Knicks · Kobe Bryant (page 1)

The guys foot work is still incredible.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/blogs/nba-ball-dont-lie/sports-world-reacts-to-kobe-bryant-s-60-point-grand-finale-053833476.html

Smush Parker on twitter: "Once a ball hog, always a ball hog" lmao.

Anyway Kobe stepped up and delivered for the fans in final game of his career.

Incredible performance. Lots of bad shots - but many classic Kobe moves, and Utah wasn't letting him just get points - they were trying to stop him - doubles, tough man defense.

Great game by a legend.

franco12 wrote:I watched much of the game- and the start of Golden State - and the funny thing is - GS won their game pretty much in the 1st quarter - and Kobe won his at the end.

Incredible performance. Lots of bad shots - but many classic Kobe moves, and Utah wasn't letting him just get points - they were trying to stop him - doubles, tough man defense.

Great game by a legend.

reminded me of the 81 point game, when Toronto just stop defending him after he was up to 60

knicks1248 wrote:

franco12 wrote:I watched much of the game- and the start of Golden State - and the funny thing is - GS won their game pretty much in the 1st quarter - and Kobe won his at the end.

Incredible performance. Lots of bad shots - but many classic Kobe moves, and Utah wasn't letting him just get points - they were trying to stop him - doubles, tough man defense.

Great game by a legend.

reminded me of the 81 point game, when Toronto just stop defending him after he was up to 60

I never saw that game.

But, with Kobe, its the same as with MJ - the will to win. I think Lebron lacks that, or maybe its not as strong.

But he stayed in the complete 2nd half, and you could tell he was dragging, but when he got the ball and attacked, he willed himself to score.

I never loved Kobe - but you have to admire his sheer will to be great.

Ultimate final Kobe game - 60pts on 50 SHOTS!

Damn, Mamba.

Knixkik wrote:Kobe is one of the most overrated players of all time (although still an all-time great) but what an awesome thing to see last night. Will go down as the greatest career-ending moment in the history of sports i would have to think.

well said. i concur 100%

mreinman wrote:perfectly disgusting way for for class-not to go out.

Sports has become too much about class. Drive, will to win, and competitive nature are basically dead in sports. Disappointing these traits are no longer valued in competitive sports, which is really strange. What we need to do is continue to applaud players resting for no reason or taking the court and not even trying, who basically piss on the people who got the sport to where it is today. That's great stuff. Really respectful and classy.

SwishAndDish13 wrote:

mreinman wrote:perfectly disgusting way for for class-not to go out.

Sports has become too much about class. Drive, will to win, and competitive nature are basically dead in sports. Disappointing these traits are no longer valued in competitive sports, which is really strange. What we need to do is continue to applaud players resting for no reason or taking the court and not even trying, who basically piss on the people who got the sport to where it is today. That's great stuff. Really respectful and classy.

not sure what you are saying here and how it compares to Kobe.

franco12 wrote:

knicks1248 wrote:

franco12 wrote:I watched much of the game- and the start of Golden State - and the funny thing is - GS won their game pretty much in the 1st quarter - and Kobe won his at the end.

Incredible performance. Lots of bad shots - but many classic Kobe moves, and Utah wasn't letting him just get points - they were trying to stop him - doubles, tough man defense.

Great game by a legend.

reminded me of the 81 point game, when Toronto just stop defending him after he was up to 60

I never saw that game.

But, with Kobe, its the same as with MJ - the will to win. I think Lebron lacks that, or maybe its not as strong.

But he stayed in the complete 2nd half, and you could tell he was dragging, but when he got the ball and attacked, he willed himself to score.

Agree on both points: Kobe is the second greatest player of all-time, and had the MJ "X" factor (read: willpower to win, no matter what). Also agree that LBJ lacks that "X" factor, or it's not nearly as inveterate to him. His dominance is physical, not based on an inner thing. For me, he barely cracks the top 5 of all time.

MJ, then Kobe, then Magic. Hard to say after that.

mreinman wrote:

SwishAndDish13 wrote:

mreinman wrote:perfectly disgusting way for for class-not to go out.

Sports has become too much about class. Drive, will to win, and competitive nature are basically dead in sports. Disappointing these traits are no longer valued in competitive sports, which is really strange. What we need to do is continue to applaud players resting for no reason or taking the court and not even trying, who basically piss on the people who got the sport to where it is today. That's great stuff. Really respectful and classy.

not sure what you are saying here and how it compares to Kobe.

dk7th wrote:fifty shots, 44%FG including 6-21 from 3, in his final meaningless game basically sums up his career to me.

Lol I mean we can hate on Kobe, but I think what struck the cord for me was watching Kobe turn back the clock in the last few minutes of the game.

give me one player who can close a game better then Kobe how many games has Kobe won in the final moments . It was a iceing on the cake moment to his legendary career.

The NBA is going to miss the one of a kind Kobe. Other then MJ, no one worked as hard as Kobe guy was in a league of his own for quite awhile. His moves still are so Jordanesque.

Kobe retires kinda ends a era of Jordanesque players. The game has changed so much since he came in in 96... Now more then ever we just watched a kid hit 400 threes in a season . I'd like to see Steph do that in 96 when players could hand check you and play real defense.

Letting a player hit 400 threes just shows that defense is dead in the nba. Speaking of defense Kobe was also a top notch defender .

As we bid fare well to 20 years of a masterful career ending on yet another storybook end in sports just like jeter. guys of my generation realize just how old we are getting as another legend of our time takes a final seat in history. The basketball gods are going to miss Kobe, there probably won't be another one like him in this technology age.

Kobe much like jeter,mj,Payton a classic case of I'm going to work harder then anyone and pour my heart and soul into this game and be the greatest of all time.

Farewell to a living legend enjoy retirement you earned it.

And as a knick fan thank god it's about time ! Now join up with Phil and show KP what work ethic is haha

crzymdups wrote:Imagine being so jaded you couldn't enjoy Kobe's final game where he dropped 60pts at age 37.

I know it was epic. And quite a farewell

Gotta repeat a lot of the sentiment in this thread. Never been a huge Kobe fan, but absolutely an awesome moment for basketball and for one of the greatest. Yes, 50 shots on only the team's 17th win of the season, that part will be lost over time. What will stick is probably the greatest salute to a career across sports.

Special moment that he got to do it at home. As far as I'm concerned, Jeter's career ended with the walk-off win in NY, not at Fenway.

fitzfarm wrote:

mreinman wrote:

SwishAndDish13 wrote:

mreinman wrote:perfectly disgusting way for for class-not to go out.

Sports has become too much about class. Drive, will to win, and competitive nature are basically dead in sports. Disappointing these traits are no longer valued in competitive sports, which is really strange. What we need to do is continue to applaud players resting for no reason or taking the court and not even trying, who basically piss on the people who got the sport to where it is today. That's great stuff. Really respectful and classy.

not sure what you are saying here and how it compares to Kobe.

dk7th wrote:fifty shots, 44%FG including 6-21 from 3, in his final meaningless game basically sums up his career to me.

Lol I mean we can hate on Kobe, but I think what struck the cord for me was watching Kobe turn back the clock in the last few minutes of the game.

give me one player who can close a game better then Kobe how many games has Kobe won in the final moments . It was a iceing on the cake moment to his legendary career.

The NBA is going to miss the one of a kind Kobe. Other then MJ, no one worked as hard as Kobe guy was in a league of his own for quite awhile. His moves still are so Jordanesque.

Kobe retires kinda ends a era of Jordanesque players. The game has changed so much since he came in in 96... Now more then ever we just watched a kid hit 400 threes in a season . I'd like to see Steph do that in 96 when players could hand check you and play real defense.

Letting a player hit 400 threes just shows that defense is dead in the nba. Speaking of defense Kobe was also a top notch defender .

As we bid fare well to 20 years of a masterful career ending on yet another storybook end in sports just like jeter. guys of my generation realize just how old we are getting as another legend of our time takes a final seat in history. The basketball gods are going to miss Kobe, there probably won't be another one like him in this technology age.

Kobe much like jeter,mj,Payton a classic case of I'm going to work harder then anyone and pour my heart and soul into this game and be the greatest of all time.

Farewell to a living legend enjoy retirement you earned it.

And as a knick fan thank god it's about time ! Now join up with Phil and show KP what work ethic is haha

I pretty much disagree with everything you wrote. To each their own. Kobe was nothing like Jordan aside from him copying some of his moves.

fitzfarm wrote:

mreinman wrote:

SwishAndDish13 wrote:

mreinman wrote:perfectly disgusting way for for class-not to go out.

Sports has become too much about class. Drive, will to win, and competitive nature are basically dead in sports. Disappointing these traits are no longer valued in competitive sports, which is really strange. What we need to do is continue to applaud players resting for no reason or taking the court and not even trying, who basically piss on the people who got the sport to where it is today. That's great stuff. Really respectful and classy.

not sure what you are saying here and how it compares to Kobe.

dk7th wrote:fifty shots, 44%FG including 6-21 from 3, in his final meaningless game basically sums up his career to me.

Lol I mean we can hate on Kobe, but I think what struck the cord for me was watching Kobe turn back the clock in the last few minutes of the game.

give me one player who can close a game better then Kobe how many games has Kobe won in the final moments . It was a iceing on the cake moment to his legendary career.

The NBA is going to miss the one of a kind Kobe. Other then MJ, no one worked as hard as Kobe guy was in a league of his own for quite awhile. His moves still are so Jordanesque.

Kobe retires kinda ends a era of Jordanesque players. The game has changed so much since he came in in 96... Now more then ever we just watched a kid hit 400 threes in a season . I'd like to see Steph do that in 96 when players could hand check you and play real defense.

Letting a player hit 400 threes just shows that defense is dead in the nba. Speaking of defense Kobe was also a top notch defender .

As we bid fare well to 20 years of a masterful career ending on yet another storybook end in sports just like jeter. guys of my generation realize just how old we are getting as another legend of our time takes a final seat in history. The basketball gods are going to miss Kobe, there probably won't be another one like him in this technology age.

Kobe much like jeter,mj,Payton a classic case of I'm going to work harder then anyone and pour my heart and soul into this game and be the greatest of all time.

Farewell to a living legend enjoy retirement you earned it.

And as a knick fan thank god it's about time ! Now join up with Phil and show KP what work ethic is haha

well the league not only banned hand-checking but they also loosened the rules around palming and traveling. at least curry doesn't travel or palm from what i've seen. with jordan and bryant and iverson and wade and rose and macgrady and carter and marbury and nate robinson and jamal crawford and etc. etc. their games depended entirely on being allowed to palm the ball and often travel. so for all the footwork bryant excelled at-- which he did-- he also got to where he was going via the palming that he was never called for. not only that but that sense of invincibility also had the deleterious effect of narrowing court vision and playmaking passes.

and that goes for all of the players i have mentioned. being allowed to palm the ball promotes me-ball like no other change to the game since magic johnson and michael jordan were the poster boys of the stern-era nba.

i always thought the 72-win bulls team was great, but since that era the 3-ball usage and accuracy has increased to the point where even lengthy defenders like jordan/pippin/harper would have a difficult time with thr warriors range and ball movement. the bulls would have to press from 3/4 court most of the game which would prove exhausting over a series.

as far as bryant being the last in a line of jordan-esque players... i hope you're right.

mreinman wrote:

fitzfarm wrote:

mreinman wrote:

SwishAndDish13 wrote:

mreinman wrote:perfectly disgusting way for for class-not to go out.

Sports has become too much about class. Drive, will to win, and competitive nature are basically dead in sports. Disappointing these traits are no longer valued in competitive sports, which is really strange. What we need to do is continue to applaud players resting for no reason or taking the court and not even trying, who basically piss on the people who got the sport to where it is today. That's great stuff. Really respectful and classy.

not sure what you are saying here and how it compares to Kobe.

dk7th wrote:fifty shots, 44%FG including 6-21 from 3, in his final meaningless game basically sums up his career to me.

Lol I mean we can hate on Kobe, but I think what struck the cord for me was watching Kobe turn back the clock in the last few minutes of the game.

give me one player who can close a game better then Kobe how many games has Kobe won in the final moments . It was a iceing on the cake moment to his legendary career.

The NBA is going to miss the one of a kind Kobe. Other then MJ, no one worked as hard as Kobe guy was in a league of his own for quite awhile. His moves still are so Jordanesque.

Kobe retires kinda ends a era of Jordanesque players. The game has changed so much since he came in in 96... Now more then ever we just watched a kid hit 400 threes in a season . I'd like to see Steph do that in 96 when players could hand check you and play real defense.

Letting a player hit 400 threes just shows that defense is dead in the nba. Speaking of defense Kobe was also a top notch defender .

As we bid fare well to 20 years of a masterful career ending on yet another storybook end in sports just like jeter. guys of my generation realize just how old we are getting as another legend of our time takes a final seat in history. The basketball gods are going to miss Kobe, there probably won't be another one like him in this technology age.

Kobe much like jeter,mj,Payton a classic case of I'm going to work harder then anyone and pour my heart and soul into this game and be the greatest of all time.

Farewell to a living legend enjoy retirement you earned it.

And as a knick fan thank god it's about time ! Now join up with Phil and show KP what work ethic is haha

I pretty much disagree with everything you wrote. To each their own. Kobe was nothing like Jordan aside from him copying some of his moves.

Kobe and Jordan had a lot in common both were great defensively,and had very similar offensive games. Both had killer instinct and to be honest it would be a flip of the coin on who you would want to have the ball in their hand for the winning shot... Granted as a Knick fan I hated both and don't wanna give ether of them props.. Each has won multiple chips with Phil and Kobe is by far the closest anyone has come to the greatness of Jordan. That my friend is undeniable. I'm actually with a group of 30 year olds and all of them agree Kobe was the closest we've ever seen anyone come close to Jordan's greatness.

To dk7th

everyone also agrees the Warriors would not have come close to 73 wins if it was 1995. Teams would pick up curry from half court with guys like Bruce Bowen who would push the crap outta curry and defensively shut him down that's what the hand check used to do push the crap out of sharp shooters and force them to give up the ball.

the game has changed I think for the worst I miss watching gritty defense and picking up your man at half court using the hand check to force your opponent to put the ball on the floor and create their own mid range shot. As much as people love the three and more dunks the game has kinda gotten ridiculous I mean a man just hit over 400 threes that would never happen in the hand check era. There is no such thing as a hard foul anymore either it's just a flagrant now. The NBA needs to bring back defense to the NBA.