Tuesday, December 1, 2015

SHOTS: KB20 : Kobe Bryant Announces his retirement and Keeps on Truckin' (or Chuckin)

     
KB24, the Black Mamba, Kobe (the Man, the Myth, the LEGEND) Bean Bryant Announced on Sunday (11/29/15) that he would be retiring after this season.  Perhaps this is something that we already knew.  Perhaps MANY fans did NOT want to hear this news or are still in denial over this REALITY that as much as wine DOES get better with AGE, this "Vino" wearing number 24 for the purple and gold has been                                          struggling.


"My Mind can handle the Grind but my body knows it's time to say Goodbye."_KB


By now most people on the planet are aware of this "news" as much as they are aware that Kobe is at all-time lows in shooting percentages.  BUT, THAT is NOT stopping the Mamba from shooting the rock.  His Coach seems fine with it.  Many fans are not.  Some fans have been asking for Kobe to NOT play.  Personally, I have no problem with him playing or even racking up 36 minutes or so a night.  But the shots Kobe?  Bryant had the wrong "420" on Sunday Night against the Pacers:


  •  13 Points (his draft position in 1996)
  • 4 Shots Made (His Coach's Old Number)
  • 20 Shot Attempts (The number of seasons played with the Lakers: NBA Record) 



One might argue that if Jordan Clarkson (22 pts on 8/15 FG) OR Nick Young (22 on 8/17) take some of those 20 shots the Lakers end up with a dub Sunday Night.

 A young Lakers Fan recently said this to me,

 "I don't care what Kobe does.  He is my favorite player of ALL-TIME.  He is my idol.  Let him do what he wants (take all the shots).  He deserves it and I want to see him play and shoot as much as possible because it is his LAST season."

 Selfishly, I would like to see Kobe achieve "30 points per game" by averaging 10 points and 10 assists with Clarkson and Russell on the wings and Kobe serving up dimes, but I cannot argue with the young fan's perspective.

 And, if Kobe isn't Kobe then we would NOT have had a moment like this Sunday Night:




It is moments like these that captivated us from the very beginning.  The game-winners, the buzzer-beaters, the clutch and "double-clutch" shots in crunch time and the ridiculously athletic maneuvers that made players like Paul George pattern their games after Bryant.  Fitting, in ways, that he drains that trey off the inbound pass while George was guarding him.

 It felt like a Roy Macavoy moment where we were ALL watching Kobe take shot after shot after shot with no real success, but when he hit that shot...



Just like Dr. Molly Griswold (Tin Cup) said, "Just knock it on, let her rip!"

So, "Let her Rip KOBE!"


In "other" NEWS:

Jimmer Fredette started for the Westchester Knicks of the D-League and dropped in 37 points.





37 Pts, 12-17 FG, 2-5 3 Pt, 11-12 FT, 4 Reb, 8 As, 1 Stl

When does Jimmer get his shot?  A guy who averaged 28.9 his senior year (2010-11) has YET to get a real chance in the NBA (career avg 14 minutes per game)

I suggest two things:

1) Every time Kobe takes a shot, "we" do too.  The good news is that by the time each game ends we might not have any recollection of how miserable things went.  We can call the drinking game " #KB20 " or something... Vino Blackout?  Mamba Mayhem? Kobe Sake?

2) Jimmer and Kobe shoot (hoops NOT drinks) it out.  Winner gets to stay in the NBA.


and...

IN CASE YOU MISSED IT (or you are dead)




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