Happy Hour 02/09: Kobe Explains All
Thursdays are more about regular TV than sports to me, but I did make sure to tune in for the Pistons-Lakers game last night. And it wasn't even because I thought it would be a compelling inter-conference match-up. No, I just like watching the Pistons beat Kobe Bryant.
It's even more enjoyable when Kobe beats himself, as he did in the 2004 NBA Finals. Natalie mentioned it in her game recap over at Need4Sheed, and I loved being reminded of that. Do you think Kobe realizes that if he had only passed the ball to Shaq more, it could've been a much different series? Ben Wallace simply could not stop The Big Aristotle in the post, yet Kobe had to make it about Kobe, so he kept jacking up threes and dribbling into traps.
But let's talk about the present. When Kobe's held below 20 points (on just 13 shots), I think you could call that a disappointing game for him. Eight turnovers would seem to confirm that.
Did the Pistons' combination of zone and man-to-man defenses frustrate Kobe? Was Detroit so successful because assistant coach Ron Harper understands how best to defend the triangle offense, as Phil Jackson (who, in what's become comically typical, gave the Pistons as little credit as possible) asserted?
No way! In the world according to Kobe, it's because those pesky Pistons just kept fouling him. Check out the last two paragraphs from the L.A. Times' game story:
Of course. What the hell were the Pistons doing out there? Didn't they know they're not supposed to touch Kobe? Tayshaun Prince isn't even supposed to look at Kobe. C'mon, he's the Black Mamba (which Detroit Bad Boys has hilariously pointed out is the name of a female Marvel Comics super-villain)! Hopefully, the memo gets to Detroit before the next time the Lakers come to town.
By the way, I don't know if Phil Jackson was only talking about this because he was asked about it by reporters while revisiting the site of his only championship loss, but if losing that series to Detroit is something still bugging him to this day, well, that brings a smile to my face.
Man, I love it when the Lakers come to town!
It's even more enjoyable when Kobe beats himself, as he did in the 2004 NBA Finals. Natalie mentioned it in her game recap over at Need4Sheed, and I loved being reminded of that. Do you think Kobe realizes that if he had only passed the ball to Shaq more, it could've been a much different series? Ben Wallace simply could not stop The Big Aristotle in the post, yet Kobe had to make it about Kobe, so he kept jacking up threes and dribbling into traps.
But let's talk about the present. When Kobe's held below 20 points (on just 13 shots), I think you could call that a disappointing game for him. Eight turnovers would seem to confirm that.Did the Pistons' combination of zone and man-to-man defenses frustrate Kobe? Was Detroit so successful because assistant coach Ron Harper understands how best to defend the triangle offense, as Phil Jackson (who, in what's become comically typical, gave the Pistons as little credit as possible) asserted?
No way! In the world according to Kobe, it's because those pesky Pistons just kept fouling him. Check out the last two paragraphs from the L.A. Times' game story:
Kobe Bryant had 18 points, eight turnovers and, by his count, five scratches on his arms from Pistons defenders.
"They have a reputation for their defense," Bryant said. "They got away with getting some of our guys across the arms."
Of course. What the hell were the Pistons doing out there? Didn't they know they're not supposed to touch Kobe? Tayshaun Prince isn't even supposed to look at Kobe. C'mon, he's the Black Mamba (which Detroit Bad Boys has hilariously pointed out is the name of a female Marvel Comics super-villain)! Hopefully, the memo gets to Detroit before the next time the Lakers come to town.
By the way, I don't know if Phil Jackson was only talking about this because he was asked about it by reporters while revisiting the site of his only championship loss, but if losing that series to Detroit is something still bugging him to this day, well, that brings a smile to my face.
Man, I love it when the Lakers come to town!
Labels: 2006-07 Detroit Pistons, Happy Hour, Kobe Bryant, NBA
posted by Ian C. @ 3:00 PM
sweatymen[at]gmail[dot]com
1 Comments:
At February 11, 2007 1:04 PM,
SAMO said…
He counted the scratches on his arm? Wow this man could be an attorney. He is really pulling out all the strings to prove that there is no way he could have had a bad game or been defended well by a great defensive team...No, the Pistons had to have cheated!
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