Just over three years ago, Kobe Bryant hit two not one, but TWO buzzer beaters to win game 4 of the first round of the Playoffs against the Phoenix Suns. In celebration of the game-winning shot, Bryant trotted to the center court of Staples Center pumping his fist.
The crowd was going wild, his teammates were jumping on him, it was an amazing individual performance for an OK team that would eventually surrender their 3-1 series lead to the Suns. In the past two weeks, Kobe Bryant has hit two game-winning shots at the buzzer and has celebrated these early, regular season game wins in the same fashion: two hands raised as he walks towards his teammates, and they celebrate together.
The crowd was going wild, his teammates were jumping on him, it was an amazing individual performance for an OK team that would eventually surrender their 3-1 series lead to the Suns. In the past two weeks, Kobe Bryant has hit two game-winning shots at the buzzer and has celebrated these early, regular season game wins in the same fashion: two hands raised as he walks towards his teammates, and they celebrate together.
These celebrations with two hands are proof that Kobe has changed, he is no longer the player who cared about winning on his own. He is an all around player who might be getting better with a broken finger. His game-winner on Wednesday night in Milwaukee and two Friday nights ago in Los Angeles are mere illustrations of a team player, the two hands up in the air: one for him and the other for his team.
Bill Plaschke said it today in the LA TIMES: http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-plaschke18-2009dec18,0,4496582.column . There are only so many ways to see this Kobe, he's accomplished so much, yet he's hungrier than ever. He wins at will, and refuses to lose, his obsession for perfection is unrivaled by anyone. Pain is pleasure, and he knows that he can hurt more people with two fists instead of one.
