I was just getting ready to cook up a similar thread Chuckbuck and here you go comments from the past couple days
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What may have transpired in the Locker Room following the Philly loss and after math of Denver loss.... article Jan 7th
http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/basket...
Dwight Howard and Kobe Bryant just can’t get along, and there’s a team in Brooklyn that might be waiting to pick up the pieces.A league source told the Daily News that the Lakers stars got into a heated exchange following a New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, and Bryant went for a low blow – referencing and agreeing with Shaquille O’Neal’s criticisms of Howard being soft.
Howard was restrained from going at his teammate, according to the source, and there have been rumblings from the center’s camp that he’s been unhappy with Bryant since earlier in the season.
Three days after the altercation, following a disheartening loss to the Clippers, Howard complained about the lack of chemistry on the Lakers. It was a comment seemingly directed at Bryant, who is averaging a league-high 22 shots despite playing with three potential Hall of Famers.
The Mike D’Antoni-coached Lakers fell to 15-18 after losing at home to the Denver Nuggets, 112-105, Sunday night despite Howard’s 26 rebounds. Bryant led L.A. with 29 points but took 26 shots.
“Look at the difference between our team and (the Clippers),” Howard said. “They just play together. They share the ball. Everybody’s excited when something happens.”
Howard again hinted at the disconnect on Saturday. There were always concerns over whether Bryant, a no-nonsense veteran, and Howard, a playful man-child, could co-exist.
“(Chemistry) is something we have to do to get better,” Howard told reporters in L.A. “We have to play like we like each other. Even if we don’t want to be friends off the court, whatever that may be, when we step in between the lines or we step in the locker room or the gym, we have to respect each other and what we bring to the table.”
Howard, a pending free agent, has not committed to Los Angeles beyond this season.
If the Lakers decide Howard won’t re-sign, they risk losing him for nothing and it becomes more likely they trade the six-time All-Star.
The Nets spent all of last year trying to acquire Howard, who admitted in October that Brooklyn was his preferred destination.
The Nets are in a position to put together an enticing package if they know Howard would sign long-term to play with Deron Williams. The Nets’ previous proposals to the Magic centered around Brook Lopez, who is having a breakthrough season coming off foot surgery.
Lopez can’t be traded until Jan. 15 because he signed a four-year, $61 million deal in the summer. He is averaging 18.9 points and 7.4 rebounds, while Howard – who is coming off back surgery – is on pace for his worst statistical campaign (17.4 points, 12.0 rebounds) since his second season.
Prior to the trade that sent Howard to Los Angeles, Bryant reportedly told Howard he’d be the third offensive option if traded to the Lakers. Following the New Year’s Day loss to the 76ers, Bryant was ticked off at Howard and ticked off in front of the media.
“Cause we’re old as s---,” the 34-year-old told reporters, explaining the Lakers’ struggles. “What do you want? We just got to figure out how to play when we don’t have that energy.”
Suuposedly Howard going after Kobe has been debunked....
Kobe's comments via ESPN after Howard stated they don't have good chemistry after Philly Loss..... article Jan 6th
http://espn.go.com/los-angeles/nba/story...
When asked to compare the still-developing dynamic between himself and Howard to the run he had with O'Neal, Bryant laughed."That was a different dynamic. Shaq and I were a different dynamic," Bryant said. "That type of duo, you're not going to find another duo like that ever. There were other duos that were better than us, (Scottie) Pippen and (Michael) Jordan. But you'll never find a duo with two dominant personalities like myself and Shaquille. That was kind of a once-in-a-lifetime thing."
"We did. We won three straight," Bryant said, referencing the Lakers' three-peat from 2000-02. "One of them has to sacrifice. I sacrificed quite a bit with individual numbers and MVPs and NBA Finals and all this other stuff.
^^^^^^^^^
Hello is that Melo talking?
So basically he's saying yeah I made those sacrifices when Shaq was here although I loathed it tremendously(Championships be Dammed) and I was only going to do it for so long. Shaq is no longer here and here we are yrs later with opportunities to win(Championship be Dammed) and I'm not willing to sacrifice for Nash(who's never won) Howard(who's never won) for D'AnToni(who's trying to get there) Naaaaahhhhh they should make sacrifices for me and get me my 6th(Championship be Dammed) while I stack up on personal accomplishments winding out my career.....
Ironically it was Shaq who recruited Payton(never won a chip) and Malone(never won a chip) to the Lakers. Kobe got incensed at Shaq's hold presence and recruit swag on the team. Caught a charge that off-season and tried to befriend Malone because he knew Shaq and Payton were tight. So he tried to create a bar between the four horsemen. Ironic it was Kobe who turned on Malone accusing him of trying to get with his wife although Kobe has been doing all kinds of things since they've been married hurting the relationship. Kobe never endeared himself to GP. Matter of fact GP said they would be on the plane all the guys trying to play games with each other.... like Cards and Bones and Kobe would be on the Plane trying to fly solo. He said he tried to play cards with him a couple times but Kobe wasn't feeling it. Lamar Odom made similar comments his first couple yrs there and said it was difficult to hang with Kobe off the court. Kobe eventually changed some(very little) as time went on. Shaq leaves for Miami and gets Payton and Mourning a ring(at least sacrificed to help them get one) very different from Kobe who actually could have more rings right now if he had a truly sacrificial spirit.
More from Kobe
"It's not the same thing. On that team, it was me and Shaq and role players, who were excellent role players. Here, it's me, Dwight, Steve and Pau (Gasol). We play to each other's strengths. Steve is the best facilitating guard. Pau is the best facilitating big man. The ball goes through those guys, and it allows them to make everybody better. It's really that simple."
Dude you're blowing a bunch of hot air to the press. This is not how the Lakers are currently playing, This is not how the Lakers are currently being coached, and This is not how you're currently playing as a leader. You're one of the biggest Slick Oil Car Salesman in all of basketball Kobe. Only the gullible will gulp this up. I'll will say Howard isn't Shaq and he's a much softer player and personality than Shaq but he's still arguably the best center in the NBA even with a bad back.
More from Howard
When told of Bryant's quotes, characterizing himself as sacrificing during the O'Neal era, Howard asked for clarification."He took a back seat?" Howard asked. "I was super young, so I really don't remember too much from those championship runs."
Dude you were 15-18 yrs old during their run and was Prep Star during the time come on were you in a cave or under a rock the whole time? This is why when you speak you won't get the kind of response and respect you're looking for. ROTFLOL @ this mess of a mess
More from Howard
Howard was then asked if he thought he had the same kind of alpha male personality as O'Neal."You can't look at it as the alpha male. It's basketball. We're not a pack of wolves," Howard said.
"There's different ways to lead a team. Sometimes you have to follow to learn how to lead. I've done an excellent job with guys of being somebody they can all come to if they have a problem.
"But if they're not working the way they need to work, I'm the guy that will tell 'em, 'Hey, you need to get in the weight room or get some extra shots up.' That's where I come in. I don't have to bark about it to you guys (reporters) or to the team."
Howard then explained what his definition of an "alpha male" is.
"If you're an alpha male, you don't have to always show that you're the alpha male," he said. "Just be who you are. You come in the room, people know you're there.
"My presence is felt every day, and I don't have to come here and growl and snarl at people. I don't have to do all that."
Instead, he said he tries to create a happy, enjoyable work environment.
"(My teammates) like when I come in, have fun and enjoy myself. Because they want to have fun and enjoy themselves, too," Howard said. "If they can't do it, it's not a great working environment.
"I don't think you guys would want to come into work with a boss that's always telling you what to do. If you see the boss being at ease and having fun doing it, then you're going to have fun doing that. That's who I am. I've been an alpha male my whole life, but I don't go pissing everywhere to show people that I'm an alpha male. I just need to be who I am."
Wow so Howard is subliminally slamming Kobe's scowling I'm mad at the world antics coming to work and on the court get coaches fired approach
Adande's article following the Denver loss....article Jan 7th
http://espn.go.com/nba/dailydime/_/page/...
Comments from Kobe on recent happenings
after Sunday's game Bryant welcomed a little dissension in the ranks, while Howard issued a plea for unity."I think it's fine for us to boil over a little bit," Bryant said. "It's fine to get a little chippy. I kind of get the sense in this locker room that that's finally starting to happen."
Bryant thrives on competition. He believes that's what brings out the best of players, even if they're competing for supremacy of the same team. Howard takes a different approach.
So Kobe is trying the Jedi Mind Reverse Psychology trick. He wants Howard to try and snatch the team from him a la him snatching the team away from Shaq by Howard usurping his greatness. Although at the beginning of the season Kobe said he's not ready to give the team over to Howard just yet, he'll have to wait until he retires, then L.A. is his. When recruiting him via trade, he called him on the phone and told Howard we're running the offense through me and Pau and he'll have to settle with being a possible 2nd option but definite 3rd, although later in the season he told Pau to put his "Big Boy" pants on when D'AnToni refused to make Pau any option....
ROTFLOL @ this mess of a mess
Comments from Howard
"Sometimes when you try too hard, you mess up," Howard said, putting together a nine-word sequence I could never imagine Bryant uttering. "We're just trying to put it all together, just quiet our spirits and play. Everything is so muffled, and we're not 'one' right now. We have to get to that place where we're one as a team and we move forward together. That's the only thing I can say about being patient."
Okay Howard so you see what everyone else sees Kobe is chucking too much trying to Hero his way to Laker victory....oky doky
