SU awoke this morning to read the news of Kobe Bryant going for 60 points on 50 shot attempts in his last NBA game. Unlike virtually the rest of the world, I thought that was terrible. No doubt, Kobe has had a storied career: multiple rings; 2 Finals MVP awards; 20 years as a top flight player and one of the all-time scoring leaders. Unafraid to take the big shot and an intense competitor. He is also an (alleged) rapist (I guess only 2 people know the full truth on that) but somehow all if forgiven on that front. I think he has also inspired a generation of me-first, ball hog type players in the NBA (see James Harden) who don’t play the game the right way. SU did not watch the game but he took 50 of the team’s 85 shots. Whatever. It’s like having A-Rod get to hit 27 times in his finale for the Yankees next season.
SU says better to go out like Peyton Manning playing a limited role in a team championship effort than doing it this way. But I also know that I am likely alone in my thinking here about Kobe.
Lots of video tributes for Bryant before the game. SU was hoping they would do one of long-time teammate Derek Fisher. Of course, his would have to be in motion with Fisher running down the street talking being chased by Matt Barnes. That would have been perfect.
More impressive was Golden State getting the record for most wins in a season. Team effort reflecting sustained high performance all year long. SU equates that with the 1998 Yankees 114-win season. The Golden State record will never be broken – especially in this era where coaches are always resting players.
Met fans are in from the ledge – at least for one day – as the team got a W against the Marlins last night. Look: they aren’t hitting, it’s cold, it’s early, it’s April. You need to calm down. Long-time SU subscriber S. Goldman was right in his comment from yesterday in that they will be playing some horrible teams this year 19 times each. Baseball is such a long season and the pitching will be solid over the long term. Even SU is not panicking yet about the Yankees’ uneven offense. I have plenty of time to go negative!
Sports Update Intergalactic 
I thought it was a shame that both the GS and the Lakers games were on at the same time and late enough so that few on the East coast could watch. Like it or not, both were history in the making. Interestingly, I don’t think Kobe is a good guy. He started his career by saying “I don’t want to play for Charlotte” and he kept that mentality throughout. By most accounts, he wasn’t a good teammate. And pretty sure his Colorado extra-marital activities were not an isolated incident, But history remembers winners and numbers. And Kobe delivered on both. In a lot of ways, he is a lot like Arod. Incredible talent with a lot of blemishes.
I watched the game and it felt different than just seeing a box score of someone shooting 50 times to get 60 shots. The crowd was into it, the team was into it, the refs were into it (not calling moving screens or push offs to clear space) – but it was ok. Kobe turned back the clock and was using proper form and elevated to separate himself from his defenders. It’s no different than when the Spurs fed David Robinson for 48 minutes so that he could score 72 points and win the scoring title (ultimately pissing off Hakeem who got revenge in the playoffs).
Don’t judge this last game as the Lakers created this scenario by sacrificing team development for revenue on the victory lap this year.
I thought it was much better to go out this way than limping to 15 points in 23 minutes and reminding people that you are not the player you were 5 years ago.
Everybody hates the guy, but he did win 2 championships (the other 3 were Shaq’s) and dedicated himself like no other to improve. 20 years in the NBA (counting the two injury seasons) is a lot – and he was productive for most of those.
I liked celebrating the 60 points and thought it was a unique way to end a career. Good for him and good for the Lakers fans. A nice way for them to forget a horrible season.
As a fair weather NY Knicks fan these days it is difficult to get into the drama of the NBA when your own team sucks. My deepened cynical outlook over the years which was furthered fueled by our 22-22record only to see us winning only 10 more games and finishing up with a crisp 50 losses. I would ask SU to break down how this/our 500 team with somewhat of a buzz at that time (as people started to take notice way back when) only to witness a severe 3 month consistent meltdown with their 10-28 record afterwards. Had any other team had a worse record during that period of time?
Anytime i watch Golden State all i can think of is our team back in 1968-1973. Though we had a different makeup of player’s in their positions it was the chemistry in their TEAMWORK, like the Warriors which made you enjoy the purity of the game. The closest thing we have to this locally is up in Storrs, CT….. and I’ll give you a hint… it doesn’t come from the men’s side. I wonder if Geno wants to take a crack in the “Most famous arena.” That phrase might be the most overrated one going in sports today after Clyde the Glide’s prolific list of sports rhymes. Thank God Letterman never had a Top 10 List of this.
Stayed up late to surf between both games with my son. From the start – it was clear that the other Lakers were just going to pass to Kobe and then he got hot and stayed fairly hot. Once he got into the 30’s – he was going for it all.
Clearly to the end, not a good teammate – and now we have the unending barrage of commercials and discussions about the “hate” that drove him…. No way that Kobe could have pulled a Peyton and play a supporting role. His image is what it is – and he can’t change it now (nor does he want to).
On the other hand – while Curry can be quite annoying with the mouthguard hanging out of his mouth – the Warriors not only pass the ball but it is amazing how fast they move the ball around. Their only weakness seems to be that when they get bigger leads, they can try to get a bit too fancy. But not a bad problem to have.
Agreed about Curry’s mouth piece – what is up with that? Just keep it in your mouth. It is annoying. I have also noticed that they like to showboat when they get the bigger leads. But Steve Kerr seems to be effective at shutting that down with timeouts or substitutions. I do think the Warriors are a team where players enjoy making the assist. That is such a rarity in the NBA.
And, the ironic ending was Kobe’s career closing with an assist…
You’re not alone on Kobe and especially not alone on Harden. Still hate the phrase “playing the right way”. There is more than one way to play.
Yeah, I agree Dave but my point is that basketball was meant to be played as a team game with guys moving without the ball, passes swinging from side to side and finding the open man. You can run or you can go slow but watching ball stopping players to me is unwatchable. Plenty of teams use isolation offenses (see any team coached by Mike Woodson) but that’s just a coach taking the easy way out.
The thing about ball movement is that it is both more fun to watch and it makes any team/player better. It seems like a no-brainer.
It was a Harlem globetrotters moment, with Kobe playing Meadowlark Lemon and the Jazz impersonating the Washington Generals