On Sunday when the Lakers played the Heat there were three moments of note.
There was the foul in the second quarter where Kobe let Dwayne Wade know that basketball indeed is a physical game. The offense had broken down and Kobe was taking it to the hoop. As he made his move to get past Wade, he extended his right forearm and popped Wade square on the chin with his elbow. He was rightfully called for an offensive foul and Wade rubbed his chin and played it cool. But the message was clear. Kobe plays to win, plays hard and gives nothing up easy. Not now, and most likely never again. Sure, there were times over the course of the last couple seasons where the guys Kobe was guarding were allowed long stretches of easy buckets. Dude was too busy dropping 40 plus on some nights, and regardless of how effortless he makes it look, shooting the ball while being double and triple teamed is an exhausting process. Just ask Dwayne Wade.
Wade lost the Big Diesel (to injuries before the trade) and though I am sure the team will be much better with Marion’s MVP level of play, Wade will still face double and sometimes triple teams . That’s the beauty of a big. He makes the guard’s game so much easier—and vice-versa. Just look at how Kobe and Gasol are loving playing with each other. Last night their combined first half scoring: 12-14 field goals and 9 for 9 from the stripe.
Kobe’s got one big and he’s got another, younger one coming back in hopefully less than a month. Since being added to the squad, Gasol is shooting a blistering 66 percent. Bynum, before getting hurt was shooting a league best 63 percent. I don’t think it’s unreasonable to believe that Bynum, if healthy and playing next to Pau, could finish the year shooting close to 70 percent. Kobe already was lobbing it to him. F and F (Fish and Farmar) were feeding him. Odom is always feeding everybody but himself. And now Gasol can be added to that list. Bynum might never have to work for another shot for himself the rest of the season, living off of offensive rebounds, put-backs, tip-ins and alley oops. I’m getting excited just thinking about it (Gasol shooting 55 percent, Bynum shooting 70 percent, Kobe shooting 50 percent, Odom at 50 percent)…
But back to Sunday’s game against the Heat. The second moment of note was when Kobe got the ball in the open court off a Flash turnover and leapt up with his trademark Kobe athleticism (haven’t seen him this energized in a few years) to throw down a monster dunk with one hand. But Dwayne Wade, not wanting to be shown up in his own building (anymore than he already was) and sensing an opportunity to show his toughness, came recklessly swooping in as he “went for the ball.” The two superstars collided in air and came tumbling hard to the ground. Kobe looked up, was helped up and then patted Wade on the back of the head as if to say, I hear you.
Now, Wade, hear Kobe. Life for you ain’t going to be like life before. Everything came to you in an instant amidst a perfect storm. Over the last two years, you’ve seen a rise in popularity, but you also haven’t gotten any better. Sure, injuries have played a major part, but that just goes back to how reckless you play. Slow down a bit and soak up your surroundings. Learn some things from #24 formerly #8. Kobe's added to his game each and every year. He's added a left. Bettered his 3 point shooting. Kept his turnovers down. Improved his shot selection. Gotten bigger in the weight room. And now he's learned what you knew coming in--teamwork. Wade, you've got all the skills and all the drive to be great, but you have to keep working at your game and forget the movies and music and fashion for now...
So back to that Miami game. The third major moment of the game was when Kobe forced Wade into a travel with the clock winding down at the end of the third period. Kobe got low and in lockdown mode, made Wade dance around and dribble a bit wildly, and then trapped him into giving up his dribble before closing tightly in on him causing him to move his pivot foot. Textbook defense. Kobe can now exert all of his energy all of the time and because the bench is so deep (really, how does Ariza when he gets back even get any playing time?), he has the luxury of playing efficiently. Now that his pinky is feeling better, he’s put together back to back games shooting 60 percent (the Miami game and last night verse Charlotte). Looking at what Wade's been through this year, he'd agree that it's not always best to be the man…Kobe, the man, knows that now and that grin he’s constantly sporting won’t be going away anytime soon.
