The Transformation
Kobe’s a killerDo you remember all of the characters in The LeBrons commercial? There was the kid LeBron, the blabbering old LeBron, “Oh Lord,” the Afro-sheen business LeBron, and the silent basketball LeBron. Imagine if Nike gave its other marquis icon, Kobe the same premise. I’m not sure about the other three characters, but he would undoubtedly have to include his unapologetic killer alter-ego that snapped out of that Lakers’ 24 uni last night.
We’ve seen it before, but only on select occasions. Last summer’s Olympic qualifiers was one of those times. The 81-point annihilation was another. But we didn’t really see him go after the Nuggets with that unmistakable focus that borders on a foaming-at-the-mouth rabid look in game one.
Maybe the buzz about Gasol having the best game of any Laker got him going. Maybe it was the “friendly conversation” that went on between him and Kenyon Martin, which earned him a tech in the first meeting. But at some point between leaving the Staples Center after game one and taking the floor last night, Kobe transformed into ‘The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly’ – all three parts rolled into one.
After 49 points and 10 assists, as we noted in Smack on anyone and everyone suited up for the Nuggets, KB24 still sounded like his blood was pumping on full blast even in the locker room:
“Better learn not to talk to me,” Bryant said about J.R. Smith‘s trash talk. “You shake the tree, a leopard’s gonna fall out.”
Whoa.
“The way he was going, we could have put 10 people on him and probably wouldn’t have stopped him,” Allen Iverson said.
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April 24th, 2008 at 8:18 am
Logan Light says:
THAT is exactly what I was talking about in my SMACK comment… Kobe doesn’t just want to beat you on the court. He wants you to know that he is better than you… in everything. On and off the court. He gives you the jumper and then tells you that his wife is hotter. He drives for the lay in and then talks noise about your shape up.
OK, maybe not exactly like that – but you know what I mean. Kobe is a beast.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:27 am
jjankechu says:
doesn’t he mean a mamba might fall out? he should pick an animal and stick with it.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:28 am
GEE...straight audacity & unmitigated gall says:
On the play when he and JR were talking and Kobe goes right at him. I promise JR fouled him about 3 or 4 times and Kobe still makes the shot and lets his yappin commence!
Can’t wait for game 3 you know Denver is going to try to be rough and respond.
Wonder what wonderful motivation G.K. is going to pull out now.
Hmmm take the team to Pikes Peak Mountain and let them see what it feels like to be on top. That is about the only time they will experience that feeling.
Kobe was the prisoner with the shank strait stabbing dudes!
Mass murder
April 24th, 2008 at 8:30 am
hahns says:
“Better learn not to talk to me,” Bryant said about J.R. Smith’s trash talk. “You shake the tree, a leopard’s gonna fall out.”
damn…what a beat quote. obama should appoint kb24 as national security advisor or secretary of defense
April 24th, 2008 at 8:42 am
control says:
I’ll bring up Kobe’s selfish pouting teammate and crazy rapist alter egos just to get it out of the way.
GEE, Denver isn’t going to come back at Kobe rougher…the toughest guy on that team is ironically named Marcus “Mr Glass” Camby. Melo is a puss, that is well documented. Kmart looks the part of a tough ass enforcer, but he ain’t shit. JR probably needs a few more tattoos before he can be taken seriously as a tough guy. AI is actually pretty tough, but he’s like 140lbs…not much intimidation factor there. Honorable mention to GK and his assistants for that bad ass, Slipknotish mosh pit they have before every game…normal people would die in that one.
Kobe will kill this team, single handedly.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:48 am
GEE...straight audacity & unmitigated gall says:
Control you really don’t think they are going to be fouling a little harder and “trying” to intimidate?
Granted all that you said was true lol, but still you don’t think they at least gone try money?
Your last statement bout said it all though.
Maybe 5 on 1 would be a better game…with Denver still losing to lack of coaching and No D.
Daaaaaang.
April 24th, 2008 at 8:55 am
control says:
GEE, Kobe been fouled hard before, nothing new to him. As much as I used to dislike the guy before (and for most of) this season, the guy is really starting to win me over. Last season his 49 point games would always be with 1-3 assists and with his teammates being froze out of the game as much as the other team. This year he, when he starts killing it he’s letting his entire team come along for the ride as well.
Denver can foul him as hard as they want, but it’s like walking up and punching a grizzly bear, unless you can kill it, you are just going to make it mad and get your ass killed that much quicker.
5on1 Kobe would probably lose, but I’d say 5on3 with Kobe, Lamar and Gasol…it would be about even.
PS. Is it just me, or does George Karl look like a fat Dick Cheney?
April 24th, 2008 at 9:07 am
SayItAintSo says:
I don’t think it’s appropriate the blemish a comments forum about Mamba with the name “Dick Cheney”. Furthermore, ‘a fat Dick Cheney’ is a little redundant.
Back to baskets: It was really enjoyable to watch KB have his every which way with poor little J.R. (I say little now, but clearly never would in person)
April 24th, 2008 at 9:09 am
Bust Jlaze says:
Dick Cheney’s not already fat?
April 24th, 2008 at 9:12 am
GEE...straight audacity & unmitigated gall says:
Control I think they will go for being killed faster then. LOL. I agree though, Kobe will make them pay for what they attempt.
I can’t wait for the Denver crowd to boo Kobe every time they get a chance. They are still salty. You know that is just going to add to the demise.
Wonder if Kobe ever thinks back on the whole Colorado issue and says you know what I am going to drop 5 more on this 44 just for that lol?!?
April 24th, 2008 at 9:15 am
Logan Light says:
@ GEE and Control
To be fair, it will be interesting to see the reffing in Denver. The Lakers got away with some slight home cooking in game 2. The tip fouls that Denver is begging for might actually get called… and they might not get called going against LA. I’m all for fair play, but I just see this getting swayed in game 3.
With that said, I agree with GEE. Marv said something really smart last night when he said that Phil needed to get Kobe out of the game so that he didn’t get hurt. The Nuggets were frustrated as all get out and would definitely throw a hard foul. NOT what LA needs.
April 24th, 2008 at 9:43 am
GEE...straight audacity & unmitigated gall says:
Logan I was sitting their half crackin up and screaming at the TV for Phil to get him out.
1. Cause dude was just going crazy. I mean it was getting bad, I was like come on Phil that is enough. It looked like one of those fights where a fighter is just getting done and the ref won’t step in.
2. Cause I didn’t want something stupid to happen from “Melo” or someone and Kobe get hurt or for Kobe to come down akward or something.
I am glad he got out without injury.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
Yooooo says:
Kobe showed the advantage he holds over T-mac and LeBron last night. T-mac NEVER displays it, LeBron displays it sometimes but not often enough. It’s that innate ability to turn it the F*^# UP. It did feel like Jordan/Blazers. He was just drippin swag (pause) all over the court.
As a Jersey dude, I feel bad for JR. He really tries hard against Kobe. You can look at him and he’s like “yea I’m gonna lock you up, I’m REEEEEADY” before every game against the Lakers. But by the end of every game he’s just dejected. Against anyone else in the league he’d probably be have an edge. Against the boy Kobe he just looks like a dick. I hope he takes notes and get his mental right. Cuz honestly, (and i’m the biggest Kobe fan in the world) their skills aren’t too far apart. Kobe just is a student, not a head case and during the off season puts in work. Where as JR is riding through Jersey smackin these birds like they worth something, gettin more tats, or hanging out with SHU basketball team gettin high
April 24th, 2008 at 10:49 am
QQ says:
JR Smith just got MIND RAPED! lol.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:55 am
control says:
Yoooo, You gotta clarify your statement about JR and Kobe’s skills not being too far apart. If you are saying JR is anywhere near having even the potential to be almost as good as Kobe, you’ve fallen off son.
April 24th, 2008 at 10:57 am
BALLZ says:
Alright, I’m gonna be the guy to do it today. One more time, let’s have the argument: Is Kobe as good as Mike?
April 24th, 2008 at 11:15 am
Mike C says:
I thought he could have forced it a little bit more and go for the 63 points playoffs record set by Jordan in 86. Too bad he didn’t..
April 24th, 2008 at 11:18 am
Celts Fan says:
No Ballz. Kobe is not as good as Mike and NEVER WILL BE. That argument’s over.
April 24th, 2008 at 11:32 am
Carmen Electra says:
@ Ballz:
Kobe’s sick, SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO freakin sick. Bet you couldn’t find a baller as good as him for the next 10, 15, 20 years. Just so damn sick.
And yet, not as sick as Mike. Argument’s over.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:15 pm
GEE...straight audacity & unmitigated gall says:
Ballz naw not currently.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:23 pm
K Dizzle says:
BALLZ
he won’t ever be MJ, but he’s the next best thing
Gee
I ain’t gonn lie, I wanted Kobe out of the game too…after he got 50
April 24th, 2008 at 12:38 pm
Yooooo says:
Kobe is right up there with Mike man. I’m sorry but somebody had to be the guy to say it!
Now Jordan was a better defender. Kobe the better 3 point shooter. Jordan the better slasher (splittin hairs). Kobe the better ball handler (splittin them again).
The differences between the two are marginal. Production wise, Jordan of course is ahead, but he has a full body of work, a long career. Kobe is still only 29! That’s crazy man. 29??? Jordan is in a class by himself. But so is Kobe man.
And control. Nah I’m not saying JR is even comparable to Kobe. Im just saying if you look at physical attributes, they’re around the same height with the ability to shoot it from anywhere and slash at anytime. But JR plays off of ability, Kobe plays off of skill. Meaning he has honed and polished his abilities. Whereas, JR, hasn’t made the committment to basketball fully.
It’s like Jay-z and Joe Buddens. (I’ma crazy Buddens fan though). Jay got it on lock. Head of the class in any way you cut it. But Buddens has the potential to, at least, be more productive with his skills than he has. Hope you can understand that analogy. It might mess you up if you think Joe Buddens is ass.
April 24th, 2008 at 12:39 pm
doc says:
Kobe wants to be Mike and damn near got his game but no.They even did the what time is it thing the bulls do pregame.But give me Bron for my team.
April 24th, 2008 at 1:34 pm
tjack says:
kobe is the man. hands down. ok, doc, give you lebron huh? lebron sucks!!!! tell lebron to get his ass down in an athletic defensive stance and play some defense. i’m tired of this lebron shit. he sucks. show me something else other than dunks. oh and if he actually ran down the court on the defensive end like h does when he has an oportunity to dunk, then maybe I would think he was worthy of mention. he sucks period.
KOBE FOR MVP! BEST ON THE PLANET!!
April 24th, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Lady Luck says:
MJ is still the standard. Kobe is my man….and he’s damn close…but he’s not Mike. But the fact that we can all have legitimate arguments for both sides is what is truly telling. How many “next Mikes” have there been that can be taken seriously? Minor? Vince? Stackhouse? These guys were all “next” but only Kobe can create a legit debate. Mike is still King! But Kobe is the Man!!!!
April 24th, 2008 at 6:26 pm
doc says:
tjack he can bust your favorite team ass.Dudes kill me talking about he just dunk.Okay he average 15 dunks a game why do something else.Same way shaq dunked his way to 4 rings he can do the same.
April 24th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
bxballer says:
What else can be said, Kobe is the man.