How Do You Feel About Kobe and Basketball?

[indeedproceed]

For one moment, just one moment, put aside the irrational hatred of all things Lakers we all have. Put aside what Kobe did (allegedly) in Colorado, and put aside everything he's ever said about Boston, himself, and anyone else.

Put all that aside and answer me this: Do you believe the following story?

    Jackson started drawing the diagram on his board, designing a play from the backcourt, and Kobe Bryant(notes) was baffled. He interrupted with a furrowed brow and started to point toward the scoreboard to remind his longtime coach that only 5.4 seconds remained in overtime, and the Lakers were losing by one.

    "Huh?" Bryant actually said in the huddle.

    Bryant turned to appeal to co-star Pau Gasol(notes) to bring Jackson to his senses. Jackson stopped drawing and just gave Bryant a dead-eyed look that basically said: "Are you going to let me do what I do or what?"

    Jackson resumed drawing in the backcourt, and with that, Bryant ceased being surprised.

    "Then I got it," Bryant said later as he walked out of the visitors' locker room, his epic resume now bulging by one more shot. "I knew exactly what he was doing."

    Jackson wanted to help Bryant by deterring Milwaukee from double-teaming him.

    Bryant flashed back in the moment to the 1991 NBA Finals (yes, his basketball knowledge is that encyclopedic that he could cite the correct year): Jackson started a play in the backcourt — although 10 seconds remained in that case — and wound up getting Michael Jordan an elbow jumper over Vlade Divac's too-late help (Ed. note: The Jordan photo above is actually from a game in Feb. '91), forcing overtime at The Forum in Game 3 against the Lakers.

Here is a youtube of Jordan's shot: (start at around 6:40
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xyRu2xH8fMc

Here is Kobe's
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7VEi00N7uvo

So do you believe it? Do you believe Kobe knew not only what Jackson was doing (keeping the double off of him by starting the play in the backcourt), but he ALSO knew WHEN Jackson had done it before with Jordan? Do you believe he REMEMBERED the play from the 1991 Finals?

Answer above.

I will post my thoughts on it later, but I'm leaving work now.

[indeedproceed]

What? nobody has an opinion about Kobe Bryant?

I'll tell you what I think. I think there is a very very slim chance that Kobe knew what Phil Jax was talking about. Very slim. The only thing that makes me think there is a chance is because Kobe so deperately wants people to compare him to Micheal, that he's probably watched every single one of MJ's playoff games twice.

However, as much as that gives me a sliver of chance that Kobe isn't a liar, the fact that he so deperately wants to be held in the all time greatest regard makes me think he would lie...like he would do it just to further the mythos around him.

Look at how the author describes him here:

"Then I got it," Bryant said later as he walked out of the visitors' locker room, his epic resume now bulging by one more shot. "I knew exactly what he was doing."

'his epic resume now bulging by one more shot'. Come on.

[RAcker]

I personally believe there is some embellishment in that story. I don't doubt the part about Kobe not originally seeing where Jackson was going with this play in terms of timing, however, I have serious doubts about Kobe thinking back to a specific Jordan play.

To me, this is simply a case of somebody trying to draw parallels between Kobe and Jordan.  

[jackson_34]

Kobe is an incredbibly smart player, there's no question. He regards himself as a student of the game so I don't doubt he remembered a Jordan clutch shot (who is obviously the player he strives to become.) I'd be more skeptical of the flashback if it were from someone like Lebron though.

What is clear to me about Kobe however, is that this season is for personal achievement. There's a reason he refused to stop playing with his broken finger, and that's because he wants MVP trophy back.Almost every clutch shot down the stretch of games in the Lakers season has come from a Bryant Iso. That would be acceptable of course if he had his 2006-7 team, but he has got some amazing talent around him who can also make the big shot and in many cases are wide open, but not utilised it would seem.

Pau has complained about touches, Bynum's stats are dropping at a fast rate after a fantastic seasons start. It would seem these are due in most part to Kobe's reluctance to give up the big shot even though he really should be giving that finger a rest (even through team oriented offense). The shots are dropping so you need to give credit where it is due, but I think it really could be done in a more efficient way.  

P.S. Did I make it sound like even though I was praising Kobe, I was still badmouthing him? because that's what I was trying to achieve! 

[lon3lytoaster]

I wouldn't have remembered that play, but I was born in '91, too. It is Kobe, but I can remember plays from my earliest basketball memories. I don't think he's lying here. He probably has watched all of Jordan's playoff games, not to meantion the storie's Jackson has probably told him.

Regardless, when Kobe retires, I'm having a party. Everyone's invited. I'm tired of hearing that dude's name, especially when in the same paragraph as Jordan.

[Change]

F.R.A.U.D.

Buck Kobe. Copying Jordan won't make you Jordan. If there was a Jordan cloning machine, Kobe would go broke buying every single one. Be original for once in your life Kopy!

[Roy Hobbs]

I have no reason to trust anything that comes out of Kobe's mouth.  The events of Eagle, Colorado suggest, if nothing else, that the guy is a liar.

[scoop]

It's silly because 1) it's not like that tactic was used only 2 times. 2) IIRC, the Bucks played Kobe straight in the last possession of the 4th quarter and there's no reason to believe that wouldn't be their plan in the last possession of the OT as well.

[CelticG1]

I'm pretty sure Kobe was thinking about the game and the shot he was going to take in that moment. I find it very odd if he is scanning his brain to think of a shot that happened 20 years ago. This stuff just makes me want to throw up.

[ManUp]

How do I feel about him? I think he's the most complete basketball player in the game right now. that he's the best scorer the leagues has had since Jordan. That he's has an amazing work ethic that you have to respect. I also feel that he's selfish egotistical dick and that his game reflects that. Hes the opposite of a team player who plays the game for accolades to feed his own ego. He's a taller spoiled in life and basketball career version of Allen Iverson, attitude wise. The difference between Iverson and Kobe is that Kobes talent permits him to be the cancer that he is. I'll just stop there...

Do I think he knew the play? Yes, The guy swagger jacked Jordan's game and on court demeanor. I'm sure he's watched and dissected days and days of Joran clips. He probably didn't know it when Phil called the play, but he was probably reminded of it when he saw his own shot.