Kobe Bryant not ready to let Oklahoma City Thunder get past just yet – NBA Update
Kobe Bryant has sung words of praise for the Oklahoma City Thunder team, but at the same time made it clear that he is not going to lie down, accept defeat and let them walk past his team into the Western Conference Finals.
Talking to reporters after the 99-96 Lakers victory in game 3 here at Staples Center, Bryant admitted that the Thunder team were relentless in their quest for a win.
“These guys are long and athletic and tough. They grew up watching me. They have the same mentality that I do. It's like I'm playing a mirror image of myself in [Russell] Westbrook, [James] Harden and [Kevin] Durant. It's like,
s---. You've just got to dig deep and fight 'em back” said Bryant.
But when referring to the Thunder knocking the Lakers out of the playoffs and moving on to the Western Conference Finals, Bryant said "That day's not here yet”. And he was right, as he had 36 points and went a perfect 18 of 18
from the foul line to guide his team to a much needed game 3 win.
Now the Lakers are down 2-1 and have one more game at the Staples Center before they move back to Oklahoma City.
While the Thunder are in quest of their first NBA championship, Kobe and the Lakers have their own motivations. If the Lakers are eliminated in the second round this season, it might spark a restructuring era for the Lakers which
could have an impact on Bryant’s attempts for the elusive 6th championship ring, one that will tie him with Michael Jordan.
For that reason, Bryant is giving inspired performances even though he is being gruesomely defended by the Thunder defense. Bryant also knows that his time is short, as his age is not on his side. When he came into the room for
the press conference, he said this while sitting down:
“"The bones aren't as flexible as they used to be”
The whole room broke out in laughter, but on a more serious note this is one of the few instances that Bryant has admitted he is not the same player any more in terms of fitness. Only he knows the true extent of fatigue in his
body as he never shows it on the court. But even he knows that he only has a few seasons left in him to go for another championship.
Nonetheless, Bryant is not willing to let the Thunder past him so easily. Fatigued, bruised and broken down, Kobe is one of the toughest athletes of this generation. And he would want to control the Thunder barrage like he did
in game 3 and leave everything he has left on the floor before he lets the Thunder past him.
That is the way he is built and that is how he likes it. The Thunder have a tough job ahead.
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