kobe bryant 2007 season

This is the end of a very tough season. We were 12 games above 50% at one point, then Odom injured his knee, then Walton twisted his ankle. Kwame missed half of the season, and it took Kobe 7 50pt games in the last month to keep L.A in the playoffs run.

Phoenix was simply the best team and they showed their high level of play with a 119-110 victory over L.A.

Stoudemire & Marion combined for 53pts & 26rbds, with MIP Barbosa adding 18pts from the bench.

Kobe scored 34pts on 33 shots & missed 20 of those. But he tried to make a late run with 2 straight threes with less than 3 minutes of play, helping his team to get within 5.
But Phoenix was once again too much, able to put the game away.

L.A witnessed an inspirational performance by injured Odom, scoring a career playoff high 33pts. He added 10rbds before being fouled out in the closing minutes.

Kobe was particularly frustrated at the press conference, letting his team organisation that some changes needed to be made in the offseason, to enable him & his team to get back at a higher level.

"Do it and do it now. Personally for me, it's beyond frustration -- three years and still being at ground zero. This summer's a big summer. We have to see what direction we want to take as an organization and make those steps and make them now."

L.A played well for almost 22minutes. But with poor defense, they let the game sleep away. With Nash having a career playoff high 23 assists, Phoenix took a 3-1 lead last night as they beat L.A 113-100.

Stoudemire was too much for L.A centers, collecting 27pts & 21rbds. With a victory at home in game 5, Phoenix can close out the deal.

Kobe lead his team with 31pts 9rbds & 6ast, but like the first two games of the series, he cooled of in the 4th, scoring only 3pts.
Odom gave all he had despite injuries, posting 19pts 13rbds & 5asts. Making signs to the public in order to have some noise, Lamar made a couple of plays in the 3rd which brought roars from the Staples Center crowd, includgin a facial over Stoudemire. But the Suns were just too much.

Kobe said: "They just had too much firepower for us today. You knew they were going to step up and respond to the challenge."

P.Jackson said: They were a better team than we were today. We have to get ourselves geared up and we'll have another chance to bring this game back here to L.A. on Friday."

We're all hoping for it.

It quickly appeared that the rampage from game 2 was not ended yet. Phoenix opened the game scoring the first 11 points, then leading by 17 late in the 1st quarter. The Suns were 13 of 16 shooting at that stage. And then...

...the here came #24. Kobe lead his team to a 31-20 edge in the 2nd quarter. He found some help in Kwame Brown late in the 3rd quarter, scoring 9 of his career playoff high 19pts.

Unlike the final 2 games were he was more than unefficient, KB recorded 15pts in the 4th including a decisive turnaround jumper in the final minute, as L.A got a 95-89 victory over Phoenix in game 3.

He said: "It was effort. You can go over execution and X's and O's all you want. What you have to have is effort."

The real key last night was on the rebounding end. L.A recorded 19 offensives rebounds to Phoenix 5, and that's gave the Lakers more chances to score.

Phoeinx coach said: "You've got to give them credit. Things were so easy at the beginning. Human nature took over. Kobe down the stretch was too much to handle. They got 19 offensive rebounds -- that was the game."

Odom had a great game despite his injuries, posting 18pts & 16boards. Game 4 last year was a unforgettable game. We'll see if we can repeat the heroics on Sunday.

For almost three quarters, we appeared to have a great chance at making an upset in game 1.
But after a hot shooting night, Kobe cooled off in the 4th and L.A let the game slip away.

Kobe scored 28pts on 11 of 17 in the 1st half. Thanks to his damages, L.A found itself with a 9pt lead at the break.

But L.A good defense turned to uggly & Phoenix cold shooting night came to an end, leading by the leading candidate for MIP, Leandro Barbosa. With already a career playoff high vs L.A in alst year game 7, Barbosa matched it with 26pts, including 15 straight at one point, to lead his team to a comeback victory.

With a long buzzer beater 3 to end the 3rd quarter, he provided the boost his team offense needed. Then L.A played an uggly 4th quarter, scoring only 10pts and Phoenix beat the Lakers 95-87 in game 1.

Kobe was on his way to accomplish something great. After a 12pt deficit, Phoenix found itself back to the game, and Nash tied it at 37 with 3min to go. Then Kobe took over, outscoring the Suns by Himself. He finished the half with 11 straight points, including 3 threes. His last one aws a typical Kobe shot, as Mamba shot a fadeway three over two defenders with the clock running down.

But in the 4th, Kobe played uggly, missing 10 of his 11 shots, while forcing tough jumpers instead of passing the ball. Odom posted 17pts & 16rbds, while Walton added only 10. Phoenix recorded 3 players with at least 20pts. Too bad we lost this game, we should have won it.


Last year, L.A shocked Phoenix in game 2, as did Kobe with a facial over Nash in the closing minutes. But unfortunately for us, last night game was more a repeat of last year game 7.

Phoenix dominated every moment, outscoring L.A by 15 in the 2nd, in a 126-98 rout.
After scoring 39pts on 33 shots in game 1, Kobe had only 15 on 13. L.A had 7 players with at least 9pts, but they shot 41% from the field to Phoenix 53.

L.A comitted 15 turnovers to Phoenix 8, and 16asts, a total nearly double by the Suns.
"It was really embarrassing to come in here and lose such an important game the way we lost it", Odom said.

Taking only six shots in the final three quarters, Kobe said: "In the playoffs, it doesn't matter. It's a loss, either way you cut it."

Facing a possible 3-0 deficit, L.A has to win game 3.It's just that simple.

Once again, Kobe needed to write another chapter to his legacy to keep his team on the winning side. KB24 reached the 50pt plateau for a franchise record 10th time in a season as L.A got a 109-98 victory over the Sonics.

Kobe's 50 gave him a total of 10, the third-highest total in NBA history behind Wilt Chamberlain's 45 in 1961-62, & 30 the following season. That's another remarkable effort by KB, which has often been named alongside Chamberlain for 2 seasons now.

"He was brilliant. He was just determined. He's special", Sonics coach said. Mamba finished with a brilliant 18 of 25 shooting, scoring his 49th & 50th pts on a baseline reverse jam, bringing roars from Lakers fans.

"We feel much better. We needed this type of win", Kobe said. But he's aware his team has a lot more to do if they want to exist in the playoffs. L.A won for the 3rd time in 11 games.

To face Phoenix in a high expected playoffs 1st round rematch, the Lakers have to win at Sacramento.

And that what they did last night, when KB & co beat the Kings 117-106 at the Arco Arena. Posting 34pts 7rbds & 6asts, Kobe lead the way. Odom finished with 15pts & 13rbds, while added 17pts on 7 of 8 shooting. L.A shot 57% from the field and now set the stage to what will be a wild rematch of last year playoffs.

All the analysts don't give us any chance, claiming we're not as good as we were last year.
That's something Mamba will take as a challenge. Go Lakers!