Phil designs Kobe's heroics

[usdane]

A very insightful article about Phil's brilliant basketball mind and Kobe's knowledge of basketball history. These two men are basketball geeks beyond comprehension.

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Jordan-in-June-91-vs-Kobe-in-December-09?urn=nba,209588
Jordan in June '91 vs. Kobe in December '09 (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie/post/Jordan-in-June-91-vs-Kobe-in-December-09?urn=nba,209588)

By J.E. Skeets (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/blog/ball_dont_lie?author=J.E.+Skeets)
http://a323.yahoofs.com/ymg/ept_sports_nba_experts__41/ept_sports_nba_experts-168126989-1261082589.jpg?ymdvCYCDBBmWFxB2
Kevin Ding of the Orange County Register has a fascinating column detailing the connection between Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant (http://www.ocregister.com/sports/phil-224593-kobe-started.html), specifically regarding the design of Bryant's winning shot in Milwaukee on Wednesday night and its similarity to a certain game-winner Michael Jordan once hit in 1991:

Jackson started drawing the diagram on his board, designing a play from the backcourt, and Kobe Bryant (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3118/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3118/news) was baffled. He interrupted with a furrowed brow and started to point toward the scoreboard to remind his longtime coach that only 5.4 seconds remained in overtime, and the Lakers were losing by one.
"Huh?" Bryant actually said in the huddle.
Bryant turned to appeal to co-star Pau Gasol (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3513/)(notes) (http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/players/3513/news) to bring Jackson to his senses. Jackson stopped drawing and just gave Bryant a dead-eyed look that basically said: "Are you going to let me do what I do or what?"
Jackson resumed drawing in the backcourt, and with that, Bryant ceased being surprised.

"Then I got it," Bryant said later as he walked out of the visitors' locker room, his epic resume now bulging by one more shot. "I knew exactly what he was doing."
Jackson wanted to help Bryant by deterring Milwaukee from double-teaming him.
Bryant flashed back in the moment to the 1991 NBA Finals (yes, his basketball knowledge is that encyclopedic that he could cite the correct year): Jackson started a play in the backcourt — although 10 seconds remained in that case — and wound up getting Michael Jordan an elbow jumper over Vlade Divac's too-late help (Ed. note: The Jordan photo above is actually from a game in Feb. '91), forcing overtime at The Forum in Game 3 against the Lakers.
"Bryant flashed back in the moment to the 1991 NBA Finals ..."
If anyone else says this, they're lying. No matter how knowledgeable they are, no matter what they just did, it's a lie. I roll my eyes and go back to watching T-Mobile commercials.
Kobe says it? I nod my head and have no choice but to believe it. Seriously.
Click here (http://lakers.freedomblogging.com/2009/12/17/mj-in-june-1991-vs-kobe-in-december-2009/26881/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+ocregisterlakers+%28Lakers+bl og%29&utm_content=Google+Reader) to see video of both Michael and Kobe's Phil Jackson-designed winners.

[Culburn369]

Bully, Us, bully for you. I too saw the TO and Kobe's "furrowed brow." Now we know..........the rest of the story.

[MiamiHeat]

Kobe memorizing Jordan's career?

nooooo, you don't say?

god damn I am surprised!! woo never saw that one coming!

I am in shock!

Kobe is able to instantly remember the exact year and game of MJ moments?

I am flabbergasted! who could have guessed!!!!!!!!!

Kobe memorizing MJ moments, damn! who woulda thought?!!!!!

CERTAINLY not something I been saying for years...

[KSeal]

Kobe sucks so much. OVERRATED. Four rings, pair anyone with Shaq and they win, last year was a total fluke. Dude sucks, and he's a rapist and a quitter and a snitch, fuck him and his jump shots. Unclutch as they come, just look at the stats. LMAO copying Jordan. He BARILY sneaks into the top 100 players of all time, and probably finds himself on the outside when it's all said an done. OVERHYPED GARBAGE. PERIOD. I wish someone else would see him the way I do and post it over and over again in every thread, oh well.

[MiamiHeat]

Kobe sucks so much. OVERRATED. Four rings, pair anyone with Shaq and they win, last year was a total fluke. Dude sucks, and he's a rapist and a quitter and a snitch, fuck him and his jump shots. Unclutch as they come, just look at the stats. LMAO copying Jordan. He BARILY sneaks into the top 100 players of all time, and probably finds himself on the outside when it's all said an done. OVERHYPED GARBAGE. PERIOD. I wish someone else would see him the way I do and post it over and over again in every thread, oh well.


Well said, except for 100 players (he's in the 100 best) part and the fluke part. Stacked team + shitty Magic opponent = title. Otherwise, I am somewhat proud.

[MiamiHeat]

Here's another prediction for you :

Kobe Bryant has almost every single game Michael Jordan ever played on DVD, and he keeps it in his house, and watches them several times a year.

I guarantee it.

[usdane]

Here's another prediction for you :

Kobe Bryant has almost every single game Michael Jordan ever played on DVD, and he keeps it in his house, and watches them several times a year.

I guarantee it.

Perhaps it could help Wade's game if he studied the greats games to or seek them out to learn from them.

Ohh wait that means a lot of work and dedication - That's probably not for Wade.

[ChrisRichards]

Here's another prediction for you :

Kobe Bryant has almost every single game Michael Jordan ever played on DVD, and he keeps it in his house, and watches them several times a year.

I guarantee it.
i agree, kobe just copycat michael jordan.

[Allanon]

Here's another prediction for you :

Kobe Bryant has almost every single game Michael Jordan ever played on DVD, and he keeps it in his house, and watches them several times a year.

I guarantee it.

I believe you.

This is what makes Kobe great, he copies from the other Greats.

Kobe ain't original, he steals from the other greats. Just like he stole from Hakeem so he could play better in the post this year.

MJ was MJ, Hakeem was Hakeem.

Kobe will become the GOAT because he is MJ/Hakeem/West/Magic/<insert HoF'er) all copycat'ed into 1.

He's like those Ultimate Soldier movies where they grab all the best genes and build a super soldier out of it.