Not really... Kobe scored, what, 14-15 of his 81 in garbage time when he should have been on the bench (with the Lakers having a comfortable double-digit lead).
Besides, 69 Points against a contending team ---> 81 against a bottom-feeder.
Meh, Kobe's 62 in 3 quarters against a contending team was far more impressive than that 69 anyways.
Kobe's 81 >> Wilts 100 also(Scoring wise. Wilt's 25 boards made his overall game more impressive). Wilt took 17 more FGA's and 12 more FTA's. Kobe dropped a double nickel in the second half. Lakers were losing by 14 going into half, they were up because of him.
"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe you might block every shot."
Bill Russell
"I'm just 'bout that action, boss"
L.O.B. = Love our Brothers.
I don't remember the exact totals for his 81-point game, but Kobe had about 50 when the Lakers took the lead for good, then 60 when it was a double digit lead. He stayed in the game up until about 4 seconds left. Lack of defensive effort aside, nobody in the modern era has ever been given a green light like Kobe did that night. Once the Lakers built a double-digit lead, any other coach would have taken Kobe out with such a comfortable lead (think LA briefly led by 20 too). At that point it became just a show for the fans.
Havlicekstealsit wrote:I don't remember the exact totals for his 81-point game, but Kobe had about 50 when the Lakers took the lead for good, then 60 when it was a double digit lead. He stayed in the game up until about 4 seconds left. Lack of defensive effort aside, nobody in the modern era has ever been given a green light like Kobe did that night. Once the Lakers built a double-digit lead, any other coach would have taken Kobe out with such a comfortable lead (think LA briefly led by 20 too). At that point it became just a show for the fans.
Lakers were losing with 2 minutes left in the 3rd quarter, and held only a slim 6 point lead after 3.
Didn't become a Laker 10 point lead until 6 minutes left in the 4th. They went up 20 with 43 seconds left.
So the "Show for the fans" wasn't for long. Have you never seen a lead dissipate in the NBA before? Especially with that trash Laker team?
"The idea is not to block every shot. The idea is to make your opponent believe you might block every shot."
Bill Russell
"I'm just 'bout that action, boss"
L.O.B. = Love our Brothers.
Players in the 90s were way better skilled offensive players and shooters. Nowadays "better defense" lol!!! is attributed to the weak skills and bad shooting of players nowadays
So teams were vastly SUPERIOR Offensively in the 90's... how does that equal 'weak'?
That aside, and on a serious note, only uneducated hoops fans look solely at PPG to determine the stregnth of an era.
more like teams vastly SUPERIOR Defensively in the 00's.
Wrong it's just that the players in 00s are not as skilled and are not as skilled offensively as players in the 90s.
You have centers nowadays who can come off the street and get many blocks and play decent defense because you don't (again) have skilled bigs to bust their ass. Hakeem, DRob, Ewing, etc. would have a field day in today's NBA.
Kingcarl24 wrote:Kobe's 81. Lots of teams played against that crappy Raptors D. Nobody came close to 81. Nobody will come close again to 80 in a long time.
Noby had to..they shared the ball
Kobe had to score in that game until the 4th quarter. By that time, it was noticed he could get dang close to breaking some records so they went for it. It was a perfect storm of events that day which is why I say it was one of the most impressive feats.
I want to say kobe out scoring the entire mavs team (believe they won the finals that year?) through 3 quarters. He literally outscored an entire team by himself, not even wilt was able to manage that
wailuaFC wrote:I want to say kobe out scoring the entire mavs team (believe they won the finals that year?) through 3 quarters. He literally outscored an entire team by himself, not even wilt was able to manage that
Very good point 62 in three quarters and had he played the fourth, it may have been more of the same
