After losing to the Rockets on Sunday, the Lakers are in Oklahoma City on Monday for their final game of the season against the Thunder. It also concludes their three game road trip serving as the final setup to the game against the Jazz on Wednesday. Sort of amazing to think the season is already over. In a way, I liken how it’s passed to those first few months of being a new parent. The days have been so long, but time has passed by so quickly.
Though it was back in December, it feels like just the other day Kobe announced, officially, this season would be his last. Now his final game is in two days. I know the time between then and now has been filled with losses, missed shots, fits and starts from the young players, and a whole lotta #byronquotes. Those tough moments have had me, more than once, wishing for the end to finally come. Now that it’s here, I can’t say I’m particularly thrilled about it. Yes, I want the negativity and suffering to end. But saying goodbye to Kobe isn’t something I’m looking forward to all that much, even though I know it is time.
This game, in itself, has little value to either team. The Thunder are locked into the 3rd seed in the conference and, as we’ve discussed, the Lakers will finish with the 2nd worst record in the league behind the 76ers. Their odds for the lottery are set, then, at roughly 56% of retaining their top 3 protected pick with only the basketball gods (and math) to determine how things go. Tonight, then, one has to wonder how the action will play out and whether either side will bring their best effort.
Kobe will surely give his best, though on the 2nd night of a back to back it’s hard to know what that will look like. He’s had a few good scoring games lately and his 35 points against the Rockets on Sunday speak to his ability to still get hot. He’s had his moments against the Thunder/Sonics over the years too, especially with the history of Ray Allen (a chief rival throughout his career) and the emergence of the Durant/Westbrook duo over the past 9 seasons.
Before Kobe plays his final game in OKC… we look back at his memorable moments in Seattle and Oklahoma City! #KB20https://t.co/J9XPStfC1t
— NBA (@NBA) April 11, 2016
Kobe has long expressed how highly he thinks of KD and Russ, both possessing a demeanor and approach to the game Kobe likely sees as mirroring his own. The relentlessness, the scoring skill, the want to not just beat your opponent, but bury them are traits the Thunder pair bring in spades and are traits Kobe’s built his legend off of. To face them this last time, then, will be special.
This is true even if the game isn’t likely to be very competitive. The Thunder have had their lax moments — especially in the 4th quarter where they have surrendered leads at an alarming rate — but it’s highly doubtful the Lakers will pose any such threat this game. Still, it will be nice to see the D’Angelo/Westbrook battle and to see how Randle deals with the length and paint protection of Ibaka and Steven Adams. Clarkson will also have his hands full dealing with the defense of Roberson and then the streaky scoring of Dion Waiters. These games within the games are why, beyond saying farewell to #24, I find interest in these late season games which have all too often just padded the Lakers’ loss totals.
Where you can watch: 5:00pm start time on TWC Sportsnet. Also listen at ESPN Radio 710AM Los Angeles.
Robert says
Coaches matter. Kobe has played for 10 coaches in his 20 year career. One coach went with Kobe to the Finals 7 times and won 5 rings. The other 9 never took him to the Finals. Coincidently MJ won all 6 of his rings with the same guy. Final Kobe Alert on Wednesday. Not going to be there this time. Anyone going?
Fern says
I just want this season to mercifully comes to an end. This is like 10 seasons of heartache neatly wrapped into one. Only thing going is Kobe’s last game and a long summer that hopefully can get this team at least on the right track. Personally im suffering Lakers exhaustion. Still soldiering on because of Kobe’s last hurrah…
Anonymous says
For Warren.
Anonymous says
Westbrook with a triple double at the half and no “D” Angelo with 1 freaking assist…
Anonymous says
Dear Jeanie and Jim:
The Lakers lack talent. Can you make an effort to acquire some this summer?
karen says
Exactly
Anonymous says
Down by 32 w/ 10:10 to play.
Gary says
Someone should get fired for this: Jim, Mitch or Byron. Heck, all three should go. If this season isn’t evidence that the organization needs a fresh, non-Buss perspective, I don’t know what is.
Kevin says
Next year there is no Kobe cover. The FO and management will be in trouble if this doesn’t improve on multiple levels. The Lakers are just a bad team.
Kbj says
Correct, Kevin. No more scapegoats. No Kobe and probably no Byron. Lets see the F.O weasel their way out of this.
R says
Bad news for us hard core fans who like winning: The Lakers can probably be mediocre or worse and remain a money machine. They just need to sign or draft a star or two and paper over their other problems.
See: Cowboys, Dallas and Knicks, New York
Teamn says
Unfortunately, there’s no talent at any level — owner, FO, coach, players. Not sure how long this will take, but this may not be a re-build. Just a way of life…
KO says
Jim Buss comments on 710 makes me realize he is even more clueless then I thought he was.
What this guy on?
DieTryin' says
KO could not agree more. Jim Buss sat in the “3rd Chair” on the radio broadcast with Ireland & Thompson. He sounded delusional. indicating that all it was going to take were some free agents, trades and draft picks and the Laker’s would be right back on top. Right. How’d the last couple of off seasons go? And John Ireland could not have been any more sycophantic with his softball questions. Not good. At all
J C says
Kobe’s retirement tour has been the shiny object distracting many fans this year, myself included to some extent.
Next year, whether it’s Byron or someone else, the heat will be turned up early.
This should be good.
Congrats to Kobe for making it to the finish line this year without injury. Hoping Wednesday will be epic.
Shout out to the Warriors and 73. Quite an achievement.
KevTheBold says
Good games with potential flashing, and many are silent,…
Bad games, no matter at exhausted rookie season end, and,…we ‘have no talent’.
It’s like selective sight, and memory that only lasts as long as one game; but in reality, the latter is only venting to let off steam from years of frustration.
I just wish more would acknowledge the positives when they occur, and memories lasted longer.
Drrayeye says
I’m so out of it that it’s hard to comment. This season has been the hardest for me as the last strands of hope fell away. We’re not even ready to start over. The absolutely necessary regime change has yet to begin–and it has to go all the way: Jeanie, Jimmy, Mitch, and Byron. A professional ownership needs to bring in professional management and a five year plan: that’s when it would be believable, credible.
Right now, I can only think of new ways for our long term prospects to deteriorate further. Too much doom and gloom.
karen says
Maybe we all need to get over that this team sucked, scott sucked, maybe jeanne knows exactly what she was doing. Case in point, nba teams are a business. The lakers sold out every home game, lakers bring in fans on the road, the kobe tour, which most of us hated has been a goldmine for the lakers, including this game tomorrow and all the kobe crap lakers are advertising for us to buy now. We all got sucked into caring how the team played, the 3 new kids, who really aren’t that good, are they!! The lakers played us for fools as they made money hand over fist
rr says
This season has been the hardest for me as the last strands of hope fell away
—
It has been rough and will continue to be. But the team has three young guys with some value, has a 55% shot at keeping a high lottery pick, and has a lot of cap space, so things are not hopeless. And a new coach may help.
That said, hope is what you need to focus on when you don’t have either the horses to win with or the leadership to bank on, and that is where the Lakers are.
david h says
hey Darius; not sure if you thought about this: possible you can reach out to Robert and allow him to put out his own Preview and Chat: Kobe sig-alert as I like to call it. this will give him recognition which I think he deserves and time for fellow posters to chime in and appreciate all things kobe.
thoughts?
LKK says
Very good read from Baxter Holmes regarding the stretch of games where Kobe willed the Lakers into a playoff spot right before he blew out his Achilles….
http://espn.go.com/nba/story/_/id/15186931/last-true-days-kobe-bryant
Chearn says
david h, I second the notion of Robert writing a final Kobe Alert. I can’t believe that Kobe’s time has come.
karen says
We can all stop bashing scott, jeanne’s keeping him.