Kobe had a good shooting game, although there were a few too many turnovers for my liking. He had some absolutely insane baskets, and some big Mamba ones when they tried to stage a comeback. At the end of the second quarter though, when he made that fallaway jumper and fell out of bounds, I almost had a heart attack.
I missed Ron’s big bucket at the buzzer because I kept staring into the corner waiting for Kobe to get up. I literally felt tears welling in my eyes and saw not only the Lakers’ championships aspirations for the season flash before my eyes, but Kobe’s career and beyond as well. I was so relieved when he was okay, and when it had nothing to do with any existing injury either, thank God. We can’t win anything without our leader.
Ron Artest had an amazing game, amassing 16 points and 11 rebounds; he definitely stepped up when his teammates were floundering. Pau was absolutely dismal, and Lamar was nonexistent until the last couple minutes of the 4th quarter when it was already too late.
We cannot win with Pau and LO playing like that, plain and simple. I’m thankful that Andrew’s injury was not serious and that he was ready to go today. I’m thankful for Kobe and just everything that he does for the Lakers. I’m thankful for Matt Barnes’ hustle and Derek Fisher’s leadership and tenacity….. I’m thankful for all of my Lakers. But there will be no three-peat without the Black Swan and without the presumptive Sixth Man of the Year.
