Respect Kobe 2.0: Back to Beta

Think of this as a State of the Union address. Things have changed for me, and those things directly affect my ability to maintain a high level of involvement with RespectKobe.com. As a result, things are changing here at Respect Kobe, as well.

So I’m going to tell you a little about my life these days (sorry if that bores you), and I’m going to tell you what that means for the future of RespectKobe.com.

If you’re at all interested in how things are going to change here are RespectKobe.com — or if you’ve enjoyed this site so far, and have wondered where I had disappeared to — read on.

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Kobe Bryant Refuses to Lose

Over the last couple of years, those that have paid much attention to the Lakers — and, more specifically, to Kobe Bryant — have come to expect two things.

First, that at every crucial juncture, Bryant’s numerous critics will invariably predict the return of a mythical character they refer to as “Old Kobe” — a selfish player who doesn’t trust his teammates and tries, unsuccessfully, to win games single-handedly, playing 1-on-5.

Second, that Bryant will disappoint them, proving them wrong at every turn.

In Game 3 of the 2008 Finals, Kobe Bryant did just that, completely dominating the game both offensively and defensively while taking only 20 shots. Down the stretch, he made every right decision, stifling Boston’s final attempt to steal the game…

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Kobe Bryant: Whatever It Takes

Let’s get the obvious out of the way: Kobe Bryant has completely dominated these Playoffs.

More significantly, however, is how he has done so — in nearly every way imaginable. He has dominated the best teams in the NBA as a scorer. He has picked teams apart with his passing. He has played the role of decoy. He has taken over late in games. He has created for his teammates.

Simply put, he has done whatever was needed from him at any given moment.

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