Kobe Bryant Discussion: Mamba Out!

Despite the loss, and the phantom fouls for the Cavs, that was an entertaining games. Also, despite my dislike of LeBron, it was clear he was having fun in one of his final games against Kobe and that it mattered to him. Same for Kobe. They tried to give the fans a good show, and I had fun watching it.

There are no real rivalries anymore or star player vs star player matchups like there used to be, this is kind of as close as it gets. 2 all time greats enjoying a matchup, and at least it seeming like LeBron got the significance of it, and that it's one of the last of these.

And that's the nicest you'll ever hear me talk about this drama queen, attention whore, ref protected, media golden boy, self-anointing King, ring-chasing, flopping, never taking blame for anything player who gets franchises handed to him that he holds hostage. Could go on but I'll stop there.

 

Kobe Bryant ala Mark Twain: "The reports of my death were greatly exaggerated." Drops 19, 17 and 6 while shooting 50% and has a career high game in assists. Mind-blowing. Legend.

 

Just saw a tweet that the only other player with a line like this since 1985 is Magic.

 

A few things:

1. Like Weezy said it was actually pretty great to see Kobe and LeBron interact like that. Two of the absolute All-Time greats to play this game going at it fiercely but respectfully. It was like watching a pick-up game sometimes which isn't a bad thing. I don't like the way the media protects LeBron, but he seems like a good person. That showed last night in both ways. It was especially fun hearing whoever it was calling the game last night (Marv Albert) having to tear down Kobe every now and then just to prop up LeBron. Never mind that Kobe is in his 19th season and 36 years old.

2. Brings me to the next point that... wow man. Kobe Bryant with this much time on his legs, with those many miles run up and down the floor, with his age and coming back from TWO career threatening injuries... This guy comes out and has a career best 17 in the assist column with only three turnovers. Not once in his amazing, illustrious career has he ever done that and he does it as he's heading towards the end of the road. Unbelievable. He almost single-handedly beat a team with three All-Stars, a former All-Star, the Greatest Player in the World currently, a Top 5 Draft Pick, and a guy they just traded two 1st Rounders for. Overly specific? Yeah, maybe but remember this is Kobe Bryant at the end of the rope on a team that's almost destined for a Top 5 pick. Even ESPN can't hate on last night's performance.

3. It was good to see Reggie clarify his statement from the Dan Patrick Show. He had said that Kobe Bryant on his best day wasn't as good as Jordan on his best day. Obviously that was ludicrous and idiotic. He made sure to backtrack to the point that he hadn't played Kobe in his prime. When the two of them met in the Finals, Kobe was still young and on the ascension. Miller clashed with Jordan a lot more than Kobe and all through Jordan's prime so he had to face the worst of it. I didn't hear Reggie ever admit that it might have been different if he'd faced Kobe a few years later, but that's alright. We all got the point. He went on to point out that he personally would only take two guards ever over Kobe Bryant and that's Michael Jordan and Magic Johnson. Considering one of them is a PG and the other is widely considered the greatest guard of all time... That's a hell of a compliment.

 

Shaq of all people pointed this out to the TNT crew at halftime as they mocked us and Kobe. Yes, SHAQ, was the one to defend Kobe Bryant and his passing ability, that's pathetic on the part of all these media haters that ignore it and say he's only a shooter. At least Kevin Harlan respects Kobe enough (and he used to gush over him before the LeBron days) and pointed out that he's the only player to have 30,000 points and 6,000 assists, and he'd have a few more this season if guys didn't fumble his passes and miss gimmes.

Actually I think Kobe could have had a couple 17-20 assist games by now if on nights he was finding Hill, Wes, and even Sacre wide open, they weren't bricking the shots. Hill was finally on fire last night, and if Wes or Price could make a shot Kobe would have had 20 assist. Like Stu says, no matter how great the pass is, you only get the assist if they make the shot.

 

And then they mocked Shaq and said Kobe got him traded. Glad Shaq threw in the "not until we got 3 rings" comment.