Kobe Gives it Up for TMac

Discussion in 'Houston Rockets' started by Shapecity, Feb 20, 2006.

  1. Shapecity

    Shapecity S2/JBB Teamster Staff Member Administrator

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">If Los Angeles Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant is anything, it is well-mannered.

    Starting in the 55th NBA All-Star Game at Toyota Center on Sunday night, Bryant did his best to defer to his host ? Rockets forward Tracy McGrady. Could Mr. 81 have made a serious push at the All-Star Game record of 42 points set by Wilt Chamberlain in 1962? Sure, but Bryant said it was his intention to relinquish the spotlight ? and potential MVP honors ? to McGrady.

    "It's a long weekend for them because they have to play host," Bryant said of McGrady and Yao Ming. "They're doing myriad things. Tracy is so explosive, it'd be nice to see him go out there and have a big explosion, and he had it."


    Vexed by No. 23
    Bryant and his Western Conference mates failed on two fronts, but it wasn't for a lack of effort. The Eastern Conference rallied for a 122-120 victory, and LeBron James snatched away MVP honors after leading the comeback. McGrady? He scored a game-high 36 points on a game-high 26 shots as his teammates repeatedly fed him the ball.

    Bryant led the charge to get McGrady top honors by seeking out opportunities for the Rockets star instead of shots for himself. The NBA's leading scorer appeared comfortable in the role of facilitator.

    When McGrady dropped in a nine-foot fadeaway baseline jumper, Bryant put him in position to nail the basket that put the West ahead 10-8 at the 8:26 mark of the first quarter. Less than two minutes later, McGrady was on the business end of an alley-oop from Bryant.

    By the time Bryant banked in an 11-footer with 4:31 left in the first period, making him the final West starter to score, he had a team-high three assists. The Bryant-McGrady combo teamed up for another alley-oop and a 58-45 lead with 3:11 to play, and by halftime Bryant had as many assists ? five ? as shots.

    "They were doing their best to try to give me the ball at every opportunity down the court, free me up and give me shots," McGrady said. "It (an MVP) was there if we would have won the game."</div>

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  2. durvasa

    durvasa JBB Rockets Fan

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    Yeah, I appreciated Kobe's unselfishness during the Allstar game. It's interesting how well he and T-Mac seem to get along.
     
  3. Fiyah

    Fiyah JBB JustBBall Member

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    <div class="quote_poster">Quoting durvasa:</div><div class="quote_post">Yeah, I appreciated Kobe's unselfishness during the Allstar game. It's interesting how well he and T-Mac seem to get along.</div>

    Its actually interesting how well he and the elite ball players seem to get along. It doesn't seem like people don't like him as everyone seems to think.
     
  4. Mamba

    Mamba The King is Back Staff Member Global Moderator

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    I find it interesting how people can sit there and say that nobody wants to play with Bryant, yet he's taking calls for Laker management from players that want to play with him.
     
  5. drm2dnk

    drm2dnk JBB JustBBall Member

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    Kobe has been nice to every1 ever since those rape allegations. It might have been the best thing that happened to him. Not on court since he's always been a great player, but offcourt..I've heard many say bad things about him such as his trainers and teammates said he wasn't a nice guy. Now he's such a nice guy.
     
  6. drake

    drake JBB JustBBall Member

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    Maybe Ko8e should play for the Rockets instead
     

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