After shooting a dismal 21% (5/24 FG) in a Game 3 loss against the Jazz in last year’s first-round, Kobe went into “I dare you to talk to me” mode and headed into Game 4 stone-faced, ready to pillage the mountain peaks of Utah. Utah Jazz: Just when you think you’ve seen it all from the Black Mamba, he always manages to absolutely mesmerize all of us and remind the world that he’s simply a heartless killer come game time.
2008 western conference finals series#
While Kobe did not have his best series against the Philadelphia 76ers and league MVP, Allen Iverson, in the NBA Finals, he did essentially carry the Lakers that year during the Western Conference Playoffs as the team capped a ludicrous 15-1 run in the post-season and repeated as league champs. Just to remind you of his dominance against San Antonio that year, he averaged 33.25 ppg and spearheaded what was a humiliating sweep for the Spurs.
I hate to be cliché here, but Kobe literally “set the tone” for how the series was going to play out as he went into kill-mode from the start and put on an absolute show in Game 1 to tune of 45 points, 10 rebounds, and 3 assists in Game 1. With the twin towers patrolling the paint against Shaq, Phil definitely gave his young 22-year old superstar the green light in terms of creating offense for himself and the rest of the team – even more so as Kobe had been on an absolute tear in the earlier rounds. Gregg Popovich undoubtedly reminded his Spurs to make sure they knew where Kobe was on the court at all times. Even so, the series against the Spurs that year for the West’s crown was anticipated as a potential slugfest between two of the NBA’s title contender heavyweights. However, Phil Jackson was able to keep his two megastars in check and the Lakers were rolling. The 2000-2001 season was really when the seams first started splitting in the relationship between Shaq and Kobe as well. Of course, they would have to defeat our Lakers first. The Spurs had clinched the best record in the West that year and we’re gearing up for a return trip to the NBA Finals. San Antonio Spurs: In the franchise’s first repeat year in 13 years, the Lakers finished the regular season strong on an eight-game winning streak and completely embarrassed the Portland Trailblazers and the Sacramento Kings with a clean sheet 7-0 record in the 2001 NBA Playoffs heading into their date with the San Antonio Spurs. Kobe’s shot against the Suns to put the Lakers up 3-1 was merely another bullet point in the Mamba’s legacy. The post-season is where legends etch their name into the canals of basketball immortality. There really is nothing like a buzzer-beating game-winner, especially in the NBA Playoffs. What I would give to have felt the explosion of the Staples Center faithful in person, oh man. Watching the clip below still gives me insane chills every time I see it. The Black Mamba weaved his way to the right elbow inside the arc, one of his money spots, pulled up as time expired, and as Mike Breen says all the time, “BANG!” Luke then tipped the ball to Kobe and the Suns could have done nothing differently to change the outcome. In OT, Lamar and Luke trapped Nash again on the sideline and were able to knab a jump ball call.
While many of us do slam Smush for being one of the worst Lakers ever, he did force the aforementioned turnover by Steve Nash that gave Kobe the opportunity to score the bucket that forced overtime. It’s one thing to take the ridiculously difficult shots that Kobe does, but to make them in the clutch? That’s what makes him one of the best performers this game has ever had the privilege of seeing. Still, the shot that the Mamba dazzled us with four years ago will replay in my sports memory bank for as long as I live.īefore we cover Kobe’s heroic final shot though, let’s first touch on the insane driving floater that he made in the last seconds of regulation after Nash had turned it over on the sideline.
Phoenix Suns: Now I know that this incredible performance by Kobe may be ranked quite low at number 10, but you can attribute that to the fact that we ultimately embarrassed ourselves in the 2006 Playoffs by forfeiting a 3-1 series lead against Steve Nash and the Suns. In the spirit of the best time of the year, I invite you to peruse my Top 10 Kobe Playoff Performances as we all look back and reminisce together about the best player on the planet, the Black Mamba, Kobe Bryant. This year’s NBA Playoffs are sure to have many amazing moments that will take our breath away and more than a fair share of those highlights will certainly come from courtesy of the Black Mamba.
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