LAKERS NOTEBOOK: COMEBACK KOBE LIVES FOR SECOND-HALF PRESSURE.Byline: Howard Beck Daily News Staff Writer A furious comeback, a close score in the waning minutes, overtime, and a victory on the opponent's home court. These are a few of Kobe Bryant's favorite things. When Bryant scored 25 points in the second half and overtime of Tuesday's victory at Golden State, it was simply the latest display for the budding superstar. He did it earlier this season with a 33-point second half at Orlando, and he's taken over many a fourth quarter this year, often on the road. ``Kobe lives for games like that,'' coach Kurt Rambis Darrell Kurt Rambis (born February 25, 1958 in Cupertino, California) is an American former professional basketball player and current assistant coach for the Los Angeles Lakers. said. ``He just absolutely lives for games like that. It's what he dreams of, it's what he thinks of. If I asked Kobe if he could have games like that every game, he'd say yes. . . . ``He wants to take the last shot, he wants to be in tight ballgames, he wants to have that pressure on him. To him that's just fun.'' Bryant had to agree. ``Without a doubt,'' he said. What's most amazing about these late-game heroics from Bryant is how often they come after horrible starts. He had two points and five turnovers in the first half Tuesday and he and Derek Fisher Derek Lamar Fisher (born August 9 1974 in Little Rock, Arkansas) is an American professional basketball player with the Los Angeles Lakers. He was with the Utah Jazz but asked to be released from his contract to care for his 10-month-old daughter, who has cancer. were in such a funk that Rambis replaced them with rookies Ruben Patterson Ruben Nathaniel Patterson (born July 31, 1975 in Cleveland, Ohio) is an American professional basketball player in the NBA. He has signed with the Los Angeles Clippers after playing the final year of a six-year contract with the Milwaukee Bucks. and Tyronn Lue Tyronn Jamar Lue (born on May 3, 1977 in Mexico, Missouri) is an American professional basketball player who last played with the Atlanta Hawks of the NBA in the 2006-07 season. He is currently an unrestricted free agent. to start the second half. Bryant said he understood the move, but once he returned to the game, he returned with a vengeance. His 16-point fourth quarter included a block of John Starks John Starks may refer to:
``I just had to be patient. We all had to be patient,'' he said. What is it about Bryant and fantastic finishes? ``I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. , I don't know. You just get caught up in the moment, you know what I mean? You definitely want to make the comeback, because you kind of sense the buzz of the crowd. I heard one guy say as we were going to the locker room (at halftime), `Y'all might as well leave the game now.' Stuff like that, that you can just feel, motivates you.'' Ouch report: Rick Fox sat out his third straight game Wednesday, but said his sore right knee is improving daily and he hopes to play Saturday at San Antonio San Antonio (săn ăntō`nēō, əntōn`), city (1990 pop. 935,933), seat of Bexar co., S central Tex., at the source of the San Antonio River; inc. 1837. . ``Every day it gets 50 percent better,'' he said. ``It's just a matter of getting the swelling down.'' Real life: Before tipoff, the Trail Blazers held a moment of silence to honor the victims of Tuesday's shooting in Littleton, Colo. The Blazers had been scheduled to play that night in Denver. The NBA NBA abbr. 1. National Basketball Association 2. National Boxing Association NBA (US) n abbr (= National Basketball Association) → Basketball-Dachverband (= canceled the game and has rescheduled it for May 2. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO KOBE BRYANT He scored 25 points in the second half of the Lakers' overtime win at Golden State. |
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