Drop the hate? Not for me, Yes for John Hollinger

Well its been a long time since some Hateraide has been posted, we sincerely apologize for that. I won't waste too much time, and get right into the idiot of the moment; ESPN's John Hollinger.

There he is above, looking about as stupid as his "Chat Sessions" are on ESPN.com. The man posts some of the most idiotic crap I have ever read in my life, not because I don't agree...for once. It is more because he does not seem capable of doing just a little bit of research, or looking at a little bit of historical data before spouting off. His sole purpose as an ESPN writer is to do just that, yet I swear he sits in front of his computer and says, "How can I make someone feel stupid, while being absolutely dead wrong." It is an art Hollinger, you sir have mastered it.

My main bone to pick comes from his dicussion (if you can call it that), this morning about Kobe Bryant, MVP, and the Lakers.

Here is the first question for him;

Lindsay (Trinidad and Tobago): John, I know you are a big PER guy, but Kobe Bryant has been making his teammates better, keeping his play at a high level, leading his team to a terrific record in the west AND beating elite teams without Kwame, Mihm or Odom. No one is doing more with less than KB24. Is Kobe finally deserving of your MVP vote?

John Hollinger: I get questions about Kobe for MVP every week. The fact that his supporting cast is better doesn't necessarily have anything to do with Kobe. (this is more or less the same argument I keep having with Suns fans about Nash in fact). In fact, the two players who came from other teams -- Evans and Radmanovic -- have played worse as Lakers.


Really John, REALLY? So let me get this straight, the former SCRUBS on the Lakers...who couldn't pull a good game together 2 years ago are now only better because of themselves? His teammates who did not get some new magical basketball powers that allowed the SAME coaching staff to craft them better, got no help from KB? The fact of the matter is that the reason these players are better is in large part due to Kobe, his ability to be a mentor, leader, and cultivate confidence in these young guys. Sure they have been working on their game, but you cannot discredit that fact that KB is taking 7 less shots per game, is up 1 ast. per game, and 1 rebound. He is not taking bad shots, he is passing to his team, and giving them the confidence to put the shot up, BECAUSE...the best basketball player on the planet thinks they are capable of making it. How on earth is that not making them better? I know if John Hollinger passed me the ball in a game, I would probably miss the shot, thinking,"He just passed it because he knows nothing about basketball, and probably wouldn't even graze the rim on a good day...ill just chuck one up." Yet, if I was playing with KB and he threw me the rock...welllllllll then I might think, "HOLY crap, Kobe Bean Bryant, the best basketball player in the game today thinks I can hit this shot. Not only that but he pulled in the defense so I could have an open jumper. I gotta put this one down."

I could go on forever with other ways he has mentored and made this Lakers team better, but ill spare you. The bottom line for me is this...if they are going to give Steve Nash all the credit for making Amare, Marion, Bell and Barbosa better...then give it to Kobe for LO,Walton,Turiaf,Parker,Sasha, and Kwame. Nash wins 2 MVP's for passing the ball to some of the better players in the game, of course they are going to score! I could get 15 ast. per game if I had those beasts on my team. How hard is it, he doesn't use any energy on the defensive end...runs down the court and runs into the defense...then gives it to a guy who can make a shot. Ok? So give him credit, fine. BUT, if you do that...you must give Kobe the same credit, even if it is only because NOW his players can hit shots.

Kobe Bryant has done an amazing job this year of turning on and off the jets, scoring when his team needs it, and pulling back when they dont. He isn't forcing shots, he is looking for his team and is winning ball games, even without Odom and Brown on the court! Thats the equivilent of taking Marion and Bell or Amare and Barbosa off the court for the Suns. See what happens to Mr.Canada when you do that.


Another quick show of Mr.Hollingers brilliance...

Mike (Chicago): Ummm... Simply wrong about Evans playing worse as Laker. In fact, he's been a great role player for the Lakers off the bench. People who watch Laker games are always happy with his play. Excited even. Radmonovic... yeah, he's a dissapointment.

John Hollinger: That's only because you saw Sasha Vujacic in that role for two seasons. Up until last night he was a disaster.


John please, just stop...have you ever watched a Lakers game? Sasha Vuijacic in that role?! What on earth are you talking about? When has Sasha gotten serious minutes at any position off the bench on a regular basis? I cannot recall a season when that happened. Mo Evans is playing great defense, and scoring the ball very well. What is there not to love? He is being touted as one of the best off season pick ups, yet for some reason...that is not good enough for you.


Another goodie here...

Ed, Boston: John, Radmanovic has an injured shooting hand, and which sentenced him to the bench prior to the regular season. His minutes with Kobe have been limited. Are you now blaming Kobe for injuring Radmanovic's hand, or are you going to supply us with another superficial homemade stat to justify your bias?

John Hollinger: The "making teammates better" line of reasoning, despite being one of basketball's sacred cows, is total hogwash. Using Evans and V-Rad was the most expedient way I could point it out in this format with this particular player. I could also have simply pointed out that L.A. is 3-0 when Bryant hasn't played, or that it's unlikely that Bryant was the one who taught Andrew Bynum how to play the post or Luke Walton how to finish. My basic point is that while Bryant is off to another great year, you can't automatically give him bonus points for what his teammates do unless you can connect the dots somehow.

3-0 when Bryant doesnt play? Gee what a great sample size! Are you kidding!? Perhaps he made his teammates better and therefore they know how to win without him? Besides, if the Suns didnt have Nash...would they start losing? Probably not. But if they did, it would be based off the fact that losing a PG can hurt a team much more than any SG, simply based on the fact that they now have no one to run their offense.

Hollinger, bring some better stuff...or go work for FOX.