His Lakers future uncertain, Kobe takes aim at Team USA success

LAS VEGAS -- A seriously slimmed-down Kobe Bryant sat at a steakhouse table at the Wynn resort here with Team USA coach Mike Krzyzewski and head honcho Jerry Colangelo on Tuesday night and made one simple, strategic request.
"Coach, I'm ready," Bryant declared, according to Colangelo. "And I want the best player on the other team every single night."A new face has been added to Team USA, and after going through false starts in 2003, 2004 and 2006 when, respectively, a knee injury, a rape accusation and then a shoulder injury kept him off the team, Bryant is finally going to don a USA senior men's team jersey for the very first time.

It'll happen Friday afternoon on the campus of UNLV, where 17 national team members will assemble for two days of practice and then an intrasquad scrimmage before the team splits up for three weeks and then reassembles to prepare for the Tournament of the Americas, in which two berths in the 2008 Beijing Olympics will be at stake.
Only six players return from the 2006 World Championship team that placed third last summer in Japan, and you'd have a nearly impossible time -- even in this gambling Mecca -- finding a single person who believes this version of Team USA will do anything other than crush this summer's competition.
Part of the reason is the lack of competition -- Argentina will be missing several key NBA players from the squad that won Olympic gold in Athens in 2004, and Brazil still does not know if it will have its best big man, Anderson Varejao -- and another key factor will be the upgrades the Americans have made to their roster.
Instead of Kirk Hinrich and Chris Paul running the point, it'll be Jason Kidd and Chauncey Billups.
Instead of having no natural shot-blockers as the last line of defense, Tyson Chandler will be in the mix.
Instead of having Carmelo Anthony play the role of designated shooter, there will be a choice among Anthony, Bryant, Michael Redd and Mike Miller.
Instead of a lack of heft down low, well … OK, there's still at least one issue.
But the biggest x factor of them all, without a doubt, will be Bryant.
"His competitive juices are really flowing, and that's indicative of where he is," said Colangelo, who said Bryant told him he had dropped 19 pounds since the NBA season ended while getting in shape for his first summer with the national team.
"Kobe is in the best state of mind you could want a player to be in," Colangelo told ESPN.com. "I think we're catching him just right. We look at his toughness and his ability to be a big factor with this group."
Only 17 of the 32 players on the full national roster will be present and in uniform for the minicamp, although Wade (shoulder surgery), Paul (shoulder injury) and Shawn Marion (plantar fasciitis) are expected to be in attendance even though they will not play. The roster will be trimmed by two or three players -- J.J. Redick, Kevin Durant, Shane Battier and Deron Williams seem to be on the bubble -- following Sunday night's intrasquad scrimmage, and the team will reconvene in Las Vegas on Aug. 13 for another week of preparations before the Tournament of the Americas begins.
Returning from last summer's Japan team are Anthony, Battier, Chris Bosh, Hinrich, Dwight Howard and LeBron James. They will be joined by Billups, Bryant, Chandler, Durant, Kidd, Miller, Tayshaun Prince, Redd, Redick, Amare Stoudemire and Williams.

Out of the mix from last summer's team are Gilbert Arenas and Bruce Bowen, who were displeased by being two of the final cuts last summer, Elton Brand (knee injury), Joe Johnson (calf injury), Brad Miller (plantar fasciitis), Paul and Dwyane Wade (shoulder injuries) and Antawn Jamison (who decided not to attend after being used sparingly in Japan).
Also among the players missing for minicamp will be Carlos Boozer (family reasons), Adam Morrison and Luke Ridnour (no chance of making the final roster), Lamar Odom (shoulder surgery), Greg Oden (tonsillitis) and Paul Pierce (elbow surgery).
"There are not a lot of questions to be answered other than do we take 14 or 16 players to the Tournament of the Americas," Colangelo said.
Well, that may be the way Colangelo feels, but there is one monumental question on the minds of basketball fans everywhere, especially in Los Angeles: Bryant's future with the Lakers. It has now been more than seven weeks since Bryant issued his infamous and contradictory "I want to be traded" and "I want to be a Laker for life" statements, and he has passed on numerous opportunities since then to publicly clarify his position.
His most recent statement on where he stands -- "I said what I said," Bryant told L.A. reporters last week -- did nothing to clarify the situation, because when Bryant said what he said, different people took it a different ways. But Bryant has clearly not said anything to indicate that he has officially withdrawn his request, and the Lakers have held steadfast in their public statements that they have no intention of trading him.
When I was in Las Vegas a week ago for summer league, I asked asked GM Mitch Kupchak where things stood with Bryant. "Those types of discussions regarding Kobe and management, we won't disclose that type of strategic information," Kupchak said.
Not exactly an "everything's copacetic" quote, eh?
Whether Kobe might hold out of training camp if the Lakers refuse to move him remains an open question, the answer held by the party that feels it holds ultimate leverage in what still could develop into a testy standoff.
Colangelo has counseled Bryant to deflect all questions regarding the Lakers by saying he's entirely focused on Team USA, so don't expect that part of the equation to become any clearer over the next three days. Bryant was offered the opportunity to clarify his position through an interview with ESPN.com on the eve of minicamp, but he declined through his agent.
Should Bryant succeed in obfuscating the trade issue through this weekend, he'll be able to lie relatively low until Team USA reassembles on Aug. 13. And if he sticks with the same strategy through the Tournament of the Americas, there will be a whole month more for the matter to fester before NBA training camps open in October.
First, however, he'll slip on that Team USA jersey for the first time Friday, becoming the highest-profile member of a team that probably will not be tested until 13 months from now when the Beijing Olympics roll around. And by the time the start of the 2008-09 season arrives, perhaps he'll have an Olympic gold medal to show off when he plays his home opener, wherever home will be at that point.
But that's still a long ways away, and for now he's said to be skinnier and hungrier than we've possibly ever seen him. He's about to suit up in something other than a Lakers (or All-Star) jersey for the first time since he left high school.
And so the summer of Kobe will continue, the clarification everyone's looking for likely to remain a mystery. For now, and again in late August, we'll have to appreciate what he'll bring to Team USA. As for what the future holds, the only thing that seems certain for him is a spot in Beijing.

Open Letter to Kevin Garnett

Dear Kevin,
All throughout your career you have been known as a hard worker, great teammate, exceptional player, and extremely loyal. You have put your whole heart into your organization, played hard every night, and even though things have been really tough, never have you embarrassed yourself or your organization.
Generally speaking, when a player of your caliber acts and carries himself in such a professional manner, he’s rewarded with his home fans adoration, and support from his bosses. Sadly, neither is the case with you. Your home fans have, and continue to take you for granted, not knowing that an athlete with the skills and loyalty that you exhibit night in and night out only come once in a lifetime. This sort of apathy and complacency can’t be blamed on only the fans though… Your bosses, Mr. Glen Taylor and Kevin McHale, can carry most of the blame for your current situation.
Year after year, they thank you for your loyalty with the Darco Milicic’s, and the Marco Jaric’s of the NBA. They seem to be content with coming in last, and going to the Draft Lottery. They seem content to sometimes reaching the playoffs but never winning. They seem content to just use your name for marketing purposes and to bring in the fans.
Now, if I didn’t know anything about you I would think that you were just part of that web of losers, but fortunately I do know a little about your character and dedication. I know that losing is not something that you accept, and not something that you condone. I know that every time your team loses, it eats you up inside till you can’t take it. I know that every time you slam it in some ones face you’re taking your frustration out on that rim. You are great, and you are “loyal to a fault,” like Stephen A. Smith correctly pronounced. And you now what? That’s what makes you Kevin Garnett.
Now, let me ask you, do you wish to be remembered as the superstar so loyal to his team that he swallowed loss after loss and never once felt the joy of getting that elusive ring? Or, do you want to be remembered as the legend that was idolized for bringing an organization back from the brink by doing what was best for him, after giving up so much.
This is the time where you change your future… You have two choices… Choose your unwarranted loyalty to your beloved ‘Sota or you do what’s right for you and your career… And ask to be traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.
Year after year you have seen the Lakers dedication towards winning, and you have watched the Lakers win championships from home. Don’t you want to be part of that? Don’t you want to know what it feels like to have the support of your bosses, and not to mention playing with the best player in the NBA? Don’t you want to win now? I know you do.
I’m sure you have noticed the Lakers are in a state of turmoil right now. Kobe has asked to be traded, and the past few years we have not performed up to our normal standards. That doesn’t take away from our history and our vast opportunity for you here. You would be viewed as the savior, the hero, the one who came in and helped Kobe take us back to the Promised Land.
As you well know, your opportunity for a championship is fading. I don’t think you want to be the modern day Karl Malone and never win anything. What good is being an all time great, but not have any rings to show for it?
So, Mr. Kevin Garnett, what’s it going to be? Glory or Loyalty?
Remember, thousands of Los Angeles Lakers fans rest their hopes on your decision. We appreciate what you do day in and day out. We pass countless hours in front of our computer monitors, checking whether you’re even a possibility! That’s what you can expect here in Los Angeles. Fans that show up every game and support its team. Losing is not an option in the minds of all Laker fans. We want to win, and win with you because you deserve this. You deserve to get your dues.
So, remember thousands of fans will be awaiting your decision because all we want is to Get Garnett.

By Daniel Delgado

GetGarnett.com

We Believe In Destiny. We Believe in YOU

Dear Mr. Garnett,
The entire Lakers’ Nation has been experiencing a recurring dream in which you dawn the purple and gold and, with one hand on Kobe Bryant’s shoulder, you use your free hand to hoist the Larry O’Brien trophy at the end of next season for the entire universe to witness.
Your loyalty and work ethic are second to none, and it is well understood among us that these endearing qualities make you the most efficient player in the game. Now picture yourself playing with a friend, a confidant, and the second most efficient player in the league. Don’t you just see how attainable the title now becomes? Can’t you feel the trophy in your hand?
We do not wish any disrespect to the Minnesota Timberwolves organization or its fans. After all, the Minnesota fans and organization truly deserve to win a title, but now is time for a rebuilding effort and your destiny lay along a different path. Your fate is in Los Angeles now, a place you rightfully call home and love. A place that loves you right back.
Simply put, The Big Ticket belongs in the City of Angels. A city where dreams always become reality and are played out on the big screen for those with talent, heart, and of course a whole lot of effort. Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett together is an instant masterpiece, an unstoppable one-two punch, and the most feared winning machine in the league.
As I am sure you are well aware, there is a website dedicated to discussing our recurring dream until it becomes a reality. Getgarnett.com logs thousands of users per day and each individual expresses their version of the dream on a daily basis. We’ve watched your video highlights and felt your tears of pride and pain and understand why you will never accept loosing.
And we do all this for one simple reason: WE BELIEVE!
Thank you for taking the time to read about our dreams, and now that we have shared them with you, please make them a reality. You deserve it and you’ve already won our hearts and minds!

By Big D

GetGarnett.com

The Debriefing: Kobe vs. LeBron

Everyone agrees that in Game 5 against the Pistons, LeBron James made "the leap." But where exactly was he leaping to? From 'good' to 'great'? From 'great' to 'legendary'? From 'legendary' to 'thank God, someone's better than Kobe'?

It feels like people want LeBron to be the best player in the game, mainly because it would mean that Kobe Bryant is no longer the best player in the game. People dislike Kobe for a lot of reasons. Moodiness, arrogance, selfishness, aloofness, rape. Take your pick, but people are clearly not comfortable with the idea of Kobe sitting atop the league.

You're seeing it right now. There's a rash of articles and TV personalities talking about how Kobe could learn a few things from LeBron. The same exact thing happened during last year's Finals, too, when Dwyane Wade was torching the Mavericks with his unselfishly brilliant and floppy ways. Everyone was quick to say that Kobe could learn from Wade's unselfishness, just as they're doing now with LeBron.

I'm not saying any of these opinions are wrong, in fact, I see some validity there. I do, however, think it's odd that LeBron has the defining game of his career, and the reaction from some people isn't, "Wow, that was a real treat to watch," or "This is going to be fantastic for the NBA." Instead, it's, "WooHoo! He's better than Kobe now!"

Is it true, though? Are either of them the best player in the game?

Now, personally, I am of the opinion that Tim Duncan is the best and most valuable player in the league. At least for the next few years in the NBA landscape, post players are more valuable than perimeter players. And Shaq's in this conversation, too, as long as he's in-shape, motivated, and healthy. But since he'll never play anything close to a full season again, I'm leaving him out of this discussion. I'm going to leave Duncan out, too, because it's so hard to compare post players to perimeter players, and no one sees Duncan as a particularly sexy choice, anyway.

So, here we go ... it's Kobe vs. LeBron, right now, for best (perimeter) player in the game. Let's get it on.

The biggest and most intriguing variable heres are their respective coaches and teams. It makes them difficult to compare, and this conversation would be totally different if Kobe and LeBron were traded for one another tomorrow. I firmly believe that Kobe Bryant would be better off with LeBron's coach, and LeBron would be better off with Kobe's coach.Until the NBA sees a resurgence in player/coaches, Mike Brown would be the perfect coach for Kobe. Here's what Mike Brown did with the Cavaliers, and it was a fantastic idea. He said to himself:
"Okay, I've got LeBron, who can do everything. What I need to take care of is the defensive end of the floor, so I'm going to bring in a cheap, dirty, completely effective flop machine in Anderson Varejao, I need Eric Snow, and I'll take a bunch of other guys and hammer home the idea to them that if you don't dig in defensively with the same enthusiasm with which Zydrunas Ilgauskus dances to Lithuanian hip-hop group Sel, you don't play. Our defense will keep us close, and as long as we have LeBron, we'll have a chance. The better LeBron gets, the better we get, and LeBron is going to get a lot better. Also, we might sometimes run offensive plays."

That would be perfect. Here's the dream scenario for Kobe: His coach says in the timeout, "Alright, we're gonna come out with a straight man defense out of this timeout, funnel guys to the middle, switch every screen, and keep your hands in the passing lanes. Defend like your life depends on it. If your man gets dribble penetration on you, I will kill your entire family. Okay, hands in, defense on three. One, Two, Thr--"

And then Kobe interrupts with, "Hey! Coach, what do you want us to do offensively?"

And the coach replies, "I don't know, score? Just take the damn ball and score, I don't care how. Two, three, whatever you feel like. Just go."

That's pretty much the Mike Brown coaching philosophy, and I think it's a solid one. Phil Jackson, meanwhile, has presided over the last two Lakers teams, both of which have been terrible defensively, which they don't have to be. Defense is, more than anything else, a matter of effort. The Lakers, sans Kobe, have never seemed particularly inclined on this end. Smush Parker and Kwame Brown are to defense what Dikembe Mutombo is to clear and understandable diction.

And offensively, Phil's got this triangle system which gets everyone touches, and relies on guys picking the correct option out of several available to them. LeBron would thrive in the triangle, because he doesn't mind sharing the ball, he'd always have open guys to pass to, and he'd always get his shots. So the coaching variables make the whole thing difficult to assess.

A popular opinion these days seems to be, "Hey, LeBron got the Finals with a bunch of scrubs, Kobe should, too." Easy there ... let's calm down. First, Kobe plays in the Western Conference, which all the members of the Eastern Conference look at, and say to themselves, in awe, "Damn."

Secondly, LeBron's scrubs are hellbent on playing responsible defense, while Kobe's scrubs are hellbent on ... I don't know, trying to figure out what went wrong in Smush Parker's childhood. "LeBron's in the Finals, so Kobe should be in the Finals" is totally unfair.

The differences in their actual games are easy to pinpoint. LeBron's a better distributor, he's stronger, he's more of a ball-sharer. Kobe, though, is a better pure scorer, probably still a better outside shooter, he has a post game, I still trust him more to take a game-winning shot, and he's also miles ahead of LeBron defensively right now.

Another area where Kobe has it over LeBron, and this is something that Michael Jordan discussed the other day, is bringing it consistently every single night. Said Michael:
Making "The Leap" is where you do it every single night. It's expected of you, and you do it. That, to me, is "The Leap." Not one game, not two games. It's consistent. Every defense comes in and they focus on you and you still impact the game. I think he's shown signs of that. I think he's going to continue to grow with that. The test is going to come for him to consistently do that every single night, when everybody expects it.

Charles Barkley and Kenny Smith have been hammering this home constantly in regard to LeBron. He flips on the cruise control and takes too many nights off. Kobe Bryant, meanwhile ... well, you don't have 4 straight 50-point games in the regular season unless you've made that leap Jordan's talking about.

But there's one big gray area that we haven't touched: leadership. One of the things that struck me about the Detroit/Cleveland series was how often LeBron was talking to his teammates, and in a variety of different ways. He knew what each guy needed, and he gave it to them.Boobie Gibson got appreciative hugs, Zydrunas Ilgauskus got talked to in a calm, rational manner. And Drew Gooden was screamed at, which is totally appropriate. In fact, Drew Gooden should probably have someone following him around 24/7, screaming at him constantly about something. "DAMMIT, GOODEN, PICK UP YOUR SOCKS. NO, I DON'T THINK THAT WOMAN WANTS TO SLEEP WITH YOU. NO, IT IS NOT SAFE TO EAT PAPER. STOP SCRATCHING YOURSELF! THAT? IT'S CALLED YOUR BELLY BUTTON, IDIOT! WHAT'S SO DAMN FUNNY ABOUT IT? AND FOR GOD'S SAKE, WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH THE BACK OF YOUR HEAD?! ARE YOU LISTENING TO ME, GOODEN?!"

But I digress.

You don't see a lot of that type of leadership from Kobe. At least, not as much, and when you do see it, it doesn't seem completely natural. With LeBron, it feels like it is. His teammates want to follow him. With Kobe, it feels like his teammates are completely aware of how great he is, and they're still not quite sure how to act around him.

It always seemed like Michael Jordan's lesser teammates, the guys like Steve Kerr and Luc Longley, would throw themselves in front of a train for MJ. I felt a little bit of that from LeBron and his cast, too (incidentally, I hope a train passes in front of Drew Gooden soon). But with Kobe, I get a feeling like Jordan Farmar would say, "Hey, you're an awesome basketball player and all, but dive in front of that train your damn self."

Kobe's like Chuck Norris. He'll take on everyone himself, and he'll whoop some ass. But LeBron's like William Wallace in Braveheart. People just naturally believe in him and want to follow him. And that, external considerations like teams and coachs not withstanding, is probably the biggest difference between the two right now.I feel like there are too many variables to say that one is clearly better than the other, but here's what I can say:

If I had to pick one of these guys to build an NBA team around for the next 8 years, I'll take LeBron without batting an eyelash.

But if I was playing a game of 2-on-2 tonight, and if I had to do something completely repulsive if I lost, like having to look at Drew Gooden's head for an hour ... I'm going to take Kobe. At the moment, I feel like he's a little bit more lethal of a weapon. I would, however, like to reserve the right to change my mind about this, depending on what happens in the next couple of weeks.

by mjd

Kobe Saved The Lakers

Special thanks to Jeff Lee for writing this take and giving us the privilege to add it to GetGarnett.com. If you have an article that is Lakers related and you know that it will interest our readers, feel free to e-mail us and will add it to the blog. Thanks!

Things just aren’t like they used to be. Gas is at an all time high, Britney Spears has a shaved head, Lindsay Lohan & Jerry Buss can’t find designated drivers, the NHL championship is going through So-Cal, the Lakers haven’t found a way to extend there season into June, and Kobe Bryant is no longer happy being with the Los Angeles Lakers. The only thing positive going for this city is the USC Trojans and they don’t play there first game for another couple of months. What’s next? I am not sure, but I promise the Lakers off-season is going to be an entertaining one.

Memo to: Kobe Bryant
Subject: Thank you for saving the Lakers franchise and this city.

I have questioned the decision making of the Lakers front office for three years myself. They have passed on signing key veterans, they have traded the wrong players, and they gave big contracts to a couple of slugs (Brian Cook & Vladimir Radmanović). When the Lakers selected Andrew Bynum in the 2005 NBA draft I thought they made an excellent decision. Bynum had the complete package. ( Youth, height, and size) That was something the Lakers needed immensely. Following the draft the Lakers immediately began working on his development by paring him up with former Lakers player, one of the NBA’s greatest 50 players, a Hall of Famer’, Kareem Abdul Jabbar.

Two years have now passed since we drafted Bynum and his skills have improved slightly (some people will beg to differ). Kobe has noticed it, and so has the Lakers organization. Bynum was supposed to be the next big thing here in Tinsel Town, but as you can see his development is taking longer than expected. Kobe doesn’t have the patience to wait for this kid to come full circle, nor should he have to. None the less, Bynum did have big shoes to fill following Shaquille O’Neal’s departure and many of us set unrealistic expectations, but that’s the way it is when you play for the greatest franchise in sports history. In all fairness to Bynum, he is young, very young, (youngest player in the NBA) and he was taken right out of high school when the Lakers made him there 10 th pick in the draft. However, the timing isn’t right for Andrew Bynum to remain in a Lakers uniform. It’s definitely the right place for him, but unfortunately it comes at the wrong time. A time, when you have the greatest player in history in his prime, who is in search for some teammates that have what it takes to win a championship. Bynum may have that in him, but it won’t be for another few years, and by then Kobe will be too old.

If the Lakers want to build a championship team like they promised Kobe Bryant, they must trade Andrew Bynum, and it must happen now. According to Kobe, Mitch Cupchak has already turned down players such as Carlos Boozer, Ron Artest, and Barron Davis because he labeled Bynum “untouchable” and didn’t want to include him in any package deal.

So you ask; why in the hell would you trade Andrew Bynum? The answer is really simple. Bynum has a lot of potential, he has a big body, he’s young, and teams could develop him into the kind of player that would benefit there select style of play. Outside of Lamar Odom, Bynum has the most interest from other teams mostly due to his size & age and the Lakers could get a big name veteran in return for him.

With the events that have taken place in the last 96hrs; beyond Kobe it now looks as if every player is marketable. Its going to take a Lamar Odom, Andrew Bynum, and possibly a draft pick to land some key veterans on this Lakers team. The Future of this franchise is hanging on by a thread. Within the last week Jerry Buss has become more than just an owner, he’s now a tailor. He must find a way to stitch this team, this franchise, this city and its fans back together. The Lakers front office must act NOW!! They have sat on there hands and done absolutely nothing to improve this team over the last 3 years. Time is critical, every second, every minute, and every hour are going to be scrutinized. Mitch Kupchak should be on the phone right now trying to make something happen, and he shouldn’t dare hang up the phone until something spectacular takes place. Jerry Buss might want to set aside the booze and young women for a while so he can focus on bringing a blockbuster deal to LA. Everyone is watching; every owner, GM, and coach around the NBA have there eyes glued on this franchise just anticipating for the Buss family to fall on its face. “Do something, and do it now”, but do it very carefully.

Don’t point your finger and try to blame Kobe Bryant for this off-season fallout. Not for a single second should anyone place blame on the guy that stood up, voiced his opinion and saved this franchise. It took two days for Kobe to say what Lakers fans have been saying for 3 years- “CHANGES MUST BE MADE”. Mitch Cupchak should have already resigned or been fired. It’s not fair for the best player in the league to go through a rebuilding phase when they promised him they wouldn’t at the time he re-signed as a free agent. It’s not fair to Kobe when he has to watch his team fail miserably in the playoffs because his teammates lack talent. It’s an insult to Kobe Bryant’s greatness, for him to go through a rebuilding process that is centered on a kid who is barely old enough to vote!!! Kobe is not getting any younger. He has many more miles on his odometer than Jordan did at the same time in his career.

And finally,

A lot of you will criticize, belittle, and nit-pick Kobe Bryant. You will call him selfish, childish, unstable or insane but if I’m Kobe Bryant I don’t want to play for a team that wants to save money and rebuild while I’m in my prime years. Kobe Bryant was the voice of the people. Kobe reiterated to management what all of us have been saying for years. Mr. Bryant did the right thing!!!

Kobe saved himself, a city, and an organization from being the next Atlanta Hawks. Someday all of you will thank him for it. And if you’re a true Lakers fan, you’ve already thanked him.

Published by
The Nuggetat June 1, 2007

Lakers' Bryant Simply The Best Scorer — Ever

Only Kobe. Nobody has ever been this good. Nobody. Not Kareem. Not Jordan. Not even Wilt. He's the greatest scorer to ever play the game. There have been better basketball players. There are players with more championship hardware and more All-Star Game appearances, but when you're talking about scoring, then Kobe is at the top of a short list. Kareem Abdul-Jabbar was more consistent. Michael Jordan was more clutch. And Wilt Chamberlain was more dominant. But Kobe Bryant is an amalgamation of all of them.

Kobe's past four games

65
March 16: Kobe Bryant scores 65 in a 116-111 win over Portland, including eight three-pointers.

50
March 18: Bryant totals 50 points in a 109-102 win over Minnesota.

60
Thursday: His third straight game with 50 or more points, Bryant leads the Lakers to a 121-119 win over Memphis.

50
Friday: Bryant scores 50 in a 111-105 win over New Orleans. Michael Jordan and Elgin Baylor topped out at three consecutive 50-point games in their careers.

You run out of superlatives trying to describe his greatness and you sometimes make foolish proclamations following his dazzling displays. But this isn't one of those times. What's so foolhardy about bestowing him the title of G.O.A.T? To be sure, he'll probably fall short of Jordan's 10 scoring titles. His 81 points against Toronto last year was 19 fewer than Wilt's historic 100. And at 28, he's not even halfway to Kareem's all-time point total. But go behind the numbers.
As magnificent as Wilt was, he dominated an era in which the NBA was in its infancy. There were only eight to 17 teams in the league during the 14 years when the 7-foot-1 giant literally stood tall over everyone else.
Today's NBA, with 420 players from 38 countries, is much more diverse. Wilt never faced the myriad defenses, the media scrutiny and the off-the-court demands that Kobe endures. Kareem mastered a skyhook that couldn't be stopped, but essentially he was a one-trick pony, while Kobe is a five-tool player. He scores in the paint, outside the three-point arc, off the dribble, over and around double teams and in transition. Jordan is probably the most complete basketball player to play the game — his tenacious defense and six NBA titles put him ahead of everyone else — but MJ never shot the three-pointer like Kobe. Jordan shot less than 30 percent from three-point range in nine out of his 15 seasons. Kobe has failed to break 30 percent just twice in 10 years.
There has never been a scorer as versatile as Kobe. The amazing part of his current four-game streak in which he has scored at least 50 points isn't the points that he has accumulated, but rather the look in his eyes and the expression on his face. It's as if he took no joy in dropping 65 points on Portland or exploding for 50 against Minnesota and New Orleans or burying Memphis with 60. He hasn't smiled during postgame interviews. He doesn't deliver boastful comments or pound his chest like he used to. There is only anger and a look of focus and determination that you see on Sundays from Tiger Woods.
"He just smells blood in the water," coach Phil Jackson said. "He's going to go after them. That's what you see and admire in Kobe is that he's going to attack. He's going to be in that mode and he's going to continue to go at a team until you stop him."
Bryant has taken more than his share of criticism lately. The seven-game losing streak. The two suspensions for elbowing opponents. The whispers he's a dirty player. The refuted reports of contacting Texas freshman Kevin Durant on behalf of Nike. But it seems as if he's using that criticism to feed a fire burning inside him.
You saw it when he canned improbable three-pointer after improbable three-pointer against Portland's double and triple teams, or when he drove into the lane for dunks, twisting layups and jumpers against Minnesota and Memphis. You felt it when he played 47 minutes on the second night of a back-to-back against New Orleans.
And here's the kicker: Everybody knows he's trying to score, yet they can't stop him. "Believe me, nobody is letting him go out there and put up points," Minnesota's Mike James said. 'He's just that good.' Watching Kobe rage against the machine makes me wish other players played with his intensity. What if LeBron James matched his desire? Or Dirk Nowitzki? Or anyone in Sonics green and gold?
Watching Kobe this week reminds me of his remarkable stretch in February 2003, when he scored 40 or more points in nine straight games. I remember talking to him after he hit the Sonics for 41. The Lakers were at the end of their Three-Peat dynasty and the locker room was divided into two camps that either supported Kobe or Shaquille O'Neal. I remember Kobe saying: "I've been holding back because of the team and because we have a pecking order here."
Ever since, I've always wondered just how great he might have been if he hadn't played alongside O'Neal. His trophy case would probably be empty, but this streak might have happened much sooner.
We saw a glimpse of Kobe unshackled last season when he averaged 35.4 points, which is the eighth-highest average ever. And we're seeing glimpses again. 65. 50. 60. 50. "He's in a zone right now," Lakers forward Luke Walton told reporters. "Most people get in a zone for one game. He's been in a zone for about a week straight now. It's been a pretty amazing display that he's put on."
Next up is Golden State. The Warriors have the worst defense in the NBA, allowing an average of 106 points per game. Earlier this season, Kobe scored 42 against Don Nelson's squad. Given all that, I'm guessing he goes for a double nickel tonight. Then there's the rematch against Memphis on Tuesday and Houston on Friday. If Kobe can keep the streak alive this week, the rest of the Lakers' remaining opponents shouldn't pose much of a threat. Considering Wilt set the record at seven, it's ridiculous to think Kobe could stretch this streak to 17 games, but because it's Kobe, you have to consider it.
He's making the impossible seem plausible. He has put the Lakers on his shoulders and carried them to a four-game winning streak and a two-game lead over Denver in the Western Conference standings.
Even more impressive, he's threatening to upstage the NCAA tournament. Now who else could do that?
Kareem? Jordan? Wilt?
Only Kobe.

Love, Hate and The Black Mamba

I am going to preface what I am about to say by stating that I am in no means a Kobe Bryant fan.
From the day he announced he would be skipping college and “taking his talents” straight to the NBA, I did not like the guy. I detested Bryant’s meteoric rise to the top of the NBA as he, along with Shaquille O’Neal, catapulted the L.A. Lakers’ mini-dynasty to three consecutive NBA Championships from 2000-2002. I abhorred everything about The Mamba; from the goofy way he grew his hair his first couple of years in the league to his borderline-creepy Adidas commercials.I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was the arrogant manner in which he carried himself; the way he openly compared himself to His Airness. Maybe it was the ’98 All-Star Game at Madison Square Garden, Michael Jordan’s final All-Star Game (’02 and ’03 with the Wizards never happened), where Kobe bent over backwards to steal the show on a night Jordan’s greatness was supposed to be celebrated, not challenged by a punk kid who couldn’t crack the starting lineup of his own team. On the other hand, maybe it is merely as simple as me having to wear #8 during that basketball season, because they did not have the numbers I wanted in my size. Either way, Kobe was front and center in Dan Love’s Burn Book.
Needless to say, I thoroughly enjoyed the rapid fall of Kobe Bryant after the 2003 season. After the Lakers disintegrated in the ’03 playoffs, the wheels fell off shortly after Bryant underwent knee surgery in Colorado. We all know what happened there. On top of the rape charges against him, Kobe’s feud with Shaq O’Neal reached new levels as the two exchanged verbal blows in the media. Despite troubles off the court, Bryant’s Lakers loaded up, reached the NBA Finals and were heavily favored to win their fourth title in five years. The Lakers imploded during the Finals against the Pistons that year, however. Kobe and his ego, somehow, managed to make the most dominant force in the league, The Big Bitterstotle, a non-factor leading to a four games to one embarrassment at the hands of Detroit.
Kobe Bryant’s career and reputation continued to take a Tony Montana-like turn for the worse that off-season, as he strong-armed the Lakers organization into sending both Shaq and Coach Phil Jackson packing. Kobe had officially claimed his place as “The Man” in Los Angeles. Yet, with Phil Jackson in temporary retirement and Shaq in Miami leading the Heat to the Eastern Conference Finals, “The Man” failed to take the Lakers to the playoffs for the first time in his career. On top of that, the more likable and more popular LeBron James was challenging Kobe’s status as “The Next Jordan.” Some even wondered if Kobe was nothing more than just another Vince Carter or Tracy McGrady without Shaq at his side. Kobe Bryant’s career had hit a low point, and, you wanna know something? I loved every single millisecond of it.
That began to change January 22, 2006.
What Kobe did that night, scoring 81 (EIGHTY-FREAKING-ONE!) points against the Toronto Raptors, was, without a doubt, the sickest thing I have ever seen.
Seriously, the guy scored 81 points. That is not a typo; he really scored 81, including 55 in the second half. Does that even make sense? Kobe does realize that he was playing in the NBA against professional athletes, not 5’5” pimple-faced-high-school-sophomores, right? Kobe’s 81 points is the second highest single-game scoring output in NBA history— trailing only Wilt Chamberlain’s almost mythical 100-point game in 1962. Of course, the 7’1” Chamberlain, while immensely talented, played in an era in which Damon Stoudamire would be considered a legitimate NBA center. Meanwhile, Kobe is a perimeter player relying on 100% raw talent and skill to score his points.
The truly sick thing about the 81-point game is that I am not 100% convinced he can’t score 81 (or more) again. We will completely forget this now, but Kobe’s first 60-point game came a few weeks prior to 81 when he dropped 62 through three quarters against Dallas. Had he decided to play the fourth quarter of that night’s blowout win, does anyone doubt he would have scored 80 or more that night?
That’s the thing about The Black Mamba; you never quite know what to expect, but you are never quite shocked. Am I impressed that he has averaged over 58 per game in the past three? Darn skippy. Am I in the least bit surprised? Not at all.
It has become obvious that the Lakers can’t win a game unless Kobe chucks it up close to 40 times a game, so is there any reason 60, 70 or even 80 doesn’t happen again this season; especially down the stretch when the Lakers (and by “the Lakers”, I really just mean Kobe) will have to do everything in their power to stay in the playoff race? Am I the only one genuinely thrilled with the possibilities?
Ironically, Kobe’s 81-point outburst came just hours before my homeboy, Steve, and I argued over which player we would most want on our basketball team. Steve chose LeBron, and I think I went with Tony Parker, simply for the Eva Longoria Factor. I am kidding, of course (well… kind of). Anyway, Kobe was quickly dismissed as a headache who shoots too much, and someone who couldn’t lead a team from one side of a street to the other.
After that night’s epic performance, and performances that followed, however, my mind is made up. I would not take any player in the league over Kobe Bean Bryant. I don’t care if he is a ball hog, if he is egotistical, arrogant, somewhat insecure or more obsessed with his place in history than with winning another ring— and he is all of those things, by the way— if the Chicago Bulls somehow acquired him today, I would drive to Chicago and roll out the red carpet myself. Love him or hate him— and I still somewhat hate him— Kobe Bryant is the best player in basketball right now. Period. How do I know this? Just prior to last year’s Suns series, when it became evident that Steve Nash was probably going to beat out Kobe for league MVP, the aforementioned Steve (who’s claim to fame prior to this post was that he allegedly dunked on LeBron James during an AAU game only to have LeBron return the favor… three times… I digress…) dropped this text message beauty on me:
“If Kobe does not win MVP this year there is an 80% chance he goes for 90 in a game next year. Like if they vote Nash over Kobe I think he may just grows horns and snake fangs, and go off for 350 points in a 4-game series sweep of the Suns every year for the next three years. I don’t know about you, but I want to see 90. Steve Nash for MVP!”
The sad part is that I kinda’ sorta’ almost agreed. I knew that 90, while extremely unlikely, was not entirely out of the question. Now what player, other than 2011 Kevin Durant, can ignite legitimate thoughts of 9-0. As a basketball fan and appreciator of true greatness, I feel like Wes Mantooth at the end of “Anchorman”; I even considered giving Kobe a kiss on the forehead (OK, not really).
I did not realize this at the time, well, maybe I did, and simply chose not to acknowledge it, but maybe that All-Star Game in NYC was not a going away party; it was a passing of the torch.
And maybe, just maybe, in an All-Star Game a few years from now, we will look on as some other young punk attempts to rip the torch from the greatest player to ever lace up a pair of Nikes.
At this point, I am willing to believe anything.
By Dan Love