OT: Kobe says goodbye with 60 points

[MilfordHusky]

The most ever in a farewell game and the most in the NBA this season.

Meanwhile, Golden State won a record 73rd game, and Steph Curry went past the 400 mark in 3-pointers made.

 

[Scud49]

Current day NBA..............ugh.

Here's how the game is played- Larry Bird and the '85-'86 Celtics - the best ever IMHO, they would have beaten anybody:

 

[ThisJustIn]

Performance right up there with Favre's "record-breaking" sack.

Can't separate off-court Kobe from on-court... so, bye

 

[Wally East]

Current day NBA....ugh.

Check out the Warriors. You might enjoy them.

 

[ochoopsfan]

He took 50 shots. I believe I heard that is the most shots taken in 30 + years.
Kobe must have been watching some University of Minnesota WBB highlight tapes during pre-game preps.

 

[Husky25]

The fact that Bryant scored 60 last night is not surprising at all and at the same time I couldn't care much less about his last game. What the Warriors did is so much more impressive. That said, I didn't watch either game (and I was up. I have a 3 1/2 month old).

For me, it just comes down to Bryant just not being a transcendent player. What he's done has been done before. So while there is no doubt that he is one of the best player in the history of the NBA and he is a no brainer 1st ballot Hall of Famer based on stats and contributions to championship teams, his accomplishments are not impressive by comparison to Jordan, Magic, Bird, Shaq or even LaBron.

It also seems that regardless of how many All-NBA teams he made (15) and was pretty much the best off-guard for about a decade, he was never the far and away best player at his position. There always seemed to be another SG who could be a viable replacement player. For instance, Could the Shaq-era Lakers win titles with merely a slightly above average replacement level starting SG (or even a replacement level)? Yes, I believe they could and as anecdotal as it may be, it was born out when Shaq was traded to the Heat and won with Wade.

There is also that whole Denver thing...

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Kobe has always been a punk. Talented, but a punk. And LA's management let him do it, but he turned a great franchise into a league joke. The 60 point farewell is a theatrical stunt in a declining NBA. The year long tour is a joke. Of course, if you are a narcissist, it melts your heart... Kobe's interview post game was a real send up; thought I was watching Saturday Night Live Kobe. "Tell us how you really feel Rocky!" I'll spare you the rest.

 

[Orangutan]

I tuned in late in the game and was laughing at how many shots he took, but over the last 3-4 minutes he missed nothing and seized the win for LA. The end of that game was legitimately thrilling even if you are, as I am, inclined to eye roll about the 60 points on 50 shots thing.

 

[Buzzyboy]

He took 50 shots. I believe I heard that is the most shots taken in 30 + years.
Kobe must have been watching some University of Minnesota WBB highlight tapes during pre-game preps.

I know Kobe Bryant is a great talent but I've always felt he was a self absorbed player who all too often put up shot after shot even when he couldn't hit the broad side of a barn. The differences between him and Steph Curry are so profound, it's scary. In my mind he's never been the type team player that so many of the greats were. He was always first, second and third in his mind. There are numerous players that I'd pick way ahead of Kobe if I were starting a team because he and TEAM don't really belong in the same sentence. Again, I know how skilled he is but his attitude was never conducive with my idea of how this game or any game should be played.

 

[alexrgct]

Kobe has five championship rings, two Finals MVP awards, two Olympic gold medals (including the great shutdown performance against Spain in the 2008 gold medal game), a league MVP award, a slam dunk championship, and is third on the all-time scoring list. Yes, there is that whole Denver thing, but a) I believe in innocence until guilt is proven, and b) I'm focusing on basketball here. He had latter-career injuries that kept him from achieving great things, including winning another ring and challenging Kareem for all-time scoring.

One of my favorite NBA teams to watch was the 2001 Lakers. He and Shaq just obliterated everyone. What they did to the Spurs was remarkable, and his 48 and 16 performance against the Kings was unforgettable.

Farewell, Kobe. You were a polarizing figure, but you will be missed.

 

[Husky25]

Not guilty =/= innocent.

The criminal charges were technically dropped due to lack of evidence, but only because of the victim's refusal to testify. Kobe even insinuated he was not totally innocent and he settled a civil suit with the victim out of court.

"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual," Bryant's statement continued, "I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."

 

[Blue Huskie]

I never cared for him even before the assault story , but that performance last night was amazing. Sure he took nearly every shot for his team and he played no D but still amazing at his age. Utah was defending him. For someone with all the injuries he has had, to do that was quite a feat. I don't care if you take 100 shots it's not that easy to put up 60 points.

 

[Kaizen]

I don't watch NBA unless it is the last 7 championship games. So my knowledge in NBA is limited.
But to me, it looks like every month starting January they will say this is the last Kobe game?
I know I was wrong but ...

 

[noirwestern]

Gah. Good riddance. It's annoying that he's a role model for so many males and especially disturbing when women use him for inspiration.

 

[intlzncster]

Didn't really like Kobe's game overall that much, but he was def great. One thing I loved about him, which i think ticked off most people, was his uber-competitive, nasty attitude on the court. He wanted to be hated, and loved to kill you. He was a throwback to 80s NBA and I loved it. The NBA needs those guys.

 

[noirwestern]

Didn't really like Kobe's game overall that much, but he was def great. One thing I loved about him, which i think ticked off most people, was his uber-competitive, nasty attitude on the court. He wanted to be hated, and loved to kill you. He was a throwback to 80s NBA and I loved it. The NBA needs those guys.

Hmmmmmm, could be, or are you thinking of that other over testostorened laugh fest known as professional wrestling?

 

[RockyMTblue2]

Not guilty =/= innocent.

The criminal charges were technically dropped due to lack of evidence, but only because of the victim's refusal to testify. Kobe even insinuated he was not totally innocent and he settled a civil suit with the victim out of court.

"Although I truly believe this encounter between us was consensual," Bryant's statement continued, "I recognize now that she did not and does not view this incident the same way I did."

This incident as it is called has nothing to do with my opinion of Kobe. Hell, very many of them for decades have been fornicators, to use the ancient expression. And that very big diamond ring that his wife sported shortly after "the incident" was merely a humorous footnote on a "fornicator" so arrogant as to get caught in it. He has never played basketball the right way and he is a psychological case study. Jordan is not much different, just sensible enough to know it is not totally, exclusively, all the time about him.

 

[Woof 101]

Kobe has always been a punk. Talented, but a punk. And LA's management let him do it, but he turned a great franchise into a league joke. The 60 point farewell is a theatrical stunt in a declining NBA. The year long tour is a joke. Of course, if you are a narcissist, it melts your heart... Kobe's interview post game was a real send up; thought I was watching Saturday Night Live Kobe. "Tell us how you really feel Rocky!" I'll spare you the rest.

Could not agree more the opposition played no D and the ball was handed to him every play. It was nothing that I would call basketball. Much like their so called All Star game.

Current day NBA....ugh.

Here's how the game is played- Larry Bird and the '85-'86 Celtics - the best ever IMHO, they would have beaten anybody:

Outside of the dunking, gender and hair styles, this team looks very familiar. Hmmm let me think....

 

[DaddyChoc]

The fact that Bryant scored 60 last night is not surprising at all and at the same time I couldn't care much less about his last game. What the Warriors did is so much more impressive. That said, I didn't watch either game (and I was up. I have a 3 1/2 month old).

For me, it just comes down to Bryant just not being a transcendent player. What he's done has been done before. So while there is no doubt that he is one of the best player in the history of the NBA and he is a no brainer 1st ballot Hall of Famer based on stats and contributions to championship teams, his accomplishments are not impressive by comparison to Jordan, Magic, Bird, Shaq or even LaBron.

It also seems that regardless of how many All-NBA teams he made (15) and was pretty much the best off-guard for about a decade, he was never the far and away best player at his position. There always seemed to be another SG who could be a viable replacement player. For instance, Could the Shaq-era Lakers win titles with merely a slightly above average replacement level starting SG (or even a replacement level)? Yes, I believe they could and as anecdotal as it may be, it was born out when Shaq was traded to the Heat and won with Wade.

There is also that whole Denver thing...

dang you know his whole career for someone that doesn't care much about him

 

[DaddyChoc]

Gah. Good riddance. It's annoying that he's a role model for so many males and especially disturbing when women use him for inspiration.

are you talking about female basketball players, if so, they understand the effort he plays with on both sides of the ball... they probably have no clue Denver
if thats what your hitting on about inspiration cause basketball-wise no one cause about that

 

[Husky25]

dang you know his whole career for someone that doesn't care much about him

Who said anything about "care?" The guy's been around for 20 years. Kinda hard not to notice a couple things. The details are from Wikipedia.

 

[Husky25]

This incident as it is called has nothing to do with my opinion of Kobe. Hell, very many of them for decades have been fornicators, to use the ancient expression. And that very big diamond ring that his wife sported shortly after "the incident" was merely a humorous footnote on a "fornicator" so arrogant as to get caught in it. He has never played basketball the right way and he is a psychological case study. Jordan is not much different, just sensible enough to know it is not totally, exclusively, all the time about him.

I don't exactly disagree with you. My post was in response to @alexrgct.

 

[meyers7]

This incident as it is called has nothing to do with my opinion of Kobe. Hell, very many of them for decades have been fornicators, to use the ancient expression. And that very big diamond ring that his wife sported shortly after "the incident" was merely a humorous footnote on a "fornicator" so arrogant as to get caught in it. He has never played basketball the right way and he is a psychological case study. Jordan is not much different, just sensible enough to know it is not totally, exclusively, all the time about him.

The "incident" wasn't so much about fornication as it was about her saying it wasn't consensual.

 

[bags27]

Current day NBA....ugh. Here's how the game is played- Larry Bird and the '85-'86 Celtics - the best ever IMHO, they would have beaten anybody

thank you. Reminds me of UConn WCBB. this one's great, too. And maybe over the course of many years, these guys come closest to UConn WCBB

 

[DaddyChoc]