youtube.com - 5/22/2008
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Watch Kobe Bryant lead the Lakers' comeback charge with 27 points and nine rebounds as L.A. beat San Antonio in Game 1 of the Western Conference Finals on We...
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Bryant Single-Handedly Humiliates the Spurs
The Sporting Blog —
I know the Spurs were stuck in an airplane at some point, and just coming off a seven-game series. But dang, that was embarrassing. Up by 20 on the road, the Spurs plain shut off. And what's more, Kobe was just then starting to go to work. They knew it was coming, he knew it was coming, and well, what followed was a little uncomfortable to watch: Bryant scored at will on Bowen and Udoka (Bowen 2), with even his most ridiculous shots looking more like a roundabout way to realize the inevitable. While he was bloodthirsty as ever, he never forced it, set up Gasol with ease, and was such a fine-tuned basketball machine that, by comparison, Duncan came off as sloppy. ...
Thank you, Kobe Bryant
The Postmen // A Sports Blog // Chicago, IL. —
If it wasn’t for you, and your incredible, jaw-dropping second half, the Spurs would have won Game 1 of this series on the road. Any other year, that probably wouldn’t be that big of a deal, but in the 2008 playoffs an opening-game road win in the Western Conference Finals would have been disastrous for everyone who officially hates the Spurs.
So thank you, Kobe Bean. I used to hate you. I don’t anymore. I just thought you should know that.
{Video HT: The Sporting Blog}
NBA On TNT Western Conference Finals Notes: “I don’t think he’s a dirty player at all, he’s gotten a reputation that’s not merited”
The Starting Five —
(Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)
Uh…say what Kobe?
Lakers guard Kobe Bryant on Spurs forward Bruce Bowen: “I love him as a basketball player. He doesn’t get his just due as a defensive player because he’s playing with Tim (Duncan). I really enjoy playing against him, I don’t think he’s a dirty player at all, he’s gotten a reputation that’s not merited. I think he’s a really smart defensive player and I have a lot of respect for him.”
Barkley on Cavaliers forward LeBron James not shutting down Celtics guard Paul Pierce ...
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emptythebench.com 5/22/2008 — This is why we watch. When Tim Duncan made a 7-foot hook shot to put the defending champions up by 20 (65-45) with just under 6 minutes to go in the 3rd quarter, all looked lost: the game, the series, and the Lakers season. I felt sick to my stomach. There was no way, no way, that they could possibly squander such a commanding advantage, right? Cue Kobe Bean Bryant.
Bryant Single-Handedly Humiliates the Spurs
sportingnews.com 5/22/2008 — I know the Spurs were stuck in an airplane at some point, and just coming off a seven-game series. But dang, that was embarrassing. Up by 20 on the road, the Spurs plain shut off. And what's more, Kobe was just then starting to go to work. They knew ...
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hardwoodparoxysm.blogspot.com 5/22/2008 — Kobe Bryant is better than you. And you. And me. And you. And Ime Udoka. You're cool (Tim Duncan). And you. The Lakers, more so than any team this season (and yes, I'm including the Suns and Warriors), have an undeniability once they ...
KOBE & CO. STAGE RALLY BIG SHOW IN LA —
NY Post: Sports 5/22/2008
LOS ANGELES - Kobe Bryant and the Los Angeles Lakers waited until the third quarter to get going. Once they did, the San Antonio Spurs couldn't stop them. Bryant scored all but two of his 27 points after halftime, including a go-ahead, 10-foot...
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Wizards Insider 5/22/2008
The San Antonio Spurs surely would've taken any scenario in which Kobe Bryant would score just two points in the first half and they would have a 20-point lead in the second half. Put those two together and you can generally scratch off one in the win ...
