January 24, 2006

HOLD ON!  LET’S SLOW DOWN ON OUR PRAISE FOR KOBE’S BIG DAY

      Let’s face it outside of Laker fans and Raptor there were few who watched Kobe Bryant’s 81-point outburst on Sunday.  As one of those who did witness it let me throw a bucket of cold water on all those who are suddenly overly effusive with their praise.  Sure it was spectacular to watch an athlete who, for one night, could do no wrong, and sure it was spectacular to watch the many different ways a basketball player can find to score.  But, as a proponent of team basketball—and winning basketball—I really don’t find it that spectacular to watch someone who was adamant right from the opening tip to get his.

       Kobe has been accused of being a ball-hog by everyone from his coaches to his teammates (and by former coaches and teammates).  Now suddenly everyone, riding the tail of the second highest scoring output in NBA history is quick to refute that notion?  How is that possible? 

       Let’s analyze this particular game.  Here we have the leading scorer in the NBA playing a team that, against, he knows he can pretty much score at will.  Last season he scored 49 points at home against the Raptors and he has had a few 40 plus outings against this team in his career.  The Raptors present very little size, very little rebounding, and very little perimeter defense.  Kobe knows, coming into the game, that he can put up some big numbers—and that was his intention from the get-go.  He criticized teammates when they shot for not passing him the ball, and he grew frustrated with teammates when they shot and missed.  He wanted to make every decision on offense, and when he passed the ball he wanted it to be because he didn’t have a shot—something that occurred very infrequently. 

      At halftime Kobe had 26 points and still his team was down by a considerable amount.  Kobe decided that, in the second half, he was going to be even more of a focal point on offense.  It didn’t take long for this to happen—the Lakers had pretty much eradicated the deficit by the midway mark of the third quarter and it was obvious that the momentum had shifted.  The confidence exuded by the young Raptor squad during the first half disappeared under a wave of Kobe points.  The crowd was into it and so were the officials.  It got to the point where each offensive foray resulted in a score for Kobe, a foul on Kobe, or a score and a foul on Kobe.  Phantom calls were in abundance—but then the officials are human (caught up in the wave of Kobe-mania), the NBA loves this kind of attention, and the flailing and nerve-wracked Raptors were offering token resistances.   

      The issue I take with the entire event is simple—Kobe will be getting his points, and getting them every game.  He’s going to have some games where seeming air balls go in—he took at least five three-pointers from at least 26 feet away with two Raptors draped all over him.  Most of the time players would be criticized for taking such selfishly apparent bad shots—but on this occasion, and at some other times, those prayers are going to go in.  Does this make Kobe an MVP candidate?  Sure they won the game, but they won because he scored 81.  How many times is that going to happen?  How many other Laker players are having great years?  Is he making anyone better?  The Lakers might squeak into the playoffs, but does anyone see them as a serious contender?  Kobe knows this team will not win—but does he really care?  He has three championship rings, but those rings are somewhat tainted considering they were accomplished because he played with the most dominating player to possibly ever play the game.  What Kobe wants now is records.  Most points in a game is a pretty good record—though Wilt’s 100 certainly seems unattainable.  Having the second highest scoring game is damn good though—and so will having the next three after that, once he gets there.  How about most points scored in a playoff game?  That’s a nice one, and though Kareem’s career scoring mark seems out of reach it would be a nice accomplishment if he passed Michael on the list.

       So don’t get too worked up about his 81-point effort.  There are likely more of these games to come for a player whose only goal is to gain attention.