Why You Hate #24 | Another Serving of Kobe Beef

But at the end of the day... people here in LA are saying the same thing everyone else is. For the most part. The die-hard Laker fans find themselves confused, not fully understanding what is going on with this Hollywood franchise. The ever-enigmatic bandwagoneers simply don't know when to jump. Do we cheer for Kobe and the Lakers? Should we start looking for the Cleveland bandwagon? they ask themselves. And the both levels of haters...Kobe haters and Laker haters alike... they don't ask questions. They simply celebrate.

The ideas and stories put behind Kobe in the past few weeks have been all over the place. From the beginning, many people in the media said this is Kobe's last run. If Kobe doesn't win it this year, he won't win it ever again.

Others said there's no way he'll win it. It's Cleveland's to lose. And they won't lose.

As the season ended, 24 and the Lakers seemed to struggle a little. Partly because they were trying to get Andrew Bynum back in the mix, but also because it seemed as if the team had become complacent.

The Utah series began with an overwhelming consensus that Lebron was the new MVP and even more so...the league's best player. Many people were putting Kobe well behind Lebron now. And a never-ending debate ensued...who is better, Kobe or Lebron? And as if the NBA was a movie all in itself, just when the debate was slowly dying down, because there were other things going on...namely the Conference Finals, the logo himself, Jerry West told the media that Kobe is still the go-to player for a last second shot, but Lebron is the better player now - - sending the media into a complete frenzy, and further solidifying the fact that Lebron is the better player.

Or is it something else? Is it that...Kobe Bryant simply cannot win?

These past two games, Kobe has done nearly everything in his power with some of the best defense on him, and has gone 1-1 against the Nuggets. Lakers win Game 1 not because Kobe came back to his old form and dominated the end of the game, but because George Karl and the Nuggets lost it themselves. They blew it. Then the Nuggets take Game 2 by storm, and we not only hear about the Nuggets being the better team, but because Kobe and the Lakers just didn't have enough of what it takes.

The energetic Rockets take the Lakers to 7 games missing three elemental pieces, and it's because Kobe Bryant and the Lakers are lazy and a disgrace to basketball. It's because they are arrogant, and don't care about the game. Not because the Rockets outplayed the Lakers and simply took off on energy alone in Houston. The Rockets got their props, but it was because Kobe is tired and doesn't like playing with his teammates.

The Lakers don't deserve to win an NBA Championship.
The Lakers are lackadaisical.
The Lakers have no confidence.
Kobe will never win another ring, and especially with in Los Angeles.
Kobe is too hard on his teammates. They are afraid of him.
Kobe doesn't trust his teammates.
Kobe's legacy will be completely tainted if the Lakers lose in the playoffs this year.
Kobe is mad.
Kobe is crazy.
Kobe does too much.
Kobe doesn't do enough.
Kobe shoots too much.
Kobe doesn't shoot enough.

Like many people before him, but in different ways, Jay-Z once said, if you have haters, you know you're doing something right.

It's one thing to hate an athlete, because he may personally have killed your team over and over again (for starters see: Sacramento, Utah, Toronto, New York, San Antonio, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Portland, Houston, Dallas, Indiana) ...but all this ill will is pretty outrageous.

While many people may not like who Kobe Bryant is as a person (and I have no problem with that), there's no denying that this guy has talent, basketball intelligence, and a competitive nature we haven't seen since we were all trying to be like Mike. Nothing has ever stopped him. And he has continued to get through teams time and time again. Even the most common-sensical hater has to agree. You cannot deny basketball brilliance.

And he has it. Some of the accusations about Kobe's career and Kobe's attitude very well may be true, but there has always been a magnifying glass on the negatives of Kobe, giving us no choice but to cast him to the dark side.

But we forget Michael Jordan's gambling problems, his problems at home with his wife, his fights with teammates at practice...because we respected and dropped our jaw at his talent as an athlete. And we know Lebron, as of now...can do no wrong. Even if he does miss a game winning shot, or opts to not take it, he can do no wrong. But when Kobe is used as a decoy, Kobe's desire to want to win is questioned; his confidence is questioned.

As one journalist said earlier in the playoffs, Kobe is the NBA's "anti-hero" to Lebron's "hero."

So be it. The NBA is the movie, the playoffs is the set. Lebron, Carmelo are the good guys.

And just like in previous movies, where everybody from Shaq to Phil Jackson was the good guy...Kobe is the bad guy, going against all odds. He was here before...

And somehow, somewhere...Kobe for a split moment was the good guy again. Almost like a spin-off.

Some hate him. Some love him. Some hate to love him.

But at the end of the day...Kobe still set precedents in a mostly guard-dominated league. And hate him or love him...you're going to hear his name for a long time. For the rest of his career and when he retires. And though many people fail to believe so...for the rest of this summer.