Hometown

"First they love you, then they hate you, then they love you again."


Jay-Z - Meet the Parents


There are certain teams in sports that no matter what they do, or where they play,  people will find ways to dislike them. For example, the New York Yankees, New England Patriots, Duke Blue Devils, and the Los Angeles Lakers.


History


The Philadelphia 76ers hosted the Lakers tonight at the Wells Fargo Center. There are many story lines in this match up, as both teams were seeking to add another victory, however the most compelling fact of the contest was that Kobe Bryant needed 24-points to eclipse former teammate Shaquille O'Neal and move into 5th-place on the NBA's career scoring list.


Much has been made about where Kobe was born or where he is from, and as trivial as that sounds, in Philadelphia it's been a hot topic of discussion throughout his career. What's interesting is that he has had a few meaningful games as a Laker in South Philly...from his clinching a second NBA title, to his first All-Star MVP...these are benchmarks that have helped to define him.


Bryant always seems as if he is on a mission, and tonight was no different as he finished the 1st quarter with 14-points, 2-rebounds, and a steal. With little over 5-minutes left in the second period, he made good on an attempt moving him into 5th place. He finished with 28-points, giving him 28, 601-points overall.


Kobe was candid after the game in saying, "it feels good, it's a tremendous honor...it's a lot of work that we put in to get to this point...I think when players retire, you start kinda thinking about your career and your accomplishments and things of that sort, but when you're going through it and you're playing during the season, all you're thinking about is winning the next game and trying to make some noise in June."


Just to prove a point, I asked him about playing in Philly and how special it has been in his career, to which he answered, "it becomes more significant the older I get in terms of coming back here playing...I don't have many more of these games left."


Bryant took his place in history tonight and the Sixers handled the rest winning 95-90 with a strong effort from Lou Williams down the stretch.


When it is all said and done Kobe is only concerned with championships, as his hunt for number 6 continues.


Words: @axgilbert


Photo: Noah Zuares/AcesHoops.com

28,000 and counting

"Trying to escape my trouble..."

Jay-Z - Politics As Usual

The 66-game shortened NBA season is a week old, but it's too early to do an in depth analysis. There have been some major changes in Los Angeles, Dallas, and New York, however the new year will certainly bring excitement, and surprise in the upcoming months.

Consistency

On New Year's Eve the Lakers outlasted the Nuggets 92-89 as Andrew Bynum returned to the lineup after sitting out 4-games due to a suspension that carried over from the playoffs. He played well scoring 29-points while securing 13-rebounds, Derek Fisher made the ultimate hustle play that saved the game and could have more than likely set the tone for the season.

With all the changes to the Lakers; Coach Mike Brown, Metta World Peace, and the Lamar Odom trade to Dallas, one thing has remained the same, and that is Kobe Bryant. Just when it seems that his reign as one of the best players in the league will come to a close, he continues to move forward, playing through injury, change, and milestones.

Sunday night in the second game of a back-to-back against the Nuggets he struggled early and never shook off the shooting woes as Denver won 99-90, finishing the game on an 11-0 run.

Bryant entered the contest needing only 4-points to become the youngest player to reach the 28K plateau, which he achieved on a free-throw at the 10:43 mark of the 3rd quarter. He now stands at 6th in all-time scoring, and will need 584-points to eclipse the next closest player, Shaquille O'Neal.

The saga continues tonight as the Lakers host the Rockets at the Staples Center. 

Words: @axgilbert

Picture: Ezra Shaw/Getty Images