LOS ANGELESAfter watching his Lakers fool around with the Orlando Magic, and actually trail them late in the first quarter and early in the second, The Black Mamba struck with a vengeance.
He can thank Lamar Odom and Luke Walton for giving the Lakers a much-needed spark to set the table for him -- Odom made back-to-back baskets, then Walton reeled off six straight points. Then Kobe took over. Scrapping the deliberate triangle offense, Phil Jackson granted Bryant's request for the ball, and Kobe scored 12 points of a 21-point scoring spree that took the Lakers from behind and gave them a 10-point halftime lead.
Then in the second half, the onslaught continued. Going back to work again, Bryant torched Orlando for 18 third-quarter points, scoring in a variety of ways: breakaways, pull-up jumpers, even a fall-away J that drew a foul and ended with Kobe on the floor. From his back he watched the ball swish through the net, then gritted his teeth and gave a fist pump before being helped off the floor.
In all, Bryant had 40 points, eight rebounds and eight assists. It was like the dam finally broke after Kobe prowled around in a surly manner in the days leading up to the finals. On the even of Game 1, when speaking to the media, he looked like he was ready to shoot somebody, and acted as if the whole world was against him. But it wasn't because he couldn't stand the reporters asking him questions. No. The same snarl seen on the podium has been ever present leading up to the Finals, even in the Bryant household.
Kobe finally allowed himself to smile for a brief moment on the podium following his Game 1 performance -- a career high for the Finals -- when asked about his intense focus that has consumed him 24-7.
"I'm a bit of a ‑‑ my kids call me Grumpy from the Seven Dwarfs. That's how I've been at home, just a grouch," Bryant said. Then came the smile. It popped back up when a reporter asked Bryant if that was the first time he had smiled all week. Bryant said yes, then the steely gaze returned.
Everyone from Bryant's children to his teammates to his coach to the members of the media here covering the Finals to the fans can tell Bryant's a man on a mission. He poured everything he had into the final two games of the conference finals against Denver, and found a way to bring it again Thursday night against Orlando. It's evident in his body language and even facial expressions. The last three games this teeth-bearing/almost gritting expression has become a popular look for Bryant on the court. He said he isn't even conscious of it, it's just an outpouring of his internal fire.
"I just want it so bad, that's all," he explained. "I just want it really bad. You just put everything you have into the game and your emotions kind of flow out of you."
Bryant admits the hunger is stronger this year, and that there a number of motivating factors. Although he said wanting to prove he can win a ring without Shaq isn't one, even Phil Jackson believes otherwise. Another aspect is the fact that Bryant is 30 and in his 13th NBA season, and sees his window of opportunity closing. He said he can probably play at this high level another six years, but could have to do so without Phil Jackson, who is plagued by hip trouble and has said he would like to retire following this season, but doesn't know if he will. Then there's the duel Bryant now finds himself in with LeBron James for league supremacy, and of course, the pursuit of Bryant's idol, Michael Jordan's six ring resume.
"It's a bit of everything," Bryant said. "It's a lot of motivation, a lot of motivation. I'm using it all right now."
For Bryant to achieve that fourth championship, however, things must change. The Lakers can't count on him to score 40 points every night, so his teammates must do a better job of stepping up. Orlando has shown an ability to adjust in between games, and Stan Van Gundy now has two days to prepare for Game 2. The Magic, no doubt, will try to find a way to take Bryant out of a flow next time around. So the Lakers must get more production out of their offense to make Orlando pay any time they try to overload on Bryant.
Phil Jackson said he and his coaches are at a disadvantage heading into Game 2 because they have to anticipate what changes Orlando will make. And he said Game 1 must quickly become a distant memory.
"I told these guys it doesn't matter whether we win by 60 or 6 in this game," Jackson said. "It doesn't have anything to do. It's just one win. We've got to try to go out and establish that again on our home court on Sunday."
Said Bryant: "I think the best thing we can do is just forget about it. That's the best thing we can do. This is a resilient Orlando Magic team. They've been through a lot of adverse situations before. This is nothing to them. They'll be ready to go Game 2, and we've just got to forget about this and move on."
-- Mike Jones
Strongtake
Photo/NBAE -- http://www.nba.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0906/magic.lakers.game1Livegameaction/content_20.html
Strongtake
Photo/NBAE -- http://www.nba.com/multimedia/photo_gallery/0906/magic.lakers.game1Livegameaction/content_20.html
