Kobe Bryant Saves The Day
April 30, 2006 – 8:57 pmTwice! The Los Angeles Lakers defeated the Phoenix Suns 99-98 today in game four of their first round playoff series thanks in no small part to the heroics of Kobe Bryant. First, a few seconds are left in regulation, and the Suns are inbounding the ball at mid-court up by 2 points. They get the ball directly to Steve Nash, but Smush Parker is able to get his hands in there and poke the ball away. Devan George recovers the loose ball and quickly gets it to Kobe Bryant.
Kobe catches the ball about ten feet from the basket just outside the lane. He drives toward the basket and takes a quick step into the lane to force Raja Bell to shift over. Kobe then turns toward the baseline as two Suns defenders collapse on him. He makes this acrobatic circus flip that swishes through the net with 0.7 seconds remaining. The Suns had enough time for a desperate layup attempt that didn’t go in. It’s time for overtime.
Here is where things get interesting. A few seconds remain in overtime, and the Suns are now up by one point, 98-97. Again they inbound the ball directly to Steve Nash. This time, Luke Walton gets his hands on the ball enough for the referee to rule that it’s a jump ball. The tip takes place at mid-court with 6.8 seconds remaining. Being a bit bigger than Nash, Walton wins the tip, and Kobe’s hands quickly find the ball.
Kobe is now five feet or so outside the three point line. He drives toward the top of the key, crosses the lane, and takes a fade-away shot with two defenders in his face. The buzzer sounds shortly after the release as the ball again swishes through the net. The Lakers win, 99-98.
The coolest thing about this shot is that it happened with the Lakers down by one point. So many game winning shots take place when the score is tied. If the shot goes in, the game is won. If not, we have overtime (or more overtime). It’s not the do-or-die situation that Kobe’s was. If Kobe makes the shot, the Lakers win. If not, the Lakers lose. It’s as simple as that.
And we’re one step closer to a Lakers-Clippers series in the second round.
2 Responses to “Kobe Bryant Saves The Day”
I just watched the 4th quarter and OT of the game, but that was an amazing bit of action. That will go into the history books as an amazing playoff moment. Ive never seen Steve Nash loose his cool like that.
By Kellan on May 1, 2006 at 2:43 pm
I have to agree with you about Steve Nash. It seemed like in overtime he just barely kept it together enough not to just start laying into the ref about the jump ball call.
He said a few things but then realized the Suns had a better chance to win with him still in the game than with him ejected.
And yes, I think this will definitely go on Kobe’s career highlight reel. It doesn’t have the same significance as Michael Jordan’s shot in 1989 against the Cavs, but it’s not too far away.
By jjk on May 1, 2006 at 2:51 pm