Archive for the ‘Kobe Bryant’ Category

I hate that I love you, Kobe.

The Raptors blew yet another double-digit fourth quarter lead, Kobe Bryant killed the Raptors for the umpteenth time in his career, Dwane Casey mismanaged his rotation and Rudy Gay threw up brick after brick after brick, as Toronto fell to the Lakers in overtime. The Raptors still haven’t beaten the Lakers on the road since 2001, they fall to 2-14 all-time against the Lakers at Staples Center and they have yet to win a season series with the Lakers…like, ever.

Here are some thoughts on a game that exemplified the Raptors’ 2012-13 season in one completely predictable fourth quarter meltdown…

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While the rest of the basketball world celebrates the seven-year anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, Raptors fans understandably view it a bit differently – more like a day of mourning – as that game in L.A. serves as the poster child of a very dark period for basketball in Toronto (there have been a few dark periods).

But because sometimes it’s healthy to cry yourself a river, here’s a reminder of what happened on January 22, 2006…

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Jalen Rose playing some lockdown defence on Kobe Bryant

Last week, Jalen Rose (via his “Story Time with Jalen Rose” series on Grantland) brought us the entertaining tale of the night Vince Carter went all Brock Lesnar on Sam Mitchell in the trainer’s room. Rose mentioned that at one point, the players in attendance laughed hysterically at their humiliated coach.

This week, Rose’s Grantland series continues with yet another embarrassing moment in Raptors history and in Mitchell’s head coaching stint – the night Kobe Bryant dropped 81.

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