Mavericks Responses To Kobes 81

Mavs React To Kobe's Big Night
When news of Kobe Bryant's 81 against the Raptors spread through the Rose Garden's visiting locker room, the Mavericks' relief over outlasting the Blazers in overtime was replaced by amazement at Bryant's feat.

Amazement, but by no means shock.

That's because the Mavs saw Kobe score 62 on them just a month ago in 33 minutes of a 112-90 Lakers' rout. Mavs guard Darrell Armstrong stabbed his finger at a partial box score showing Kobe had 41 midway through the third quarter against Toronto.

"Imagine if our game had been close," Armstrong said, suggesting that had Bryant not sat the entire fourth quarter he might've had more than 81 that night.

More than anything, the Mavs were simply curious how Kobe put together the second highest scoring effort in NBA history, eclipsing all except Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game for Philadelphia against the Knicks in 1962. Only coach Avery Johnson showed more interest in the Sonics' 152-149 double overtime win over the Suns, perhaps because the Mavs play in Seattle on Thursday. But while Johnson marveled at the Sonics winning despite only 40 points in the paint and Luke Ridnour getting 30, the rest of the team looked to dissect Bryant's performance.

"How many times did he get to the line?" asked Jerry Stackhouse (a relatively modest 18-of-20).

"How many assists?" asked Keith Van Horn. "He didn't have any against us" (two assists, three turnovers).

"He took 47 shots?" asked Devin Harris (actually, 46, making 28).

Someone asked Dirk Nowitzki if he could top 82. "I don't think that would be good from a team standpoint," Nowitzki said.

Stackhouse finished buttoning his shirt and shook his head in pure admiration. "You'd think the Super Bowl would lead 'SportsCenter' tonight," he said. "But you know it won't. It can't. Kobe will. He has to."

-- Ric Bucher in Portland

i love how players act like if they shoot that much they can get 80

It's funny how the Mavs act like they're off the hook since Kobe scored his 80+ against another team.

it's really embarassing what some players say about kobe's performance. we were way down at halftime and no player, really no player, showed any sign of scoring abilities. it was necessary to take over, it wasn't a blowout... how can you critzize somebody, who started a comeback by getting the momentum back just by being aggressive and scoring efficient... pure jealousy

mrand wrote:it's really embarassing what some players say about kobe's performance. we were way down at halftime and no player, really no player, showed any sign of scoring abilities. it was necessary to take over, it wasn't a blowout... how can you critzize somebody, who started a comeback by getting the momentum back just by being aggressive and scoring efficient... pure jealousy

Exactly Pure Jealousy! Ha Ha lol But really it is, because none of them have the will, determination, courage, or explosive talant to do what he did on January 22, 2006!!!

please, you know better. Never dance around the curing filter. We have it here for a reason. thanks

KB8@CL edited this post.

Whats stupid is that if jordan had scored 81, no one would have said "its not good for the team" and "he shoots too many shots". He would have been heralded as the greatest of all time (which he is).

People seriously just need to give this guy some props, that wasnt easy, although he made it look easy.

in 2 weeks we play them again on the road. thanks my fellow mavericks to motivate Kobe to keep his average of 53 points a game this year against you.

magicmoment wrote:Dirk's jealous...

he even said himself that the last game vs. the Mavs, Kobe scored 62, he was embarrassed..

LakersChamps04 wrote:

Thats right! European this!

we may face mavs in playoff.

kwamejoke wrote:we may face mavs in playoff.

If there is any contender the Lakers can manhandle its the Mavericks. I would actually think we would be favorites against them.