Kobe Bryant Saves The Game For U.S.A.
 

That's right. All you Kobe Haters out there, Let's hear what you got to say about this one. 13 points out of his 20 points came in the 4th Quarter. Including that 4 point Play. I know you all have nothing to say, except for WOW!

What a great game, one of the best, international games I have ever seen. You got to give it up for Spain, they got some talent.

U.S.A. will win gold the next 5 olympics after this showing, because now every basketball player wants to play for their country.


Great Job U.S.A.

you sound mad that Lakers lost in the finals still. :2 cents:

you seriously think they'd have lost if Kobe wasn't in that game?

Kobe still sucks and was a BALL HOG on the big stage, he's still not a team player and was FORCING shots once again...

I believe it was Wade that saved the game for the USA

going to have to download the game to rewatch that 4th quarter, don't seem to remember him being that big of a factor but I wanna rewatch it anyway ;)

My man was clutch as usual! He really saved us from losing a lead in the 4th quarter :thumbsup

really you don't remember the big three he hit with a little under 3 minutes or did you forget the third quarter where he broke down there zone and all they could do is foul him or did you for get the 21 first have points that started with Kobe and Bron going to the bench down 5 or the fact that he lead the team is scoring for the olympics period.

Wade kept the US team's offense alive when LeBron and Kobe were on the bench in the first half with fouls. Kobe was the only one that seemed to be able to score against the zone in the 4th quarter. The US team better be prepared to play the zone in the coming years.

I thought we were just talking about the 4th ;) yeah he was everything in the first half but 1 big shot in the 4th is still pretty quiet...

I hope Wade gets some help this year so he doesn't have to carry the Heat too much.

I hope he just stays healthy so that he can bail out of Miami after his contract is up that teams is far from being good in the next couple of years unless they get a legit big man

My title was about saving the game, not who had the best game. Even though Wade and Lebron had great games, it came down to the 4th quarter. If Kobe didn't play the way he did, there was a chance that they lose that game. Please admit that guys. I think Wade played excellent, and he is really going to play well this season for Miami with Beasley. Miami heat will have a much better record then they did last year.

Thank You Kobe for being the Best Basketball Player in The World!

I'm watching the second half and I just got to that big 3 that made it a 2pt game

3rd
9 left Kobe tries to draw a foul near the 3 and airballs it - no foul
7:51 travels then sits there bitching thinking he was fouled...
* Kobe's been playing a weak zone while most of the team is pretty tight on their men. Quick pop 3's would have been a threat. Howard is playing tough*
7:18 Kobe off a missed FT rebound fouls a guy knocking him over
5:18 D-Wade comes in 'melo hurt hand
4:48 Kobe should have kept driving after making his man miss but puts up a horrible 3
4:16 nice assist by Kobe driving in the paint
3:44 on an insane bodies everywhere play Kobe was still standing BUT got a nice block from behind
3:43 Gasol got fouled Kobe was in the mix, not sure who got the foul call but could have been any of 3 guys
3 Kobe was about to jack up an ugly shot but made a nice pass to Wade who got fouled (assist that wont show up on the stats)
2:43 Wade just made a guy fall down and nailed a fadeaway
1:09 Oop from navarro to Gasol

* Lebron looked bad early in the 3rd + Chris Paul is getting KILLED by Navarros speed... Williams came in and got killed too*

4th
*Navarro hits the bench for a bit*
8:51 Kobe jacks up a 3 with a hand in his face when he couldn't beat his guy with the dribble, never even though about passing
8:37 Kobe is guarding the backup PG and gets absolutely beat by the dribble and runs into a screen while chasing which gives an oop to gasol 5pt game



I'll post the rest of the notes when I'm done with the 4th quarter... as it is very clear to me KOBE is the biggest reason it has become so close. He played insanely lazy D in the 3rd and jacked up extremely ill advised shots all through this second half so far. Obviously he's had a couple nice assists but damn his shot is off so far Spain had a nice run early in the third off of Kobe's horrible play but so far in this 4th nobody really seems to be doing much except Gasol... Bosh is a nice passer but honestly he's not playing tough.

7:58 Kobe threads through a double and rattles one in with hands in his face
7:22 Kobe drives to the paint and dishes to WIlliams (wide open)for a 3, Lebron was open under the hoop
*Howard is a beast, gets another dunk
6:25 Kobe is "guarding" somebody elses man standing near half court while his man is wide open in the corner... misses an open 3 then nails the second as you see Kobe yelling for somebody ELSE to cover him after Kobe had spent the last few possessions chasing the guy all over the court it appears most of the team is playing a zone while Kobe is guarding a man near half court...
6:03 Kobe's man doubles Howard Kobe nails wide open 3
5:10 Kobe is guarding the right man this time but gets caught chasing the ball his man drives in for a dunk + foul *lil white guy dunk WOOHOO*
* Announcer actually said that Kobe laid out his man... Never gamble like that in a close game...*
* Chris Paul brought in and starts guarding Fernandez who has made Kobe look silly*
4:54 Kobe jacks up a 3 a good 2-3 steps behind line WITH a man close... missed badly
4:41 Kobe leaves his man but tips an oop away
* Howard has been overpower everybody why aren't they running everything through him? oh yeah... they're putting him on the line too much and he can't hit*
3:30 Bosh is getting manhandled with both Gasol's in the lineup together for the first time this half Howard is in foul trouble 5pt game now
3:10 Kobe nails a 3 and is fouled - defender was inside to help but ran out and was of balance trying to close gap on kobe 9pt now
2:58 Navarro nails another runner with Kobe stuck doing nothign but chasing him
2:35 Kobe misses a 3 with a guy behind him AND in front of him (should NOT take that shot) #6 and #13 were standing wide open
2:25 3 ball gets nailed by spain at the beginning of the transition Kobe was guarding that guy BUT as navarro beat Wade Kobe came over to guard what is normally his man (no communication led to open 3)
2:03 Wade hit a contested 3 while Kobe was WIDE open in the corner Lebron just didn't see him 7pt game now
1:52 Kobe fouls after watching his guy run some shake and bake moves *whining about it but Navarro was about to destroy him again*
1:23 after a nicely run screen/roll Gasol kicks it out to an open 3 but the guy missed would have made it a 3pt game
1:11 Kobe shreaded through 2 defenders and floats one past another guy
1:06 Kobe got killed by Navarro who missed a floater
*fouls start, its over*
Kobe takes the T shots when Paul should have 2 points padded

in summary:
Kobe played simply HORRIBLE D if you were watching closely he got beat nearly every trip down.

I'm not sure who to blame but there wasn't good communication in any form for "help" defense. MANY times Kobe got caught going after the ball and there wasn't anybody to go after the guy he was previously on. Kobe would be guarding 1 guy then try to go in to "help" just to give up points.

the screens run by spain seemed to confuse USA... NOBODY ever stepped up to help somebody fight off a screen

At the end of the game Spain CHOKED. that 3 I noted was wide open, Navarro's floater that had been working simply failed at the end. Gasol's had been DOMINATING earlier in the game and they just tried to pass too much towards the end hoping for 3's when the percentage shots they could have made would have been better....

When are we going to a Laker game?

So much hype, little substance.

He put up an air ball and threw up a couple of needless 3-point bricks.

When it comes to productivity, there doesn't seem to be much gain. It's like it all equalizes itself. He'll put up a great 3-point and make a great steal, then later force stupid shots and passes.

Without Wade, the US team would have lost. The game was a little too close for comfort, but one has to understand that the Spanish team is composed of NBA players and soon-to-be NBA players. So what you have is an NBA team that plays together regularily up against a NBA compilation team (albiet made up of some of the leagues best players) that has to adjust to the international rules and differing styles of international play. Anyway, one couldn't have asked for better basketball. The shooting percentage for both teams was phenonemal, and there was no shortage of skill demonstration from the vets as well as the up and comers. I'm amazed by that 17 year old kid on the Spanish team.

It's pretty clear that basketball has forever changed with other countries really stepping their game up.

You sign up to CyberAge and send only 5 sales anytime in the next 2 months, and I will take you to a Laker Game and sit in the First 10 rows behind the Laker Bench.

This is a one time offer... Let me know once you sign up...

It's obvious who ever is commenting on this is also a Kobe Hater.. Just let it go, in 10 years, Kobe will be known as the best basketball player of all time, why don't you just accept that?

He is the fastest player before the age of 30 to score the points he has scored, and when it is all over, he will have scored more points then Kareem Abdul Jabbar.. and probably have more titles then Jordan...

I rest my case

It truly was a great game, and Kobe was awesome!

:)

Dwayne Wade out played Kobe imo.

greatest bb player ever??

You have got to be smoking something strong man. Kobe is good but I remember- not too long ago- a chance to be one of the greatest of ALL TIME-and blew it to the Celtics.

While teamwork is important in an NBA game- Kobe plays for himself- selfish.

Jordan is the best ever. And for the lucky people who watched him year in and year out will always remember who #1 is. Kobe isnt even top 10 at this point.

Lebron you may actually have an argument one day. I honestly feel he is closer to taking over the top spot of all time if he can get some help and a better team to play on

I am an NFL fan

I don't blame you. I like watching some b-ball as well, though.

Well, at least Kobe can say he won a championship without Shaq.

lol hahahaha

LOL he had one decent game and the kobe fans come out? NO comments on the first 8 games huh??? Wade led the way again with the most points and won the game for the US. When kobe went to the bench who else but Wade came in and single handedly took over the game. He led team US in scoring. Kobe did have a decent game finaly but i was getting used to him missing dunks and shooting 1 out of 16 3rs. Let me guess it was his poor pinky =( Everyone knows that dwayne wade was the best player on the team hands DOWN.

Obviosly every single game wade outplayed him . Came of the bench out scored everyone and always had a better field goal %

Who cares king james already broke all his records. Kobe looked wahsed up the whole olympics can make a shot if his life depened on it gets blocked on dunks. Only thing he is good at is turnovers. What a ball hog. When your shooting 1 out of 16 why continue shooting?? I dont get this choke artist.

Seriosly to more people watch kobe the more it goes threw their thick skull that he isnt even close to the best ever.

I watched the game too... WOW.

Fast break all the way to the end...

Regardless of how Kobe played or didn't play, that was one hell of a game. Great Job World.

No doubt, good thing I recorded it too :)