Bryant says team chemistry key to '08 U.S. hopes

[BAMAPHIN 22]

Kobe Bryant believes the U.S. basketball team will have to work on its chemistry if it wants to perform well at the 2008 Olympics.

The Los Angeles Lakers star, visiting Taiwan as part of a five-leg tour of Asia to meet with fans, said Thursday that a newly assembled team always needed some time together before starting to play with consistency.

Bryant did not play in the world championships because of a knee injury, and the U.S. squad returned home from the tournament in Japan last week with a bronze medal -- mirroring its performance at the 2004 Athens Olympics.

Both results were widely seen as disappointments for teams loaded with NBA talent.

"Years playing together will jell us as a unit, (but) if there is no chemistry, it's going to be tough to beat all those talented teams," Bryant said, adding he was confident the two years leading up to the Beijing Olympics would be enough time to find that chemistry.

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2006/baseball/more/09/07/kobe.worlds.ap/index.html

 

[MikeO]

Kobe Bryant talking about chemistry is like Michael Jackson talking about good day-care centers.

 

[UCFinfan86]

If kobe thinks chemistry is key, then he better stay very very far away from the team. He shouldn't even be on the roster, if they want good chemistry

 

[Alex44]

Heres a question

Would Kobe share the ball if there was actually someone worth sharing it with? Id bet he would

 

[Ferretsquig]

Heres a question

Would Kobe share the ball if there was actually someone worth sharing it with? Id bet he would

He played along side one of the best players of our generation and never passed him the ball. That question has already been answered.

 

[BAMAPHIN 22]

He played along side one of the best players of our generation and never passed him the ball. That question has already been answered.

:sidelol: :sidelol: :sidelol:

 

[Alex44]

He played along side one of the best players of our generation and never passed him the ball. That question has already been answered.

Shaq dominated by not getting the ball right? He obviously had it somehow

 

[UCFinfan86]

Heres a question

Would Kobe share the ball if there was actually someone worth sharing it with? Id bet he would

Lamar Odom is a pretty damn good player, he got us Shaq

 

[Alex44]

Lamar Odom is a pretty damn good player, he got us Shaq

Lamar is a decent player but he can do some really stupid crap....and take shots he shouldnt.

But

When Kobe was passing he was 'passing to much' when he doesnt pass he 'doesnt pass enough' so he really cant win no matter what he does

 

[Ferretsquig]

Shaq dominated by not getting the ball right? He obviously had it somehow

There were two guys by the name of Harper and Fisher whos sole job was to get the ball past half court and give it to anyone but Kobe. You keep the ball from Kobe's hands until late in the shot clock. Because once he gets it you know its going nowhere expect towards the hoop.

But Kobe has gotten a lot better over the years and who knows....he may actually be willing to play with others in the olympics. Seeing how Coach K had them playing in the worlds is not promising though.

 

[Jaj]

And you guys know nothing about L.A. Laker basketball past or present. Kobe facilitated as well as played the SG role in the offense during the championship run. He brought the ball up quite often. He'd have absolutely no problem giving others the ball...

 

[Ferretsquig]

And you guys know nothing about L.A. Laker basketball past or present. Kobe facilitated as well as played the SG role in the offense during the championship run. He brought the ball up quite often. He'd have absolutely no problem giving others the ball...

Which is reflected of course in all those assists he racked up. Noone in the last decade has had a worse possession time/assists ratio. And how many times per game did the ball pass from his hands directly into Shaq's?

 

[djfresh47]

I disagree with Kobe, I think he is the key to the '08 olympic team. Really I posted this in a different thread the team that played in the World Championships will be much different from the '08 team. I believe Kobe/Pierce/Redd/Billups/Stoudamire and maybe Arenas will be on the olympic team but we will see. If Kryzewski is all about having a "team" I don't know who he cuts and has on but those 5 IMO should be on the team. Also I don't know if he took his name out of the running but as a big man the most unselfish player I can think of is Tim Duncan who is a top player but makes everyone around him better. Alongside with that although I hated the Kryzewski selection and thought D'Antoni should've been the coach, nothing for Popovich as a coach?