The Game

Interesting to compare this game to the Celtics Lakers game I posted previously.

On a side note, re-watching this game really makes you understand the greatness of Kobe Bryant on a deeper level than just scoring or getting assists. It’s easy to take for granted or to forget as your watching the game live, since you’re paying more attention to whether the ball is going into the hoop rather than the entire offensive sequence. But as JVG said on the broadcast, the only time you don’t underestimate Kobe is when you’re coaching or playing against him. The Lakers entire offense is predicated around Kobe and the attention that he draws. Kobe is their main scorer and the one who opens things up for everyone else directly and indirectly. It’s amazing the way he has learned to manage the game. He’s a thinker out there. He understands the intricacies and the ebb and flow of the game. He knows exactly what he needs to do on every possession, depending on the circumstance. And whatever he wants, he gets. It’s scary.