What's wrong with Kobe Bryant?
Absolutely nothing, say the Houston Rockets.
When Coach Jeff Van Gundy wasn't chiding Phil Jackson before Monday's game, he was pumping up Bryant, calling him everything but the best player he has ever seen.
It's not a bad strategy to compliment Bryant — Houston guard Cuttino Mobley has mastered a perfectly believable wince whenever he's asked if he's a suitable Kobe stopper — but Van Gundy seemed earnest in his flattery.
"One thing I don't understand from the outside is all the criticism of him," Van Gundy said. "I've never understood it. What I see and what I read, and what I coach against are two different things. The guy is great.
"He competes hard every night. He passes when he should pass, and shoots when he should shoot, and he just has an ability to create a good shot for himself."
Bryant had 35 points, four rebounds and two assists in Game 2. He made nine of 19 field-goal attempts and 15 of 16 free-throw attempts.
Can someone explain this to me? Is Van Gundy saying Kobe is good?
Kobe4MVP can stay neutral. 
if they have trouble with houston how're they gonna fair against sac or sa.
) because i dont care how young kobe is -- you dont win a championship with a guard unless his name is michael jordan (and even he had a good supporting cast), and kobe isnt half mj. but if the lakers want to have a couple of mediocore seasons and no more championships its fine by me. if i was the gm and shaq left id just dump kobe and start rebuilding with higher picks already because thats what eventually will happen anyway, in my opinion losing shaq and keeping kobe is just prolonging the inevitable. i highly doubt phil would stay if shaq left, whats the point