<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">On a night when he makes only seven of 27 shots, he misses the big one in final seconds and Lakers lose to Iverson and the 76ers, 85-81. PHILADELPHIA ? When their star is stifled and their offense snuffed, the Lakers don't figure to win many games. Kobe Bryant, by his own admission, shot horrendously Friday against the Philadelphia 76ers, and the outcome from there was predictable, even though Bryant could have single-handedly atoned for a seven-for-27 shooting performance with a last-gasp shot. His three-point attempt bounced off the rim, however, with 5.9 seconds left, and the Lakers' chances went with it in an 85-81 loss to the 76ers at the Wachovia Center. In a game that featured the league's top two scorers, Allen Iverson had 34 points on 10-of-23 shooting and Bryant had some explaining to do after matching only half of Iverson's point total. "I'm not going to shoot the ball great every game," Bryant said. "Tonight was one of them. Nonetheless, we were still able to stay in the game. "I think it's an encouraging game, the fact that I can shoot the ball horrendously and we have an opportunity to win the game." Laker followers who thought it couldn't get worse than Wednesday's 13-point fourth quarter against Minnesota were off by a point. The Lakers had only 12 in the fourth quarter against the 76ers, going the first 5:27 without scoring. By that time, what had been seeds of optimism on the Laker bench ? the Lakers led, 61-50, on Bryant's free throw with 4:49 left in the third quarter and 69-62 after three periods ? had all but disappeared. As it was, even with Bryant misfiring, there was still a chance against the 76ers, who didn't get much offensive punch beyond Iverson. The Lakers trailed, 83-81, after Iverson's wide-open jumper, when Lamar Odom inbounded the ball to Bryant with 7.9 seconds left. Bryant then shot from behind the arc, perhaps too quickly. "It was designed for him to catch the ball and find what he could find available in penetrating or attacking the defense," Coach Phil Jackson said. "I have to give him the credit that he can shoot that shot. I have to allow his judgment that he felt like he could do that at that time. "I wanted him to penetrate and Smush [Parker] was over in the other corner at the three-point line. We thought Iverson would come back and jump on the play and Smush would be open, but he took what he thought he could get." Which, it turned out, was no closer than close. "I was going to read the defense and see if I had an open look," Bryant said. "My balance was off, though. I was aiming left when I shot it. Those are the type of shots where you just kick yourself because you know that if you square up and just get your balance, you'll knock it down. It just didn't happen for us."</div> Source Just have to take the good out of last night's game. The team is capable of winning when Kobe goes ice cold. Eddie Jones better be ready on Monday. The Mamba is coming for him.
Kobe had one of his off nights and Andre did a pretty good job on him, better than expected. Though the game showed how well the Lakers could play without their superstar.
I love it how the critics are no where to be found when Kobe's dropping 36 a game, the second he doesn't do something other-worldy, they come back screaming...
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting ilive4ball:</div><div class="quote_post">I love it how the critics are no where to be found when Kobe's dropping 36 a game, the second he doesn't do something other-worldy, they come back screaming...</div>That's like saying "funny how I never need my jacket till it's cold outside, then come winter time, I need it all of a sudden."
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting AIFan:</div><div class="quote_post">That's like saying "funny how I never need my jacket till it's cold outside, then come winter time, I need it all of a sudden."</div> What are you talking about? Let me put it into terms that you will understand, when Allen Iverson occasionally has a poor game some critics criticise the way he play's, although nowhere near the level Kobe gets hated on, they go away the next game when he plays to his usual standards.
Laker_fan, obviously you don't understand what he meant by that, even though I'm SURE most people do understand what he was trying to say with that comment. What he means is, you need a jacket when it's cold outside, and you need Kobe to be hot or he'll get hated on ... anything else is ... well being outside while it's cold without a jacket.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Laker_fan:</div><div class="quote_post">What are you talking about?</div>What i'm talking about is how ridiculous ilive4ball's statement is. That's no revelation, nor should it be a suprise to anyone. That's about as sharp of an observation as realizing that you need a jacket when it's cold outside. Duh. Wouldn't ya say it's kinda hard to show how much Kobe sucks when he's putting up numbers and his team is winning?
