Better Late than Never

This past Sunday, ABC's viewing audience was treated to NBA broadcasters Mike Breen and Mark Jackson's shameless "Screw the FCC" campaign as they verbally (and physically, had they been given the chance) fellated Kobe Bryant throughout his latest violation of the 40 point plateau. If you were watching the game in HD, chances are you got sprayed with the slobber. But enough about that.

It's Kobe's performance that is up for discussion. I've long contended that Kobe is no different than the myriad All-Star wing players in the NBA, from Vince Carter, to Tracy McGrady (sans recent injury woes), to Paul Pierce, to Ray Allen, etc. Others would have you think that he is unquestionably one of the top two or three players in the league. Not in my book. While there is no doubt he is a phenomenal talent, I would hesitate to brand him a generational treasure. He receives little to no credit for having disbanded one of the NBA's recent dynasties, the LA Lakers of the early 2000's. When an all time great coach and all time great center are both turned away by your histrionics and pettiness, you are making a memorable impression, just not the sort that you had hoped.

How quickly fans forget that Kobe slammed neophite teammate Andrew Bynum in a weird, contrived Youtube video prior to the 2007-08 season, after Lakers GM Mitch Kupchack refused to pull the trigger on a Jason Kidd-Bynum swap during the previous season. Or that he had requested a trade that summer, only to reiterate his request in-season (Kobe withdrew his request after the Lakers absolutely stole Pau Gasol from the Grizzlies). But alas, the NBA PR community and the national and local media who follow the league are more than willing to gloss over his character blemishes.

On Sunday, it was his on-court inward inclination that was on display. Against an overmatched Phoenix Suns team missing Amar'e Stoudemire and Steve Nash, Kobe's no-shot-too-hasty policy led to an uncharacteristic game from the Lakers, as they posted nearly 5 less assists than their season average, despite playing the run-and-gun Suns in Phoenix. The result was a loss. Kobe posted a game worst -11 plus/minus rating. The Lakers are now 2-2 when Kobe breaks 40 points. They are 47-10 otherwise.

(Had we started this blog soon enough, I would have been all over the guy for dropping 11 of his famed 61 points in the last 5 minutes after the game was already decided against the Knicks in early February)