However, Houston was a surprising team in the playoffs a year ago, coming back from a 3-1 deficit to beat the Los Angeles Clippers in six games to make the Western Conference Finals.
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Bryant scored 47 as he made 9 of 16 shots in each of those games for his best shooting efforts of the season.
Unfortunately, for Bryant and his fans, it is no longer 2004. “I looked up into the rafters” Bryant said, “seen the retired jerseys of Divac, Webber, Peja Stojakovic, I asked myself, what the hell am I still doing here?”.
To his credit Bryant (unlike the league’s commissioner) hasn’t attempted to sway voters, and his placement in an exhibition game wouldn’t be anything like a legacy selection at the hands of Team USA.
“I think it’s pretty sweet to have the final game be in a Lakers uniform”, Bryant said. “As handsome as it would be to play for the country – I mean, I love our country – when I say my last game, it’s going to be my last game”.
Bryant’s Lakers lost eight of the first nine postseason matchups, and he averaged less than 10 points per game, including a historically poor performance against the Jazz in the final game of the 1997 series.
“I think it’s the young guys’ turn to go and play and perform”.
“Since my retirement announcement, I’m able to watch these (younger) guys in a different light”, Bryant said. “[Detroit Pistons center] Ben Wallace, guys like that – they play all out, full of energy”.
Bryant told at least one other player of the news beforehand.
The 17-time NBA All-Star is content with the two Olympic gold medals he won playing for Team USA in the 2008 and 2012 Olympic Games.
While Bryant’s veteran presence on the bench would definitely be an asset, Colangelo and Krzyzewski may prefer to use the 12 spots on the best possible players with a chance of contributing. “It’s an accomplishment I’m really, really proud of”.
The 30-point margin of victory was the largest for the Wolves this season.
While it is hard to watch their beloved Lakers struggle, better days are on the horizon. By halftime, the Lakers trailed by three. Lakers rookie D’Angelo Russell explained how players like Harden aren’t going to be nullified by an individual defender.
Rudy Gobert’s monster double-double turned back the Lakers in Kobe Bryant’s second to last game in Utah. However, it feels like Kobe himself would benefit most from his not playing in Rio, because he’s already hobbling towards the regular-season finish line with three months left to go.
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Kobe Bryant #24 of the Los Angeles Lakers points to a teammate during their game against the Golden State Warriors at ORACLE Arena on January 14, 2016 in Oakland, California.
