kobe bryant 2007 season

No 40pt game. No victory. L.A recent winning streak took a hit last night, as the Grizzlies did a pretty good job in shutting down Kobe.

In "one of the poorest shooting efforts" they've had this season (regarding coach Jackson), L.A fall short with a 88-86 loss to Memphis.

After scoring 53 pts in his 5 previous games on 53% shooting, Kobe was well quiet in this one with only 23pts on 7/26 shooting.

Phil Jackson said the players tried to much to give the ball to KB: "At some point, I felt like the team was relying on Kobe to do all the scoring, and no one could pick it up once they kind of figured he wasn't going to make shots.''

Odom had 16rbds & 11asts but recorded only 3pts; Walton scored 15pts and Vujacic 11. Ronny had a great game with 6pts 9rbds & 4blks in 25 minutes, but L.A shot an horrible 34% from the field.

Down by 2 in the closing seconds, L.A draw a play to Smush but his potential game winning 3 went off the mark.

L.A will try to bounce back vs Houston on Friday night.

Kobe didn't score 50pts for the 5th straight time last night, but still managed to crak the 40pt mark while getting a precious win.

L.A had his first 5 game winning streak of the season with a 115-113 victory over Golden State.

Kobe scored 43pts despite calling it an "off night"! With 9pts in the first 2 minutes and 17 after one quarter, it seemed that KB24 was going to make history again. But the Warriors' defense slow him down after that.

Golden State coach Don Nelson said: "We held him to 43, by God. We did a good job. I think our defense was solid. We tried to make it hard for Kobe. What a great performance - I can't imagine what he's been doing."

Kobe shot 15 of 33 but got plenty of help to help his team to get the victory. Odom had one of his best game of the season with 24pts & 19rbds (tying his career high); Smush scored 13 and Ronny added 7pts & 5rbds for the Lakers, which now increase to 38-32.

Regarding his offensive streak, Kobe said: "I think it energized us as a team and I think it energized the city, and I think that's great. Before that, we were dead in the water. We're playing with a lot more energy now."

L.A will play Memphis in the next game. We're all expecting a 40pt game for Kobe (Kobe drop 60 vs the Grizzlies a couple of days ago) and hopefully another win for the Lakers.

Greatest than Jordan? Kobe raised to the occasion - at least for one night. KB moved ahead Jordan & Baylor with his 4th straight 50pt game, joining legend Wilt Chamberlain.

After 65, 50 & 60, Kobe did it again last night as he reached 50 for the 2nd time in 2 days and the 7th this season, passing Baylor for most 50pt games in a season for a Laker.

Mamba was unstoppable again, scoring 44pts in three quarters, and then, got his 50 on a jumper with 5min remaining. With his scoring spree, #24 lead L.A to a 111-105 victory over New Orleans.

Regarding Kobe's scoring madness, P.Jackson had a theory: "Remember that suspension two weeks ago? I think this has motivated him. I don't know if we like to have suspensions all of the time work for us, but there were some things there that motivated him.''

Kobe made 16 of 29 shots and was simply perfect from the free throw line, hitting all of his 16 attempts. Kobe hit tough fadeways again and gave credits to his teammates for making his job easier.

But as Walton did, his teammates gave the compliments back: ""He's just been in such a good rhythm and he's such a good player that when he's feeling like that, it's kind of hard not to just keep going to him because it's amazing to watch and there's a good chance you're going to score", Luke said.

Odom had a great game with 15pts & 10rbds. We don't know if Kobe's streak will continue, but he's just accomplished one of his greatest achievments. He's now known as only the 2nd player to record 4 straight 50pt games, behind Chamberlain, and ahead Jordan & Baylor.

Regarding this performance, KB said: It's a tremendous honor for me to be in the same category with those guys. "The coolest thing about it is this younger generation gets a chance to learn about Elgin Baylor, gets a chance to learn about Wilt Chamberlain and some of the things that they've accomplished, so that the legacy will continue to live on.''

L.A next four games are at home - the 1st vs Golden State. Will the NBA leading scorer (30,8pts/game) continue his scoring surge? Wait and see, but L.A is now on a 4 game winning streak, after droping 13 of 16, and is looking for win N°38.

After scoring 115pts in his past two games, Kobe didn't slow down last night as he made history again.

"It's special because it's coming off three straight wins", said KB who gave L.A his 3rd straight win.

Kobe scored 60 pts for the 2nd time in three games while leading L.A to a 121-119 victory over Memphis. Kobe became only the 4th player in NBA history to record 3 straight 50pt games, joining Chamberlain, Baylor & Jordan.

He said: "It just feels great," Bryant said of joining Baylor, Jordan and Chamberlain. Growing up I idolized all of them, from Wilt, to M.J. to Elgin. It's a tremendous honor to be in that same class with those guys and in the history books."

Kobe is about to be reconized as one of the greatest scorer ever. He made 20 of 37 shots from the field and 17 of 18 from the free throw line. What he's doing right now is beyond imagination. Everybody talked (maybe too much) about Arenas' 60pts earlier in the season. But for Kobe, who went for 65, 50 and now 60, those tremendous performances appear to be just routine. He's agressive, from begining to start, hit most of his shots, in the paint of well behind the arc. It's like nobody can't stop him and he made the 60pt mark so easy to reach that's ridiculous for opponents. He's just incredible.

Coach Jackson said: "Kobe went right back at them. He just smells blood in the water and he's going to go after you." Odom had a great double double with 20pts & 15rbds helped Kobe to a precious W. Regarding KB achievment, he said: "It's a blessing to be on the court with him".

Kobe gave credits to his teammates, especially Odom & Walton, who helped him to be that effective: "I just feel like guys are finding me and I'm in rhythm when I'm taking those shots. To get in a rhythm, I have to get great picks, great looks and great passes. You can't do that without the help of your teammates".

L.A next game is scheduled tonight at New Orleans. Kobe will try to keep the hot touch as he'll go for 50 again - but more important, the W.

Regarding the scoring, it seemed Kobe has done everything in his career. Yet he accomplished last night something he never did before.

Following his 65pt performance vs Portland, Kobe scored 50pts to lead L.A to a 109-102 victory over Minesota. He became the 1st Lakers player to record back to back 50pt games since Baylor in 1962.

He said: "I'm just being more aggressive at both ends of the floor. At this point in the season, it's important that I stress the sense of urgency that we have to have, and the type of emotion and energy that you have to play with."

The reigning scoring champion made 17 of 35 shots including 4 of 8 behind the arc. His 17pt 3rd quarter helped his team to lead by 19. But Minesota used a 16-4 run in the 4th and get within 3 in the closing minutes. But they never got closer after that and Kobe reached the 50pt mark for the 16th time in his career on a two handed dunk with 8 sec remaining.

Regarding his performance, Kobe gave credit to the return of Odom & Walton: "Luke and Lamar both make my life a lot easier when they're out there because they're so good at recognizing situations on the floor."

Both of them had strong games just like Smush. Each of the three starters almost had a triple double, something I guess has never happened in the league history. Odom finished with 16pts 9rbds 8asts while Walton recorded 10pts 8rbds & 11asts; Smush added 19pts (8/10) 7rbds & 9asts. L.A's 36asts beat Minesota's 25.

One more word on Kobe. With back to back 60-50, KB24 became the only player ever - other than Chamberlain - to accomplish the feat.
Next game is in Memphis. Mamba will try to score 50 for the 3rd straight time, something only Baylor did in Lakers history.