wrestlemania 31: kobe bryant

Friday, 26 February 2016

West (and Kobe) FTW For the Nth Time!

2/27/2016 1:35:12 AM

Will not do some sort of game review for the 2016 NBA All Star Game. Well, I just been catching up with that thanks to an episode of NBA Action aired on Basketball TV. At least, for all we know, this will be a farewell mid-season exhibition for the Lakers superstar Kobe Bryant. In fact, the guard-forward did the jumpball as opposed to his levelled counterpart LeBron James of the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And as far as the recap is concerned, this clearly a take-over for the young uprisers. Oh, you’re gonna argue that Russell Westbrook was already way past mid-decade in the league? Hey, give the guy a break. He has the shades (even a bit) of the veteran’s explosiveness.

But perhaps save the first quarter bucket to be a classical finish. Yes, with a friendly roll.

Now, they shattered records on scoring; just like any other past All Star games. Imagine the winning team scoring the highest ever with 196. Paul George came close to at east level himself with the late Wilt Chamberlain with a game-high 41. Perhaps, Coach Gregg Popovich checked him on defense to at least save the record from falling apart. (Why, Pop?!)

But nonetheless, All-Star Game won’t be the same for Bryant, who made 18 ASG appearances in over 20-year career. Indeed, a celebrated one for the Black Mamba.

Other than that, that shows which continent is the most dominant. All that despite having more number, and an even more evident of player changes among the entire roster. At the end, the Western conference is still at the top of the NBA.

No doubt about it.

Wednesday, 2 December 2015

Just My Opinion: Kobe's Retirement

11/30/2015 7:26:43 PM

Before anything else, first and foremeost, I admit I am not a huge fan of Kobe Brayant. In fact there were times where I hated him first. But just like an ordinary human being whose always moved by a constant word called “change,” he earned my respect. There’s no question he;s one of the most prolific scorers this league ever had.

And comparing him to the like of Michael Jordan, batch mate Allen Iverson, or even fellow Laker greats Magic Johnson and Kareem Abdul-Jabbar—as well as having other NBA top stalwarts LeBron James, Kevin Durant and even James Harden compared to him—is a one motherfucking unfair judgment.

Why did I say so? Every single player who steeped in the hardwood had their own career tenure; their prime, rise and fall—just like how the sun rises and sets.

It’s sad to see Kobe hang up his sneakers soon. We’ll forever be grateful on his evolution from being physically aggressive to a team player we always perceives on him. No matter how many times we called him “ball-hogger” or too arrogant (or whatever), he’s one heck-of-an-athlete out there who can make you a photobomber on his picturesque thunderous throwdowns, and draw an awesome awe on your face when he steps in and knock his signature fadeaway jumper.

And just like almost any other NBA player, he had his own shares of stardom and legendary moments, as well as altercations and controversies off-court. Saying Kobe’s a rapist for once is nothing compared on how Jordan’s wife divorced him with a whopping $168 million as a settlement price, or how Bron’s shoulder-bump on Heat coach Erik Spolestra. They’re human beings after all.

Say, 19 years was definitely a long run. Look at his fellow draft mates Iverson and Marcus Camby who were just as strong as Jelly Joe’s son but retired from playing the game too soon. So let’s give him a break. It’s never easy to take the sprints and doing offensive and defensive playbooks when you’re already past peak. Even the then-40-year olders Michael Jordan and Robert Parish will tell you that; and especially when injuries are nagging you the most (aside fromyour wife).

Life will definitely never be the same for the Lakers and the NBA. Well, for his team who struggled to get back on the standings, hopefully his downtime will be a spark for a rebuilding. Come to think of this: the Lakers were in the NBA playoffs for almost the entirety of the 60+ seasons. Sure, this year may be a losing streak for them.

But believe me: Tinseltown will be back out there soon just like the Showtime era in the 80s and the phenomenal run by Kobe himself and Shaquille O’Neal. For now, LeBron, Durant and Curry were running the head show.