Man, this dude is hot. Did anyone watch the game? I saw the NBA highlights, and I did not notice one double team (unless ya wanna count the times he drove into traffic).
Dude is insane. I wish I coulda seen this. Forget the next Jordan...we need to keep our eyes peeled for the next Kobe. BTW, our boy Steve-O didn't have such a bad night himself did he?
Kobe is out of control. This kid is ridiculously on fire. He's only 24 and there is no telling how far he can go. Crazy $hit.
It appears teams are using a "make Kobe beat us" strategy, that is biting them in the ass. It's either Kobe or Shaq, pick your poison.
He is really brilliant imposes his will on the game and just keeps getting better.The best is yet to come from him.
kobe wants to win the mvp. he has put up so many shots lately, and when the playoff comes, his teammates are going to just watch him going one against 5. i predict the lakers won't win their 4th consecutive championship.
51 pts in 3 quarters! He left without about 1 minutes left in the 3rd and never returned. Holy moly batman.
I think teams have been having trouble double teaming Kobe because of Shaq and because Kobe (6+ assists per game) will find the open man with the pass. The dude really seems to be putting it all together.
no. he has been taking more way too many shots lately even shaq is watching now. if shaq doesn't play well, the lakers won't win. simple as that.
I don't think you realize that Shaq doesn't need to score 30 pts a game, if other teams are going to constantly play man-to-man on Kobe. What LA needs Shaq for more than scoring, is his defense around the goal, and rebounding. Moreover, Kobe's scoring hasn't meant that Shaq hasn't played well. Shaq has played well, it's just that he hasn't needed the touches that he's gotten in the past. Your memory must be somewhat short, because only 2 years ago when Kobe and Shaq had their feud, was Kobe criticized for taking too many shots. When it mattered, LA won. The difference now, is that Shaq is more willing to defer to Kobe, especially when he is on fire. I don't think the Lakers are expecting Kobe to shoot the ball 30 times a game for the rest of the year. Even when Kobe is on fire, he still catches heat, no pun intended, for not passing enough. It's no coincedence that the Lakers are playing their best ball of the season. Also, this allows Shaq to take somewhat of a midseason break. When/if Kobe starts to faulter, I'm sure Shaq will get his fair share of touches. It's not like you can only play basketball one way, and never change. Phil has won 9 titles. I believe he would know what to do and when to do things in order to win.
I hope Kobe isn't this hot on Tuesday, but you gotta wonder. And if he is en fuego, I hope Rudy doesn't adopt the same let-Kobe-beat-us strategy. (Rudy has a "he'll cool off sooner or later" mentality; recall the Dallas game...."don't change your defense, they can't keep hitting threes all night.")
20 FTs that's sick. There is absolutely no excuse for a team to let a player have back-to-back 40+ point games on you. Denver should have doubled-or-triple teamed Kobe, while doubling on Shaq. Make the other guys work if Kobe is killing you, there's nothing to lose.
