is NOT shooting but he will take a shot if he has to. He likes to drive and do floaters.

don't like kobe, and pretty much a NY fan for everything else. my "boston friendly" friends are happy that i'm quietly rooting for boston.

Okay...i can understand the geographic logic. Care to expound on the reason(s) you dislike Kobe?

I hear Kobe-hate/dislike thrown around often, without any explanation. A friend recently admitted that he's hatin' on Kobe simply because he doesn't want to see him surpass Jordan's six rings just yet. Especially since Kobe had a head start.

As a fanboy of the game, i can understand why Kobe was disliked many moons ago, with his me-ism and selfishness. I can also understand the hate stemming from Kobe simply being so good at his role...I guess what i don't understand, is when people cast Kobe hate without a valid explanation. I've witnessed a 13 year veteran seasoned and matured to become a consistent premiere athlete and true leader...his on-court work ethic is undeniably the best in the game.

So to all the Kobe haters...i think it makes for a healthy debate, when you can elongate the specific reasons you dislike Kobe, especially at this point in time.

That is exactly the reason why I do not like Kobe. I cannot take anything away from his skills. I still think he is selfish and not team oriented. Players like Jordan, LeBron, and Magic seemed to enjoy playing with their teammates. LA is my squad, but I am on a sabbatical as long as Kobe is dressed in the purple and gold.

Okay...i can understand your dislike and imo it was def' profound up to the departure of shaq and the maybe the year after.

Here's my case, the Kobe post Shaq is quite reminiscent of Jackson's Chicago triangle with MJ...I can't help but notice an uncanny resemblance to the Jackson/Jordan relationship. Today's Kobe seems to be exactly what Jackson wants and needs for his triangle to function: for his #1 scoring option to be automatic to the point where he can make adjustments to his game regardless of what the defense throws at him (and team) and still remain automatic...And as an upside, Kobe's assists have improved.

Case in point, the offensive adjustments Kobe et al made for game 6 of the Phoenix series, brilliant! imo. Wish they would've gone to it sooner. I think zone defense is a total cop-out!

My point is this, i no longer see a selfish non team oriented player. Instead, what i now see is a scoring machine that has excellent role players, in whom he trusts and relies on. This is exactly what Jordan became after loosing for 7 years...no longer being selfish with the ball but relying more on his team and getting them more involved.

My only wish with Kobe is that he would've played for Coach K for at least 2 years.

I don't understand the hate for Kobe either. And I grew up in Chicago and obviously love Jordan and what he did.

Lakers in 5. Black Mamba is in a zone.

Thanks for asking these questions.

I wonder how many people who claim to hate Kobe actually
know the man? I mean really know him? Have met him
and spent time getting to know him?

I Doubt that few have and the basis of their claim to
hate is based on no more than second opinions and thats
too bad.

Being a Kobe "hater" is not the same as having hate for the man. I do not know Kobe personally, but because of Kobe's attitude on and off of the court over the years makes it easier for me to root against him. Phil Jackson was even quoted as saying that Kobe was "uncoachable". I specifically disliked him threatning to leave the Lakers when the team wasn't doing too well, and was willing to throw the team, former players, and the organization under the bus to get what he wanted. Contrast how Kobe handled that situation and how Lebron is handling his current situation in Cleveland.