Kobe Owns 4th Quarter, Rockets
Shane Battier calls it the toughest shot in the game. Shooting a contested three in the NBA (especially with defensive specialist Battier in your face) is no picnic.
After playing team ball all game, Kobe decides to nail two three-pointers with Battier in his grill. It is a ridiculous shot. Every time he shoots it, I think “that probably has a 5% chance of going in”. Yet time in, time out, he nails that shot.
The Lakers beat the Rockets to sweep them this season, 93-81. The Rockets played hungry and were active on defense. But they were caught off guard by how well Kobe played team ball. His 20 points (on only 11 shots) and 7 assists helped set the table for other players.
Pau Gasol can add winning a battle against huge 7′6 all-star Yao Ming in his resume. His 23 points and 10 rebounds more than neutralized Yao’s 16 and 10. Gasol might be a power forward playing as an undersized center, just don’t tell him that.
In even better news, Andrew Bynum began some 3-on-3 drills Thursday. Sure, there were reports of DJ Mbenga holding more than his own, but Andrew is more concerned with testing out his lateral movement than winning the basketball battle with Mbenga. Chances look good of Bynum returning as the Lakers start the first round. Somewhere out there, the Dallas Mavericks are groaning.
