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The Kobe Era 2K5
Joined: 07 Aug 2004
Posts: 6172
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 Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:28 am Post subject: Billups: "Kobe's the cream of the crop." |
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Bryant Deflects the Spotlight
Lakers Star Wants the Focus On Team USA
By Michael Lee
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, August 23, 2007; Page E08
LAS VEGAS, Aug. 22 -- Kobe Bryant doesn't want the FIBA Americas Championship to be about him. He has consistently tried to deflect attention by saying that he only wants to blend in and be one of the guys. The Los Angeles Lakers' star refuses to spend his time here clarifying his on-again, off-again trade demand earlier this summer for fear of becoming a distraction to the team's goal of qualifying for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.
But the fact remains that Bryant cannot escape his perch. Rising stars LeBron James and Carmelo Anthony are carving out their places in the league and Jason Kidd brings an impeccable international record, but Bryant was one of the first players Jerry Colangelo, managing director of the senior team, sought out when he made the blueprint for the national program. Bryant has more NBA championship rings (three) than Team USA's other 11 players combined. He is also the player considered by his peers as the best in the game.
"You're around a very elite group right now and you can still see his greatness," Detroit Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups said. "The same can be said about a few more players, but Kobe, he's the cream of the crop."
Bryant practically took the reins of the team at an intrasquad exhibition game here last month, when he made a defensive stop against James in the closing seconds and nailed the game-winning jumper. But he insisted that he isn't concerned about being the face of the team. "Honestly, I don't give it much thought," Bryant said.
Bryant made his much-anticipated debut for USA Basketball in a 112-69 defeat of Venezuela on Wednesday night at Thomas & Mack Center. His opportunity had been delayed by injuries and off-court troubles the past four years. He was chosen for the team that won the Olympic qualifier in Puerto Rico in 2003, but withdrew because of surgeries on his knee and shoulder. He was expected to be a part of the 2004 Olympics before sexual assault charges in Colorado scuttled those plans. Another knee surgery forced him to withdraw before training camp began for the FIBA World Championship last summer.
"I've been waiting for this for a while," Bryant said. "To finally put on the uniform and run out there and compete in a game where it's for real. It's special."
Bryant said he watched Team USA finish third in Japan last summer from his home and was "upset just like everybody else. It's like watching your brothers out there. It's your country and to watch them struggle like that is very difficult. Coming here, myself as well as the new players, we just want to contribute as much as we can to try to not have that happen again."
Bryant led the NBA in scoring for the second consecutive season, but the Lakers were eliminated in the first round of the playoffs for the second year in a row. His offseason was highlighted by his confounding public trade demand, in which he expressed his desire to leave, then stay, in Los Angeles on the same day. He has since blamed his outburst on frustration and decided to handle his differences with the Lakers behind closed doors, while offering only vague answers -- or none at all -- when asked about his future. He told ESPN last week, "That's water under the bridge to me."
Bryant has instead placed all of his energy into representing his country, and said he probably pushed his body hardest in preparation for this event. He lost about 19 pounds before the minicamp in July, and has stayed away from pepperoni pizza and fast food so long that he said he "can't remember the last time" he had some. His diet has mostly been limited to fish and vegetables.
"You start knocking on 30, the reality sets in a little bit. Your metabolism isn't what it used to be," said Bryant, who turns 29 on Thursday. "It's a part of trying to figure out how do you stay in tip-top condition or stay ready to play. If that means not eating fast food all the time, that's what you've got to do."
U.S. Coach Mike Krzyzewski guaranteed Bryant, James and Anthony starting spots, with other point guards and centers rotating in. But when the team canceled practice and held voluntary workouts on Sunday, Bryant was the only veteran in the gym alongside rookies Jeff Green and Kevin Durant.
"He works out on his own in the morning, at night. It's pretty impressive," said Mike D'Antoni, an assistant with USA Basketball and head coach of the Phoenix Suns. "He's really focused, always. It just kind of carries over."
After Bryant won the most valuable player award at the All-Star Game here last February, D'Antoni marveled at Bryant's competitiveness, even during a lopsided game. "His intensity is refreshing, it's great. No matter who we're playing, what we're doing he's competing," D'Antoni said. "His desire to be the best player in the game, his desire to win a gold medal, his desire to get the Lakers to win a title, that cannot be questioned. He probably takes it to the highest level you can take it."
Said Colangelo: "I knew Kobe would be a tremendous addition to our team this year, knowing that he couldn't perform last summer. He made it clear he would do anything he was asked to do to make this thing successful. His attitude has been unbelievable."
Bryant was asked where a loss in this tournament would rank. "I'm not into ifs," Bryant said. "We believe this sport is ours to dominate. We want to claim back what we believe is rightfully ours. It's not going to be easy at all. I'm sure there are plenty of countries that are going to have something to say about that."
And the spotlight will be on what Bryant says in return. |
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Godfather
Joined: 21 May 2006
Posts: 1050
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:45 am Post subject: |
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Rock on Kobe!  |
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Chicano
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:07 am Post subject: |
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I've always liked Chauncey.
Last edited by Chicano on Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:34 am; edited 1 time in total |
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MadMax
Joined: 17 Aug 2006
Posts: 8048
Location: South Bay
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 10:14 am Post subject: |
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| Chicano wrote: |
| I've always like Chauncey. |
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assassin08
Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Posts: 1027
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 11:39 am Post subject: |
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| MadMax wrote: |
| Chicano wrote: |
| I've always like Chauncey. |
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"I've learned that I have the strength to change."
- Al Pacino as Michael Corleone
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karacha
Joined: 01 Nov 2005
Posts: 15692
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 12:23 pm Post subject: |
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Uh... who can we offer in a trade for Billups? 
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Daloyalfan18
Joined: 22 Feb 2005
Posts: 1991
Location: South Carolina
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 2:02 pm Post subject: |
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Great article!!! 
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gdchild
Joined: 24 Apr 2007
Posts: 1176
Location: Taiwan
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 4:19 pm Post subject: |
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Kobe is a world obsession  . |
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two0one7
Joined: 21 Jul 2007
Posts: 8397
Location: Laker Land
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 5:21 pm Post subject: |
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| gdchild wrote: |
| Kobe is a world obsession . |
He truly is. People that love him, love him. People that hate him, hate on him at every chance. Either way, he's everywhere.
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Showtime is Magic
Joined: 25 Jul 2005
Posts: 5814
Location: UC Irvine / Encino, Ca
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| Posted: Thu Aug 23, 2007 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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| gdchild wrote: |
| Kobe is a world obsession . |
so true |
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rtrt2889
Joined: 18 Dec 2006
Posts: 2430
Location: Great Western Forum, California
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| Posted: Fri Aug 24, 2007 12:55 pm Post subject: |
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| assassin08 wrote: |
| MadMax wrote: |
| Chicano wrote: |
| I've always like Chauncey. |
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mavoretto
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 1245
Location: moscow
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:43 am Post subject: |
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"cream of the crop"
I'm not english native, can anyone tell me what does it mean "cream of the crop" ? |
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assassin08
Joined: 06 Oct 2005
Posts: 1027
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:47 am Post subject: |
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| mavoretto wrote: |
"cream of the crop"
I'm not english native, can anyone tell me what does it mean "cream of the crop" ? |
It means "the best".
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"I've learned that I have the strength to change."
- Al Pacino as Michael Corleone
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KB24@CL
Clublakers Moderator
Joined: 22 Jun 2004
Posts: 40506
Location: always in the near...
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 8:50 am Post subject: |
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| assassin08 wrote: |
| mavoretto wrote: |
"cream of the crop"
I'm not english native, can anyone tell me what does it mean "cream of the crop" ? |
It means "the best". |
it means the best of the bests....
in europe they say creme de la creme...
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"It is not how big you are, it is how big you play"
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
"Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals" |
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mavoretto
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 1245
Location: moscow
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:16 am Post subject: |
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| KB8@CL wrote: |
| assassin08 wrote: |
| mavoretto wrote: |
"cream of the crop"
I'm not english native, can anyone tell me what does it mean "cream of the crop" ? |
It means "the best". |
it means the best of the bests....
in europe they say creme de la creme... |
creme de la creme — is french. I'm not french :-) |
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KB24@CL
Clublakers Moderator
Joined: 22 Jun 2004
Posts: 40506
Location: always in the near...
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 10:45 am Post subject: |
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^ya its french...but in Germany they say the same as well...
_________________
"It is not how big you are, it is how big you play"
"Basketball doesn't build character. It reveals it"
"Be strong in body, clean in mind, lofty in ideals" |
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mavoretto
Joined: 23 Feb 2007
Posts: 1245
Location: moscow
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| Posted: Tue Aug 28, 2007 11:25 am Post subject: |
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| KB8@CL wrote: |
| ^ya its french...but in Germany they say the same as well... |
I'm not German :-))))))))))))))))) |
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DYNASTYk4l
Joined: 03 Apr 2007
Posts: 27
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| Posted: Fri Aug 31, 2007 9:29 am Post subject: |
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| the top of a mountain, the best of the best |
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DMK
Clublakers Analyst
Joined: 15 Feb 2005
Posts: 15766
Location: Baltimore, MD
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| Posted: Mon Sep 03, 2007 10:55 am Post subject: |
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i think this is just what ive been saying since 2002....
Kobe Bryant is the single best player on the planet, and has been since the 1998 MJ. It's just now, it is not arguable... everyone knows it, and even those who dont want to admit it...have to see it. Kobe is reaching that MJ type of reverence among the other players, because he is starting to hit his peak, and hes already done everything there is to do in the sport (except win MVP - and how he didnt win it in 2005-2006 is beyond me) and the other players see it and respect it.
I am sooooo excited for Lakers NBA Basketball this season... as each day goes by... a new year... a new chance. cant wait 
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2007-2008 NBA Western Conference Champions |
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