Kobe Bryant Discussion: Mamba Out!

Don't know where to put this so why not here.
My friend posted this yesterday on FB:
"I've seen a bunch of guys post really thoughtful and heart-felt messages to/about Kobe today. I hope one day I meet a guy that writes me a Valentine's Day or Birthday card that takes half as much time, effort and sincerity."

 

Kobe emptied ALL clips last nite


That's how an assassin leaves his battlefield...its been an honor

 

Ok, guys. Time to lock this thread. (kidding)

 

I was torn after the pregame and introductions on whether to watch this or the Warriors hunt for 73 wins. Started watching this and Kobe bricked 5 shots right off the bat, so switched to the Curry show, checking back during commercials. After the Warriors had grown their lead to 20+ in the first half I switched back to see how the Lakers were doing and it started...Kobe had that look again, something I haven't seen for a long while, he began willing his broken body to reach back 10 years to prove to himself he could still do it, if only for a game. The shots started falling, his defense picked up with steals and shut downs, and the team was in reach of victory. My expectations were that he'd run out of gas in the 4th quarter, like has happened so often these past couple years. Then instead of the game plan for him to come in at the 6 minute mark, he starts the 4th. He looked exhausted, but determined, in "Mamba" mode. What we all saw next was indeed one for the ages, but as the game wound down the Lakers were still losing. I looked over at my wife who was in near tears watching his swan song and said they gotta get this win, it will make this an epic final chapter. Now I've been bagging on his team mates all year for lack of skill, effort and preparation, but in this moment they had his back with terrific defence and rebounding, making sure he had the chance for a last "Mamba" moment for the world to see. The screams of joy in our house when he hit that clutch shot off the great Randle screen to give them the lead, adding the FTS to get to 60, and the final rebound/ assist to Clarkson were deafening. Thank You Kobe from our hearts for this flashback to greatness, Thank You for erasing the memory of this season, and Thank You for giving us something we will always remember as the greatest last game played by any NBA player ever.

 

What a game! Work is brutal today. Didn't finish watching the post game coverage till 330, still couldn't sleep after that. Last night blew my expectations out of the water. Going in, I was hoping for 28-34 points, decent shooting percentage, for us to keep it within 12 so Kobe doesn't lose by 30 in his final outing.

Then the first five minutes happened and I was terrified, I didn't want to see him go out like that...it was looking like it was going to be a long night and a very forgettable finale. Then the Black Mamba woke up and would not be denied. He willed himself when his body was ready to call it a night --during the final 3 minutes of the 3rd i wasn't sure what he had left. Little did I know, Kobe pushes through it and dominates the 4th, not sitting a single tick (glad they didn't keep to the minutes Scott planned on), finds another gear during the last 3 minutes of his career and beat the Jazz by himself.

I think he definitely downplayed that he didn't know how many he had as he was going along. It's Kobe, he is too meticulous and wanted to write his story his way in his last game. I think he tracked every single point he scored. It was very apparent when he was sitting at 47. That 3 attempt where Lance got the offensive foul, then he next time down he throws one up again and he believed he was fouled. I think he wanted 50, in his head that was his goal. I think he was surprised he was able to get to the 60 point marker because I don't think he knew how long he would be able to continue in the 4th.

After the game, one of my first thoughts was that he could've had 70. If he didn't have the jitters to start or if he had hit the couple FTs he missed or some of those looks that were off by an inch...if the wind blew another direction, a lot of those would've dropped. Incredible.

Last night was a fitting, beautiful, scripted, poetic master piece. He left everything he had on that court and turned in one of the most historic performances EVER!

Where do you guys rank this in Kobe's list of historic performances? I think I have to give it the nod over the Dallas game because of what was on the line. Kobe's final game. His final chance to get a win and that was not a certainty until the waning second (whereas Dallas was a blowout). In this one I believe he took 13 fewer FTs than he did against Dallas. I also think the defense was tougher than what Toronto ran against him.

 

Probably my favorite quote from a player last night...