Kobe Bryant

By winning his fourth NBA championship and his first Finals MVP trophy, Kobe Bryant elevated himself to legend status. (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

Winning an NBA championship is kind of like graduation. You work all year to accumulate points and once it's done, you get to enjoy a big celebration in June.

Continue reading "KOBE EARNS MASTER'S DEGREE IN LEADERSHIP"

Anyone happen to catch that Laker-Mavs game last night?

Anyone else notice another game the Lakers were trailing in and somehow come out with a win?

Yeah, I know they were at home and Dallas is a team that no one really knows what to expect from, but they were on a five game winning streak coming in.

Continue reading "Lakers Roundup"

Hey, maybe Kobe reads my blog. Lol. Yeah right. Whatever has happened since Nov. 21 when I wrote that the Lakers (in jest mind you) should trade #24, well, he’s started to play much better. He&r

Continue reading "Now That's More Like it..."

Ruben Patterson once claimed he was the Kobe stopper, then routinely got lit up for 30 points whenever he faced him. Many have tried to contain Number 8 turned 24 and few have had success. James Posey and Paul Pierce and the zone defense of the Celtics shut Mr. Bryant down during last season’s finals.

Continue reading "Tayshaun Prince the Official Kobe Stopper"

Well, so much for that supposed "test" last night. The Lakers steamrolled the Houston Rockets in the second half holding them to a measely  34 points. 82 for the game and 37.8 percent s

Continue reading "Defensive Force--Kobe for DPY?"

What does Kobe need to accomplish to finally get out of the shadow of Michael Jordan? Well, despite having 5 All-NBA Defensive First team selections, he has yet to win a Defensive Player of the Year a

Continue reading "How Does Kobe be Better than MJ?"

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Like Wyclef Jean sang, if I were president….. 

That commercial where Kobe Bryant, Alex Rodriguez and Michael Phelps parade around a living room in boxer shorts and pink oxfords a la Tom Cruise in ‘Risky Business’ will be forever stricken from our televisions and our memory banks.

Continue reading "If I Were President..."

I just can't figure out how NBA reffing goes. Kobe got a million calls in the Jazz series with similar physical play, but then, when facing Boston, he gets none. I remember a million calls for a one Dwayne Wade against the Dallas Mavericks as well. All fans want is consistency. I realize that reffing is a tough gig. Impossibly tough. But it isn't tough to stay consistent. 

Continue reading "Huh..."

I'm back. lol. Got a new blogsite that will be up and running by the start of the season. This site will still get Lakers updates, but it will be strictly Lakers. For all things Westcoast in the NBA, check out www.westcoastlsant.blogspot.com next week. And check the links too. Okay, on to the meat. 

Continue reading "Lakers Notes on Preseason game against Toronto"

So Kobe has decided to forego surgery on the torn ligament in his pinkie on his shooting hand because doctors told him he could miss up to 12 weeks. That would put his return in late November, with th

Continue reading "No Surgery..."

defense, which to date had been their staple, Team USA counted on their offense to bail them out.

Kobe Bryant:  Kobe Bryant, arguably the greatest player in the league, was saddled with foul trouble, picking up two fouls in the first quarter against Spain.  In the second half with the game on the line, Kobe, rather than driving the lane, more often than not relied on his perimeter jump shot.  While Kobe’s box score might not necessarily reflect a poorly played game, there were several times late in the game when Kobe settled for ill-advised jump shots.  Long ones.  While he ultimately proved to be the hero by hitting key baskets late, those could easily have gone the other way.

Continue reading "Redeem Recap: How USA Almost Lost ..."

That being said, Kobe Bryant came through in the clutch. I mean, what else could I have possibly expected?

There was his turning 30 that had me a bit concerned. There was also the massive failure to secure his fourth ring just a few months earlier. And of course, there was that finger that he still needs to have surgery on.

Continue reading "Dream Team Vs. Redeem Team"

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In the greatest gold-medal game in the history of men's basketball in the Olympic Games, Kobe Bryant proved beyond any reasonable doubt that he is the best player in the world.

When Spain got to within two points at 91-89 with about eight minutes left in the fourth quarter, the United States, a team loaded with a number of all-stars, called on No. 10 to close the game and all

Continue reading "KOBE SAVES TEAM USA, LOOKS AHEAD TO LONDON IN 2012"

Man, what an offseason. Who would’ve thought that after the whirlwind season and trade deadline we just experienced, we would have an equally crazy summer?

In one year, we’ve seen moved: The Kid and Jesus, Pau, Shaq, Bibby, J Kidd, Big Ben, Wally World, Baron Davis, Elton Brand, Corey Maggette, Jermaine O’Neal, Marcus Camby, Richard Jefferson, and T.J. Ford.

Continue reading "Bad Dude = Bad News"

Take a one Mr. Kobe Bryant.

Now, I’m not talking about right now or even next season, but it sure seems, before this year, that the league had been pushing guys like Dwayne Wade and especially Lebron James in the spotlight. A guy like Wade, who won a championship but has been injury-prone and not really proven anything else, gets all of these commercials, while the best player in the planet has been ignored. He didn’t get a couple MVPs he deserved (though he got one that he didn’t) and fans everywhere in the NBA passionately hate him.

Continue reading "When Europe Calls"

t reared his ugly fat head and sprouted some venemous verses towards his former sidekick, Kobe Bryant.

Shaquille O'Neal, the 35-year-old former purple and gold Daddy, went on stage at a New York nightclub and went B.I.G. on us. The Diesel grabbed the mic and took shots at Bryant. The Big Cactus rapped about how Kobe couldn't win without him. He said that, "I'm a horse. Kobe ratted me out. That's why I'm getting a divorce." And he repeatedly asked the question, "Kobe, tell me how my ass taste?"

Continue reading "SHAQ AND KOBE...AND THE RIFT GOES ON"

Well, despite how it began and how it ended, it was a great season for the Los Angeles Lakers. It was long too, just not quite long enough. The next few weeks will be pretty hard to swallow. 39 points will haunt this squad, Kobe especially, for perhaps their entire careers. Nothing is guaranteed and despite the enormous potential and talent the Lakers possess, this very well could have been their last shot at a championship.

Continue reading "Don't hit the Panic Button"

I hate Boston. Never been there. Never want to. They got funny accents and they ride their own egos all the time. Sure, coming from an L.A. guy, this must sound pretty ludicrous. Sue me.

Continue reading "Congrats to the Truth, da Kid and tha Alien"

A few weeks ago, I wrote that the 2008 NBA Finals will come down to Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.

I was only half right.

Through five games, the Finals have been all about Bryant and Paul Pierce. Bryant may not be playing at optimum level by his and our standards, but the reigning MVP has managed to keep his Lakers in the series despite averaging less (down from 30.6 to 26.4) and shooting poorly (from 48.8 to 42.4).

Continue reading "THE TRUTH ABOUT THE NBA FINALS"

adliest snake on hearth, the black mamba, and being labeled as the number one killer in the league, Kobe Bryant has been quite pedestrian. To be fair, 26, 6, and 5 is a great stat line in most people’s books. But that 42 percent shooting and those nearly 4 turnovers per game, not to mention being down 3-2, sure leave a bad taste in everyone’s mouths concerning KB. He’s supposed to be Jordanesque. He’s supposed to be the best closer. And yet he let a historic 24-point lead wither into a loss—at home. Then, he nearly let it happen again the very next game.

Continue reading "It’s “Show” Time"

s bandwagon.  Not to be a diehard fan but to root for them in this NBA Finals.  I figured Kobe Bryant was ready to take that final step in becoming an all-time great and win his first Shaq-less title.  Now, four games into the NBA Finals, with the Lakers down 3-1 after blowing a 24 point lead in game 4, I am ready to end this Kobe talk until further notice.  And that could be never again.

Continue reading "The Black Mamba? How about the Gardner Snake"

Lakers fans will tell you that the Lakers haven’t hit their stride. That Kobe isn’t playing the same way that he was in the first three series. That he isn’t moving the ball. That he’s taking too many bad shots. They say that Lamar Odom is struggling through nerves and that Pau Gasol is playing soft.

Continue reading "Good or Not?"

-Sam Cassell gave me a scare. He came out and swished his first shot and I remember thinking that Sammy had this look on his face, “I’m here. This is my time, this is what I’ve been waiting for. Forget the rest of the playoffs, this is all I care about.” Gave me chills. Got me real, real scared.

Continue reading "Notes on Game 1"

eltics in your head and break down all the matchups, the fate of the series will be in the hands of Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett.

I've always believed that to win an NBA title, your best player has to be at his absolute best when it matters most. When you review past Finals MVPs, it's going to look like a Hall of Fame induction speech.

Continue reading "NBA FINALS: BLACK MAMBA VS. THE BIG TICKET"

For all the people who swear that Jordan is heads and shoulders better, for all the Boston lovers who came out of hiding after they acquired Kevin Garnett, for all the people who just don't quite beli

Continue reading "Just for the Record"

I’m tired of all the flashbacks and reminiscing going on in the NBA due to the Celtics/Lakers matchup set for tomorrow evening. All the montages and interviews and whatnot are making me noxious (thanks NBA for giving us a whole week before game 1).

Continue reading "85-86 Celtics? 08 Lakers Win IMO..."

As Kobe and the gang put the finishing touches on their astounding 4-1 series victory over the defending champion San Antonio Spurs, I began to wonder "Could Detroit or Boston really beat L.A.?"

Continue reading "Kobe and the Lakers; are the finals over already?"

Going into the final quarter, the Lakers held a razor-thin 64-63 lead over the Spurs.

But then Kobe Bryant took over, scoring 17 of his 39 points in the final quarter. The Lakers, who'd trailed the Spurs earlier in the game by as much as 17 points (sound familiar?), rallied to win 100-92.

Continue reading "Lakers beat Spurs to reach NBA Finals"

o griped when the referees actually called fouls on former Laker Shaquille O'Neal and current Laker Kobe Bryant.

Enter Wednesday night, Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals between the Lakers and San Antonio Spurs.

Continue reading "Lakers lead Spurs 3-1 in Western ..."

Of course, on the flipside, Lakers fans will note the 0 freethrows that Kobe Bryant shot despite his 29 field goal attempts.

Either way, you can look at it as a conspiracy. I mean, from a Spurs standpoint, despite winning 4 of the past 9 championships, despite making it to at least the Western Conference Finals 6 of those 9 years, Spurs fans will tell you that the NBA has it in for “small market teams” and wants to premiere its big market teams. That’s why Fisher’s 0.4-second shot counted four years ago. That’s why Kobe shot 96 freebies against the Jazz. Etc. Etc.

Continue reading "The Freebies That WERE Shot"

Kobe Bryant can feel it. He can see it. He can almost taste it.

Like a true Black Mamba, Bryant senses that his prey, the San Antonio Spurs, are weak, wounded and ready to be taken out. The Lakers took a 3-1 series lead Tuesday night in San Antonio thanks to Bryant and can close out the Spurs Thursday night at Staples Center.

Continue reading "LAKERS, KOBE ONE WIN AWAY FROM NBA FINALS"

r trailing by three but opened things up with a 28-15 second quarter to take a 49-39 halftime lead. Kobe Bryant may have led the way for the Lakers with 30 points, but the Spurs had three players with at least 20 (Manu Ginobili with 30, Tim Duncan with 22 and Tony Parker with 20). Bryant got called for three personal fouls in this game, something sure to anger Lakers head coach Phil Jackson enough to make him tear in half a copy of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.

Continue reading "Do the Spurs have a chance, or are ..."

Well, this year the Lakers have given Kobe Bryant a nice supporting cast so that Kobe doesn't have to worry about doing it all by himself.

And I'm starting to think that the Lakers just have too much firepower for the Spurs. That and maybe Mega-Laker fan Jack Nicholson is sticking his leg out onto the court whenever a Spur runs by.

Continue reading "Vultures are flying over the San Antonio Spurs"

Their bench failed to produce. And now, Kobe Bryant is feeling as confident about his game. Kobe has his issues, but when he's confident, he's dangerous. What must've been very tough for the Spurs is that Kobe's go-ahead short jumper was shot over Spurs defensive wizard Bruce Bowen. You know, the guy normally assigned to cover Bryant because he usually neutralizes Bryan. What's more, 25 of Bryant's 27 game points came in the second half.

Continue reading "Lakers 89, Spurs 85; Lakers lead ..."

h Phillip Jackson is eager to break Red Auerbach's record by winning his 10th NBA title as a coach; Kobe Bryant is trying to prove that he CAN win without the abovementioned O'Neal on the floor with him.

Continue reading "Western Conference Finals for San Antonio Spurs"

A player who can put a team on his shoulders on offense and carry them to victory. A player like Kobe Bryant.

There are only a handful of players like Bryant in the NBA - a true game-changer with a killer instinct. The Cleveland Cavaliers have that player in swingman LeBron James. The San Antonio Spurs have center Tim Duncan. And the New Orleans Hornets have point guard Chris Paul. The other player I would consider in this class is Dwyane Wade of the Miami (the 2006 version). It's no surprise that the Cavs, Spurs, and Hornets are all still alive in the playoffs.

Continue reading "LAKERS: BRING ON CP3 AND HORNETS ..."

It really pains me to knock a guy who delivered a near triple double with a back that had him, on several occasions, grimacing hands and knees on the floor of the court, but, I just have to knock the guy.

Continue reading "Passing up Passing?"

The Lakers put another impressive, yet still somehow shaky victory over the Utah Jazz into the books and now sit on a cool 6-0 record in the 2007-08 playoffs. Not much to write about in their victory, because, well, they’re cruising but with rabid intensity. 

Continue reading "Some Random Lakers Thoughts"

Got a chance to attend the Most Valuable Player trophy presentation of a one Mr. Kobe Bryant yesterday. A whole host of media were there and after Stu Lanz introduced everyone, Phil spoke, followed by Alex Fedorak the KIA Motors public relations director (who presented the trophy to Kobe) and then Mr. Bryant himself. After Kobe said his piece, the media was allowed to ask some questions. The most refreshing part about the whole thing was how much he gushed over the camaraderie he shares with his teammates. Some of the highlights of the question and answer included a question by yours truly as well as one by Luke Walton, Kobe busting out a little Spanish, and his mention of Shaq and Mitch Kupchak.

Continue reading "Accepting the MVP"

Kobe Bryant finally has the hardware to validate his status as the world's best basketball player.

When Shaquille O'Neal branded Bryant "the best player in the game" back in the 2001 playoffs, it has only been spoken but never printed that Kobe is the most valuable player in the league. Now, it's official. When the King, David Stern, handed Bryant the Maurice Podoloff trophy Wednesday night before the Lakers dismantled the Jazz in Game 2, the moment felt more like an overdue coronation. The MVP trophy finally landed in the capable hands of the best player in the game rather than the best team player.

Continue reading "M.V.P. STANDS FOR K.O.B.E."

tty masterful performance, despite the 4 horribly missed shots in the fourth quarter, but MVP-to-be Kobe Bryant made the Utah Jazz pay for their roughshod defense.

He missed those four shots by a wide margin, almost as if reliving that fateful game 11 years ago against the same team at the Lakers then home—the Forum. 

Continue reading "What a Difference a Decade Makes"

Well, until last night’s beat down of the Spurs, in which Boris Diaw nearly dropped a triple double and Amare Stoudemire was held to single digit points, Phoenix championship hopes looked about as bright as Flava Flav.

Continue reading "Take that Shaq!"

49 and 10 with 2 turnovers. Toldja. 

Yeah, soak that up J.R. Smith and Kenyon Martin. You too Kobe haters... 

K. Had to get that out of the way, now on to the rest of the blog.  

Continue reading "What’s Next? The Lakers "Others""

Pow!

Everybody’s talking about Pau’s monster game. ESPN’s JA Adande is reminding folks about the legacy of Lakers’ big men. A 36-point, 16-rebound, 8-assist, 3-block game will get people to notice. Kobe dropped 32 but shot a putrid 9-26. After the game, #24 talked about how he was the decoy and how the Lakers have a vicious 1-2 punch.

Continue reading "Pow! Kobe's Dilemma"

There’s been a huge hullabaloo over the questionable call (and that’s putting it as politely and as PC and as grossly understated as possible), that went in the favor of the NBA’s favorite son, well his team the Cleveland Cavaliers anyway, and effectively screwed over the hard-working, young 76ers, as well as the loud-talking Washington Wizards. Dropping both into situations, that should, quite frankly, not be—or, not necessarily be.   

Continue reading "Crying Foul"

I don’t know if anyone has noticed besides 3-point starved fantasy basketball owners, but Vladimir Radmanovic is starting to become a very solid basketball player. And I’m not just talking about his outside shooting. There was never really a question, okay, he kind of made us question last year, but outside of that, his outside game was never in doubt. He could always stroke the long ball. That’s why Mitch signed him two summers ago to the tune of 31 million over five years. This deal was done in spite of having newly inked Brian Cook and soon-to-be long-contract Luke Walton.

Continue reading "The Space Cadet Blasting Off"

Kobe Bryant

Why he’s the MVP:  He is Kobe, that’s why.  This guy can take over any game and win it by himself.  He has matured this year and has become a better team leader.  I often see him giving the younger guys on his team some advice.  He went from wanting out of LA to being the leader we all waited for him to become after Shaq left.  He is an assassin and I wouldn’t want anyone else in the world right now if I had one shot to win a game.

Continue reading "Tight NBA MVP Race? Not In My Eyes"

Andrew Bynum has reportedly been working out with Chris Mihm and could run through full practice as early as this week. This is great news. Also great news is the recent play of Lamar Odom. As discussed last week in this blog, Odom has finally started to play with a fire and confidence that has been sorely lacking from his all-around game. He’s shooting 86 percent in his last two games. He’s found a great rhythm playing with both Kobe and especially Gasol and has become deadly efficient.

Continue reading "Bringing Bynum Off the Bench"

He finally did it. He finally put all those massive talents together and played up to his potential. Imagine if he plays like this the rest of the way. The Lakers won’t need Andrew Bynum back. Lamar Odom put together a doozy of a game, against a Mavericks club that was shooting the lights out despite pretty solid defense by the Purple and Gold. Odom made 12-14 shots, totaling 31 points. Pulled down ten boards, dished 5 assists, blocked 2 shots and threw in a steal to cap off his night. Plus he made two of the best plays of the game with a fake pass, layup that made Dirk look foolish, followed by a quick scoop pass to Pau for an and-one. Not only was his offense up to snuff, despite giving up 27 points to Dirk, Lamar made the key stop on the Big German with a about 30 seconds left. He played perfect defense. I mean, Diggler still shot a scorching 13-19, but Odom was in his grill on most of them. Dirk was just hot. I knew Lamar was feeling it. In the past, he would always look to Kobe to set the tone, or to make sure he was running the right plays. Tonight, he took the ball himself, juked, spun, shimmied, dropped dimes, battled for loose balls, dove to the basket for putbacks (he dunked Kobe’s missed layup at the end of the game when Kobe got fouled) and ice-manned the ball in the hoop all night. It was beautiful and extremely exciting to watch. Odom, for the first time I’ve ever seen him play, looked like he wanted the ball in his hands at the end of the game.

Continue reading "What We’ve Been Waiting For…"

ashington (twice)

          
 Kobe Bryant (16-4)

           30.5 ppg, 6.1 apg, 6.8 rpg, 2.1 spg, .62 bpg, 54%

Continue reading "MVP Race Continues"

The following is an excerpt from a chat of ESPN analyst John Hollinger on his MVP selection up to this point in the season:

Jason (Upland): Who is your MVP for this season? Last week you said Lebron, CP3, then Kobe, despite Lebron only having a subpar 34-26 record (8 games over .500) in the WEAK East (who's team won't even be in the playoffs if they were in the West), while both CP3 and Kobe have their teams a whopping 20+ games over .500 on the TOUGH West.

Continue reading "By the Numbers: Why Kobe is the MVP Over Lebron"

I’m getting a bit worried of late. Teams are getting physical on the Lakers. This is the second game in a row that the opposing team has used 80s Pistons-like thuggery. Kobe said a couple weeks back that this wasn’t the 80s. Well, sorry Kobe. From here on out, teams will be gunning for that injured hand of yours. It’s the only realistic way of stopping you.  

Continue reading "Getting Rough and Rising to the Challenge"

It has been well documented how well stacked the Lakers are this season with the addition of Pau Gasol. This moved Odom to third in the pecking order, the ideal place for him to best shine. He’s playing like a poor man’s Magic. Yeah. You heard me right.

Continue reading "Poor Man’s Version"

 

If Kobe Bryant is not named MVP this season then there is something seriously wrong with the voting process.

After his 41-point masterpiece against Phoenix in Shaquille O'Neal's Suns debut last Wednesday, I saw a player who is on a mission. I saw a player who has dropped the "hot dog" off his plate and has become more efficient on offense and equally determined on defense. The Kobester looks totally zoned in on winning another NBA title!

Continue reading "KOBE IS PLAYING LIKE AN MVP"

We have been waiting for this moment for months.  No, I’m not talking about the Jason Kidd trade to go through (which it did today).  I am talking to about the second half of the NBA season to begin.  The first three and a half months can be such a drag, and usually are but in the second half, everything picks up.  It is a two-month stretch run to the playoffs.  This is the time when teams like San Antonio and Detroit flip their switch on and look to be playing their best when the playoffs begin.  The flurry of trades that have gone on in the last two or three weeks has just made the second half that much more interesting.  The NBA season is about 20 games too long and it kills ratings but now is the time to jump on the bandwagon.  These next couple months of the regular season and the playoffs are going to be some of the best basketball since the ‘80’s.  The NBA, where exciting happens.

Continue reading "The NBA, Where Only the Second Half ..."

Later, the feuds with Kobe Bryant were quite depressing. The year that the team lost both Phil Jackson and Shaquille O’Neal was one of the low points in the team’s history. I remember feeling very pessimistic about the future… Well, Phil Jackson returned but Shaq did not. I remember that first pre-season game that Phil came back to us. Lucky to be in attendance, I was part of the standing ovation that rejoiced in his homecoming.

Continue reading "Shed a Tear for Shaq"

uture hall of fame inductee.  Turning in unremarkable outcomes in recent seasons, players like Kobe Bryant garner more headlines for what they say then what they do. No one seems that excited about Phil Jackson anymore and the team is more of a tourist attraction now. “Real” fans have a tough time getting decent tickets to the games since they are a place for celebrities and wanna-bes to be seen as part of the fake L.A. scene.  (Fake L.A. scene as in the one that the transplants come here and try to make, not the one that really exists!) Only one of them, well actually two are real Los Angeles Lakers fans. 

Continue reading "Lakers? Clippers?"

I can still remember where I was when Kobe Bryant was accused of hurting that young woman in Colorado. I believe that was the beginning of the end. While I kept an open mind at first, I eventually soured to the whole thing. This young star had lost some of his luster in my mind. After things blew over and he started bad-mouthing Shaquille O’Neal and Phil Jackson my attitude toward him was tainted further. This is not endemic to Los Angeles either; other players have made mockeries of the teams that pay them millions. Now don’t get me wrong – I can totally appreciate trying to get the most salary from your employer. I am also a staunch proponent to speaking up when you think something is wrong. But honestly, some of these NBA divas go too far! I guess when I hear complaints about one of the best centers to ever play the game and a hall of fame caliber coach; I have to scratch my head.

Continue reading "Hope for the NBA?"

Yes, I’m an unashamed Lakers apologist. Perhaps the worst kind of sports fan. So shoot me or stop reading (just kidding, please soldier on). Last night Lebron James defended his home floor and put the “defensive stop” on Mr. Bryant. He dropped 33 points, 5 assists, 10 boards and threw in a block and a steal to boot. Amazing numbers no doubt.

Continue reading "Got the Better of?"

Tonight, Kobe Bryant makes his season debut at Quicken Loans Arena to face the man child everyone calls the King.

Though a bit hobbled, Kobe’s got a hurt shoulder and a pulled groin, and despite the fact that he’s been less than Kobe-like in his past few, the obvious question arises. Who’s better? 

Continue reading "Big Showdown...sort of"