Special thanks to Travis J. Rodgers for submitting his take to the Lakers Nation and giving us the rights to post it on the blog. Once again, if you have your own take and want to see it on TLN, feel free to e-mail it to us at Articles@theLakersNation.com.
One’s ability to adapt to new surroundings and challenges speaks volumes about one’s degree of competence. Spectators across the globe are now presented with the opportunity to observe the NBA’s greatest players facing new surroundings (team USA) and new challenges (the basketball world and the international game). As Lakers fans tune in to watch Kobe Bryant in the white number ten jersey, they should expect to see something very different from what they see in the purple and gold eight. The question is whether Kobe is modifying his game as he should.
Entering Thursday’s game against the Hellenes, while Kobe had been touted for his defense, he had been maligned for his shooting from “long” range. That is, despite the international three point line being a bit closer than the NBA line, Kobe had shot just 1 for 15 on threes. So facing what was considered the first “true” competition in the Greek squad (featuring, among others, almost Laker Theodorus Papaloukas), what should spectators have seen? In short, an honest read of Kobe Bryant as a player.
The setting has changed, but Kobe’s raw attributes have shone through. The virtues and vices he possesses are merely looking a bit different because of the change in scenario. Kobe is still fantastically athletic. Witness at least two fastbreak dunks Kobe thundered home and two attempted alley oops. One Kobe threw down; another he missed, cramming it hard off the back iron. Still his level of athleticism is elite even on a team of athletic freaks and facing superior competition.
Disclaimer #1: I had a wonderful vacation, and although I missed the Angola and Greece games, I still feel the spirit and ferocity of the Screaming Eagles pulsating through my body.
Disclaimer #2: America. Apple Pie. Fifty States. Eagles. Money. Amber waves of grain. Abe Lincoln. Declaration of Independence. Guns. Mickey Mouse. Baseball.
As much as I love the United States of America and their National basketball team, I have room in my heart for another darling.
I love the Spanish National basketball team.
Not in the same way I love the ol’ Screaming Eagles, but the kind of way you love this year’s Tampa Bay Rays.
Bloomberg: Kobe Bryant, basketball’s Mr. Cool, got goose bumps during the opening ceremony of the Olympics.
He’s heard about goose bumps. He’s even seen goose bumps. But, and get this, he’d never actually experienced goose bumps.
Didn’t get ‘em on draft day. Hearing his name called, shaking hands with National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern, fulfilling a lifelong dream — that wasn’t enough. Meeting Jerry West didn’t do it. Not his first game with the Los Angeles Lakers, either. Not his first championship. Not his first Most Valuable Player Award. Nothing.
“First time,” he said.
Bryant, of all people, has become America’s foremost goodwill ambassador. He’s wrapped himself in the flag, immersed himself in this we-are-the-world environment, and all while spreading the gospel of humble pie.
Bryant is telling the world, literally, that his Olympic experience is the most significant undertaking of his life, athletic or otherwise.
“More significant than anything I’ve ever done,” he said the other day.
Sorry, Lakers-land. You’ve just been bumped.
We can’t call this the new-and-improved Bryant because we’ve seen it already. Think back to before he was a one-name wonder, prior to his making front-page headlines for all the wrong reasons. Before winning yielded to whining. Before Shaq. Before Phil. Before Bryant tried to become basketball’s first and only solo act.
The Olympian: On Monday, Apirut and Apichok Saekow left Bangkok, Thailand, on Thai Airlines Flight 960. In his checked Fila athletic bag, Apirut had packed a smaller Adidas bag. Inside that one was the reason for their trip.
Then, Apirut brought it out: A Kobe Bryant Nike Uptempo basketball shoe. First series.
“Just to have a look at him – that is my dream,” said Apirut, who runs an Internet cafe in Bangkok with his brother. “Just to see him. Chat, chat. Anything with him.”
Brother Apichok wore a white jersey that read “Los Angeles” on the front and “Bryant” on the back. It was a knockoff. Instead of the traditional Lakers purple and gold, the lettering was light blue.
“I just want to see him one time – it’s OK,” Apirut said. “He inspire me.”
While going to the gate at the Olympic Basketball Gymnasium where they heard the U.S. men’s team might drive in for Tuesday night’s game with Angola – “Somebody told me North Gate,” Apirut said – the brothers ran into a kindred spirit. Wan, an 18-year-old who arrived in Beijing three years ago from North Korea, now a university student, stood by the gate with a camera hanging from her wrist. She explained her presence using the only English word she seemed to know.
“Kobe,” said Wan, who didn’t want to give her last name.
At this Olympics, Bryant is the matinee idol, inspiring rapture with a wave of his hand. Michael Phelps can win eight gold medals. Let Tyson Gay become the world’s fastest human. They’re all cruising in Kobe’s wake. In describing the mass shrieks and screams every day, his teammates use Beatles comparisons.
ESPN: It’s official now. This is NOT Japan and the 2006 World Championships, not to mention Athens and the 2004 Olympics.
This is Beijing and the 2008 Olympics, and the U.S. is back in men’s basketball.
These Americans, who looked so lost two years ago at the World Championship in Japan, appear to have found their Olympic way in China.
Batting away balls or swatting shots on seemingly every possession late in the second quarter, the Americans broke open a close game and went on to a 92-69 victory Thursday night to clinch a spot in the medal round.
“We played like we wanted to win. We played together,” U.S. guard Dwyane Wade said. “We were very aware of their offensive sets, we were very aware of their personnel and we played like that. So we were kind of a step in front of what they wanted to do because we kind of knew everything already.”
The Americans were also able to find the range on jump shots when the Greeks went to a zone defense to slow them down. Kobe Bryant, who entered the game shooting just 37 percent in the first two games, was 7-for-14 from the field and finished with 18 points.
Chris Bosh also had 18 points, Wade added 17 and LeBron James had 13 for the United States (3-0), which moves on to a matchup of Group B unbeatens Saturday night against world champion Spain. The winner will earn the group’s top seed for the quarterfinals.
Greece stunned the Americans two years ago in the semifinals of the 2006 World Championships, shredding the U.S. defense for 63 percent shooting with clinical execution of its pick-and-roll offense in a 101-95 victory.
The Star: But I will tell you this: Kobe’s all over this tournament. When I was over there on Sunday to see Spain and Greece, a spy who was down near the court said the only American player who came by the arena to scout was Kobe, who stayed for about a half before heading out.
ESPN: LeBron James and his teammates easily shoved Angola aside. Now come the teams that can push back.
Dwyane Wade scored 19 points, James dominated the game with his size and strength on both ends, and the U.S. Olympic team wrapped up the easy portion of its schedule with a 97-76 victory Tuesday night.
Dwight Howard added 14 points and James finished with 12 for the Americans, who had another rough night from 3-point range but don’t appear to be stoppable in the open court. Wade was perfect from the field in Beijing until missing in the third quarter.
The United States improved to 4-0 against Angola, starting with the Dream Team’s Olympic debut in 1992. That romp is best remembered for Charles Barkley’s elbow to an unsuspecting Angolan player in a 116-48 victory.
Angola went down almost as easily this time.
The Americans (2-0) moved on to face Greece, the team that stunned them two years ago in the semifinals of the world championship. Two days later comes a matchup with Spain, the team that won that tournament and is also 2-0 in this one after rallying to beat China in overtime behind 29 points from Pau Gasol.
Long before this rout started, the Americans were already looking ahead.
U.S. coach Mike Krzyzewski and his staff were seated behind the baseline about 5½ hours earlier for a look at the Greeks, who shut down Germany over the final three quarters while pulling away for an 87-64 victory.
You would have never been able to tell it was a rainy day in Beijing, China. Inside, it was intense and had a championship atmosphere. On the court, it wasn’t much different. The game started with Yao hitting a three-pointer and the China started out hot. They hit their first four threes and kept pace with Team USA for the first 15 minutes.
Then, Kobe and USA went on a run. Sparked by defensive stops, Team USA seemingly had 5 dunks in a row and opened the game to a 12 point lead going into the half. In the half-court set, Team USA struggled mightily. They had many turnovers and missed just about every three-point attempt. Their offense came on the fast break and off the offensive boards.
CBS2: But the one thing we all learned is Kobe (Bryant) is the most popular player here, maybe the most popular athlete at the Olympics. The crowd was chanting his name, “Kobe, Kobe,” and the volunteers who were supposed to be guiding us were trying to get autographs. It is so out of control with Kobe that LeBron James cracked, “I thought I was famous until I got here with Kobe.” Kobe is big here in China.
Kobe is also (my daughter) Lauren’s favorite player. Kobe has been playing with her since we’ve been here; I think he is missing his kids. Her favorites words are “up, up,” because she likes to be picked up and Kobe has been giving her lifts. But I told Lauren, there is only so high you can go. I’m 6-foot-5, Kobe is 6-6 and my husband, Michael, is 6-6.
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One’s ability to adapt to new surroundings and challenges speaks volumes about one’s degree of competence. Spectators across the globe are now presented with the opportunity to observe the NBA’s greatest players facing new surroundings (team USA) and new challenges (the basketball world and the international game). As Lakers fans tune in to watch Kobe Bryant in the white number ten jersey, they should expect to see something very different from what they see in the purple and gold eight. The question is whether Kobe is modifying his game as he should.
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