With A Little Help From My Friends
Kobe Bryant’s back was hurting coming into Game 5 Wednesday night in Los Angeles and carrying his team, even metaphorically, was likely to prove difficult.
Luckily for Bryant he only had to do so for three quarters and then his teammates strained in the fourth to shoulder the load.
The Lakers’ 111-104 victory at Staples was lead, as always, by Bryant, who fought through back spasms (and uncharacteristically sloppy ball-handling) to put up an incredibly efficient 26 points, 7 assists and 6 boards. But it was the help he got that secured the victory and put the Lakeshow up 3-2 in the series, heading back to Salt Lake on Friday. The Spaniard had an absolutely complete line of 21-6-8-4 while Odom followed his terrific Game 4 with 22 and 11. In fact, every LA starter finished in double figures, a credit to their team unselfishness and confidence in one another.
More important than how much the rest of the team scored was when that scoring transpired. When big moments presented themselves in the fourth quarter, it was not Bryant that seized control, but rather an assortment of players that answered the call. The biggest play of the game was an offensive rebound and put-back slam by Pau Gasol with 20 seconds left, which itself came off of a missed Sasha Vujacic three set up by Bryant. Mamba didn’t even attempt a field goal in the fourth and did not go to the line until there were 10.7 seconds left and the game already decided. In the final period, he penetrated and kicked to open shooters instead of settling for contested jumpers, demonstrating the kind of faith in his teammates that was lacking in overtime three days earlier. His team responded to this confidence appropriately.
While Gasol, Odom, and Derek Fisher secured the win with their play in the game’s closing minute, it was Bryant who made that inspiring play possible via his performance in the third quarter. Whenever Utah got close, Bryant was there to recreate the separation his team needed. With 9:23 to go in the third, LA was up only 63-62, but Bryant was able to get to the line and extend the lead. Minutes later at 6:29, the score was tied at 69-69 before he streaked by Deron Williams for an easy layin and the lead. The next time up the court he found Odom for a dunk to go up four. Later, with 1:58 to go in the quarter and L.A.’s lead back down to one after not scoring a field goal in over three minutes, Bryant got to the line again for two. When Harpring scored at the other end, he immediately battled for a three-point play and another four point lead.
In denying Utah’s ambition, Kobe showed that he knew when he was needed: when to score, when to distribute, when to take over. Unlike Game 4, he was not settling, not rushing, and taking no short cuts; he was feeling out the game and understanding what was needed and when. That is how he was able to score 2.6 points per shot, compared to only 1.3 per shot during the games in Utah.
Bryant’s play in the third propelled his teammates to carry him the rest of the way.
The Jazz scratched and clawed to tie the game four ties, but they never lead. They simply could not break through. Down one with 10:18 to go and chance to take the lead, Okur made only one free throw. The next time down with the score 85-84 LA, they missed again and wasted another opportunity before Gasol scored at the other end. Finally, the Jazz closed the game to one again with 8:38 to go, but immediately gave up an and-one to Farmar to go down four. This inability to take the last step, combined with 15 first half turnovers (that lead to 20 Laker points) showed the difference between these two contenders. Utah thinks they can win this series; Los Angeles knows it can.
That is how Kobe’s teammates were able to seize the moment while Williams’ seized up.
Photo Credit: Icon Sports Media
This article was written by:
Trevor Smith - who has written 37 posts on Hoops Addict.
Trevor Smith is a management consultant living in Toronto, Ontario. He currently writes for HoopsAddict.com, and previously worked for NBA Cares. He is a graduate of Queen's University.
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