Kobe Bryant: Pre-Season Flop and Laker Fan Excuses

Of course, Laker fans are used to wishful thinking. Why wouldn't they be? The Lakers are the second most winning franchise in NBA history and boast some of the greatest players and title teams ever.

George Mikan was the NBA's first unstoppable center and he brought titles to the Lakers (Minneapolis Lakers). Jerry West, Wilt Chamberlain, Elgin Baylor, Gail Goodrich, Bob McAdoo, Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul Jabbar, James Worthy and Shaquille O'Neal all played for the storied franchise.

The 1972 Lakers were amazing, so were the 1980, 1982, 1985, 1987 and 1988 Laker teams. The 2000-2002 Lakers, led by Shaq were awesome and the 2009,2010 Lakers led by Gasol were awesome. 

This year, the wishful thinkers hope Kobe will vastly improve as they try and find any excuse they can to protect his flopness.

"The pre-season doesn't matter to us," they say. "Losing in Barcelona is OK fro the world champs," they contend. "Kobe is the greatest," they hope, "He's coming off surgery, give him a break" they cry. Give me a break.

If the pre-season doesn't mean much, then why would a supposedly awesome scorer shoot so badly. I mean, if this is when the backup squads are tested and Kobe plays against them, even if he's injured would'nt he at least shoot 20% from the field? C'mon, can he manage to shoot at least 20%?

Uh...nah

Game 1 of pre-season: Mr. Injured, I mean Kobe, only played six minutes. Good thing no one on the Lakers cares about the pre-season huh? Especially the fans. Kobe took 3 shots in the six minutes - missing all 3. Two of the attempts are actually three pointers, which he misses. Kobe- 0 points - The champs lose at Minnesota - but who cares right? It's the pre-season.

Game 2 of the pre-season:  Ooh, the Lake show across the ocean. In Barcelona. Must have been something special to Jackson as he plays KB24 for 25 minutes. Remember when MJ said he played hard every single night no matter what because he knew it would be the first, last and only time a fan might ever see him play? Not KB. The pre-season, and the Lakers losing to a non-NBA team doesn't matter, right Laker fans? Forget national pride. Kobe has the minutes and takes 15 shots...yeah that seems like a plyer who doesn't care - If the pre-season doesn't matter, why would you take 15 shots in 25 minutes. He went 2 for 15 and missed 6! three pointers, all six he took 0/6 from three range. For a guy who doesn't give a crap (and a whole Laker nation that sees the pre-season as nothing) why did Kobe have 5 personal fouls? He finished with 15 points because he somehow got to the line 12 times and made 11..oooh, awesome. Can we say, NBA refs? Lakers lose and Barcelona teams think they are better then us because of the Lakers...doesn't matter.

Game 3 of the pre-season: Since the pre-season doesn't matter, it doesn't matter that the Lakers beat the awesome (not) Sacramento Queens by 3 in LA. Wow. Kobe played 19 minutes and shoots 2 for 10 (0/2 from three pt. range) after taking seven shots in the first quarter and missing them all! It doesn't matter right? That's right NBA fans, the Laker nation says the pre-season doesn't matter (especially when they lose). Lakers win, but after making up so many excuses after the first two losses, Laker fans can't be happy with the win. No, no, no, that would expose the hypocrisy. Remember: the pre-season doesn't matter.

So far Kobe's pre-season stats are: Games Played 3, Games Started 3, 16.7 minutes per game average, 4 out of 28 from the field for a 14.3% FG, and 0/10 from three point range (0.00%), he has made 14/16 free throws...weeee!!!! He is also avergaing 3.0 rebs, 2.3 assists, 0.7 steals and 0.0 blocks, and weird for a plyer who could give a rats ass about the pre-season 2.3 personal fouls per game - why foul, if it doesn't matter? He's averaging as many fouls as assists and a Kobe rookie replica of a scoring average 7.3 ppg. (ha ha) 

  "He looked better to us," Lakers Coach Phil Jackson said after his team defeated the Kings, 98-95, at Thomas & Mack Center. "He was two for 10 and he didn't shoot the ball well, but he ran like he was more fluid in his running and it looks more like he's starting to have a little bounce in his step. So I was pleased even though he didn't shoot the ball well."

Why would you give a crap Phil? or Lakers fans? 

Jackson coached the greatest player to ever lace em up - MJ - so he just doesn't care what Kobe does anymore - even though it pales in comparison to what Jordan would have done to these shitty teams in the pre-season at age 32. Jordan shoot 14% - NEVER!

But it doesn't matter - Kobe is the greatest and the Lakers will win it all this year again, and Kobe will be MVP, not Gasol, right Laker fans!?!? Keep on wishing, after all this is LA LA land.

I love this game!