Kobe Bryant Discussion: Mamba Out!

I wasn't sad yesterday, I was really happy to see Kobe go out like he deserved. But today I was talking to my friend, and he mentioned that Kobe is the last Laker from our childhood (I was in middle school when Kobe came in the league) to leave, and it hit me. He's gone.

And lets not forgot Kobe had a TS% of 54.2. People harping about the 50 shots make it sound like he was inefficient.

 

Just going through Twitter today, still so much Kobe stuff, I'm still on a high from that game. I recorded all ESPN talk shows today, watching first take now, even Skip was gushing about this game, can't wait for the rest. Found this one tweet referenced in the Rollong Stone article gcc posted, had to post it because I'd never heard it, wasn't in the article as far as I remember, Baxter Holmes posted it and 3 others as "extra tidbits".

 

And just because, can't get enough Kobe today, articles Baxter Holmes has been posting that I don't remember reading, or must have missed along the way. There are some real gems in all of these articles. Like Kobe wanting to wipe the smiles from the faces of the C Bags family members in 2010 on the plane from LA to Boston with the C Bags having split the first 2 games with us in LA

Kobe could have been a C bag
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...ts-how-kobe-bryant-almost-became-boston-C bag

Holmes on Kobe's final game
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15202045/nba-kobe-bryant-fitting-farewell

Jackie MacMullan's Kobe article
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/1...unt-rushmore-mentors-starting-michael-jackson

Thank you dinner for Kobe AS Weekend
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15175760/kobe-bryant-most-memorable-retirement-gift

Kobe and Chris Paul almost teammates
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15131014/kobe-bryant-chris-paul-talked-winning-titles-teammates

Kobe's pre-game shooting preparation
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15179469/kobe-bryant-famous-pregame-shooting-routine

 

Picture of the ring Jeannie gave Kobe after the game. The other side says "20 years". She gave Vanessa one too.

 

I never watch my own highlights but I can't stop watching the ones from last night

April 13, 2016 - Jazz vs. Lakers - Team Highlights

 

Those rings are cool as a gesture and gift but they are so gaudy. I've never wear anything like that.

 

I still can't believe this happened. I watched all the ESPN talking heads say the same thing all day. I've watched the 4th quarter over a couple times, taking in every little detail. Everyone turned it up for Kobe out there, Tarik, Huertas, JC, Russ, and Nance. By the end our last 4 best draft picks of the last 2 seasons are out there with Kobe giving everything they have, marveling at the moment.

JC is all over the place on D, pumping his fist at good plays, Russ is chasing dudes around on D as well, and after every big play grabbing Kobe, laughing, marveling at what's happening, looking up at the scoreboard as if to see if this is actually real, he looks like a kid playing with his hero getting to see something he never thought he would let alone actually being a part of it. Randle is protecting the rim, setting crazy screens and smiling ear to ear whenever Kobe does something, Nance looks like he can't even believe where he is, it's absolutely nuts. If these 4 remain part of our core going forward for a while, what an incredible thing to be a part of and to leave a lasting impression of what Staples is like during important times, what a playoff atmosphere is like, what it means to be a Laker and why it's more special than being any other kind of player (sorry, it is).

What a game, I could not have imagined this, I'm still recovering from it. I'll never forget it. In game time chat I called this game over when we got down like 15, I was like well, I wanted a win but I guess these guys don't appreciate the moment. Some in there didn't concede defeat though, I know LJ didn't give up, and of course I hung in there to see what Kobe would do. And then one more time, in a meaningless game if you want to call it that, Kobe says "no, we aren't going to lose, I'm not going to let it happen", and he wills this team to victory. I don't know where he pulls that kind of will from, it's something a mere mortal like myself doesn't have, but damn is it inspiring.

And I don't want to hear this crap about the Jazz having nothing to play for so they eased up. They were playing D, he was being doubled, he had a hand in his face on almost every shot, he was being met in the paint by 3 and 4 guys, it didn't matter, they couldn't stop it. I was complaining in game time being all irrational because they were trying hard on d and stripped and blocked him a few times and cost him layups. And of course in the end those that told me Kobe wouldn't want it any other way were correct, it was sweeter because they weren't giving him anything, he went out and took it. That crazy high shot off the board to get to 51, ridiculous, had Randle smiling huge. Squeezing between 2 defenders and pulling up from 17 with 3 guys closing for the swish shortly after, vintage. The quick step back 3, toes barely behind the line with Lyles in his face, should have been an airball by that point, nothing but bottom. The last jumper from 20, Hayward fighting like mad to get free of Randle, the help defender leaping out at Kobe, still drains it, you can't write that stuff, he hadn't been that clutch in years. The Jazz let up on D, ha, please, they tried, there was nothing to be done aside from sending 3 guys at him and making him pass and conceding layups to someone else. You can't hate on this performance, you can't, and I heard no one today even attempt to (aside from some minor insinuations that the Jazz didn't play as hard of defense as they would had this been a game to get into the playoffs), and in a world of Kobe haters, that's almost unfathomable. Bravo, Kobe, he pulled out one last magic show for us.