milky_way
01-08-2003, 03:07 PM
Lethal Weapon 3
Bryant's dozen bombs sink Sonics, make history
By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES – It has been a grim season thus far, but this is certainly a reminder.
It reminds that Kobe Bryant can do just about anything on the basketball court.
And maybe Bryant's Lakers still can, too.
Hardly known as a long-range marksman, Bryant sank an NBA-record 12 three-pointers in a 119-98 rout of the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday night. He made nine consecutive three-pointers in one stretch, also a league record.
Bryant finished with 45 points; the Lakers scored more than ever before this season; and a little more sunshine peeked through the clouds.
"It feels like everyone's confidence is picking up," Bryant said. "It was good to have a game like this where everybody was having some fun."
Bryant has spent so much of this season putting up a tough front after losses, trying not to show any worry and succeeding with a cold quiet in his eyes.
After this game, he could not stop smiling, his eyes sparkling. In front of his locker answering question after question, he literally could not stand still - shuffling his feet and swaying back and forth as the energy kept running through his body.
"It felt really good, it felt really good," Bryant kept saying.
His run began midway through the second quarter, and he drilled six consecutive three-pointers before halftime could stop him. Actually, halftime only delayed him - Bryant made three more three-pointers after the break before finally missing from the deep corner with 5:12 to play in the third quarter.
Bryant, whose career three-point percentage was 31.4 and this season was 28.3 percent, made 12 of 18 three-point shots on the night - breaking Dennis Scott's NBA record of 11 makes in 1996. The nine consecutive makes topped the eight in a row of Jeff Hornacek, Sam Perkins and Steve Smith.
"It's right up there with probably the best shooting performances of my career," said Bryant, who said it was comparable to how he felt when he scored 56 points last season - "but a different type of zone."
After he hit his eighth in a row, Bryant extended both arms to the side as Seattle called timeout, mimicking the flight of an airplane.
Bryant was rising above.
All the Sonics - and a variety tried to guard Bryant - were adamant that they did all they could to stop him.
"It was good defense on all of them," Seattle's Gary Payton said.
When Bryant finally came out of the game for good with 4:16 left, Lakers coach Phil Jackson - who had remained stoic through most of Bryant's shooting except for a sly smile at halftime - broke from his norm and got to his feet. He clapped his hands and was the first to give Bryant the glad hand as he came off the court.
"Perhaps the greatest streak shooting I think I have ever seen in my life," Jackson called it later.
When it was announced over the public-address system with 2:21 to go that Bryant had set an NBA record, all his teammates applauded - and Bryant's smile stretched even wider.
Actually, Bryant's performance had already touched them; the Lakers together set franchise records with 17 three-point makes in 32 attempts in the game.
Just as in the best of their days, Bryant had lifted all the Lakers to greatness.
"We've all gotten used to seeing him do remarkable things," teammate Derek Fisher said. "Hopefully, this won't get lost in the shuffle."
Well there goes Horny's record :cry:
Bryant's dozen bombs sink Sonics, make history
By KEVIN DING
The Orange County Register
LOS ANGELES – It has been a grim season thus far, but this is certainly a reminder.
It reminds that Kobe Bryant can do just about anything on the basketball court.
And maybe Bryant's Lakers still can, too.
Hardly known as a long-range marksman, Bryant sank an NBA-record 12 three-pointers in a 119-98 rout of the Seattle SuperSonics on Tuesday night. He made nine consecutive three-pointers in one stretch, also a league record.
Bryant finished with 45 points; the Lakers scored more than ever before this season; and a little more sunshine peeked through the clouds.
"It feels like everyone's confidence is picking up," Bryant said. "It was good to have a game like this where everybody was having some fun."
Bryant has spent so much of this season putting up a tough front after losses, trying not to show any worry and succeeding with a cold quiet in his eyes.
After this game, he could not stop smiling, his eyes sparkling. In front of his locker answering question after question, he literally could not stand still - shuffling his feet and swaying back and forth as the energy kept running through his body.
"It felt really good, it felt really good," Bryant kept saying.
His run began midway through the second quarter, and he drilled six consecutive three-pointers before halftime could stop him. Actually, halftime only delayed him - Bryant made three more three-pointers after the break before finally missing from the deep corner with 5:12 to play in the third quarter.
Bryant, whose career three-point percentage was 31.4 and this season was 28.3 percent, made 12 of 18 three-point shots on the night - breaking Dennis Scott's NBA record of 11 makes in 1996. The nine consecutive makes topped the eight in a row of Jeff Hornacek, Sam Perkins and Steve Smith.
"It's right up there with probably the best shooting performances of my career," said Bryant, who said it was comparable to how he felt when he scored 56 points last season - "but a different type of zone."
After he hit his eighth in a row, Bryant extended both arms to the side as Seattle called timeout, mimicking the flight of an airplane.
Bryant was rising above.
All the Sonics - and a variety tried to guard Bryant - were adamant that they did all they could to stop him.
"It was good defense on all of them," Seattle's Gary Payton said.
When Bryant finally came out of the game for good with 4:16 left, Lakers coach Phil Jackson - who had remained stoic through most of Bryant's shooting except for a sly smile at halftime - broke from his norm and got to his feet. He clapped his hands and was the first to give Bryant the glad hand as he came off the court.
"Perhaps the greatest streak shooting I think I have ever seen in my life," Jackson called it later.
When it was announced over the public-address system with 2:21 to go that Bryant had set an NBA record, all his teammates applauded - and Bryant's smile stretched even wider.
Actually, Bryant's performance had already touched them; the Lakers together set franchise records with 17 three-point makes in 32 attempts in the game.
Just as in the best of their days, Bryant had lifted all the Lakers to greatness.
"We've all gotten used to seeing him do remarkable things," teammate Derek Fisher said. "Hopefully, this won't get lost in the shuffle."
Well there goes Horny's record :cry: