Kobe Bryant had some comments about Team USA’s failures at the FIBA World Championships in Japan. Let’s have a look.
“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,” he said.
I’m not exactly sure what to make of that, and I’m also not quite sure why it’s the 3rd headline on ESPN.com right now. I suppose it’s because it involves Kobe Bryant and issues of chemistry, which is sort of the lightning rod issue of his career to this point.
I’d just like to know what the hell he meant, and why he thought it was important to open his mouth about it. I agree with him, that there were a couple of issues that would fall under the heading of “chemistry,” including the fact that no one on the team had any kind of balls except Carmelo Anthony. He was clearly the team leader, the only one willing to take charge, and sort of leaves everyone else in a supporting role, which is something none of them are even remotely familiar with.
That was one of the issues facing the team… and while that one might fall under the chemistry umbrella, there were some basic X’s and O’s issues that have nothing to do with chemistry that also need to be worked out.
He’s never going to, but I’d love to hear him expand on that honestly. If he’s thinking that the team needed him to step in, take control, and tell everyone else exactly what they need to do… I couldn’t disagree with that. I’m not sure Kobe’s the right guy for it, but … hey, no one else did it.
Bouj Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 11:05 am
If by “no chemistry” Kobe meant “can’t / won’t defend the pick-and-roll”, then he’s correct.
UC Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 11:31 am
About Carmelo Anthony showing balls:
I thought that was sort of the problem. Nothing against Carmelo, but why was he the go-to guy when Wade and LeBron were on the team? Didn’t these two guys just strap their NBA teams on their backs and lead them through the playoffs? As the FIBA tournament progressed and I kept hearing about how Carmelo was morphing into the main dude, I sensed trouble on the horizon. I like Carmelo, but I’m sorry, he has to step aside for Wade or LeBron.
john Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 11:36 am
If by “having balls” and being the “team leader” you meant that ‘Melo refused to pass the ball when he got it, then I agree, he has balls. I agree with UC, Melo was more the problem than he was the solution.
the mighty mjd Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 11:47 am
UC - I’d have agreed with you before the tournament started, but… when the time came, Carmelo was the one to step up, not Wade, and not LeBron. And I completely do not buy that LeBron is ready to lead any team, let alone this one. He’s just not there yet. He doesn’t have any kind of a “take charge” attitude, and Carmelo did. He was the one. As far as Wade, I’d put him ahead of LeBron in that category, but again… when the time came, Carmelo was the one. It’s not always who you’d think it would be… it’s not always the best player. When the Timberwolves made their run to the Western Conference finals, it wasn’t KG who got them there, it was Sam Cassell. He took the big shots, he demanded the ball, and he made them.
John - Come on, you can’t single out Carmelo for not passing. The offense’s goal was to take quick shots, there wasn’t anyone who did a ton of passing… with the possible exception of Chris Paul, who also took his share of threes, and missed way more than his share. The times when Carmelo took over the game were the times when no one else was getting anything to drop. When there was no offensive flow, when no one was moving the ball… Carmelo took it, and made things happen. Without Carmelo taking over when appropriate (and it was never selfish, it was always necessary), we lose to both Italy and Germany.
Jeff Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 12:05 pm
This is an excerpt from the USA Basketball website:
“Anthony averaged 19.9 points while playing 23.9 minutes a game. Anthony also shot 50.4 percent from the field, 44.0 percent from 3-point, while adding 3.7 rebounds, 1.9 steals and 1.4 assists a game.”
With those numbers, why would you want the ball in anyone else’s hands??
ReKen Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 1:09 pm
Kobe Bryant, Therapist.
Zee Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 2:50 pm
Melo stepped up and i respect him for that. D. Wade couldnt cos NBA refs werent calling the game and falling down 7 times wasnt going to help him either but in anycase LeBron is good but he aint got that killa instinct yet. Hmmm come to think of it the chemistry might be missing the venom from Mamba
whowillsexmutombo? Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 5:43 pm
“chemistry problems”? How about “American big men don’t know how to rotate and help on D anymore”? Bosh and Howard were late and later from the weak side all tournament long, and it was really frustrating to watch.
Also, about that closer 3 point line… maybe next time have some of those guys who can, uh, shoot? You know… shoot the ball? Like, when they’re open, they make shots, so you can’t leave them open anymore? For reference, please see: the entire 1980s.
Sean Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 6:42 pm
IMO, Kobe’s saying that the players need to become more of a team if they’re going to get better. Part of that is having a real leader, and part of it is getting more experience as a unit in real games where they find plays and lineups that work in certain situations. Not sure if Kobe is telling the brass that the team needs to play together more often or for longer periods of time, or if they should keep a team intact instead of changing the 12-man roster for each tourney, or what.
dj2fly4u Says:
September 7th, 2006 at 7:28 pm
I think Kobe’s comments are being overanalyzed.
His message seemed to be, the other top European teams have been together very long a la having chemistry, and the U.S. team has not. We weren’t going to have this chemistry right out of the blocks and that in itself was another added challenge during the tournament. This chemistry will build in the next 2 years. This is only year 1 with this group. Strategy wise, they should know what they need to work on–I hope they do by now, because they didnt seem to address such things in this past tourney.
charlie Says:
September 8th, 2006 at 12:42 am
God to people love to hate Kobe.
Rhondda Nunes Says:
September 8th, 2006 at 2:03 am
Fire coach K. With substitution patterns like he used in the game against Greece just another reason to hate on the Dukies.
& if “strapping a team on his back” could work so fine for el negro mambo why could’t the Lakers get further this year?
Could it be that Steve Nash is a more talented floor general at marshalling the other players in support of him?
It’s one thing for the most-talented player to want to take charge….It’s something else that he inspire other players to play their best because they want to; not because their afraid of making mistakes.I think Kobe frightens his teammates instead of inspiring them.Especially Luke Walton.
& I say that as a UCLA grad & fan of his dad.
deucetrey Says:
September 8th, 2006 at 3:32 am
mjd,
Gotta call you out on this one: “I completely do not buy that LeBron is ready to lead any team, let alone this one. He’s just not there yet.” You then go on to rank Wade ahead of him in the leadership department.
First of all, if LeBron didn’t “lead” the Cavs this year, what did he do? You could make a solid case that minus LeBron, the Cavs had the absolute worst talent in the entire playoffs. While Wade did an exemplary job this season, he didn’t need to be “the man” all game; he had Shaq to fall back on until go time. In the clutch, yea, Wade was spectacular, but so was Bronny. Ask Agent 0. While LeBron may not be quite the best vocal leader yet - although he is getting there; his post-game press conferences become more interesting by the game - he leads through the sheer force of his prescence. That’s rare.
The fact that Melo came out on the int’l team and played the best really doesn’t mean to much. LeBron treated the Worlds much like Tiger treats the Ryder cup: an international event worth showing up for, and that’s about it. That’s a luxury reserved for the absolute best. Do I agree with that? Of course not. But it is what it is.
Don’t get me wrong. Melo’s a baller - during the regualr season, he was the go-to guy at the end of a game. But in the Real Season? Where was he?
I realize this has nothing to do with Kobe talking about the need for team chemistry - which is like TO saying the Cowboys need to concentrate more on the game plan and less on the media - but I had to get that off my chest.
Bron can lead. He’s showed it. Melo got hot in a tourney. There’s a difference.
john Says:
September 8th, 2006 at 8:53 am
LeBron’s game is passing and slashing to the hole. Being a slasher is a tough business in the international game. Those zones are packed so tight Jordan couldn;t work his way through them. That’s why you have to scratch your head at the make-up of the team — it was all slashers (except ‘Melo). It’s not that LeBron can’t lead (he clearly showed he could with the Cavs this year), it’s that without any outside shooters, the lane’s completely clogged.
the mighty mjd Says:
September 8th, 2006 at 11:20 am
I remain unimpressed by whatever leadership LeBron showed in the playoffs last year. He was the leader in the sense that he was the best player on the floor, but… it’s not like he took the Cavs somewhere beyond where their talent indicates they should have gone. The Wizards, for a playoff team, were pretty bad… and it took the Wizards 6 games to beat them. Then they pushed Detroit to 7 games, and I think it was proved pretty clearly later in the playoffs that those Pistons weren’t nearly as good as they were thought to be at the time.
I just don’t buy it yet. And it’s not even really a criticism of LeBron, it just takes time to get there. He will eventually. But I remember too many instances last season where he was still passing up clutch shots in the 4th quarter, celebrating a 1st round playoff win like he just won the world title… I just don’t see it yet.
bill g Says:
September 9th, 2006 at 9:51 am
“D. Wade couldnt cos NBA refs werent calling the game”
someone get this man his prize