Losing Kobe
Photo. Chris SembrotAfter last night’s game, Forum Blue & Gold is understandably devastated today. They’re left particularly empty because Kobe & Co. had nothing left in the 4th quarter:
But the Lakers still had hope. They also had a not so secret weapon. In the 4th quarter, we would need Kobe. But in a strange way, we didn’t have Kobe. Gone was the killer from Game 3. That guy was replaced by a player that looked tired. After playing his heart out in Game 3 and literally carrying the Lakers to a win, our best player looked gassed in the 4th quarter of game 4. He was working his butt off on defense trying to handle Pierce (when an ineffective Rondo was pulled, there was no longer a non-shooter for Kobe to roam off of) and he didn’t seem to have any energy left to pull out the heroics that he has graced us with over his career. What made it worse was the fact that his teammates could not pick him up the way they had earlier in the game. Gone was the crisp ball movement and sharp off ball movement. Gone was the aggression that they had displayed that made his first half woes irrelevant. Rather than play the aggressive game that had given them a 24 point lead earlier, the Lakers’ players played passive. And while we had some good stops early in the period, and played a close game the rest of the way, the Celtics were able to score when they needed to and we could not. Looking at a heartbroken Sasha after Ray Allen made that layup was a microcosm of what every fan was thinking. We would lose. It was only a formality.
June 13th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
godfreyallstar says:
sorry ESPN you can’t pay your analysts to say that Kobe is comparable to Jordan anymore
June 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
JHov says:
That captured it perfectly..I went to the midnight showing of Hulk after the game and I still couldn’t take my mind off how bad the LakeShow played down the stretch! Never thought I would say this but..Phil got outcoached by Doc in this one! How do you run that ineffective line-up for so much of the third? How do you leave Lamar on the bench after everything he did early on..not to mention D. Fish? crazy..Lakers will win gm5 though if nothing else to just save face and not have their last game of the season end with RayRay, P2 and the Big Ticket celebrating on the Staple Center floor..smh
June 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
dh says:
good point godfrey, and relevant too!
i mean, how can you compare kobe and mj when mj never lost a game in his life?
June 13th, 2008 at 3:50 pm
JHov says:
movie was decent by the way..
June 13th, 2008 at 3:53 pm
nate says:
*cant talk about the game yet*
but *IF* boston wins the series, ray allen has to be the mvp
June 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
Prof. TX says:
@5
I’d agree that Allen is looking like the finals MVP. Garnett helped them through the regular season (team spirit, work ethic, defensive intensity), Pierce carried them through the earlier playoff rounds with great stats, but Allen has finally shown up.
Of course, if this stretches to six or seven games there is room for that to change.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:18 pm
fiyaman says:
noway.. as of right now PDouble is MVP
June 13th, 2008 at 4:20 pm
fiyaman says:
dude had one gd play and all of a sudden everyone wants his dick in there mouth.. stop jock riding .. 1 play doesnot tell the whole series
June 13th, 2008 at 4:33 pm
D.I. Dollar says:
I am a Laker fan. Let the if we had Bynum talk begin (as if it hadn’t already). Getting ready for the Boston – LA rematch next year.
June 13th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Beantown, son! says:
did anyone see Kobe’s press conference? i saw most of it, but i heard he said something like hes gonna “drink a lot of wine, beer & about 20 shots” after the game…It coulda been out of context but maybe ya’ll know?
June 13th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
Beantown, son! says:
DISREGARD THAT LAST MSG
June 13th, 2008 at 5:19 pm
nate says:
@8 one play?
what series are you watching, boston’s most consistent player is ray allen
June 13th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
Rico says:
@dh…you’re an idiot an know nothing about basketball….MJ didn’t win every game he played. Do your homework chump!
June 13th, 2008 at 6:17 pm
dictionary says:
id-i-ot
-noun
someone who does not what sarcasm is.
—Synonyms
fool, half-wit; imbecile; Rico; dunce, numskull.
June 13th, 2008 at 6:39 pm
Brandon Hoffman says:
The “roaming Kobe” strategy was effective but it clearly took a lot out of Bryant.
If they are to have a chance of extending this series, Trevor Ariza needs to see significant minutes. The Lakers have received next nothing from V-Rad and Walton. Neither player can defend Allen or Pierce. Ariza can. It’s crazy enough to work.