by Craig Kwasniewski
Kobe Bryant scores a career high 62 points as the Lakers beat Dallas 112-90, here are a few notes from my view high up in the rafters:
-After the first five minutes, you can tell that Kobe was going to have a monster game. Right from the opening tip, Kobe looked quicker and more active than anyone else on the floor. On offense he was able to get off a shot from any spot on the floor. He was oozing confidence.
-By halftime, Kobe had 32 points. All the scoring came within the flow of the offense. It didn't look like he was forcing any shot. Early in the season it would take Kobe 30 shots to get 30 points...not tonight.
-Two moments in the 3rd quarter changed the way Kobe approached the game. The first happened in the first few minutes of the second half. Kobe drove down the lane and spun at Dirk Nowitzki and unintentionally hit Dirk in the face. The refs gave the foul to Dirk and didn't see that Kobe initiated the contact. It was a bad call! Dirk flipped out and drew a technical foul (referee Steve Javie incensed Dirk even more when he gave the technical by making a "T" with his two index fingers in a subtle way). Coach Avery Johnson, sensing that the game may be getting out of hand drew a technical foul to rally the troops. Four straight free throws to Kobe who already was at 34 points.
-The second key moment happened when Josh Howard flagrantly fouled Kobe during a drive. Howard was frustrated and made the mistake of getting Kobe angry. Kobe called out Howard right after the foul. To Kobe: IT... WAS... ON... Bryant went into complete "Fuck You" mode and was jacking up 37 foot jumpers and going one-on-five. Kobe tried to embarass any Maverick that was guarding him. He kept making shot-after-shot taking the crowd with him. Staples Center completely erupted as Kobe hit his final jumper... outscoring Dallas 62-61 after three quarters!!!
-Kobe did not come back into the game, he spent every timeout waving to his wife and daughter who were sitting 4 rows behind the bench.
-Believe me, Kobe was so on that he could have dropped 80 points tonight. It was completely his decision not to play the rest of the game. So let's not blame Phil Jackson for "benching" Kobe in the 4th quarter.
-The Lakers honored Rick Fox with a video montage and gave him a framed jersey to a standing ovation. This was the first Laker game that Fox saw since he retired in 2004.
-Oh and by the way, the career high for Shaquille O'Neal is 61 points. Any coincidence?
I could blame the loss on those ugly green Maverick jerseys but once again Chris Mihm outplays Dampier.
The only thing that troubles me with the Laker victory is that no one else even scored or rebounded in double digits.
(kinda scary that Kobe didnt even play the 4th)
P.S.
u saw the ref give the "T" "with his two index fingers in a subtle way" from the nosebleed rafters... man u got some good eyes (or some Big Ben Wallace goggles)
Posted by: rem | December 21, 2005 at 07:17 AM
Dampier REALLY sucks. Just remember Dallas signed him instead of Nash.
I saw the "T" with high powered binoculars (because of how far away my seats are).
Posted by: Craig | December 21, 2005 at 07:57 AM
I watched the first 3 quarters, and I agree 100% with the assertion that he wasn't forcing anything until late in the 3rd. Let's see, Kobe had 31 at halftime, then drops 30 in the 3rd quarter?! Nice halftime adjustment. Also, the reason he didn't play the 4th quarter was due to the 30+ point lead, not because he or Phil decided not to. There would be absolutely no reason to pile on his point total, and Kobe would have just been asking for more flagrant fouls.
What surprised me is that no one on the Mavs took it upon themselves to say "alright, he's not scoring anymore" by double and triple teaming him. Haven't we all played in games where one guy on the other team is going gangsta on us? Usually when that happens, and you know you're going to lose, you just throw everyone defensively at the superstar because you're tired of him scoring on you at will.
Posted by: Brett | December 21, 2005 at 07:58 AM
"What surprised me is that no one on the Mavs took it upon themselves to say "alright, he's not scoring anymore" by double and triple teaming him."
Actually the Mavs did try to double and triple team Kobe. Kobe either drew the foul or hit a sick shot. The only times Dallas didn't guard Kobe was for a few 3 pointers. Other than that, Dallas was always swarming him, Kobe was just hot.
Posted by: Craig | December 21, 2005 at 01:08 PM
Humor is the only test of gravity, and gravity of humor; for a subject which will not bear raillery is suspicious, and a jest which will not bear serious examination is false wit. Do you think so?
Posted by: Nike Jordan | January 25, 2011 at 07:39 PM