Nate's Comments On Kobe

[ABM]

From: HoopsWorld

A few weeks back, Dallas Mavericks center Ryan Hollins had some choice words about Kobe Bryant. In an interview with a Dallas radio station, Hollins claimed Bryant, "has issues trusting his teammates", but at least one head coach around the league wholeheartedly disagrees.

"I think you are seeing it. I think you are seeing the maturity," Portland Trail Blazers head coach Nate McMillan - who helped coach Bryant the past three summers as a member of TEAM USA – said when asked where Bryant can still take his game after all his accomplishments.

"You would think a guy like Kobe can't do anything else, but you are seeing the maturity of him trusting his teammates and allowing those guys to be themselves. And he continues to be aggressive and take over games when he needs to," McMillan added.

"He hasn't – like he's done in the past – tried to carry the whole team on his shoulders. You have (Pau) Gasol, (Andrew) Bynum this year when he was healthy, and the guys coming off the bench. He's allowing them to play their game and not force him to carry the team."

Portland hosts the Lakers on Friday at the Rose Garden, and McMillan can only hope the Blazers have a repeat victory from their meeting with Los Angeles in early March. Then again, with Kobe Bryant playing at an MVP level, you just never know.

"You've seen him mature even more this year with that group," said McMillan. "He's great. He really is. He knows what he is capable of doing. He's always challenging himself to be better."

 

[illmatic99]

bah....

Losing respect for Nate here. Just like I did for Roy about his Bryant = MVP comments at the all star break.

 

[handiman]

Nate knows better than to provide bulletin board material.

 

[TripTango]

bah....

Losing respect for Nate here. Just like I did for Roy about his Bryant = MVP comments at the all star break.

What's not to respect? He's giving props to star players on other teams, which is exactly what he is supposed to do as an NBA employee. Bryant has done the same thing regarding Roy.

 

[andalusian]

I am far from a Kobe fan - but what Nate said is absolutely right on the money. Kobe seems to be letting his team-mates find their game an awful lot more this year than he did in previous years.

 

[maxiep]

I am far from a Kobe fan - but what Nate said is absolutely right on the money. Kobe seems to be letting his team-mates find their game an awful lot more this year than he did in previous years.

He is, and it's pissing me off. I want him to go back to the self-centered-look-at-me-I'll-do-it-all-by-myself Kobe. That Kobe made the L*kers a lot easier to play.

 

[hasoos]

The best way to face a team like LA is to respect what they can do on the court. Nate is doing the right thing to keep the team focused.

 

[Wheels]

bah....

Losing respect for Nate here. Just like I did for Roy about his Bryant = MVP comments at the all star break.

Really? Just cause someone notes that someone who you hate, is one of the top players on the planet? No problem at all here.

 

[MARIS61]

Nate and KP have both had a man-crush on the anal-rapist from LA forever and still have the goal of making him our first new JailBlazer through FA or trade.

Nothing new here.

 

[BlazersBlood]

Nate has a bond with Kobe since they won a gold medal together. Of course he's not going to say anything bad about him.

And what he speaks is the truth. Kobe isn't trying to dominate 48 minutes of the game anymore. He's picking his spots better and saving his energy for the 4th.